Nikki Kaye wants to see ‘healthy, well-rounded’ students’
KEY POINTS
• New Education Minister Nikki Kaye wants kids to be “digitally fluent, healthy and well-rounded” as well as knowing the 3 Rs.
• Kids’ physical and mental health will be a focus.
And after she’s spoken to Tolley, a chat with Coleman about funding of mental health services will be needed too.
Canterbury children’s mental health is deteriorating while they wait for months to access help, advocates say.
Recent Government figures show more than 450 children aged under 12 waited longer than three weeks for a first mental health appointment in Canterbury last year – equating to almost 60 per cent of those seeking help.
This was an increase on the previous year’s figures.
In 2015, 41 per cent of children under 12 needed help waited more than three weeks – a total of 250 children.
Child advocates said the wait did not stop at the first appointment – many children waited several months to get treatment after that.
In 2016, there was a 27 per cent increase in the number of under 12s needing mental health help. Services struggled to keep up, the figures show.
Child and Family Psychologist and University of Canterbury lecturer Sarah Whitcombe-Dobbs said children waiting to get treatment were “likely to be in considerable distress” and their families “struggling to cope”.
“Anecdotally in Canterbury, I hear that families are waiting up to six months for receiving treatment after they have had their first appointment because the services are so overwhelmed with need.”
Mental health problems left untreated in children could affect “all areas of functioning and development”, including academic, social and emotional development.
And after she’s spoken to Coleman, a chat with ex National minister Rich, who pimps for big sugar, explaining how the government is going to ignore her lobbying for Coca Cola and other companies Rich represents.
The FGC won’t be cheering future announcements, Kaye will sY.
Trump’s tinpot dictatorship continues as he fires Sally Yates, Preet Bharara, and this week Comey, head of the FBI. All three were involved in the investigation of possible Russian meddling in the election. Trump will be eager to have the vacant head of the FBI position filled with a reliable yes-man.
President Donald Trump blasted ousted FBI chief James Comey as a “showboat” and “grandstander” even as the agency’s acting leader contradicted the president’s account that the agency had been in turmoil before he fired Comey.
Psychological projection is a theory in psychology in which humans defend themselves against their own unconscious impulses or qualities (both positive and negative) by denying their existence in themselves while attributing them to others. For example, a person who is habitually rude may constantly accuse other people of being rude. It incorporates blame shifting.
This behavior fascinates me. I see it as: ‘Sometimes the words we say are the words we most need to hear ourselves’. I believe it’s something that we are all guilty of to a degree, it manifests in so many situations and forms.
I catch myself doing it, suggesting someone do something a certain way and then consider, ‘Shheesh, if I’m so smart, why aren’t I doing that then?” I saw someone give 1 of 2 children a light swat on the bum the other day and say “Don’t hit your sister”. Ha! Can a message be any more mixed?
Trump’s Proceeds to drain the swamp as he fires Sally Yates, Preet Bharara, and this week Comey, head of the FBI. All three were involved in promoting perception of Russian meddling in the election. Trump will be eager to have the vacant head of the FBI position filled with a reliable competant person.
Trump's cabinet, the wealthiest in history, is worth more than the annual GDP of 70 countries. So much for draining the swamp…— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) December 27, 2016
A great idea. I wonder if it is the glass that has the warranty rather than the photo sensitive cells? Existing panels/cells steadily loose their potency.
There is so much junk on the net. So many oysters, so few pearls. maybe our tastes are aligned Joe but I think you’re pretty good at finding pearls.
Mr Musk in the sort of high quality ‘All the pizazz’ presentation we used to get from Steve Jobs. I think I like it, it’s interesting. The face of Corporate Green. Big money neoliberal green. Spins my head man but I’m very pleased you stuck it infront of me, thanks.
Moreso that damn clown from the other day. I’ve watched that clip 5 times. Watching his earlier stuff it’s neat to track the progress of his chosen art form? I can’t decide if it’s very high end cutting edge art or junk. I love it but it’s doing my head in Joe.
joe 90.Very interesting. A mixture of right wing enterprise and left wing sense. I now think that overall both camps should work together more. Less stress = less mental problems. Some money for business and cleaner planet for all. The rich pay we all gain for free in effect.
That’d make it a no brainer for a new house or if the roof needs replacing.
Wonder what the price difference is between the two types of tile that they use:
Customize the amount of electricity your Solar Roof produces to fit your energy needs. This feature is made possible by using two types of glass tile, solar tile and non-solar tile.
That test on the link from Molly is wrong though as the tile is rotated through 90 degrees from the other tiles meaning that it’s actually got far more support.
Wow, that’s serious and careless of the one man anti female pay equality party.
The left would be wise to not publicly exploit such an open door, leave it to the media, media should be reporting this as ACT party members and any names listed in the leak should be made aware that their details are out there for all to see
The left would also be wise to check their info is secure and read all the ACT party leak info available, insight and information is everything.
Sounds similar to me on both respective web sites .Fair point james. Cinny does not the old saying ‘What’s good for the Goose is good for the Gander ” approach the type, or style, of logic that should apply here? I believe it should at first glance.
What, when he put a youtube video that looked like him reading instructions someone else gave him, as he showed viewers exactly how to gain unauthorised access?
Bradbury is a dick, which makes me think that he might not have informed ACT about their vulnerability a couple of hours before he put his post up. That having been said, it’s not like he gave everyone a “privacy violation for dummies” help video.
I’d give him a B+ if he gave them a heads up, a C- if he didn’t, and an E for slater’s attempt. Graded by ethics and competence.
Thanks Rosemary. Very interesting though it would seem that there are shades of stopping ECan so that water actions can be forced through. This seems to be similar in that the District Council influence has been stopped also.
They kept saying that the Minister would decide but without naming him. It would be the infamous Nick Smith wouldn’t it?
With long term connections to Marlborough, I can observe a change regarding local and outside control of the resources of Marlborough.
When the local authorities were reorganised, Marlborough had its own district council but a regional district council which involved Tasman as well. Our MP of the time, with local support, had Marlborough assume full control of the Regional Authority functions in a unitary authority.
When the Sounds were being quite adversely affected by the wash of fast ferries, the council did not have the will or the clout to control this. Then I wanted the wider input of a larger authority to be able to take action and also have a wider input, not so easily affected by purely local interests.
Now, it seems that wider commercial interests are thwarted by local control of significant commercial opportunity which are being denied because the district plan has designated parts of the Sounds as having significant landscape values.
Consequently, salmon farms are now pushing for changes. Larger government power is being used to affect this, over-riding local processes and values.
The Sounds have been degraded with commercial exploitation and population pressure- salmon, scallops, commercial and private fishing, forestry, housing.
The point of this is to point out that commercial interests tend to override local interests, and that control of local resources are also placed where commercial interests can overpower.
Marlborough is a third world economy within NZ. Its significant industries are largely controlled outside the region, its profits largely go outside the province, its wages are lower than the national average, we import foreign labour to support this situation, we suffer from rental and housing difficulties, and our workers are consistently exploited.
“Marlborough is a third world economy within NZ. Its significant industries are largely controlled outside the region, its profits largely go outside the province, its wages are lower than the national average, we import foreign labour to support this situation, we suffer from rental and housing difficulties, and our workers are consistently exploited.”
When I responded to a shower of ‘NZers are lazy and that’s why we need the foreign labourers.’ comments elsewhere on the web the owner/chief mod stepped in and shut the thread down. Seems it may only become a ‘political discussion’ (and hence attracts a ban on that particular site) when actual facts countering the rightist narrative are presented. Ho hum.
Thanks mac1 for your commentary on this. Insight from locals are most important.
It will be interesting to what response from locals if their democratically elected council is overridden by central government.
You mean *when* their council is over-ridden – that’s what’s happening with this situation. Smith has meddled in that region’s affairs many times before.
Maybe the New Zealand Labour Party could take note of Mr Chomsky….and we could all learn a thing or two about the future of Centrism …..
“In the extended interview, Davis asks Chomsky whether the Labour Party needs to split after the election. He notes the divide between the ‘Thatcher-lite party’ and the ‘Corbyn party’. Chomsky acknowledged that there were divisions. And he asserted:
These are internal problems to these decaying centrist institutions.
So according to Chomsky, the notion that the Labour Party can survive as a ‘centrist’ institution is over. It’s essentially dead in the water. But the BBC didn’t broadcast that claim. And it’s not hard to see why. Because the BBC has continuously championed supposedly centrist politicians. It’s apparently a supporter of, and a believer in, such ideals. And it has attacked people like Corbyn, who are attempting to orientate the party in a “democratic socialist” direction; a principle that the party is supposed to be defined by.”
Some commentators put up scares if our Labour suggests anything socialist
I think in order to scare Labour into an unwinnable Centrist position.
eg The demon Union spectre.
I know its late james ,but I think you should be worried about NZ labours tactical election polls, and campaign. not pomy ones. Bit in the herald now about it , more to follow Sunday.
I assume you mean -mother in laws. Mothers are sweet, albeit with eyes in the back of their heads? Hmmm I’d better shut up –things are running away somewhat.
that nude ‘model’ flashing on Taranaki was disgusting to me – it showed everything wrong with the selfish, self centred idiot types who just are so self absorbed that all they care about is themselves and their publicity.
For this person to then blop on about that Māori not being indigenous shows what a very dim person this ‘model’ is.
Hey ‘model’ fuck off will you.
Every time Māori have to defend views and beliefs – every. fucken. time.
Moari have a right to defend their views and not all Maori think alike, but like religion it does not mean every body has to accept somebody else’s metaphysical belief Drawing a long bow if superstition can dictate what a person can do on a whole bloody mountain when the only offense is to upset some ones belief, and after the event at that, people (all) just need to get over themselves and stop been so easily offended
that’s the bloody point – it ISN’T just a mountain for many – but whatever – engaging with the tripe you wrote is tedious, unproductive and a waste of my time. Keep believing everyone can do anything whenever their pea sized brain thinks of it and when they come and shit on your sensibilities don’t come moaning to me.
Yeah, but the Virgin in a Condom was intended to be a dick move (sorry, I meant to type that it was a provocative piece designed to stimulate controversy about the relevance and role of religious thought in the modern age. Or something).
What’s her face was just looking for social media clicks.
people (all) just need to get over themselves and stop been so easily offended
Of course, a millennia or two scrapping over the Temple Mount and all the while, people (all) just need[ed] to get over themselves and stop been so easily offended, and everything would’ve been just fucking peachy, too.
It is just a mountain that is the only fact rock and dirt, was there well before human existence and will be after, anything else is simply a metaphysical, superstitious belief that is also anybodies right to believe but not a right to impose on others lawful liberty
nah – you are talking rubbish – take your mechanistic viewpoint and, well, do whatever you like because you’re just a squeaking hinge anyway aren’t you?
But nor do people not have a right to point out when someone else is just being a dick.
Ulhuru does it well, it just has a sign that basically asks people to not be dicks and walk over the rock. Most people aren’t dicks, so they don’t climb the rock. Some people do climb the rock, but there’s a sign there so everyone knows they’re being a dick.
This woman gets publicity by taking her kit off in strange places. Fair enough. But in some of those places, that’s just placing your publicity-seeking ahead of everyone else’s feelings. Her doubling-down and making the “indiginous” comment was simply more dickish publicity seeking. red, don’t be like her. Don’t be a dick.
It’s a bit like if I pass a memorial service or meeting, let’s say an ANZAC service or a group of people grieving at the spot someone died. Now, I’m a bit of a dick, so I like swearing, and maybe if I’m drunk I might have done the occasional public urination. Dick move, fair call. But this service might be important to someone. Me taking a piss in the bushes right next to them would be a really dick move. I’m a bit of a dick, but I try not to be a massive dick. It might still be legal if they couldn’t see my dick, but they’d still know what I was doing. I’d be a massive dick. I don’t want to be a massive dick.
Be like me. Try not to be a massive dick. There’s no law against it, but it’s still a dick move. She’s just a dick, because she likes the publicity she gets by being a dick. Don’t be like her.
I get your line of arguement but for a metaphysical belief to control a whole mountain vs some ones freedom of expression is going to far, no matter how silly that freedom of expression is The act is Harmless barring upsetting the Marty snow flakes of the world, who chooses to be offended, which is his right. if it was not reported no one would even no, ie joe public walking up the mountain Starkers tomorrow, that’s the real test of how harmless the act really is
How far do you take this bill, a memorial structure commemorating a human event that happened vs a metaphysical belef about a whole mountain Not equivalent I would argue on these grounds and we are talking a whole mountain not a small to a degree private space
So you’re quite happy with people tramping all over our conservation estate, without respect for the environment: happy for people to be posing nude in a public domain in front of a diverse section of the public; happy for free campers pooing and tossing their slops on open countryside, etc, etc.?
sigh!
Posing nude on a mountain in private is not equivalent to posing nude in public How is been starkers and one with nature tramping all over the conservation estate Freedom campers Pooing all over the place is is health hazard and impinges on other people rights, standing starkers on a mountain alone is like a tree falling in the forrest with no one around, impacts nobody apart from snow flakes looking to be offended
The whole metaphysical belief line is a red herring. If any culture has the right to determine its own cultural values, then that applies across the board to all cultures.
You obviously don’t think that and either believe that some cultures are special and deserve that right but Māori don’t, or that no cultures deserve that so you would be ok for the woman to have posed nude at an ANZAC day dawn service. Either way, as McFlock points out, you’re being a dick.
You’re happy till it all comes up against your values or beliefs red then you’ll weep and teeth gnash about how wrong it all is. You big freedom bods always do.
Nup not at all, live and let live It’s a mountain volcano, if some one wants to go starkers up there more fool them, if some one gets upset because they think it offends the mountain and some how that offends them, well good on them but does not mean I have to take such offense seriously or rediculous equavalence been used to justify as such, think about it logically rather than emotionally , again the left pushes science and rationality to it suits them until it clashes with their primitive left ideology and identity politics
So basically you’re good? No issue. Starkers okay, getting upset okay. But somehow youve got offended because… the example used made you think you much?
Struggling with your meaning Marty, its s bit of a mumble ( it is Friday) , but I sort of get your gist, I am not offended at any one just challenging the fact that some people been offended by this action has any merit
So your position has changed from you boldly fighting tyranny with comments like “not a right to impose on others lawful liberty”, to you simply refusing to take other peoples’ beliefs and offense seriously.
I mean, nobody’s saying you have to share those beliefs, but you don’t have to be a completely inconsiderate dick about it, either.
I’ve seen the ‘Don’t make a dick of yourself’ theory work at Cable Bay in Northland. A young guy was lost diving for kaimoana on a rocky point/reef.
There was one simple cardboard and felt pen sign pinned up under the council info for the beach, dog rules, rubbish rules, camping rules, lighting fire rules etc. All those other guidelines we follow.
The Rangitira from the boy’s Iwi declared a rahui on the beach for a number of days. The Iwi had no rights to block access. The tribe’s wishes were respected en masse. The occasional van full of Germans needed the circumstances pointed out to them, they were free to make their own choice. By and large they were fascinated by the custom, wanted to know more and moved on to have a swim somewhere else in the 40 kms of bays and beaches.
I believe it enjoyed popular support. It prompted people to keep an eye open for the still missing corpse, it prompted people to find out something of the missing boy and the custom. Giving up access to Cable Bay for a week seemed a small price to pay. I’m not sure how the call would of gone down if the Rangitira had called for a 10 year Rahui. I think all parties were well served. A harmonious compromise as opposed to “I own this”
try this one red – I did a mindfulness exercise yesterday – write for 3 minutes or just think about it from this statement, “I know… ”
When I did it I realised that most of what I know has been taught or gleaned from others and even the stuff that comes directly into my brain via the senses is 2nd or 3rd hand electrontrickery – what actually do you KNOW red?
I hate to nit-pick, but this is for such a troll… “It is just a mountain that is the only fact rock and dirt, was there well before human existence and will be after, …”
That may be true for some ancient alps like the Himalayas, but Egmont (Mt Taranaki) is a volcano, and quite possibly did not exist prior to the existence of humans.
I’m calling you out for your typical bullshit, Red. Do some research, and prove that statement you so boldly made. Prove that Mt Tarnaki’s existence predates the existence of the human species. I accuse you of being wrong – yet again.
And by pretending that the mountain predates all humans, Red seeks to belittle the cultural values of all humans – not just Maori. Fallacious and feeble, Red.
Human existence in NZ is utterly irrelevant to your silly first assertion, by which you sought to belittle human cultural concerns – especially the ones you don’t like.
Might want to check your own superstitious belief system first like why don’t you cross the centerline on the road, go to the toilet in the bushes, only drive if there’s a plastic label on your windscreen.
1. Punishing the poor for being poor
2. Putting more people in prison despite prison actually making things worse
3. War
4. Cutting taxes because of their greed despite the damage both cutting taxes and greed does to society
5. Cutting health spending – especially in mental health
6. Profits before people, society and the environment
WTF are you on about stick to topic, re raising straw men , ad hominem and red herring arguements. You choose to be offended, it’s not imposed on you, no one has a right not to be offended by someone words or actions that are not illegal You of course have the right to disagree and counter with a more meritorious arguement or action , something that has been very lacking here on this thread
I find that comment offensive , please stop, do you get it now, if not we mywell stop here as I suggest you are incapable of reason
[lprent: Reading that comment thread, I’d strongly suggest that if you want to continue commenting on this site, then you’d better either get used to being offended as people respond to you. Basically you look like you are a idiot parrot with a phrasebook babbling crap. I have no idea if that is because that is who you are – ie because you are too stupid to say something sensible. Or if you are taking the piss (in one of several possible ways).
In any case, my scan through this thread indicates that you just look like a dumb troll. I don’t like trolls, and I have a standing policy of being extremely offensive to them as way of improving online behaviour. If you persist in acting like a troll, then you will discover who sets the rules about behaviour on this site. I will give you a hint – it isn’t you. Read the policy to find out what happens in reality. ]
One of four Muslim women targeted in four successive and unprovoked Islamophobic attacks on Wednesday said she was randomly punched in the face as she walked through the city wearing her headphones.
Maria Claudia Gimenez Wilson, a 39-year-old journalism student from Paraguay, is charged with assaulting the four women, aged 18-23, as they walked along busy roads near UTS in Ultimo on Wednesday afternoon.
[…]
A report by a Justice Health nurse said that Ms Wilson had schizoaffective disorder and “appears to be suffering persecutory beliefs”.
Ms Wilson, whose Facebook profile is littered with far right-wing and anti-Islamic material, interrupted proceedings to say that she was not unwell.
“The only thing I did was to take a bull cut [sic] to a Muslim lady,” she said. “I don’t see any problem with that.”
A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 15, 2024 thru Sat, December 21, 2024. Based on feedback we received, this week's roundup is the first one published soleley by category. We are still interested in ...
Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...
ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Are we heading ...
So the Solstice has arrived – Summer in this part of the world, Winter for the Northern Hemisphere. And with it, the publication my new Norse dark-fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens at Eternal Haunted Summer: https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/issues/winter-solstice-2024/as-our-power-lessens/ As previously noted, this one is very ‘wyrd’, and Northern Theory of Courage. ...
The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashEvery morning I get up at 3am to go around the traps of news sites in Aotearoa and globally. I pick out the top ones from my point of view and have been putting them into my Dawn Chorus email, which goes out with a podcast. ...
Over on Kikorangi Newsroom's Marc Daalder has published his annual OIA stats. So I thought I'd do mine: 82 OIA requests sent in 2024 7 posts based on those requests 20 average working days to receive a response Ministry of Justice was my most-requested entity, ...
Welcome to the December 2024 Economic Bulletin. We have two monthly features in this edition. In the first, we discuss what the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update from Treasury and the Budget Policy Statement from the Minister of Finance tell us about the fiscal position and what to ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have submitted against the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, slamming the Bill as a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an attack on tino rangatiratanga and the collective rights of Tangata Whenua. “This Bill seeks to legislate for Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles that are ...
I don't knowHow to say what's got to be saidI don't know if it's black or whiteThere's others see it redI don't get the answers rightI'll leave that to youIs this love out of fashionOr is it the time of yearAre these words distraction?To the words you want to hearSongwriters: ...
Our economy has experienced its worst recession since 1991. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 20 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below ...
Twas the Friday before Christmas and all through the week we’ve been collecting stories for our final roundup of the year. As we start to wind down for the year we hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas and new year. If you’re travelling please be safe on ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the year’s news with: on climate. Her book of the year was Tim Winton’s cli-fi novel Juice and she also mentioned Mike Joy’s memoir The Fight for Fresh Water. ...
The Government can head off to the holidays, entitled to assure itself that it has done more or less what it said it would do. The campaign last year promised to “get New Zealand back on track.” When you look at the basic promises—to trim back Government expenditure, toughen up ...
Open access notables An intensification of surface Earth’s energy imbalance since the late 20th century, Li et al., Communications Earth & Environment:Tracking the energy balance of the Earth system is a key method for studying the contribution of human activities to climate change. However, accurately estimating the surface energy balance ...
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 , ...
“Like you said, I’m an unreconstructed socialist. Everybody deserves to get something for Christmas.”“ONE OF THOSE had better be for me!” Hannah grinned, fascinated, as Laurie made his way, gingerly, to the bar, his arms full of gift-wrapped packages.“Of course!”, beamed Laurie. Depositing his armful on the bar-top and selecting ...
Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed a significant slowdown in the economy over the past six months, with GDP falling by 1% in September, and 1.1% in June said CTU Economist Craig Renney. “The data shows that the size of the economy in GDP terms is now smaller ...
One last thing before I quitI never wanted any moreThan I could fit into my headI still remember every single word you saidAnd all the shit that somehow came along with itStill, there's one thing that comforts meSince I was always caged and now I'm freeSongwriters: David Grohl / Georg ...
Sparse offerings outside a Te Kauwhata church. Meanwhile, the Government is cutting spending in ways that make thousands of hungry children even hungrier, while also cutting funding for the charities that help them. It’s also doing that while winding back new building of affordable housing that would allow parents to ...
It is difficult to make sense of the Luxon Coalition Government’s economic management.This end-of-year review about the state of economic management – the state of the economy was last week – is not going to cover the National Party contribution. Frankly, like every other careful observer, I cannot make up ...
This morning I awoke to the lovely news that we are firmly back on track, that is if the scale was reversed.NZ ranks low in global economic comparisonsNew Zealand's economy has been ranked 33rd out of 37 in an international comparison of which have done best in 2024.Economies were ranked ...
Remember those silent movies where the heroine is tied to the railway tracks or going over the waterfall in a barrel? Finance Minister Nicola Willis seems intent on portraying herself as that damsel in distress. According to Willis, this country’s current economic problems have all been caused by the spending ...
Similar to the cuts and the austerity drive imposed by Ruth Richardson in the 1990’s, an era which to all intents and purposes we’ve largely fiddled around the edges with fixing in the time since – over, to be fair, several administrations – whilst trying our best it seems to ...
String-Pulling in the Dark: For the democratic process to be meaningful it must also be public. WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE in New Zealand’s politicians and journalists steadily declining, restoring those virtues poses a daunting challenge. Just how daunting is made clear by comparing the way politicians and journalists treated New Zealanders ...
Dear Nicola Willis, thank you for letting us know in so many words that the swingeing austerity hasn't worked.By in so many words I mean the bit where you said, Here is a sea of red ink in which we are drowning after twelve months of savage cost cutting and ...
The Open Government Partnership is a multilateral organisation committed to advancing open government. Countries which join are supposed to co-create regular action plans with civil society, committing to making verifiable improvements in transparency, accountability, participation, or technology and innovation for the above. And they're held to account through an Independent ...
Today I tuned into something strange: a press conference that didn’t make my stomach churn or the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Which was strange, because it was about the torture of children. It was the announcement by Erica Stanford — on her own, unusually ...
This is a must watch, and puts on brilliant and practical display the implications and mechanics of fast-track law corruption and weakness.CLICK HERE: LINK TO WATCH VIDEOOur news media as it is set up is simply not equipped to deal with the brazen disinformation and corruption under this right wing ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting Secretary Erin Polaczuk is welcoming the announcement from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden that she is opening consultation on engineered stone and is calling on her to listen to the evidence and implement a total ban of the product. “We need ...
The Government has announced a 1.5% increase in the minimum wage from 1 April 2025, well below forecast inflation of 2.5%. Unions have reacted strongly and denounced it as a real terms cut. PSA and the CTU are opposing a new round of staff cuts at WorkSafe, which they say ...
The decision to unilaterally repudiate the contract for new Cook Strait ferries is beginning to look like one of the stupidest decisions a New Zealand government ever made. While cancelling the ferries and their associated port infrastructure may have made this year's books look good, it means higher costs later, ...
Hi there! I’ve been overseas recently, looking after a situation with a family member. So apologies if there any less than focused posts! Vanuatu has just had a significant 7.3 earthquake. Two MFAT staff are unaccounted for with local fatalities.It’s always sad to hear of such things happening.I think of ...
Today is a special member's morning, scheduled to make up for the government's theft of member's days throughout the year. First up was the first reading of Greg Fleming's Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, which was passed unanimously. Currently the House is debating the third reading of ...
We're going backwardsIgnoring the realitiesGoing backwardsAre you counting all the casualties?We are not there yetWhere we need to beWe are still in debtTo our insanitiesSongwriter: Martin Gore Read more ...
Willis blamed Treasury for changing its productivity assumptions and Labour’s spending increases since Covid for the worsening Budget outlook. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 18 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above ...
Today the Auckland Transport board meet for the last time this year. For those interested (and with time to spare), you can follow along via this MS Teams link from 10am. I’ve taken a quick look through the agenda items to see what I think the most interesting aspects are. ...
Hi,If you’re a New Zealander — you know who Mike King is. He is the face of New Zealand’s battle against mental health problems. He can be loud and brash. He raises, and is entrusted with, a lot of cash. Last year his “I Am Hope” charity reported a revenue ...
Probably about the only consolation available from yesterday’s unveiling of the Half-Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) is that it could have been worse. Though Finance Minister Nicola Willis has tightened the screws on future government spending, she has resisted the calls from hard-line academics, fiscal purists and fiscal hawks ...
The right have a stupid saying that is only occasionally true:When is democracy not democracy? When it hasn’t been voted on.While not true in regards to branches of government such as the judiciary, it’s a philosophy that probably should apply to recently-elected local government councillors. Nevertheless, this concept seemed to ...
Long story short: the Government’s austerity policy has driven the economy into a deeper and longer recession that means it will have to borrow $20 billion more over the next four years than it expected just six months ago. Treasury’s latest forecasts show the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s fiscal strategy of ...
Come and join myself and CTU Chief Economist for a pop-up ‘Hoon’ webinar on the Government’s Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) with paying subscribers to The Kākā for 30 minutes at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream to watch our chat. Don’t worry if ...
In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...
New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...
At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...
Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob HensonIn this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...
In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...
On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...
The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...
This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...
And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...
Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...
Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...
This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate.I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...
A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...
The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...
Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...
What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...
All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...
The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...
Legislation to enable new water service delivery models that will drive critical investment in infrastructure has passed its first reading in Parliament, marking a significant step towards the delivery of Local Water Done Well, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly say.“Councils and voters ...
New Zealand is one step closer to reaping the benefits of gene technology with the passing of the first reading of the Gene Technology Bill, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says. "This legislation will end New Zealand's near 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab and is ...
ByKoroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor New Zealand’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) says impending bad weather for Port Vila is now the most significant post-quake hazard. A tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to move into Vanuatu waters, bringing heavy rainfall. Authorities have issued warnings to people ...
Cosmic CatastropheThe year draws to a close.King Luxon has grown tired of the long eveningsListening to the dreary squabbling of his Triumvirate.He strolls up to the top floor of the PalaceTo consult with his Astronomer Royal.The Royal Telescope scans the skies,And King Luxon stares up into the heavensFrom the terrestrial ...
Spinoff editor Mad Chapman and books editor Claire Mabey debate Carl Shuker’s new novel about… an editor. Claire: Hello Mad, you just finished The Royal Free – overall impressions? Mad: Hi Claire, I literally just put the book down and I would have to say my immediate impression is ...
Christmas and its buildup are often lonely, hard and full of unreasonable expectations. Here’s how to make it to Jesus’s birthday and find the little bit of joy we all deserve. Have you found this year relentless? Has the latest Apple update “fucked up your life”? Have you lost two ...
Despite overwhelming public and corporate support, the government has stalled progress on a modern day slavery law. That puts us behind other countries – and makes Christmas a time of tragedy rather than joy, argues Shanti Mathias. Picture the scene on Christmas Day. Everyone replete with nice things to eat, ...
Asia Pacific Report “It looks like Hiroshima. It looks like Germany at the end of World War Two,” says an Israeli-American historian and professor of holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University about the horrifying reality of Gaza. Professor Omer Bartov, has described Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza as an ...
The New Zealand government coalition is tweaking university regulations to curb what it says is an increasingly “risk-averse approach” to free speech. The proposed changes will set clear expectations on how universities should approach freedom of speech issues. Each university will then have to adopt a “freedom of speech statement” ...
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone New York prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione with “murder as an act of terrorism” in his alleged shooting of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month. This news comes out at the same time as ...
Pacific Media Watch The union for Australian journalists has welcomed the delivery by the federal government of more than $150 million to support the sustainability of public interest journalism over the next four years. Combined with the announcement of the revamped News Bargaining Initiative, this could result in up to ...
MONDAY“Merry Xmas, and praise the Lord,” said Sheriff Luxon, and smiled for the camera. There was a flash of smoke when the shutter pressed down on the magnesium powder. The sheriff had arranged for a photographer from the Dodge Gazette to attend a ceremony where he handed out food parcels to ...
It’s a little under two months since the White Ferns shocked the cricketing world, deservedly taking home the T20 World Cup. Since then the trophy has had a tour around the country, five of the squad have played in the WBBL in Australia while most others have returned to domestic ...
Comment: If we say the word ‘dementia’, many will picture an older person struggling to remember the names of their loved ones, maybe a grandparent living out their final years in an aged care facility. Dementia can also occur in people younger than 65, but it can take time before ...
Piracy is a reality of modern life – but copyright law has struggled to play catch-up for as long as the entertainment industry has existed. As far back as 1988, the House of Lords criticised copyright law’s conflict with the reality of human behaviour in the context of burning cassette ...
As he makes a surprise return to Shortland Street, actor Craig Parker takes us through his life in television. Craig Parker has been a fixture on television in Aotearoa for nearly four decades. He had starring roles in iconic local series like Gloss, Mercy Peak and Diplomatic Immunity, featured in ...
The Ōtautahi musician shares the 10 tracks he loves to spin, including the folk classic that cured him of a ‘case of the give-ups’. When singer-songwriter Adam McGrath returns to Kumeu’s Auckland Folk Festival from January 24-27, he’s not planning on simply idling his way through – he wants the late ...
Alex Casey spends an afternoon on the job with River, the rescue dog on a mission to spread joy to Ōtautahi rest homes.Almost everyone says it is never enough time. But River the rescue dog, a jet black huntaway border collie cross, has to keep a tight pace to ...
Asia Pacific Report Fiji activists have recreated the nativity scene at a solidarity for Palestine gathering in Fiji’s capital Suva just days before Christmas. The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Fijians for Palestine Solidarity Network recreated the scene at the FWCC compound — a baby Jesus figurine lies amidst the ...
By 1News Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver and 1News reporters A number of Kiwis have been successfully evacuated from Vanuatu after a devastating earthquake shook the Pacific island nation earlier this week. The death toll was still unclear, though at least 14 people were killed according to an earlier statement from ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Scully, Professor in Modern History, University of New England Bunker.Image courtesy of Michael Leunig, CC BY-NC-SA Michael Leunig – who died in the early hours of Thursday December 19, surrounded by “his children, loved ones, and sunflowers” – was the ...
The House - On Parliament's last day of the year, there was the rare occurrence of a personal (conscience) vote on selling booze over the Easter weekend. While it didn't have the numbers to pass, it was a chance to get a rare glimpse of the fact ...
A new poem by Holly Fletcher. bejeweled log i was dreaming about wasps / wee darlings that followed me / ducking under objects / that i was fated to pickup / my fingers seeking / and meeting with tiny proboscis’s / but instead / i wake up / roll sideways ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flora Hui, Research Fellow, Centre for Eye Research Australia and Honorary Fellow, Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne Versta/Shutterstock Australians are exposed to some of the highest levels of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the world. While we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Terry, Professor of Business Regulation, University of Sydney Michael von Aichberger/Shutterstock Even if you’ve no idea how the business model underpinning franchises works, there’s a good chance you’ve spent money at one. Franchising is essentially a strategy for cloning ...
If something big is going to happen in Ferndale, it’s going to happen at Christmas. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If there’s one episode of Shortland Street you should watch each year, it’s the annual Christmas cliffhanger. The final episode of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William A. Stoltz, Lecturer and expert Associate, National Security College, Australian National University US President-elect Donald Trump has named most of the members of his proposed cabinet. However, he’s yet to reveal key appointees to America’s powerful cyber warfare and intelligence institutions. ...
Announcing the top 10 books of the the year at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (Faber & Faber, $37) The phenomenal Irish writer is the unsurprising chart topper for 2024 with her fourth novel that, much like her first ...
Nikki Kaye wants to see ‘healthy, well-rounded’ students’
Wonder if this means she’ll reinstate healthy food regulations at school that Anne Tolley got rid of in 2009.
Schools’ healthy food rule scrapped
Or is this just words as ever from the National Party?
And after she’s spoken to Tolley, a chat with Coleman about funding of mental health services will be needed too.
Canterbury families ‘struggling to cope’ as children wait ‘months’ for mental health help
Or is this just words as ever from the National Party?
And after she’s spoken to Coleman, a chat with ex National minister Rich, who pimps for big sugar, explaining how the government is going to ignore her lobbying for Coca Cola and other companies Rich represents.
The FGC won’t be cheering future announcements, Kaye will sY.
https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/nz-food-grocery-council-taxpayers-union-cheer-obesity-package-targets-education-health
Or are these just words from Kaye and her National minders?
Wonder if this means she’ll reinstate healthy food regulations at school that Anne Tolley got rid of in 2009.
Given that Labour’s “healthy food regulations” were a crock of shit, I certainly hope not.
They seemed to improve what primary schools did around food especially lower decile schools.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23216495
In what way?
@ Ed (1) … it’s election year, don’t forget! So expect many forked tongue statements to spew forth from Natz, between now and 23 September.
Trump’s tinpot dictatorship continues as he fires Sally Yates, Preet Bharara, and this week Comey, head of the FBI. All three were involved in the investigation of possible Russian meddling in the election. Trump will be eager to have the vacant head of the FBI position filled with a reliable yes-man.
https://theintercept.com/2017/05/10/after-james-comeys-firing-who-will-stop-trumps-tinpot-dictatorship/
This gave me a good laugh in stuff this am.
President Donald Trump blasted ousted FBI chief James Comey as a “showboat” and “grandstander” even as the agency’s acting leader contradicted the president’s account that the agency had been in turmoil before he fired Comey.
Comeys a showboat!!!!
Takes one to know one.
dv @ 2.1
Best example ever…..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_projection
Listen to this:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=201843559
Load up the fridge and get ready for a few days of hell fire and brimstone like we’ve rarely seen before. Incredible.
This behavior fascinates me. I see it as: ‘Sometimes the words we say are the words we most need to hear ourselves’. I believe it’s something that we are all guilty of to a degree, it manifests in so many situations and forms.
I catch myself doing it, suggesting someone do something a certain way and then consider, ‘Shheesh, if I’m so smart, why aren’t I doing that then?” I saw someone give 1 of 2 children a light swat on the bum the other day and say “Don’t hit your sister”. Ha! Can a message be any more mixed?
Trump’s Proceeds to drain the swamp as he fires Sally Yates, Preet Bharara, and this week Comey, head of the FBI. All three were involved in promoting perception of Russian meddling in the election. Trump will be eager to have the vacant head of the FBI position filled with a reliable competant person.
Fixed it for ya.
But Bernie sez –
To Xanthe,
For a start try spelling competent correctly!
Fixed it for ya.
The future.
https://futurism.com/elon-musk-just-announced-that-teslas-solar-roofs-will-have-an-infinity-warranty/
A great idea. I wonder if it is the glass that has the warranty rather than the photo sensitive cells? Existing panels/cells steadily loose their potency.
Musk presentation.
There is so much junk on the net. So many oysters, so few pearls. maybe our tastes are aligned Joe but I think you’re pretty good at finding pearls.
Mr Musk in the sort of high quality ‘All the pizazz’ presentation we used to get from Steve Jobs. I think I like it, it’s interesting. The face of Corporate Green. Big money neoliberal green. Spins my head man but I’m very pleased you stuck it infront of me, thanks.
Moreso that damn clown from the other day. I’ve watched that clip 5 times. Watching his earlier stuff it’s neat to track the progress of his chosen art form? I can’t decide if it’s very high end cutting edge art or junk. I love it but it’s doing my head in Joe.
Can already access this in NZ – be useful to see some estimated prices, but at least that option is there.
joe 90.Very interesting. A mixture of right wing enterprise and left wing sense. I now think that overall both camps should work together more. Less stress = less mental problems. Some money for business and cleaner planet for all. The rich pay we all gain for free in effect.
Afaict, somewhere near the cost of slate – > $300 /sqM.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-10/tesla-s-solar-roof-is-finally-ready-for-you-to-buy
http://www.refreshrenovations.co.nz/project-estimates/how-much-does-a-new-roof-cost/
That’d make it a no brainer for a new house or if the roof needs replacing.
Wonder what the price difference is between the two types of tile that they use:
That test on the link from Molly is wrong though as the tile is rotated through 90 degrees from the other tiles meaning that it’s actually got far more support.
BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: Massive online ACT Party data breach
http://thedailyblog.co.nz
[permanent link added – weka]
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2017/05/12/breaking-exclusive-massive-online-act-party-data-breach/
tricky ethical dilemma for the left. I wonder if Bradbury told them directly or left it to social media.
Wow, that’s serious and careless of the one man anti female pay equality party.
The left would be wise to not publicly exploit such an open door, leave it to the media, media should be reporting this as ACT party members and any names listed in the leak should be made aware that their details are out there for all to see
The left would also be wise to check their info is secure and read all the ACT party leak info available, insight and information is everything.
So anyone accessing this – are they any different to when Whale did something similar on the labour website?
Sounds similar to me on both respective web sites .Fair point james. Cinny does not the old saying ‘What’s good for the Goose is good for the Gander ” approach the type, or style, of logic that should apply here? I believe it should at first glance.
What, when he put a youtube video that looked like him reading instructions someone else gave him, as he showed viewers exactly how to gain unauthorised access?
Bradbury is a dick, which makes me think that he might not have informed ACT about their vulnerability a couple of hours before he put his post up. That having been said, it’s not like he gave everyone a “privacy violation for dummies” help video.
I’d give him a B+ if he gave them a heads up, a C- if he didn’t, and an E for slater’s attempt. Graded by ethics and competence.
Fair point.
But at least TDB appear to be giving ACT a heads up, am pretty sure whale blubber did not offer the same courtesy to Labour in the past.
Either way some questions should be addressed by Seymour to those affected by his unsecure database.
Is said data base now secure?
Have all people in database been contacted by ACT to reassure them?
Just heard on Natrad…Kathryn Ryan’s in depth discussion about government backing of polluting salmon farm by forcing change to Regional Plan.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201843586/salmon-stoush-exposes-rma-loophole
Devotes a rather stunning 30 minutes to this….
Thanks Rosemary. Very interesting though it would seem that there are shades of stopping ECan so that water actions can be forced through. This seems to be similar in that the District Council influence has been stopped also.
They kept saying that the Minister would decide but without naming him. It would be the infamous Nick Smith wouldn’t it?
Current Councillors have been very very quiet on the subject of protecting the Marlborough Sounds.
And “What future the magnificent Marlborough Sounds? ” by ex Councillor Peter Jerram.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/opinion/92333781/opinion-what-future-the-magnificent-marlborough-sounds
With long term connections to Marlborough, I can observe a change regarding local and outside control of the resources of Marlborough.
When the local authorities were reorganised, Marlborough had its own district council but a regional district council which involved Tasman as well. Our MP of the time, with local support, had Marlborough assume full control of the Regional Authority functions in a unitary authority.
When the Sounds were being quite adversely affected by the wash of fast ferries, the council did not have the will or the clout to control this. Then I wanted the wider input of a larger authority to be able to take action and also have a wider input, not so easily affected by purely local interests.
Now, it seems that wider commercial interests are thwarted by local control of significant commercial opportunity which are being denied because the district plan has designated parts of the Sounds as having significant landscape values.
Consequently, salmon farms are now pushing for changes. Larger government power is being used to affect this, over-riding local processes and values.
The Sounds have been degraded with commercial exploitation and population pressure- salmon, scallops, commercial and private fishing, forestry, housing.
The point of this is to point out that commercial interests tend to override local interests, and that control of local resources are also placed where commercial interests can overpower.
Marlborough is a third world economy within NZ. Its significant industries are largely controlled outside the region, its profits largely go outside the province, its wages are lower than the national average, we import foreign labour to support this situation, we suffer from rental and housing difficulties, and our workers are consistently exploited.
“Marlborough is a third world economy within NZ. Its significant industries are largely controlled outside the region, its profits largely go outside the province, its wages are lower than the national average, we import foreign labour to support this situation, we suffer from rental and housing difficulties, and our workers are consistently exploited.”
When I responded to a shower of ‘NZers are lazy and that’s why we need the foreign labourers.’ comments elsewhere on the web the owner/chief mod stepped in and shut the thread down. Seems it may only become a ‘political discussion’ (and hence attracts a ban on that particular site) when actual facts countering the rightist narrative are presented. Ho hum.
Thanks mac1 for your commentary on this. Insight from locals are most important.
It will be interesting to what response from locals if their democratically elected council is overridden by central government.
You mean *when* their council is over-ridden – that’s what’s happening with this situation. Smith has meddled in that region’s affairs many times before.
Maybe the New Zealand Labour Party could take note of Mr Chomsky….and we could all learn a thing or two about the future of Centrism …..
“In the extended interview, Davis asks Chomsky whether the Labour Party needs to split after the election. He notes the divide between the ‘Thatcher-lite party’ and the ‘Corbyn party’. Chomsky acknowledged that there were divisions. And he asserted:
These are internal problems to these decaying centrist institutions.
So according to Chomsky, the notion that the Labour Party can survive as a ‘centrist’ institution is over. It’s essentially dead in the water. But the BBC didn’t broadcast that claim. And it’s not hard to see why. Because the BBC has continuously championed supposedly centrist politicians. It’s apparently a supporter of, and a believer in, such ideals. And it has attacked people like Corbyn, who are attempting to orientate the party in a “democratic socialist” direction; a principle that the party is supposed to be defined by.”
https://www.thecanary.co/2017/05/11/heres-the-moment-from-yesterdays-newsnight-the-bbc-didnt-want-you-to-see-video/
Some commentators put up scares if our Labour suggests anything socialist
I think in order to scare Labour into an unwinnable Centrist position.
eg The demon Union spectre.
Full interview here…
I would vote for Corbin too.
With 8 weeks to go Corbyn is handing the Conservatives an even bigger majority in Commons.
And it’s never ever his fault.
Is Chomsky Corbyn’s sock puppet then?
Is this your way of saying you don’t support social democracy Ad?
You couldn’t tell me the exact time he says he will support Corbyn could you-I know I should listen to the whole lot but…..
testing.
~tui
Interesting reading for anyone that thinks Labour have a chance in the UK elections.
Its not looking good for you.
http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/homepage.html
My prediction is that Labour will do even worse (I guess its possible) after they release their manifesto .
I know its late james ,but I think you should be worried about NZ labours tactical election polls, and campaign. not pomy ones. Bit in the herald now about it , more to follow Sunday.
Reason #345 to protect NZ biodiversity. Tuatara aren’t lizards and they’re literally one of a kind,
https://twitter.com/ConversationEDU/status/862826343616045056
Plus they have a third eye. Not very common in nature, that.
James appears to have a third eye ,by what he’s posted above.
My mother had eyes in the back of her head.
LOL.
double lol. But has her family been around for 240 million years?
I bet a few of them look like it..
I assume you mean -mother in laws. Mothers are sweet, albeit with eyes in the back of their heads? Hmmm I’d better shut up –things are running away somewhat.
okay I’m going to say it
that nude ‘model’ flashing on Taranaki was disgusting to me – it showed everything wrong with the selfish, self centred idiot types who just are so self absorbed that all they care about is themselves and their publicity.
For this person to then blop on about that Māori not being indigenous shows what a very dim person this ‘model’ is.
Hey ‘model’ fuck off will you.
Every time Māori have to defend views and beliefs – every. fucken. time.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/92359296/the-cultural-divide-between-maori-and-pakeha
http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/92475284/maori-are-not-indigenous-playmate-reveals
Agree. Posing nude there is just so much sensationalist PR, and not worthy of the location.
And the associated stuff poll offers 2 views, which ignore the core issue – basically just refers to differing views.
Moari have a right to defend their views and not all Maori think alike, but like religion it does not mean every body has to accept somebody else’s metaphysical belief Drawing a long bow if superstition can dictate what a person can do on a whole bloody mountain when the only offense is to upset some ones belief, and after the event at that, people (all) just need to get over themselves and stop been so easily offended
that’s the bloody point – it ISN’T just a mountain for many – but whatever – engaging with the tripe you wrote is tedious, unproductive and a waste of my time. Keep believing everyone can do anything whenever their pea sized brain thinks of it and when they come and shit on your sensibilities don’t come moaning to me.
First the Virgin in a Condom, and now this.
Yeah, but the Virgin in a Condom was intended to be a dick move (sorry, I meant to type that it was a provocative piece designed to stimulate controversy about the relevance and role of religious thought in the modern age. Or something).
What’s her face was just looking for social media clicks.
Of course, a millennia or two scrapping over the Temple Mount and all the while, people (all) just need[ed] to get over themselves and stop been so easily offended, and everything would’ve been just fucking peachy, too.
Who knew!.
It is just a mountain that is the only fact rock and dirt, was there well before human existence and will be after, anything else is simply a metaphysical, superstitious belief that is also anybodies right to believe but not a right to impose on others lawful liberty
nah – you are talking rubbish – take your mechanistic viewpoint and, well, do whatever you like because you’re just a squeaking hinge anyway aren’t you?
But nor do people not have a right to point out when someone else is just being a dick.
Ulhuru does it well, it just has a sign that basically asks people to not be dicks and walk over the rock. Most people aren’t dicks, so they don’t climb the rock. Some people do climb the rock, but there’s a sign there so everyone knows they’re being a dick.
This woman gets publicity by taking her kit off in strange places. Fair enough. But in some of those places, that’s just placing your publicity-seeking ahead of everyone else’s feelings. Her doubling-down and making the “indiginous” comment was simply more dickish publicity seeking. red, don’t be like her. Don’t be a dick.
It’s a bit like if I pass a memorial service or meeting, let’s say an ANZAC service or a group of people grieving at the spot someone died. Now, I’m a bit of a dick, so I like swearing, and maybe if I’m drunk I might have done the occasional public urination. Dick move, fair call. But this service might be important to someone. Me taking a piss in the bushes right next to them would be a really dick move. I’m a bit of a dick, but I try not to be a massive dick. It might still be legal if they couldn’t see my dick, but they’d still know what I was doing. I’d be a massive dick. I don’t want to be a massive dick.
Be like me. Try not to be a massive dick. There’s no law against it, but it’s still a dick move. She’s just a dick, because she likes the publicity she gets by being a dick. Don’t be like her.
I get your line of arguement but for a metaphysical belief to control a whole mountain vs some ones freedom of expression is going to far, no matter how silly that freedom of expression is The act is Harmless barring upsetting the Marty snow flakes of the world, who chooses to be offended, which is his right. if it was not reported no one would even no, ie joe public walking up the mountain Starkers tomorrow, that’s the real test of how harmless the act really is
See if the penny drops.
damn, that brings it home. Loved the email address.
How far do you take this bill, a memorial structure commemorating a human event that happened vs a metaphysical belef about a whole mountain Not equivalent I would argue on these grounds and we are talking a whole mountain not a small to a degree private space
it’s a public space with a bunch of concrete blocks.
Different people have massively different emotional perspectives on it, as the link demonstrated.
Same with different mountains.
So you’re quite happy with people tramping all over our conservation estate, without respect for the environment: happy for people to be posing nude in a public domain in front of a diverse section of the public; happy for free campers pooing and tossing their slops on open countryside, etc, etc.?
sigh!
Posing nude on a mountain in private is not equivalent to posing nude in public How is been starkers and one with nature tramping all over the conservation estate Freedom campers Pooing all over the place is is health hazard and impinges on other people rights, standing starkers on a mountain alone is like a tree falling in the forrest with no one around, impacts nobody apart from snow flakes looking to be offended
It wasn’t posing nude in private on a mountain top. It was a photo shoot.
The whole metaphysical belief line is a red herring. If any culture has the right to determine its own cultural values, then that applies across the board to all cultures.
You obviously don’t think that and either believe that some cultures are special and deserve that right but Māori don’t, or that no cultures deserve that so you would be ok for the woman to have posed nude at an ANZAC day dawn service. Either way, as McFlock points out, you’re being a dick.
You’re happy till it all comes up against your values or beliefs red then you’ll weep and teeth gnash about how wrong it all is. You big freedom bods always do.
that’s the one.
Nup not at all, live and let live It’s a mountain volcano, if some one wants to go starkers up there more fool them, if some one gets upset because they think it offends the mountain and some how that offends them, well good on them but does not mean I have to take such offense seriously or rediculous equavalence been used to justify as such, think about it logically rather than emotionally , again the left pushes science and rationality to it suits them until it clashes with their primitive left ideology and identity politics
So basically you’re good? No issue. Starkers okay, getting upset okay. But somehow youve got offended because… the example used made you think you much?
Struggling with your meaning Marty, its s bit of a mumble ( it is Friday) , but I sort of get your gist, I am not offended at any one just challenging the fact that some people been offended by this action has any merit
Why do that. Why do you care if it doesn’t bother you.
So your position has changed from you boldly fighting tyranny with comments like “not a right to impose on others lawful liberty”, to you simply refusing to take other peoples’ beliefs and offense seriously.
I mean, nobody’s saying you have to share those beliefs, but you don’t have to be a completely inconsiderate dick about it, either.
I’ve seen the ‘Don’t make a dick of yourself’ theory work at Cable Bay in Northland. A young guy was lost diving for kaimoana on a rocky point/reef.
There was one simple cardboard and felt pen sign pinned up under the council info for the beach, dog rules, rubbish rules, camping rules, lighting fire rules etc. All those other guidelines we follow.
The Rangitira from the boy’s Iwi declared a rahui on the beach for a number of days. The Iwi had no rights to block access. The tribe’s wishes were respected en masse. The occasional van full of Germans needed the circumstances pointed out to them, they were free to make their own choice. By and large they were fascinated by the custom, wanted to know more and moved on to have a swim somewhere else in the 40 kms of bays and beaches.
I believe it enjoyed popular support. It prompted people to keep an eye open for the still missing corpse, it prompted people to find out something of the missing boy and the custom. Giving up access to Cable Bay for a week seemed a small price to pay. I’m not sure how the call would of gone down if the Rangitira had called for a 10 year Rahui. I think all parties were well served. A harmonious compromise as opposed to “I own this”
try this one red – I did a mindfulness exercise yesterday – write for 3 minutes or just think about it from this statement, “I know… ”
When I did it I realised that most of what I know has been taught or gleaned from others and even the stuff that comes directly into my brain via the senses is 2nd or 3rd hand electrontrickery – what actually do you KNOW red?
Ranting now Marty, settle
“people (all) just need to get over themselves and stop been so easily offended”
The irony is dripping at this point….
lol.
Yep i overestimated again.
I hate to nit-pick, but this is for such a troll… “It is just a mountain that is the only fact rock and dirt, was there well before human existence and will be after, …”
That may be true for some ancient alps like the Himalayas, but Egmont (Mt Taranaki) is a volcano, and quite possibly did not exist prior to the existence of humans.
I’m calling you out for your typical bullshit, Red. Do some research, and prove that statement you so boldly made. Prove that Mt Tarnaki’s existence predates the existence of the human species. I accuse you of being wrong – yet again.
And by pretending that the mountain predates all humans, Red seeks to belittle the cultural values of all humans – not just Maori. Fallacious and feeble, Red.
125000 years old http://www.teara.govt.co so does not predate Homo sapiens, but does human existence in nz by only 124200 years
Human existence in NZ is utterly irrelevant to your silly first assertion, by which you sought to belittle human cultural concerns – especially the ones you don’t like.
Now your just making stuff up
You’re, please. And it seems you don’t understand your own cacklemush.
Might want to check your own superstitious belief system first like why don’t you cross the centerline on the road, go to the toilet in the bushes, only drive if there’s a plastic label on your windscreen.
?
Entire concpet of ‘liberty’ is metaphysical nonsense mate.
😀
Yes by the primitive left
It’s not the Left that’s primitive but the RWNJs.
It’s the Right-wing that call for:
1. Punishing the poor for being poor
2. Putting more people in prison despite prison actually making things worse
3. War
4. Cutting taxes because of their greed despite the damage both cutting taxes and greed does to society
5. Cutting health spending – especially in mental health
6. Profits before people, society and the environment
And the list goes on.
Nobody has the right to affect others without those others permission.
Everything you do affects others.
Your liberty of always limited because of this. To say otherwise is to declare that you have the right to oppress others.
WTF are you on about stick to topic, re raising straw men , ad hominem and red herring arguements. You choose to be offended, it’s not imposed on you, no one has a right not to be offended by someone words or actions that are not illegal You of course have the right to disagree and counter with a more meritorious arguement or action , something that has been very lacking here on this thread
Just because something is legal doesn’t mean that it’s right.
Forget legal you don’t have a snow flake right to not be offended no matter how you want to twist it
You know what?
You’re becoming ever more incomprehensible with each comment.
I find that comment offensive , please stop, do you get it now, if not we mywell stop here as I suggest you are incapable of reason
[lprent: Reading that comment thread, I’d strongly suggest that if you want to continue commenting on this site, then you’d better either get used to being offended as people respond to you. Basically you look like you are a idiot parrot with a phrasebook babbling crap. I have no idea if that is because that is who you are – ie because you are too stupid to say something sensible. Or if you are taking the piss (in one of several possible ways).
In any case, my scan through this thread indicates that you just look like a dumb troll. I don’t like trolls, and I have a standing policy of being extremely offensive to them as way of improving online behaviour. If you persist in acting like a troll, then you will discover who sets the rules about behaviour on this site. I will give you a hint – it isn’t you. Read the policy to find out what happens in reality. ]
Consequences, but hey, free speech.
.
/
One of four Muslim women targeted in four successive and unprovoked Islamophobic attacks on Wednesday said she was randomly punched in the face as she walked through the city wearing her headphones.
Maria Claudia Gimenez Wilson, a 39-year-old journalism student from Paraguay, is charged with assaulting the four women, aged 18-23, as they walked along busy roads near UTS in Ultimo on Wednesday afternoon.
[…]
A report by a Justice Health nurse said that Ms Wilson had schizoaffective disorder and “appears to be suffering persecutory beliefs”.
Ms Wilson, whose Facebook profile is littered with far right-wing and anti-Islamic material, interrupted proceedings to say that she was not unwell.
“The only thing I did was to take a bull cut [sic] to a Muslim lady,” she said. “I don’t see any problem with that.”
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/four-muslim-women-punched-in-the-face-in-islamophobia-attacks-near-uts-ultimo-20170511-gw2pvy.html