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.
Reason #345 to protect NZ biodiversity. Tuatara aren’t lizards and they’re literally one of a kind,
We now know that the tuatara is the only living member of Rhynchocephalia, a reptile group that was widespread between 240mil-60mill yrs ago pic.twitter.com/0Wk7VgIOCg
— The Conversation (@ConversationEDU) May 12, 2017
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.”
Last night I stayed up till 3am just to see then-President Donald Trump leave the White House, get on a plane, and fly off to Florida, hopefully never to return. And when I woke up this morning, America was different. Not perfect, because it never was. Probably not even good, ...
Watching today’s inauguration of Joe Biden as the United States’ 46th president, there’s not a lot in common with the inauguration of Donald Trump just four destructive years ago. Where Trump warned of carnage, Biden dared to hope for unity and decency. But the one place they converge is that ...
Dan FalkBritons who switched on their TVs to “Good Morning Britain” on the morning of Sept. 15, 2020, were greeted by news not from our own troubled world, but from neighboring Venus. Piers Morgan, one of the hosts, was talking about a major science story that had surfaced the ...
Sara LutermanGrowing up autistic in a non-autistic world can be very isolating. We are often strange and out of sync with peers, despite our best efforts. Autistic adults have, until very recently, been largely absent from media and the public sphere. Finding role models is difficult. Finding useful advice ...
Doug JohnsonThe alien-like blooms and putrid stench of Amorphophallus titanum, better known as the corpse flower, draw big crowds and media coverage to botanical gardens each year. In 2015, for instance, around 75,000 people visited the Chicago Botanic Garden to see one of their corpse flowers bloom. More than ...
Getting to Browser Tab Zero so I can reboot the computer is awfully hard when the one open tab is a Table of Contents for the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, and every issue has more stuff I want to read. A few highlights: Gugler et al demonstrating ...
Timothy Ford, University of Massachusetts Lowell and Charles M. Schweik, University of Massachusetts AmherstTo mitigate health inequities and promote social justice, coronavirus vaccines need to get to underserved populations and hard-to-reach communities. There are few places in the U.S. that are unreachable by road, but other factors – many ...
Israel chose to pay a bit over the odds for the Pfizer vaccine to get earlier access. Here’s The Times of Israel from 16 November. American government will be charged $39 for each two-shot dose, and the European bloc even less, but Jerusalem said to agree to pay $56. Israel ...
Orla is a gender critical Marxist in Ireland. She gave a presentation on 15 January 2021 on the connection between postmodern/transgender identity politics and the current attacks on democratic and free speech rights. Orla has been active previously in the Irish Socialist Workers Party and the People Before Profit electoral ...
. . America: The Empire Strikes Back (at itself) Further to my comments in the first part of 2020: The History That Was, the following should be considered regarding the current state of the US. They most likely will be by future historians pondering the critical decades of ...
Nathaniel ScharpingIn March, as the Covid-19 pandemic began to shut down major cities in the U.S., researchers were thinking about blood. In particular, they were worried about the U.S. blood supply — the millions of donations every year that help keep hospital patients alive when they need a transfusion. ...
Sarah L Caddy, University of CambridgeVaccines are a marvel of medicine. Few interventions can claim to have saved as many lives. But it may surprise you to know that not all vaccines provide the same level of protection. Some vaccines stop you getting symptomatic disease, but others stop you ...
Back in 2016, the Portuguese government announced plans to stop burning coal by 2030. But progress has come much quicker, and they're now scheduled to close their last coal plant by the end of this year: The Sines coal plant in Portugal went offline at midnight yesterday evening (14 ...
The Sincerest Form Of Flattery: As anybody with the intestinal fortitude to brave the commentary threads of local news-sites, large and small, will attest, the number of Trump-supporting New Zealanders is really quite astounding. IT’S SO DIFFICULT to resist the temptation to be smug. From the distant perspective of New Zealand, ...
RNZ reports on continued arbitrariness on decisions at the border. British comedian Russell Howard is about to tour New Zealand and other acts allowed in through managed isolation this summer include drag queen RuPaul and musicians at Northern Bass in Mangawhai and the Bay Dreams festival. The vice-president of the ...
As families around the world mourn more than two million people dead from Covid-19, the Plan B academics and their PR industry collaborator continue to argue that the New Zealand government should stop focusing on our managed isolation and quarantine system and instead protect the elderly so that they can ...
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Jan 10, 2021 through Sat, Jan 16, 2021Editor's ChoiceNASA says 2020 tied for hottest year on record — here’s what you can do to helpPhoto by Michael Held on Unsplash ...
Health authorities in Norway are reporting some concerns about deaths in frail elderly after receiving their COVID-19 vaccine. Is this causally related to the vaccine? Probably not but here are the things to consider. According to the news there have been 23 deaths in Norway shortly after vaccine administration and ...
Happy New Year! No, experts are not concerned that “…one of New Zealand’s COIVD-1( vaccines will fail to protect the country” Here is why. But first I wish to issue an expletive about this journalism (First in Australia and then in NZ). It exhibits utter failure to actually truly consult ...
All nations have shadows; some acknowledge them. For others they shape their image in uncomfortable ways.The staunch Labour supporter was in despair at what her Rogernomics Government was doing. But she finished ‘at least, we got rid of Muldoon’, a response which tells us that then, and today, one’s views ...
Grigori GuitchountsIn November, Springer Nature, one of the world’s largest publishers of scientific journals, made an attention-grabbing announcement: More than 30 of its most prestigious journals, including the flagship Nature, will now allow authors to pay a fee of US$11,390 to make their papers freely available for anyone to read ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Gary Yohe, Henry Jacoby, Richard Richels, and Benjamin Santer Imagine a major climate change law passing the U.S. Congress unanimously? Don’t bother. It turns out that you don’t need to imagine it. Get this: The Global Change Research Act of 1990 was passed ...
“They’re here already! You’re next! You’re next! You’re next!”WHO CAN FORGET the penultimate scene of the 1956 movie classic, Invasion of the Body Snatchers? The wild-eyed doctor, stumbling down the highway, trying desperately to warn his fellow citizens: “They’re here already! You’re next! You’re next! You’re next!”Ostensibly science-fiction, the movie ...
TheOneRing.Net has got its paws on the official synopsis of the upcoming Amazon Tolkien TV series. It’s a development that brings to mind the line about Sauron deliberately releasing Gollum from the dungeons of Barad-dûr. Amazon knew exactly what they were doing here, in terms of drumming up publicity: ...
Since Dwight Eisenhower’s inauguration in 1953, US presidents have joined an informal club intended to provide support - and occasionally rivalry - between those few who have been ‘leaders of the free world’. Donald Trump, elected on a promise to ‘drain the swamp’ and a constant mocker of his predecessors, ...
For over a decade commentators have noted the rise of a new brand of explicitly ideological politics throughout the world. By this they usually refer to the re-emergence of national populism and avowedly illiberal approaches to governance throughout the “advanced” democratic community, but they also extend the thought to the ...
The US House of Representatives has just impeached Donald Trump, giving him the dubious honour of being the only US President to be impeached twice. Ten Republicans voted for impeachement, making it the most bipartisan impeachment ever. The question now is whether the Senate will rise to the occasion, and ...
Kieren Mitchell; Alice Mouton, Université de Liège; Angela Perri, Durham University, and Laurent Frantz, Ludwig Maximilian University of MunichThanks to the hit television series Game of Thrones, the dire wolf has gained a near-mythical status. But it was a real animal that roamed the Americas for at least 250,000 ...
Tide of tidal data rises Having cast our own fate to include rising sea level, there's a degree of urgency in learning the history of mean sea level in any given spot, beyond idle curiosity. Sea level rise (SLR) isn't equal from one place to another and even at a particular ...
Well, some of those chickens sure came home bigly, didn’t they… and proceeded to shit all over the nice carpet in the Capitol. What we were seeing here are societal forces that have long had difficulty trying to reconcile people to the “idea” of America and the reality of ...
In the wake of Donald Trump's incitement of an assault on the US capitol, Twitter finally enforced its terms of service and suspended his account. They've since followed that up with action against prominent QAnon accounts and Trumpers, including in New Zealand. I'm not unhappy with this: Trump regularly violated ...
Peter S. Ross, University of British ColumbiaThe Arctic has long proven to be a barometer of the health of our planet. This remote part of the world faces unprecedented environmental assaults, as climate change and industrial chemicals threaten a way of life for Inuit and other Indigenous and northern ...
Susan St John makes the case for taxing a deemed rate of return on excessive real estate holdings (after a family home exemption), to redirect scarce housing resources to where they are needed most. Read the full article here ...
I’m less than convinced by arguments that platforms like Twitter should be subject to common carrier regulation preventing them from being able to decide who to keep on as clients of their free services, and who they would not like to serve. It’s much easier to create competition for the ...
The hypocritical actions of political leaders throughout the global Covid pandemic have damaged public faith in institutions and governance. Liam Hehir chronicles the way in which contemporary politicians have let down the public, and explains how real leadership means walking the talk. During the Blitz, when German bombs were ...
Over the years, we've published many rebuttals, blog posts and graphics which came about due to direct interactions with the scientists actually carrying out the underlying research or being knowledgable about a topic in general. We'll highlight some of these interactions in this blog post. We'll start with two memorable ...
Yesterday we had the unseemly sight of a landleech threatening to keep his houses empty in response to better tenancy laws. Meanwhile in Catalonia they have a solution for that: nationalisation: Barcelona is deploying a new weapon in its quest to increase the city’s available rental housing: the power ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters, PhD The 2020 global wildfire season brought extreme fire activity to the western U.S., Australia, the Arctic, and Brazil, making it the fifth most expensive year for wildfire losses on record. The year began with an unprecedented fire event ...
NOTE: This is an excerpt from a digital story – read the full story here.Tess TuxfordKo te Kauri Ko Au, Ko te Au ko Kauri I am the kauri, the kauri is me Te Roroa proverb In Waipoua Forest, at the top of the North Island, New ...
Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... Story of the Week... Coming attraction: IPCC's upcoming major climate assessmentLook for more emphasis on 'solutions,' efforts by cities, climate equity ... and outlook for emissions cuts in ...
Ringing A Clear Historical Bell: The extraordinary images captured in and around the US Capitol Building on 6 January 2021 mirror some of the worst images of America's past.THERE IS A SCENE in the 1982 movie Missing which has remained with me for nearly 40 years. Directed by the Greek-French ...
To impact or not to impeach? I understand why some of those who are justifiably aghast at Trump’s behaviour over recent days might still counsel against impeaching him for a second time. To impeach him, they argue, would run the risk of making him a martyr in the eyes of ...
The Capitol Building, Washington DC, Wednesday, 6 January 2021. Oh come, my little one, come.The day is almost done.Be at my side, behold the sightOf evening on the land.The life, my love, is hardAnd heavy is my heart.How should I live if you should leaveAnd we should be apart?Come, let me ...
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Jan 3, 2021 through Sat, Jan 9, 2021Editor's ChoiceAfter the Insurrection: Accountability, Reform, and the Science of Democracy The poisonous lies and enablers of sedition--including Senator Hawley, pictured ...
This article, guest authored by Prof. Angela Gallego-Sala & Dr. Julie Loisel, was originally published on the Carbon Brief website on Dec 21, 2020. It is reposted below in its entirety. Click here to access the original article and comments. Peatlands Peatlands are ecosystems unlike any other. Perpetually saturated, their ...
The assault on the US Capitol and constitutional crisis that it has caused was telegraphed, predictable and yet unexpected and confusing. There are several subplots involved: whether the occupation of the Michigan State House in May was a trial run for the attacks on Congress; whether people involved in the ...
On Christmas Eve, child number 1 spotted a crack in a window. It’s a double-glazed window, and inspection showed that the small, horizontal crack was in the outermost pane. It was perpendicular to the frame, about three-quarters of the way up one side. The origins are a mystery. It MIGHT ...
Anne-Marie Broudehoux, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)Will the COVID-19 pandemic prompt a shift to healthier cities that focus on wellness rather than functional and economic concerns? This is a hypothesis that seems to be supported by several researchers around the world. In many ways, containment and physical distancing ...
Does the US need to strike a grand bargain with like-minded countries to pool their efforts? What does this tell us about today’s global politics? Perhaps the most remarkable editorial of last year was the cover leader of the London Economist on 19 November 2020. Shortly after Joe Biden was ...
Alexander Gillespie, University of Waikato and Valmaine Toki, University of WaikatoAotearoa New Zealand likes to think it punches above its weight internationally, but there is one area where we are conspicuously falling behind — the number of sites recognised by the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Globally, there are 1,121 ...
An event organised by the Auckland PhilippinesSolidarity group Have a three-course lunch at Nanam Eatery with us! Help support the organic farming of our Lumad communities through the Mindanao Community School Agricultural Foundation. Each ticket is $50. Food will be served on shared plates. To purchase, please email phsolidarity@gmail.com or ...
"Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here." Prisons are places of unceasing emotional and physical violence, unrelieved despair and unforgivable human waste.IT WAS NATIONAL’S Bill English who accurately described New Zealand’s prisons as “fiscal and moral failures”. On the same subject, Labour’s Dr Martyn Findlay memorably suggested that no prison ...
This is a re-post from Inside Climate News by Ilana Cohen. Inside Climate News is a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for the ICN newsletter here. Whether or not people accept the science on Covid-19 and climate change, both global crises will have lasting impacts on health and ...
. . American Burlesque As I write this (Wednesday evening, 6 January), the US Presidential election is all but resolved, confirming Joe Biden as the next President of the (Dis-)United State of America. Trump’s turbulent political career has lasted just four years – one of the few single-term US presidents ...
The session started off so well. Annalax – suitably chastised – spent a pleasant morning with his new girlfriend (he would say paramour, of course, but for our purposes, girlfriend is easier*). He told her about Waking World Drow, and their worship of Her Ladyship. And he started ...
In a recent column I wrote for local newspapers, I ventured to suggest that Donald Trump – in addition to being a liar and a cheat, and sexist and racist – was a fascist in the making and would probably try, if he were to lose the election, to defy ...
When I was preparing for my School C English exam I knew I needed some quotes to splash through my essays. But remembering lines was never my strong point, so I tended to look for the low-hanging fruit. We’d studied Shakespeare’s King Lear that year and perhaps the lowest hanging ...
When I went to bed last night, I was expecting today to be eventful. A lot of pouting in Congress as last-ditch Trumpers staged bad-faith "objections" to a democratic election, maybe some rioting on the streets of Washington DC from angry Trump supporters. But I wasn't expecting anything like an ...
A growing public housing waiting list and continued increase of house prices must be urgently addressed by Government, Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said today. ...
The Government has released its Public Housing Plan 2021-2024 which outlines the intention of where 8,000 additional public and transitional housing places announced in Budget 2020, will go. “The Government is committed to continuing its public house build programme at pace and scale. The extra 8,000 homes – 6000 public ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has congratulated President Joe Biden on his inauguration as the 46th President of the United States of America. “I look forward to building a close relationship with President Biden and working with him on issues that matter to both our countries,” Jacinda Ardern said. “New Zealand ...
A major investment to tackle wilding pines in Mt Richmond will create jobs and help protect the area’s unique ecosystems, Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor says. The Mt Richmond Forest Park has unique ecosystems developed on mineral-rich geology, including taonga plant species found nowhere else in the country. “These special plant ...
To further protect New Zealand from COVID-19, the Government is extending pre-departure testing to all passengers to New Zealand except from Australia, Antarctica and most Pacific Islands, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “The change will come into force for all flights arriving in New Zealand after 11:59pm (NZT) on Monday ...
Bay Conservation Cadets launched with first intake Supported with $3.5 million grant Part of $1.245b Jobs for Nature programme to accelerate recover from Covid Cadets will learn skills to protect and enhance environment Environment Minister David Parker today welcomed the first intake of cadets at the launch of the Bay ...
The Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Mark Brown have announced passengers from the Cook Islands can resume quarantine-free travel into New Zealand from 21 January, enabling access to essential services such as health. “Following confirmation of the Cook Islands’ COVID ...
Jobs for Nature funding is being made available to conservation groups and landowners to employ staff and contractors in a move aimed at boosting local biodiversity-focused projects, Conservation Minister Kiritapu Allan has announced. It is estimated some 400-plus jobs will be created with employment opportunities in ecology, restoration, trapping, ...
The Government has approved an exception class for 1000 international tertiary students, degree level and above, who began their study in New Zealand but were caught offshore when border restrictions began. The exception will allow students to return to New Zealand in stages from April 2021. “Our top priority continues ...
Today’s deal between Meridian and Rio Tinto for the Tiwai smelter to remain open another four years provides time for a managed transition for Southland. “The deal provides welcome certainty to the Southland community by protecting jobs and incomes as the region plans for the future. The Government is committed ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has appointed Anna Curzon to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). The leader of each APEC economy appoints three private sector representatives to ABAC. ABAC provides advice to leaders annually on business priorities. “ABAC helps ensure that APEC’s work programme is informed by business community perspectives ...
The Government’s prudent fiscal management and strong policy programme in the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic have been acknowledged by the credit rating agency Fitch. Fitch has today affirmed New Zealand’s local currency rating at AA+ with a stable outlook and foreign currency rating at AA with a positive ...
The Government is putting in place a suite of additional actions to protect New Zealand from COVID-19, including new emerging variants, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “Given the high rates of infection in many countries and evidence of the global spread of more transmissible variants, it’s clear that ...
$36 million of Government funding alongside councils and others for 19 projects Investment will clean up and protect waterways and create local jobs Boots on the ground expected in Q2 of 2021 Funding part of the Jobs for Nature policy package A package of 19 projects will help clean up ...
The commemoration of the 175th anniversary of the Battle of Ruapekapeka represents an opportunity for all New Zealanders to reflect on the role these conflicts have had in creating our modern nation, says Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Kiri Allan. “The Battle at Te Ruapekapeka Pā, which took ...
Babies born with tongue-tie will be assessed and treated consistently under new guidelines released by the Ministry of Health, Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Around 5% to 10% of babies are born with a tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, in New Zealand each year. At least half can ...
The prisoner disorder event at Waikeria Prison is over, with all remaining prisoners now safely and securely detained, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says. The majority of those involved in the event are members of the Mongols and Comancheros. Five of the men are deportees from Australia, with three subject to ...
Travellers from the United Kingdom or the United States bound for New Zealand will be required to get a negative test result for COVID-19 before departing, and work is underway to extend the requirement to other long haul flights to New Zealand, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. “The new PCR test requirement, foreshadowed last ...
Jacinda Ardern has reminded Labour MPs "ongoing vigilance" will be required in 2021 to avoid another Covid outbreak, admitting she held her breath over the summer break. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zareh Ghazarian, Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences, Monash University Despite many young Australians having a deep interest in political issues, most teenagers have a limited understanding about their nation’s democratic system. Results from the 2019 National Assessment Program – Civics and ...
Pinged $65 for overstaying 10 minutes in a parking block? Put away your hard-earned cash and read this first.Hopefully, by now, I’ve already established myself at The Spinoff as the resident tightarse, determined to avoid all unfair and unnecessary punishments (see: oversize baggage charges). Today, I’m focusing my attention on ...
Nuclear weapons states and their allies risk reputational ruin if they flout a new UN Treaty, Carolina Panico argues The United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons will come into force this month, on January 22, 2021, turning nuclear weapons into illegal objects. It is an achievement that ...
How does one turn into a rabid extremist over the description of a children’s bike? Emily Writes looks at Facebook comments so you don’t have to.You’ve been there, I know it. You’re scrolling along, trying to avoid QAnon conspiracy theories and Trump apocalypse memes when a story catches your eye. ...
Joe Biden is now the President of the United States and many people across America and throughout the world will consequently be breathing more easily. But while the erratic, unpredictable and irresponsible years of the Trump Presidency may be over, ...
Tough border testing for New Zealand honey imports to Japan is re-igniting the conversation about the use of the weed killer glypohsate in New Zealand. ...
The Taxpayers Union should be aware of the law and of the history of ACC. The ACC is a legal system introduced in 1974 to replace the common law right of accident victims to sue for damages for personal injury sustained as a result of negligence ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Denis Muller, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancing Journalism, University of Melbourne Terrorism, political extremism, Donald Trump, social media and the phenomenon of “cancel culture” are confronting journalists with a range of agonising free-speech dilemmas to which there are no easy answers. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Associate Professor of the Sydney Pharmacy School, University of Sydney You’ve just come from your monthly GP appointment with a new script for your ongoing medical condition. But your local pharmacy is out of stock of your usual medicine. Your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deanna D’Alessandro, Professor & ARC Future Fellow, University of Sydney On Wednesday this week, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was measured at at 415 parts per million (ppm). The level is the highest in human history, and is growing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Renwick, Professor, Physical Geography (climate science), Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington It might be summer in New Zealand but we’re in for some wild weather this week with forecasts of heavy wind and rain, and a plunge in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zareh Ghazarian, Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences, Monash University Despite many young Australians having a deep interest in political issues, most teenagers have a limited understanding about their nation’s democratic system. Results from the 2019 National Assessment Program – Civics and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle O’Shea, Senior Lecturer, School of Business, Western Sydney University Last week, the McIver’s Ladies Baths in Sydney came under fire for their (since removed) policy stating “only transgender women who’ve undergone a gender reassignment surgery are allowed entry”. The policy was ...
There are good grounds for optimism after the guardrails of American democracy held firm through to Joe Biden's inauguration today as President, writes Stephen Hoadley Pessimism abounds about the perilous condition of American democracy. Commentators and headline writers proffer memes such as ‘broken and divided nation’, ‘the threat from within’. ...
*This article was originally appeared on RNZ and is republished with permission. Donald Trump will forever be remembered as the president who was impeached twice - and for his rhetoric that struck a chord so deep in America that it will take years to dissipate. Donald Trump leaves Washington with the lowest approval ...
A new plan shows how and where the Government will build 8,000 new state housing places it funded in Budget 2020, Marc Daalder reports Jacinda Ardern has kicked off the political year with a major announcement, promising hundreds of new state housing places in regional centres across the country. With ...
This is the full transcript of President Joe Biden's speech after being sworn in at his inauguration this morning in Washington DC Chief Justice Roberts, Vice President Harris, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Vice President Pence, and my distinguished guests, my fellow Americans, this is America's day. This ...
Analysis: President Donald Trump has left the White House, and his deputy chief of staff confirms he is withdrawing his candidacy to lead the OECD. New Zealander Christopher Liddell withdrew his nomination to be Secretary-General of the powerful 37-member OECD and was one of the last members of the Trump Administration to depart ...
Kate Wills is facing stage four cancer with the same fierce approach she takes into her ocean swimming - never say can't. Even on the mornings Kate Wills feels wretched from her fortnightly chemotherapy treatment, she drags herself up at 5am and goes swimming. “I have to. It’s my job – to ...
Some costs associated with meetings speak for themselves, others are less conspicuous. Victoria University of Wellington's Val Hooper lays those costs out, making suggestions on where we can rein them in. Meetings – when last did we count the costs? And so it’s back to work and one of the ...
Andrew Paul Wood assesses the best-selling picture book by Grahame Sydney It's no great secret the commercially very successful Grahame Sydney has a long-standing beef that his work doesn’t receive more critical and institutional approval. I sympathise about the lack of critical attention, but I can understand why. The Discourse™ ...
This story was produced in collaboration with the Center for Public Integrity and Columbia Journalism Investigations. It was originally published by Public Integrity, Mother Jones, The Arizona Republic and Orlando Sentinel. It is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the ...
Analysis: It has been easy to ignore anyone daring to criticise or even question any aspect of the government’s Covid-19 response. Their voices have rarely been heard, and when they have been raised they have been quickly and decisively howled down by the favoured coterie of academics. ...
Welcome to The Spinoff’s US presidential inauguration live blog: inauguration news, analysis and reaction, updated through Wednesday and Thursday. The inauguration ceremony begins at 5.15am Thursday, NZ time, and Joe Biden takes the oath of office around 6am. 7.25am: And what about Trump?In the early hours of this morning, NZ ...
In 10 x 100, we survey a group of 100 people via Stickybeak and ask them 10 questions. Last month we quizzed Wellingtonians. Today, we ask NZ drivers how they’ve found a holiday period without international tourists, and what they get up to while they’re on the road.Across Aotearoa roads ...
Emmanuel Macron's anti-separatist policies have garnered backlash from the international Muslim community. Now, a global coalition has complained to the UN. ...
Summer reissue: Join Michèle A’Court, Alex Casey and Leonie Hayden as they go on an odyssey of women’s rage, and find out how we can channel our anger into good. First published September 15, 2020.Independent journalism depends on you. Help us stay curious in 2021. The Spinoff’s journalism is funded by ...
By Lorraine Ecarma in Cebu City The University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) will continue to stand against any threats to human rights, chancellor Clement Camposano has declared in response to the termination of a long-standing accord preventing military incursion on campus. In a Facebook post, Camposano said the academic ...
ANALYSIS:By Jennifer S. Hunt, Australian National University Every four years on January 20, the US exercises a key tenant of democratic government: the peaceful transfer of power. This year, the scene looks a bit different. If the last US presidential inauguration in 2017 debuted the phrase “alternative facts”, the ...
By Lulu Mark in Port Moresby In spite of Papua New Guinea’s mandatory mask-wearing requirement under the National Pandemic Act 2020, many public servants attending a dedication service in Port Moresby have failed to wear one. They were issued masks before entering the Sir John Guise Indoor Complex but took ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Moro, Associate Professor of Science & Medicine, Bond University How do scabs form? — Talila, aged 8 Great question, Talila! Our skin has many different jobs. One is to act as a barrier, protecting us from harmful things in the ...
US President Donald Trump is pardoning former White House adviser Steve Bannon, who is accused of fraud in a case involving funds for the border wall. ...
Joel Little with Lorde, Dera Meelan with Church & AP, Josh Fountain with Maala and Randa and Benee – producers make good songs great. Now a new fund from NZ on Air is putting the focus on them.Six months ago it looked like the music industry was on the brink ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Denise Buiten, Senior Lecturer in Social Justice and Sociology, University of Notre Dame Australia On average, one child is killed by a parent almost every fortnight in Australia. Last week, three children — Claire, 7, Anna, 5, and Matthew, 3 — were ...
This commendable and realistic decision again underlines that it is the police, not government, who are largely responsible for the reduction in cannabis prosecutions over the past 15 years, writes Russell Brown.The news that New Zealand police have discontinued the annual Helicopter Recovery Operation, which has, each summer for more ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ilan Noy, Professor and Chair in the Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington We will not be able to put the COVID-19 pandemic behind us until the world’s population is mostly immune through vaccination ...
Welcome to The Spinoff’s US inauguration live blog: inauguration news, analysis and reaction, updated throughout Wednesday and Thursday, NZ time. Reach me at catherine@thespinoff.co.nz.4.00pm: What will Trump be doing tomorrow?It’s pretty well known by now that outgoing president Donald Trump intends to throw out the rulebook when it comes to ...
The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is calling out Mayor Phil Goff for his undignified comment that the claim made by Councillor Greg Sayers asking why Auckland Council is funding yoga classes is “bullshit.” Yesterday, Councillor Greg Sayers penned ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Melbourne At 4am Thursday AEDT, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be inaugurated as president and vice president of the United States, replacing Donald Trump and Mike Pence. What follows is ...
*This article was originally published on RNZ and is republished with permission. New Zealanders flocked to beaches and lakes this summer, but it wasn't enough to fill the gap left by international tourists in other regions. The tourism industry is struggling to fill a $6 billion hole left by international tourists ...
Summer reissue: Chef Monique Fiso joins us for a chat about Hiakai – her acclaimed Wellington restaurant, and the title of her stunning new book.First published November 3, 2020.Independent journalism depends on you. Help us stay curious in 2021. The Spinoff’s journalism is funded by its members – click here to learn ...
A new trough was brought to our attention this morning, although ethnicity will limit the numbers of eligible applicants. If you are non-Maori, it looks like you shouldn’t bother getting into the queue – but who knows?We learned of the trough from the Scoop website, where the Kapiti ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Britta Denise Hardesty, Principal Research Scientist, Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, CSIRO Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing costs economies up to US$50 billion globally each year, and makes up to one-fifth of the global catch. It’s a huge problem not only for the ...
Police stopping major cannabis eradication operations has given the green light to drug dealers and gangs to expand operations, make more profit, and continue to wreak havoc on the most vulnerable in our society, says Sensible Sentencing Trust. ...
Varieties of merino wool footwear are emerging faster than Netflix series about British aristocracy. Michael Andrew takes a look at the rise of the shoe that almost everyone – including his 95-year-old grandma – is wearing.Some might say it all started with Allbirds. After all, to the average consumer, it ...
A new report from New Zealand’s Independent Monitoring Mechanism (IMM) highlights the realities and challenges disabled people faced during the COVID-19 emergency. The report, Making Disability Rights Real in a Pandemic, Te Whakatinana i ngā Tika ...
The Maritime Union is questioning the reasons provided for ongoing delays at the Ports of Auckland. Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Craig Harrison says there is a need for an honest conversation about what has gone wrong at the ...
As New Zealand faces a dire shortage of veterinarians, a petition has been launched urging the Government to reclassify veterinarians as critical workers so we can Get Vets into NZ. “New Zealand desperately needs veterinarians from overseas to counter ...
New Zealand is fast developing a reputation as a South Pacific vandal, says Greenpeace, as the government continues to fight against increased ocean protection. At the upcoming meeting of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO), ...
The Department of Internal Affairs and Netsafe are urging parents and caregivers to be mindful of the online content their tamariki may be consuming in the lead up to the inauguration of president-elect of the United States of America Joe Biden ...
Care is at the centre of Auckland Zoo’s mandate, and it’s clear to see when you witness the staff doing their day-to-day jobs up close. Leonie Hayden went behind the scenes to talk to two people who would do anything for the animals they look after. “We were having this ...
The Game Animal Council (GAC) is applying its expertise in the use of firearms for hunting to work alongside Police, other agencies and stakeholder groups to improve the compliance provisions for hunters and other firearms users. The GAC has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Verica Rupar, Professor, Auckland University of Technology “The lie outlasts the liar,” writes historian Timothy Snyder, referring to outgoing president Donald Trump and his contribution to the “post-truth” era in the US. Indeed, the mass rejection of reason that erupted in a ...
The internet ain’t what it used to be, thanks to privacy issues, data leaks, censorship and hate speech. But a group of New Zealanders are working on a way to give power back to the people. A flood of headlines over the last week made it clear: the internet has become ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Brooks, Scientia Professor of Evolutionary Ecology; Academic Lead of UNSW’s Grand Challenges Program, UNSW The views of women and men can differ on important gendered issues such as abortion, gender equity and government spending priorities. Surprisingly, however, average differences in sex ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer S. Hunt, Lecturer in National Security, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Every four years on January 20, the US exercises a key tenant of democratic government: the peaceful transfer of power. This year, the scene looks a bit ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Collins, Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle In Australia and around the world, research is showing changes in body weight, cooking, eating and drinking patterns associated with COVID lockdowns. Some changes have been positive, such as people cooking ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hao Tan, Associate professor, University of Newcastle Australian coal exports to China plummeted last year. While this is due in part to recent trade tensions between Australia and China, our research suggests coal plant closures are a bigger threat to Australia’s export ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Asha Bowen, Head, Skin Health, Telethon Kids Institute A year ago, in late January 2020, Australia reported its first cases of COVID-19. Since then, we have seen almost 29,000 confirmed cases and 909 deaths. As cases climbed in Australian cities in 2020, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin Davis, Emeritus Professor of Finance, University of Melbourne Political pressure forced the federal government in 2017 – when Scott Morrison was treasurer – to call the royal commission into misconduct in the banking, superannuation and financial services sector. Commissioner Kenneth Hayne ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justin Ellis, Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Newcastle, University of Newcastle The Rise and Fall of Saint George is a story about place, belonging and community that taps into universal tensions of identity and faith in multicultural societies. Playing for ...
An in-depth analysis of media coverage of the euthanasia and cannabis referendums has found that while both sides of the euthanasia referendum were given reasonably fair and balanced coverage, the YES position in the cannabis debate received a heavily ...
*This article was originally published on RNZ and is republished with permission Auckland has no plans to hand over the ownership of it assets under the government's planned water reforms, with Auckland Mayor Phil Goff saying his top priority is to ensure it stacks up for the city. Despite ...
Auckland Transport is putting nine new electric buses on the roads today, as it dramatically accelerates its plans to get rid of all its diesel buses – in a funding challenge to the council. Public transport operators are being told to not buy any more diesel buses or risk losing their council ...
Summer reissue: Join Michèle A’Court, Alex Casey and Leonie Hayden as they find out exactly what we’re voting on in the cannabis referendum, and discover how legalising weed is a women’s issue.First published August 4, 2020.Independent journalism depends on you. Help us stay curious in 2021. The Spinoff’s journalism is ...
A principal analyst for the Climate Change Commission says more needs to be done to reduce agricultural emissions or the country will miss its methane targets. ...
New Zealand needs to be bold in making developers enhance the environment - not just limit its degradation, writes Stephen Knight-Lenihan All human activity should help restore the natural world. This is a concept that may resonate following the upheavals of 2020 and one which is beginning to appear in law. Imagine ...
Derek Challis, son of the legendary author Robin Hyde, died last Thursday. Michelle Leggott pays tribute He opens a suitcase and there they are, the precious manuscript notebooks written by his poet mother Iris Wilkinson aka Robin Hyde. We are in Dunedin for a Hyde conference. Yes, says Derek Arden ...
Former New Zealand gymnast Katya Nosova is now a champion bodybuilder, who was prepared to spend Christmas alone in quarantine to compete in the 'Olympics' of her sport. Katya Nosova was willing to do everything she could to pose on the world stage in her third Ms Olympia. Despite a ...
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,
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