‘
According to John Key, the Maori Party are prepared to be with him in a coalition arrangement with Brash.
Prime Minister John Key said a National coalition with both the Maori and ACT parties after the election would still be workable.
stuff.co.nz
Meanwhile though prepared to work with Brash in coalition with National, the Maori Party have decided not to honour their agreement with Harawira, not to run against each other.
How can this be wise?
Breaking their agreement with Harawira, in itself is not a good look. To do it for the benefit of the Nats and their coalition partner ACT is even worse.
I believe the Maori Party are making a serious tactical mistake in underestimating the the potential support that Mana will gain in the wider electorate.
It is likely that in a three way split in reward for their treachery, the Maori Party will retain only one seat in parliament after election.
This result would exactly replicate that of Jim Anderton after his betrayal of his own followers against their overwhelming opposition to the bloody war in Afghanistan.
Like Anderton, Turia will receive a sinecure little back office position from her coalition partner in reward for her treachery, achieving nothing further worthwhile for her people. To suffer being patronised in public, but quietly mocked behind her back by her coalition partners.
I think it was interesting rather than game changing or party saving. And Sharples – I’m not in New Zealand by anyone’s invitation, I was naturally born in this country!
Yet another announcement of a poll from TV3 this morning this time stating that 70% of Christchurch residents are very pleased with the government’s response to the earthquakes. No mention of who was asked, what was asked, and when the poll was taken.
I no longer take TV3s coverage of news and politics seriously. They are just an arm of the Nat propaganda machine. I’ve got better and more productive things to do with my time than watch TV3 news or The Ntion.
Ditto TV1 and Prime News as well. Their news presenters spend their time apparently reading National Party press releases, sport news and then weather.
Oh, come on HS. TV3 has gone beyond the line the way it promotes National Party lines these days – especially Duncan Garner. I prefer TV1 & Stratos these days for TV news, and RNZ in particular for NZ news & current events. TV1 also slants to the right more often than not.
That’s always the weak argument used against criticisms of media bias. But I stand by my judgement about TV3. Sometimes TV3 does more positive Labour/left reports, but most of the time it slants to the right. So WHEN it does do a positive left story, it’s worth taking note of and repeating.
The NoW debacle shows just how much media can interfere with political process, and cofirms my judgement from following UK media, that Brown was being undermined by the media.
Also, Dr Margie Comrie has done some research of the coverage of TV news during the last NZ election. I’ve seen her talking about it. Although her focus was on Maori TV, the data shows a bias by TV One & TV3 towards Key & National over Clark & Labour Dduring the 2008 election period. This is seen in the fact that there was a higher percentage of face time given to Nats/Key over Labour & Clark. Key was in the 40-50% range & Clark in the 30-40% range. Maori TV on the other hand were more slanted to Labour & the Maori Party.
The NoW story is proof that we can’t leave news reporting to the private sector as it’s essentially corrupt. They did everything that the privatisers say that government supported news would do. Hell, they were actually worse, the privatisers say that government news would do what the government tells them but in the UK the politicians were doing what the Rupert Murdoch told them.
Along the lines of what I’ve said in the past on TS … the UK Fourth Estate reveals itself to be financially owned and morally mortgaged to the Tory Estate.
Reminds me of the news services in Iraq or Libya where the dictator of the day is proudly announced to have won 98% support in the latest elections. That’s some real vindication there.
When his photo-ops are losing the shine, he desperately looks for issues to fan the fires of public debate. Last week, he attempted euthanasia – stirring a discussion that is. This week, it is asylum seekers but he can’t get much traction as it is evident he is morally bankrupt.
The left should not lose focus on the economy, for which opportunities for improvement and growth have been mismanaged and squandered by this administration.
Gawd. Key must be counting his lucky stars. Just as he and National are on the ropes he gets the chance to engage in a little bit of redneck rascism, and not about ACT either.
No doubt Key is hoping that the debate about Asylum seekers gets as heated as in Australia. When I was there recently I could not believe that a couple of hundred people fleeing their country and wanting to settle in a country of 20 million could attract such heat. The issue seemed to be the political story of the day.
The chances of a boat actually reaching New Zealand are remote beyond belief. Why bypass Australia and travel thousands of miles to reach a similar nation?
And so much for the rule of law. International law requires a country to accept refugees and to consider their claim for status properly. Compassion requires the same.
But what are such considerations when there is an election to win …
He did not have to say a thing. If he was going to say something he should have said that New Zealand is bound by international law and would abide by its obligations.
Bullshit, in this instance he said exactly the correct thing and you’re just practicing partisan political hackery because it didn’t come out of the mouth of a Labour politician.
Step back and imagine the same words coming out of Helen Clark’s mouth and reconsider your position.
I recall clearly Helen Clark’s Government deciding to accept 750 Afghani refugees from the Tampa after John Howard’s government refused to allow it to land. I cheered at the time.
I have since met a number of them and they are very decent generous people.
Helen would not only have talked differently she has shown that she would have decided differently. No dog whistle for her, just compassion.
The Labour Party is also saying no to Sri Lankan asylum seekers.
A group of boat people detained in Indonesia have been seen showing signs that they want to come to New Zealand.
The Government has rejected them.
Labour leader Phil Goff holds a similar view and says we can’t run immigration policy on sympathy and let everyone that turns up her into the country.
He says the way to go is meet our responsibilities with our refugee quota, not promote gain for people smugglers who’re making money out of the misery of others.
By your reasoning Phil is showing his incompassion, nyet?
Labour leader Phil Goff agreed refugees should only be accepted if they came through the official channels.
However, he would not agree with the Prime Minister’s choice of words that the asylum seekers were “not welcome”.
“I’d put it in a different way. I think that shows a lack of human feeling for the suffering of the individuals concerned.”
The Prime Minster was building the situation into a bigger problem than it was, he said.
“It is a potential problem. Not one person has every come by boat to New Zealand. You can’t rule it out entirely. But it is not an overwhelming threat to New Zealand.”
And how the frak do you know they are economic refugees, and not a community being persecuted for their involvement in the Sri Lankan civil war?
Reports say they are Tamils and if they directly supported the losing side in that war they are now screwed and their lives under official or unofficial threat.
Don’t be such an a-hole before you know the facts, and don’t be like John Key who couldn’t give a fuck about any of that minor detail.
Aye. Geriatric serial-adulterer racists who have just ripped off the taxpayers half a bill for a worthless report are welcome in government but persecuted women and kids in fear of their lives can’t get a toe on the beach. Lovely chaps, these NACTZies.
The Nicholson term in Federated Farmers ended with sighs of relief from the agribusiness and agripolitical fraternity. Nicholson went out a fortnight ago, with rantings echoing Brash on the usual suspects – local bodies, Big Govt, climate change denial etc etc.
More moderate characters have now been elected to Feds national leadership, with an apparently genuine urban-friendly look. So even Feds will be backing away from their previous leader.
Looks like another futile attempt at ACT life support. John Key’s enthusiasm for euthanasia should be applied to political parties.
The refugees are indeed unlikely to get here, since according to the story they have already been arrested in Indonesia, and sent to the the controversial processing centre near Malaysia. When I was in Australia recently it was pointed out to me that about 3,000 people a year try to get into Australia off the boats, while a great many more than that are brought in as “experts” to work, their expertise often being a willingness to work for low wages. The former generate a lot of talk back heat, while the latter are virtually ignored. What is creepy and Orwellian though is the way these sorts of stories are internationalised – it’s as if there are news bite forms, for which particulars are sought to add colour, detail and “authenticity” to a concept. If it worked in Australia or perhaps America, the idea seems to be, then let’s run it up the flag pole here and see if anyone salutes it.
“Just as he and National are on the ropes” What ? “On the ropes” would indicate a lack of support and a party which is dysfunctional in the extreme. Even you can’t believe that, or are you thinking of the leaderless Labour Party ? Just because you say it to an already converted audience smacks of cheerleading. Polls and public opinion would disagree with your statements, as I believe the important “poll” at the end of the year will as well. Given the vacuum of opposition policies and personalities, its no wonder they will barely have to try to beat a splintered left wing.
Like most of us, in my professional and my private life, I speak to a wide variety of people.
The one thing i do not see in the real world, that is reported repeatedly in the media and the infamous Polls, is this supposed supremacy of the National Party as preferred leaders of the country. The last few months however I constantly hear from long time National supporters that they do not agree with what the Government is doing and they have no intention of voting for them in November.
One old timer, a wealthy stalwart of the Nats told me the other day this is the worst Government they can remember in New Zealand’s history and he has already watched three of his grandchildren leave NZ with no intention of returning. I have certainly been impressed by the voracity some of these people express when shown the morsels of ineptitude by this Government.
If we could only get the Fourth Estate functioning again , then Democracy may stand a chance.
“The Contracting States shall not impose penalties, on account of their illegal entry or presence, on refugees who, coming directly from a territory where their life or freedom was threatened in the sense of article 1, enter or are present in their territory without authorization, provided they present themselves without delay to the authorities and show good cause for their illegal entry or presence.”
CV there’s a number of country’s they could seek refugee status in before taking the dangerous journey to our shores. Why not other asian countries ? Why not India ? Why not Indonesia or the Phillipines ? Why not Australia ?
CV there’s a number of country’s they could seek refugee status in before taking the dangerous journey to our shores. Why not other asian countries ? Why not India ? Why not Indonesia or the Phillipines ? Why not Australia ?
Why NZ ?
You’re trotting out the same tired arguments that were being used against Ahmed Zaoui in 2002-4, and with the same lack of logic. Do you really think these people have any kind of a choice? If they did they wouldn’t be in a boat, and would not have already been arrested, as Olwyn says above.
Ahmed Zaoui was eventually released and the sky didn’t fall. It’s not going to fall if 150 Tamils come here. We’ve got plenty of room, for goodness’ sake, and plenty else as well, contrary to what I heard Key say on the news this morning…
Why on earth would they want to sail more than half way around the world to come here when there’s a multitude of other countries closer by
Because NZ has a reputation for kindness and giving a shit. Especially about seriously listening to the stories of refugees and people seeking asylum from persecution in their home lands. Well, more of a reputation than the Australians.
What of it?
By the way, plenty of people sailed all the way around the world to make their lives here in NZ in the 1800’s, when they too could have chosen a multitude of other countries closer by.
“Argentine songwriter and singer Facundo Cabral, an icon of Latin American folk and protest music, was shot to death early Saturday by unknown gunmen who intercepted his car in Guatemala City and pumped it full of bullets.
…
Cabral, born to a dirt-poor family in provincial Argentina, rose to fame in the 1970s primarily as a writer and performer of protest songs, at a time when Latin America was shackled by military dictatorships, coups and crises. He went into exile in Mexico during Argentina’s military junta from 1976 to 1983.
…
In 1996 UNESCO named him an “international messenger of peace,” and themes of peace and brotherhood dominated his later work.”
Stuff poll currently at 79.2% against helping the boat people
Once again I am ashamed and embarrassed at the growing disregard for others being expressed by people who call themselves New Zealanders. This is not the country i was raised to believe in, this is a quagmire of greedy and selfish sycophants who deserve the pain to come if they continue down this road to hegemony
If the boat has an Austrian-Jewish refugee lady and this were a few decades ago, isn’t it nice to know he would tell her she is unwelcome and turn her away? And New Zealand better off for that?
Turning back the boat could be his new metaphor for kicking away the ladder?
Anyway, the Left should stay focused on the current economic issues and call their own shots as to when and how the asylum issues would be debated.
This year, more so than most, every single person has to be reminded they have a choice to make. The choice today is how much longer we want the degradation of our Nation to continue.
All cliches aside, help each other and we win. Hate each other and we lose.
I hear that at the Pike River enquiry, Pikey lawyers cross examining Don Elder are suggesting his comments yesterday were aimed at driving down PRC’s share price so that Solid Energy can get a better price.
I’m pretty sure that the commissioners will see different things from that line of attack than what the lawyers want.
Interesting comment from John Key in Question Time today, in response to a question by Brendon Burns. The question was about Key’s Hard Talk comment that scientists are like lawyers and he could always find a scientist with an alternative scientific view on NZ’s 1000% pure status. Today Key added economists to the list of people who have as diverse views as lawyers. Leaving aside that lawyers are not scientists but aim to represent one side positively, I think it might be a useful quote to repeat back to Key when he’s quoting an economst to support his policies.
I think the biggest benefit will be to public servants themselves. I think the reason that public servants have a bad reputation in most parts of the country is that people don’t feel like they have a choice but to pay for them to be used. If you don’t like your local supermarket you can drive to the one down the road. What if you don’t like your local public service provider? You can’t do much about it so you develop a negative attitude.
yes – imagine how organised and cost effective the post CHCH quake efforts would have been.
sure the PS can be improved, but what your advocating is a society with even bigger imbalances than we currently have – one where those that can afford it get it while those that cant – dont
If you don’t like your local supermarket you can drive to the one down the road.
Oh if only! But what if you’re a little old lady who doesn’t drive? Or someone with disabilities? And there’s only one supermarket within a realistic distance?
What Cameron is doing is complete idiocy!
Don Nicolson has had views and attitudes at Fed Farmers which have been divisive and ignorant. The man is a shallow twit. Witness Rod Oram’s withering piece on Fed Farmers and Nicolson in the SST this week.
Imagine being at one of their meetings or get-togethers. My god, you would go insane. Or burst your sides with laughter. And imagine when / if Key gets back in and has Brash and Nicolson bleating and screeching and dribbling at the mouth. Put this lot together for the public to see and you will be home and hosed.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10738021 – Federated Farmers leader is going to be an ACT MP – but why are they not brave enough to stand in more than one electorate? That’s right, they aren’t a proper party, with a proper mandate and don’t want their arses being kicked.
Looks like there may be a method to the nuttiness — ACT will stand in ‘safe’ National seats and ask the super extremist cuckoos & rwnjs to vote tactically, eg electorate seat to Nats and party seat to ACT.
The strategy is to ensure NACTzies metastasize and make New Zealand the diseased male, pale and stale body politic of the Pacific.
The question is which is the next electorate that ACT will stand, and who that candidate might be.
I think it’s a very good move for Don Nicolson to stand for Act (any party will do) in Clutha Southland. He’s got relevant experience for the electorate and should be able to spend more time looking after his constituents that Bill English can from Wellington.
I’d like to see him do well (unless a better candidate stands there). We need smarter voting with more electorate focus rather than party palaver.
Don is campaigning for the list vote. he isn’t focusing on the electorate at all. He is going to try and get farmers votes by preaching to them about how hard done by they are and try and get enough ACT votes from the Fed Famers network.
This is exactly the same play that ACT ran with in 08 with the sensible sentencing trust Get somebody with a ready built network of emails and mana within a niche group of easily targetable voters; give him a list spot far enough down that he isn’t guaranteed a spot, and bob’s your uncle, should be good for an extra MP worth of votes, maybe more.
Meh don’t be too worried, ACT has backstabbed all their women, unceremoniously and undemocratically dumped Hide, backstabbed Maori, seen their monied corporate supporters vapourise and resurrected a leader that rural National voters deserted.
Now with Nicholson portraying themselves as principled visionaries with the country at heart.
P’s b, that is just nutty what he is going on about.
Don Nicolson is a nut. “The ETS is a secret plan by the international green movement to create jobs and stave off anarchy”…… that’s what Nicolson thinks. Oh lordy ………..
We have another Garrett / Peters / Bob the builder on our hands………….
New Zealand’s top brains spring into action following Super 15 disaster
Radio Sport, Sunday 10 July 2011 3.30 p.m.
The Canterbury Crusaders lost the Super 15 final on Saturday night. That means New Zealand’s best intellects will be working hard to work out the reason for the calamity….
MURRAY DEAKER: Plenty of spare lines, you’ll get straight through if you ring now. Phil, your thoughts?
CALLER PHIL: I want to talk about the All Black squad. Murray, I am very, very concerned. I think we will have a lack of intelligence, once the ball goes past Daniel Carter.
DEAKER: [long, thoughtful pause] Conrad Smith?
PHIL: Yes, but what if he’s injured, Murray?
DEAKER: [long, thoughtful pause] I know what you’re getting at, Phil.
PHIL: Yes, well, it needs to be said, Murray.
DEAKER: [with utmost gravitas] A lot of people talk about this in private, but are not prepared to talk about it in public. But I don’t give a toss about that! The problem is that in this country we have a lot of boys that are early maturers.
PHIL: Yes, oh yes.
DEAKER: These guys haven’t got the slender build of, say, a Dan Carter, or a Jeff Wilson, or an Andrew Mehrtens.
PHIL: That’s right, Murray.
DEAKER: So they’ve never had to jink, or sidestep, or run around any opponents. They are so huge that all they have ever had to do is barge past them. They’ve never had to think! Because they’re early maturers!
PHIL: It’s a worry. Because these overseas teams, they’re thinkers, Murray! They’re private school boys, and they’re thinkers.! The Australians, Murray, they’re just so educated! I remember once when the lowest-qualified player in the team was a chartered accountant, Murray!
DEAKER: Yes, but we’ll not see the likes of Nick Farr-Jones, David Kirk, Sir John Graham and Sir Wilson Whineray again. They were very bright guys!
PHIL: I’m so worried, Murray….
Of course, Deaker wasn’t implying that the “cultures” of the blood that is coursing around the veins of those outside Carter is significant in “thinking” – of course he wasn’t and neither was the caller.
I thought this was an interesting post by dim-post:
I think (non-empirical statement coming up: if I was a political columnist I’d write ‘some say’ or ‘most New Zealanders think’) that if you asked the public why Labour is unpopular then part of the answer would involve a perception of Labour as an unethical, sleazy party (built up by years of scandals like the repeated funding/election spending rorts, Chris Carter, Shane Jones, Phillip-Field, support for Winston Peters, etc). But I also think that if you suggested to Labour MPs or supporters that their party was sleazy or unethical they would be genuinely shocked, because they see themselves as ‘the good guys’ – and they’d attempt to litigate each of the examples I made above (‘it’s the mainstream media’s fault for reporting it! And what about Double Dipton Bill English?’) With the counter-intuitive result that they continue to behave unethically – damaging the integrity of the Labour Party brand and further alienating voters – while still considering themselves highly ethical, and refusing to even acknowledge any of the damage these scandals have caused them. (Because they didn’t really happen, because Labour is so ethical.)
Sort of what I’ve been saying for awhile but he/she does it more eloquently then I can
1.) Oz government announces subsides for insulating homes
2.) Fletcher’s buys bulk stuff to make insulation and keeps said insulation in stock
3.) Due to some serious issues, Oz government cancels insulation subsidy
4.) Fletcher’s seeks compensation from Oz government
Stuff like this is actually sickening. There was no guarantee on the part of the Oz government that Fletcher’s would sell the stock and so the risk that Fletcher’s took is all on their heads. They didn’t need to buy all that stock and they still have it. They haven’t actually lost anything except what they thought, incorrectly, was government guaranteed profits.
Really, all they need to do is just sell the damn stuff. Knock the price down a bit and I’m sure that they’ll still be able to find people who want to insulate their home.
1.) Oz government announces subsides for insulating homes
2.) Fletcher’s buys bulk stuff to make insulation and keeps said insulation in stock
3.) Due to some serious issues, Oz government cancels insulation subsidy
4.) Fletcher’s seeks compensation from Oz government
You missed a few points…
1.) Oz government announces 4 billion dollars of subsides for insulating homes
1.a oz Govt does deal with Fletchers et al to limit margins on basis of massive amount of work.
3.a Oz Govt forgets to require installers to have any training.
3.b A bunch of guys die during install.
3.c Oz Govt thinks money can be betyter spent elsewhere.
3.d Oz Govt cancells subsidy, leaving tens of thousands of houses cold and wasting energy and money.
4. a . Fletchers rightfully expect to be paid for materials brought specifically for a project.
4.b Fletchers get paid. (hasnt happened yet but it will, behind closed doors)
VTO, Fed Farmers are pretty irrelevant , they have 13000 membership payers ( the other 14k or so is made up of associates like family members ) . and he couldn’t get a majority or 6500 farmers to vote for him, if that.
The papers cannot announce that their purpose is to ventriloquise the concerns of multimillionaires; they must present themselves as the voice of the people. The Sun, the Mail and the Express claim to represent the interests of the working man and woman. These interests turn out to be identical to those of the men who own the papers.
So the rightwing papers run endless exposures of benefit cheats, yet say scarcely a word about the corporate tax cheats.
dtb that’s a good point – the stories about welfare cheats encourage loathing from the employed middle and upper lower class to those less capable. George orwell noted this reaction i think in the road to wigan pier. n the newspapers the financial/business stories are corralled in specialist compartments – sometimes a big story unfolds there unseen by the readers of the everyday news. nbr is read by just a few – the business world is seen as hard to understand or boring. a good move – more people should listen to rod oram.
Why is National Radio, or ANYONE, still talking to the S.S. Trust?
Just a few months ago, Noelle McCarthy, filling in for Jim Mora, interviewed the bloodthirsty Hawkes Bay boer Garth (The Knife) McVicar. Noelle made no attempt to hide her contempt and loathing for McVicar, and tried in vain to get him to say why he had supported the knife-killing of a boy in Auckland, and why he continued to defend the vile criminal and grave-robber David Garrett… http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-09032011/#comment-306178
It seemed then that National Radio was declaring publicly that it would have no more to do with that reptile or his disgusting organization.
No such luck, however. On “The Panel” this afternoon, Jim Mora interviewed some fanatic from the Sensible Sentence Trust, this time about the death in jail of a man who murdered a girl in 1967. I was so shocked at the fact that Jim Mora would even countenance interviewing one of these knife enthusiasts, I failed to ascertain if the S.S. Trust supported this murder or was against it.
I whipped off the following e-mail….
From: Morrissey Breen
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 4:30 PM
To: Afternoons
Subject: Why are you continuing to quote the S.S. Trust?
Dear Jim,
Why are you quoting anyone from the Sensible Sentencing Trust? You are aware, I take it, that Garth McVicar loudly and defiantly supported the killer of a teenage boy in Auckland, and still expresses support for the hypocrite and criminal David Garrett.
It’s all very well having Jock Anderson making flippant jokes about Tamil refugees and asylum-seekers, but continuing to quote such a depraved and discredited organization as the S.S. Trust takes the level of irresponsibility on “The Panel” to a new low, and raises serious questions about your integrity and your judgement.
Yours sincerely, Morrissey Breen
Northcote Point
At 5.15 p.m. Jim replied….
No it doesn’t. I do not want to censor views. Jim
Which means that Jim Mora says that his mind is as wide open to anything as a fence catching papers in a gale.
I think the problem is his producer. Jim just has to work with what is arranged for him. It’s the same with the extreme right wing commentators Brian Crump has to interview in the evenings.
The list of political “correspondents” that regularly commentate on National Radio is depressing: From New Zealand: Michael Bassett, Michelle Boag, David Farrar, Jock Anderson, Stephen Franks, Deborah Hill Cone, Rosemary McLeod, John Bishop, John Barnett, Graham Bell, Richard Griffin, Neil Miller.
From overseas they are just as bad, if not worse: Lana Shaheen, Liat Collins, Irris Makler, Jason Morrison, Rory Carroll.
Someone actually decides to use such partisan, dishonest, cynical commentators—and it’s not the poor old host.
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Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
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‘
According to John Key, the Maori Party are prepared to be with him in a coalition arrangement with Brash.
Meanwhile though prepared to work with Brash in coalition with National, the Maori Party have decided not to honour their agreement with Harawira, not to run against each other.
How can this be wise?
Breaking their agreement with Harawira, in itself is not a good look. To do it for the benefit of the Nats and their coalition partner ACT is even worse.
I believe the Maori Party are making a serious tactical mistake in underestimating the the potential support that Mana will gain in the wider electorate.
It is likely that in a three way split in reward for their treachery, the Maori Party will retain only one seat in parliament after election.
This result would exactly replicate that of Jim Anderton after his betrayal of his own followers against their overwhelming opposition to the bloody war in Afghanistan.
Like Anderton, Turia will receive a sinecure little back office position from her coalition partner in reward for her treachery, achieving nothing further worthwhile for her people. To suffer being patronised in public, but quietly mocked behind her back by her coalition partners.
I doubt there will have been many minds changed in the “Bribe the tribe, clash of Brash” debate last night.
I think it was interesting rather than game changing or party saving. And Sharples – I’m not in New Zealand by anyone’s invitation, I was naturally born in this country!
Yet another announcement of a poll from TV3 this morning this time stating that 70% of Christchurch residents are very pleased with the government’s response to the earthquakes. No mention of who was asked, what was asked, and when the poll was taken.
I no longer take TV3s coverage of news and politics seriously. They are just an arm of the Nat propaganda machine. I’ve got better and more productive things to do with my time than watch TV3 news or The Ntion.
Ditto TV1 and Prime News as well. Their news presenters spend their time apparently reading National Party press releases, sport news and then weather.
Ditto all news agencies that I disagree with, they are all clearly paid for and run by the political parties I disagree with.
Oh, come on HS. TV3 has gone beyond the line the way it promotes National Party lines these days – especially Duncan Garner. I prefer TV1 & Stratos these days for TV news, and RNZ in particular for NZ news & current events. TV1 also slants to the right more often than not.
There is pathetic whinging from those of all political persuasions about the perceived bias of various media outlets.
One week they’ll be slighting their perceived bias the next they’ll be quoting the same media operation to support their point of view.
That’s always the weak argument used against criticisms of media bias. But I stand by my judgement about TV3. Sometimes TV3 does more positive Labour/left reports, but most of the time it slants to the right. So WHEN it does do a positive left story, it’s worth taking note of and repeating.
The NoW debacle shows just how much media can interfere with political process, and cofirms my judgement from following UK media, that Brown was being undermined by the media.
Also, Dr Margie Comrie has done some research of the coverage of TV news during the last NZ election. I’ve seen her talking about it. Although her focus was on Maori TV, the data shows a bias by TV One & TV3 towards Key & National over Clark & Labour Dduring the 2008 election period. This is seen in the fact that there was a higher percentage of face time given to Nats/Key over Labour & Clark. Key was in the 40-50% range & Clark in the 30-40% range. Maori TV on the other hand were more slanted to Labour & the Maori Party.
The NoW story is proof that we can’t leave news reporting to the private sector as it’s essentially corrupt. They did everything that the privatisers say that government supported news would do. Hell, they were actually worse, the privatisers say that government news would do what the government tells them but in the UK the politicians were doing what the Rupert Murdoch told them.
And you can’t leave news reporting and journalism to a public sector which has been ordered to behave like the private sector.
Along the lines of what I’ve said in the past on TS … the UK Fourth Estate reveals itself to be financially owned and morally mortgaged to the Tory Estate.
The Government didn’t forward $46 Million to TV3 for nothing.
Reminds me of the news services in Iraq or Libya where the dictator of the day is proudly announced to have won 98% support in the latest elections. That’s some real vindication there.
On potential refugees. “They’re not welcome here,” he said.
Can think of a few “peoples” of this world who a generation or two ago,
were equally as desperate to escape “oppressive” regimes in Europe.
Would he have held the same dismissive attitude towards them?
When his photo-ops are losing the shine, he desperately looks for issues to fan the fires of public debate. Last week, he attempted euthanasia – stirring a discussion that is. This week, it is asylum seekers but he can’t get much traction as it is evident he is morally bankrupt.
The left should not lose focus on the economy, for which opportunities for improvement and growth have been mismanaged and squandered by this administration.
Gawd. Key must be counting his lucky stars. Just as he and National are on the ropes he gets the chance to engage in a little bit of redneck rascism, and not about ACT either.
News that a group of refugees including children expressed a desire to come to New Zealand has allowed him to say they are “not welcome”.
No doubt Key is hoping that the debate about Asylum seekers gets as heated as in Australia. When I was there recently I could not believe that a couple of hundred people fleeing their country and wanting to settle in a country of 20 million could attract such heat. The issue seemed to be the political story of the day.
The chances of a boat actually reaching New Zealand are remote beyond belief. Why bypass Australia and travel thousands of miles to reach a similar nation?
And so much for the rule of law. International law requires a country to accept refugees and to consider their claim for status properly. Compassion requires the same.
But what are such considerations when there is an election to win …
That’s right Mickey he should have said that we would welcome them with open arms rather than discouraging an influx of economic refugees.
No HS
He did not have to say a thing. If he was going to say something he should have said that New Zealand is bound by international law and would abide by its obligations.
Bullshit, in this instance he said exactly the correct thing and you’re just practicing partisan political hackery because it didn’t come out of the mouth of a Labour politician.
Step back and imagine the same words coming out of Helen Clark’s mouth and reconsider your position.
BS yourself HS.
I recall clearly Helen Clark’s Government deciding to accept 750 Afghani refugees from the Tampa after John Howard’s government refused to allow it to land. I cheered at the time.
I have since met a number of them and they are very decent generous people.
Helen would not only have talked differently she has shown that she would have decided differently. No dog whistle for her, just compassion.
Oops it was 150 refugees.
What does your leader say about the issue micky?
By your reasoning Phil is showing his incompassion, nyet?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5269065/Sri-Lankan-community-backs-Key
Methinks some people need some training in how to read the media 😉
And how the frak do you know they are economic refugees, and not a community being persecuted for their involvement in the Sri Lankan civil war?
Reports say they are Tamils and if they directly supported the losing side in that war they are now screwed and their lives under official or unofficial threat.
Don’t be such an a-hole before you know the facts, and don’t be like John Key who couldn’t give a fuck about any of that minor detail.
Key is continue the play of ACT’s racist card. As I said in the Implosion-Watch thread, I bet he knew about these asylum seekers Sunday morning.
Aye. Geriatric serial-adulterer racists who have just ripped off the taxpayers half a bill for a worthless report are welcome in government but persecuted women and kids in fear of their lives can’t get a toe on the beach. Lovely chaps, these NACTZies.
They are madly sprouting. Another mushroom popping out at 3pm today:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5271093/Federated-Farmers-president-Acts-new-candidate
At this rate, are KKK costumes running out of stock?
ACT must be getting truly desperate.
The Nicholson term in Federated Farmers ended with sighs of relief from the agribusiness and agripolitical fraternity. Nicholson went out a fortnight ago, with rantings echoing Brash on the usual suspects – local bodies, Big Govt, climate change denial etc etc.
More moderate characters have now been elected to Feds national leadership, with an apparently genuine urban-friendly look. So even Feds will be backing away from their previous leader.
Looks like another futile attempt at ACT life support. John Key’s enthusiasm for euthanasia should be applied to political parties.
Never to disappoint – ACT is comfy cemetery for yet another male, pale and stale …
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5271093/Nicolson-to-take-on-English-as-ACTs-new-candidate
Maybe Alasdair Thompson would like to be their Women’s Affairs spokesperson?
The refugees are indeed unlikely to get here, since according to the story they have already been arrested in Indonesia, and sent to the the controversial processing centre near Malaysia. When I was in Australia recently it was pointed out to me that about 3,000 people a year try to get into Australia off the boats, while a great many more than that are brought in as “experts” to work, their expertise often being a willingness to work for low wages. The former generate a lot of talk back heat, while the latter are virtually ignored. What is creepy and Orwellian though is the way these sorts of stories are internationalised – it’s as if there are news bite forms, for which particulars are sought to add colour, detail and “authenticity” to a concept. If it worked in Australia or perhaps America, the idea seems to be, then let’s run it up the flag pole here and see if anyone salutes it.
“Just as he and National are on the ropes” What ? “On the ropes” would indicate a lack of support and a party which is dysfunctional in the extreme. Even you can’t believe that, or are you thinking of the leaderless Labour Party ? Just because you say it to an already converted audience smacks of cheerleading. Polls and public opinion would disagree with your statements, as I believe the important “poll” at the end of the year will as well. Given the vacuum of opposition policies and personalities, its no wonder they will barely have to try to beat a splintered left wing.
Like most of us, in my professional and my private life, I speak to a wide variety of people.
The one thing i do not see in the real world, that is reported repeatedly in the media and the infamous Polls, is this supposed supremacy of the National Party as preferred leaders of the country. The last few months however I constantly hear from long time National supporters that they do not agree with what the Government is doing and they have no intention of voting for them in November.
One old timer, a wealthy stalwart of the Nats told me the other day this is the worst Government they can remember in New Zealand’s history and he has already watched three of his grandchildren leave NZ with no intention of returning. I have certainly been impressed by the voracity some of these people express when shown the morsels of ineptitude by this Government.
If we could only get the Fourth Estate functioning again , then Democracy may stand a chance.
Even my dis-illusioned right wing boss is now sick of “smile and wave politics”.
Bit of a difference between refugees trying to gain entry through the legal channels and boat people trying to gain entry illegally, Don’t you think.
Nope.
Article 31 of the UN Convention on the staus of refugees states:
“The Contracting States shall not impose penalties, on account of their illegal entry or presence, on refugees who, coming directly from a territory where their life or freedom was threatened in the sense of article 1, enter or are present in their territory without authorization, provided they present themselves without delay to the authorities and show good cause for their illegal entry or presence.”
*Facepalm* of course! Desperate disenfranchised refugees with minimal resources should simply access legal channels!
Perhaps the Sri Lankan government would have helped them to apply for refugee status in NZ while they were being persecuted, what do you think mate?
CV there’s a number of country’s they could seek refugee status in before taking the dangerous journey to our shores. Why not other asian countries ? Why not India ? Why not Indonesia or the Phillipines ? Why not Australia ?
Why NZ ?
You’re trotting out the same tired arguments that were being used against Ahmed Zaoui in 2002-4, and with the same lack of logic. Do you really think these people have any kind of a choice? If they did they wouldn’t be in a boat, and would not have already been arrested, as Olwyn says above.
Ahmed Zaoui was eventually released and the sky didn’t fall. It’s not going to fall if 150 Tamils come here. We’ve got plenty of room, for goodness’ sake, and plenty else as well, contrary to what I heard Key say on the news this morning…
Answer the question Vicky.
Why on earth would they want to sail more than half way around the world to come here when there’s a multitude of other countries closer by
Because NZ has a reputation for kindness and giving a shit. Especially about seriously listening to the stories of refugees and people seeking asylum from persecution in their home lands. Well, more of a reputation than the Australians.
What of it?
By the way, plenty of people sailed all the way around the world to make their lives here in NZ in the 1800’s, when they too could have chosen a multitude of other countries closer by.
What of that?
LA Times reports:
“Argentine songwriter and singer Facundo Cabral, an icon of Latin American folk and protest music, was shot to death early Saturday by unknown gunmen who intercepted his car in Guatemala City and pumped it full of bullets.
…
Cabral, born to a dirt-poor family in provincial Argentina, rose to fame in the 1970s primarily as a writer and performer of protest songs, at a time when Latin America was shackled by military dictatorships, coups and crises. He went into exile in Mexico during Argentina’s military junta from 1976 to 1983.
…
In 1996 UNESCO named him an “international messenger of peace,” and themes of peace and brotherhood dominated his later work.”
Stuff poll currently at 79.2% against helping the boat people
Once again I am ashamed and embarrassed at the growing disregard for others being expressed by people who call themselves New Zealanders. This is not the country i was raised to believe in, this is a quagmire of greedy and selfish sycophants who deserve the pain to come if they continue down this road to hegemony
I love Key, the grateful and compassionate sod.
If the boat has an Austrian-Jewish refugee lady and this were a few decades ago, isn’t it nice to know he would tell her she is unwelcome and turn her away? And New Zealand better off for that?
Turning back the boat could be his new metaphor for kicking away the ladder?
Anyway, the Left should stay focused on the current economic issues and call their own shots as to when and how the asylum issues would be debated.
Seems Goff doesn’t agree with you.
It’s a problem.
This year, more so than most, every single person has to be reminded they have a choice to make. The choice today is how much longer we want the degradation of our Nation to continue.
All cliches aside, help each other and we win. Hate each other and we lose.
I hear that at the Pike River enquiry, Pikey lawyers cross examining Don Elder are suggesting his comments yesterday were aimed at driving down PRC’s share price so that Solid Energy can get a better price.
I’m pretty sure that the commissioners will see different things from that line of attack than what the lawyers want.
If that is the best that Pike River Coal has then it is all bad for them. As it should be. John Dow is firmly in the sights.
http://www.usdebtclock.org/world-debt-clock.html
We are not doing to badly , are we?
Aye Carumba !
Interesting comment from John Key in Question Time today, in response to a question by Brendon Burns. The question was about Key’s Hard Talk comment that scientists are like lawyers and he could always find a scientist with an alternative scientific view on NZ’s 1000% pure status. Today Key added economists to the list of people who have as diverse views as lawyers. Leaving aside that lawyers are not scientists but aim to represent one side positively, I think it might be a useful quote to repeat back to Key when he’s quoting an economst to support his policies.
Next to be added to Key’s growing list of lawyers, scientists and economists: the diversity of bullshit from ex-currency traders?
Of course, nothing equals the singularity of opinion from that of ACT’s living dead on racism, sexism, …..
Fantastic news coming out of the UK. If only our government had the balls to do something like this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/8630945/David-Cameron-public-services-to-be-opened-up-to-competition.html
I think the biggest benefit will be to public servants themselves. I think the reason that public servants have a bad reputation in most parts of the country is that people don’t feel like they have a choice but to pay for them to be used. If you don’t like your local supermarket you can drive to the one down the road. What if you don’t like your local public service provider? You can’t do much about it so you develop a negative attitude.
yes – imagine how organised and cost effective the post CHCH quake efforts would have been.
sure the PS can be improved, but what your advocating is a society with even bigger imbalances than we currently have – one where those that can afford it get it while those that cant – dont
Oh if only! But what if you’re a little old lady who doesn’t drive? Or someone with disabilities? And there’s only one supermarket within a realistic distance?
What Cameron is doing is complete idiocy!
It is now official… ACT is doomed. The final nail in the coffin has been hit home.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5271093/Nicolson-to-take-on-English-as-ACTs-new-candidate
Don Nicolson has had views and attitudes at Fed Farmers which have been divisive and ignorant. The man is a shallow twit. Witness Rod Oram’s withering piece on Fed Farmers and Nicolson in the SST this week.
Imagine being at one of their meetings or get-togethers. My god, you would go insane. Or burst your sides with laughter. And imagine when / if Key gets back in and has Brash and Nicolson bleating and screeching and dribbling at the mouth. Put this lot together for the public to see and you will be home and hosed.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10738021 – Federated Farmers leader is going to be an ACT MP – but why are they not brave enough to stand in more than one electorate? That’s right, they aren’t a proper party, with a proper mandate and don’t want their arses being kicked.
Looks like there may be a method to the nuttiness — ACT will stand in ‘safe’ National seats and ask the super extremist cuckoos & rwnjs to vote tactically, eg electorate seat to Nats and party seat to ACT.
The strategy is to ensure NACTzies metastasize and make New Zealand the diseased male, pale and stale body politic of the Pacific.
The question is which is the next electorate that ACT will stand, and who that candidate might be.
I think it’s a very good move for Don Nicolson to stand for Act (any party will do) in Clutha Southland. He’s got relevant experience for the electorate and should be able to spend more time looking after his constituents that Bill English can from Wellington.
I’d like to see him do well (unless a better candidate stands there). We need smarter voting with more electorate focus rather than party palaver.
Don Nicolson is a stone cold lunatic.
Read this.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/5211126/Free-enterprise-cooks-up-a-tasty-stew
Now go back and read it again.
Don is campaigning for the list vote. he isn’t focusing on the electorate at all. He is going to try and get farmers votes by preaching to them about how hard done by they are and try and get enough ACT votes from the Fed Famers network.
This is exactly the same play that ACT ran with in 08 with the sensible sentencing trust Get somebody with a ready built network of emails and mana within a niche group of easily targetable voters; give him a list spot far enough down that he isn’t guaranteed a spot, and bob’s your uncle, should be good for an extra MP worth of votes, maybe more.
It’s farming all right.
Meh don’t be too worried, ACT has backstabbed all their women, unceremoniously and undemocratically dumped Hide, backstabbed Maori, seen their monied corporate supporters vapourise and resurrected a leader that rural National voters deserted.
Now with Nicholson portraying themselves as principled visionaries with the country at heart.
Farmers aren’t fools.
P’s b, that is just nutty what he is going on about.
Don Nicolson is a nut. “The ETS is a secret plan by the international green movement to create jobs and stave off anarchy”…… that’s what Nicolson thinks. Oh lordy ………..
We have another Garrett / Peters / Bob the builder on our hands………….
New Zealand’s top brains spring into action following Super 15 disaster
Radio Sport, Sunday 10 July 2011 3.30 p.m.
The Canterbury Crusaders lost the Super 15 final on Saturday night. That means New Zealand’s best intellects will be working hard to work out the reason for the calamity….
MURRAY DEAKER: Plenty of spare lines, you’ll get straight through if you ring now. Phil, your thoughts?
CALLER PHIL: I want to talk about the All Black squad. Murray, I am very, very concerned. I think we will have a lack of intelligence, once the ball goes past Daniel Carter.
DEAKER: [long, thoughtful pause] Conrad Smith?
PHIL: Yes, but what if he’s injured, Murray?
DEAKER: [long, thoughtful pause] I know what you’re getting at, Phil.
PHIL: Yes, well, it needs to be said, Murray.
DEAKER: [with utmost gravitas] A lot of people talk about this in private, but are not prepared to talk about it in public. But I don’t give a toss about that! The problem is that in this country we have a lot of boys that are early maturers.
PHIL: Yes, oh yes.
DEAKER: These guys haven’t got the slender build of, say, a Dan Carter, or a Jeff Wilson, or an Andrew Mehrtens.
PHIL: That’s right, Murray.
DEAKER: So they’ve never had to jink, or sidestep, or run around any opponents. They are so huge that all they have ever had to do is barge past them. They’ve never had to think! Because they’re early maturers!
PHIL: It’s a worry. Because these overseas teams, they’re thinkers, Murray! They’re private school boys, and they’re thinkers.! The Australians, Murray, they’re just so educated! I remember once when the lowest-qualified player in the team was a chartered accountant, Murray!
DEAKER: Yes, but we’ll not see the likes of Nick Farr-Jones, David Kirk, Sir John Graham and Sir Wilson Whineray again. They were very bright guys!
PHIL: I’m so worried, Murray….
…ad absurdum, ad nauseam, ad infinitum….
Every level of rugby is in talent trouble, down to the bloody radio commentators.
The playing talent is just fine. In fact, they are better than they have ever been.
But as you point out, the commentators are, almost without exception, substandard.
Of course, Deaker wasn’t implying that the “cultures” of the blood that is coursing around the veins of those outside Carter is significant in “thinking” – of course he wasn’t and neither was the caller.
Yes he was, and so was his moronic interlocutor “Phil”.
Would “Phil” be you, by some chance?
I thought this was an interesting post by dim-post:
I think (non-empirical statement coming up: if I was a political columnist I’d write ‘some say’ or ‘most New Zealanders think’) that if you asked the public why Labour is unpopular then part of the answer would involve a perception of Labour as an unethical, sleazy party (built up by years of scandals like the repeated funding/election spending rorts, Chris Carter, Shane Jones, Phillip-Field, support for Winston Peters, etc). But I also think that if you suggested to Labour MPs or supporters that their party was sleazy or unethical they would be genuinely shocked, because they see themselves as ‘the good guys’ – and they’d attempt to litigate each of the examples I made above (‘it’s the mainstream media’s fault for reporting it! And what about Double Dipton Bill English?’) With the counter-intuitive result that they continue to behave unethically – damaging the integrity of the Labour Party brand and further alienating voters – while still considering themselves highly ethical, and refusing to even acknowledge any of the damage these scandals have caused them. (Because they didn’t really happen, because Labour is so ethical.)
Sort of what I’ve been saying for awhile but he/she does it more eloquently then I can
Fletcher seeks payback for Pink Batt stack
An interesting story. It goes like this.
1.) Oz government announces subsides for insulating homes
2.) Fletcher’s buys bulk stuff to make insulation and keeps said insulation in stock
3.) Due to some serious issues, Oz government cancels insulation subsidy
4.) Fletcher’s seeks compensation from Oz government
Stuff like this is actually sickening. There was no guarantee on the part of the Oz government that Fletcher’s would sell the stock and so the risk that Fletcher’s took is all on their heads. They didn’t need to buy all that stock and they still have it. They haven’t actually lost anything except what they thought, incorrectly, was government guaranteed profits.
Really, all they need to do is just sell the damn stuff. Knock the price down a bit and I’m sure that they’ll still be able to find people who want to insulate their home.
1.) Oz government announces subsides for insulating homes
2.) Fletcher’s buys bulk stuff to make insulation and keeps said insulation in stock
3.) Due to some serious issues, Oz government cancels insulation subsidy
4.) Fletcher’s seeks compensation from Oz government
You missed a few points…
1.) Oz government announces 4 billion dollars of subsides for insulating homes
1.a oz Govt does deal with Fletchers et al to limit margins on basis of massive amount of work.
3.a Oz Govt forgets to require installers to have any training.
3.b A bunch of guys die during install.
3.c Oz Govt thinks money can be betyter spent elsewhere.
3.d Oz Govt cancells subsidy, leaving tens of thousands of houses cold and wasting energy and money.
4. a . Fletchers rightfully expect to be paid for materials brought specifically for a project.
4.b Fletchers get paid. (hasnt happened yet but it will, behind closed doors)
VTO, Fed Farmers are pretty irrelevant , they have 13000 membership payers ( the other 14k or so is made up of associates like family members ) . and he couldn’t get a majority or 6500 farmers to vote for him, if that.
Thats probably more then Labour has at the moment
This Media is Corrupt
Monbiot
Sounds about par for the course in NZ as well.
but they ( the ones who wouldnt run the ACT ad) did print this…
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/5268588/Editorial-Time-Labour-learned-to-play-by-the-rules
Did you read my post at 17? Thats exactly the point hes making.
Ah yes the Dom Post, in the style of Rupert Murdoch. Turning the quibble about a full stop into a media charge of treason for political reasons.
Actually thats Dim-Post, leftie blog if you didn’t know
http://dimpost.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/vicious-circle/
also no right turns wasn’t bad either
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2011/07/goffing-it-up.html
dtb that’s a good point – the stories about welfare cheats encourage loathing from the employed middle and upper lower class to those less capable. George orwell noted this reaction i think in the road to wigan pier. n the newspapers the financial/business stories are corralled in specialist compartments – sometimes a big story unfolds there unseen by the readers of the everyday news. nbr is read by just a few – the business world is seen as hard to understand or boring. a good move – more people should listen to rod oram.
Why is National Radio, or ANYONE, still talking to the S.S. Trust?
Just a few months ago, Noelle McCarthy, filling in for Jim Mora, interviewed the bloodthirsty Hawkes Bay boer Garth (The Knife) McVicar. Noelle made no attempt to hide her contempt and loathing for McVicar, and tried in vain to get him to say why he had supported the knife-killing of a boy in Auckland, and why he continued to defend the vile criminal and grave-robber David Garrett…
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-09032011/#comment-306178
It seemed then that National Radio was declaring publicly that it would have no more to do with that reptile or his disgusting organization.
No such luck, however. On “The Panel” this afternoon, Jim Mora interviewed some fanatic from the Sensible Sentence Trust, this time about the death in jail of a man who murdered a girl in 1967. I was so shocked at the fact that Jim Mora would even countenance interviewing one of these knife enthusiasts, I failed to ascertain if the S.S. Trust supported this murder or was against it.
I whipped off the following e-mail….
From: Morrissey Breen
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 4:30 PM
To: Afternoons
Subject: Why are you continuing to quote the S.S. Trust?
Dear Jim,
Why are you quoting anyone from the Sensible Sentencing Trust? You are aware, I take it, that Garth McVicar loudly and defiantly supported the killer of a teenage boy in Auckland, and still expresses support for the hypocrite and criminal David Garrett.
It’s all very well having Jock Anderson making flippant jokes about Tamil refugees and asylum-seekers, but continuing to quote such a depraved and discredited organization as the S.S. Trust takes the level of irresponsibility on “The Panel” to a new low, and raises serious questions about your integrity and your judgement.
Yours sincerely,
Morrissey Breen
Northcote Point
At 5.15 p.m. Jim replied….
No it doesn’t. I do not want to censor views. Jim
Wow, what a deep and meaningful response! I can’t stand Mora and won’t listen to him any longer, which is a pity…
What BS. How many times has he censored the views of people speaking out against the BS positions of the SS Trust.
Giving air time weight to the views of a group of discredited narrow minded idiots like the SST doesn’t help Mora at all.
Giving air time weight to the views of a group of discredited narrow minded idiots like the SST doesn’t help Mora at all.
I note that one of Jim Mora’s Panelists today was the odious Stephen Franks, an S.S. Trust lawyer and close friend of Garth the Knife McVicar.
Morrissey Which means that Jim Mora says that his mind is as wide open to anything as a fence catching papers in a gale.
Which means that Jim Mora says that his mind is as wide open to anything as a fence catching papers in a gale.
I think the problem is his producer. Jim just has to work with what is arranged for him. It’s the same with the extreme right wing commentators Brian Crump has to interview in the evenings.
The list of political “correspondents” that regularly commentate on National Radio is depressing: From New Zealand: Michael Bassett, Michelle Boag, David Farrar, Jock Anderson, Stephen Franks, Deborah Hill Cone, Rosemary McLeod, John Bishop, John Barnett, Graham Bell, Richard Griffin, Neil Miller.
From overseas they are just as bad, if not worse: Lana Shaheen, Liat Collins, Irris Makler, Jason Morrison, Rory Carroll.
Someone actually decides to use such partisan, dishonest, cynical commentators—and it’s not the poor old host.