I am confident that Winston has NZ future in his heart as he goes forward today.
he cares passonately about our beautiful country as we all do, and he wants to return NZ to a solid future where we can again feel as we all some say into how our future is planned and not just exclusively by large vested corporate interests as we now see happening now.
This is Winston’s most compeling message he sends us all when we attend any public meetings he speaks at.
The best are treatable as Zen Koans. Or something as concise as William Carlos Wiliams.
It sure teaches concision.
Think of The Standard as a good-sized regional road through a city with lots of side streets. Think of Twitter as one stretch of highway where you get on fast into brutal traffic and get off at the next exit.
But trespassing in New Zealand carries a maximum sentence of just three months. Police could not lawfully get a surveillance warrant to investigate such a minor charge.
When repeatedly asked for comment by VICE, Police wouldn’t state what justified the surveillance.
A Police spokesperson told VICE, “for operational reasons Police are not able to respond to requests which seek to confirm or deny if a person or organisation is under investigation.”
One wonders how the police even managed to get a warrant for this spying and if they even followed the law to do so.
DTB
But, but, but it was needed for homeland security! There is so much to be afraid of, particularly people who express ideas.
Ideas that are different from those established by conformists are obviously dangerous, and are a threat that the police, charged with prevention of crime must become aware of. Listening into conversations provides useful information to the point of establishing when the originating thought might be first uttered, or picked up as code by experienced snoopers, or be seen as starting possible behaviours that would lead to some criminal act, violence or subversion. /sarc
(Likely to be found in some possible police manual that might have been written, is in the process of, or is just in the mind of some officious official at present.)
And puts some perspective on Labour’s ‘Chinese sounding names’. In fact, all the evidence from around the world where these types of studies have been done are showing that Chinese buyers are a large part of the problem. It’s naive to think that NZ is any different – especially when we have even less restrictions than those countries and no CGT.
Think about it – Chinese sounding names – what about Lee, is that Chinese sounding? What about if they changed their names to Harris or Smith – would the situation improve? Chinese sounding names is a euphemism for straight racism imo. And it actually hides the real issues around foreign ownership and citizenship. So it fails on many levels and does nothing to improve the situation for non Chinese sounding named people. Sad.
It was probably more correct to say Chinese names. It is perfectly possible to extract ethnicity data from a list of names. Names like Lee in a population have a consistent and predictable percentage of European origin and another of Asian origin.
The “Chinese sounding names” was a successful Gnat communications dirty trick. It diverted attention from foreign buyers and from Gnat complicity. It also turned a lot of activist comment against them. Had Twyford’s intention been racist it would be reasonable to expect some other evidence of this personality flaw. None exists of course.
Twyford did base his initial and subsequent efforts on Chinese sounding names not Chinese names (if there is such a beastie) I thought. The underlining debate is important and valid, the framing not so much imo. Maybe Chinese looking people might have worked…
He couldn’t have done ‘Chinese looking’ because the sales data didn’t come with photos.
There are of course Chinese names – though some of them occur in other countries too – Lee for example is one of the four most common surnames in Korea. It’s quite possible to divide English names between southern and northern origins or frequency in those areas. It is much easier to distinguish names with other language origins. I know something about this, having done a bit of corpus linguistics.
Twyford’s data was good – not perfect, but it cast some light on the void the Gnats created to hide their misdeeds. And all subsequent data has tended to confirm it.
Well we’ll never know if a different push would have yielded better results. I spose all the Canadians and us college pension funds and ukians must be quaking in their boots. First they came for the wongs and we did nothing, then the wilsons but because that wasn’t my name I let it go…
Quite a history of this in this country. Even now better to be a Jones than Parata when trying to get a flat for some reason…
All good of course except they never did come for the Wongs. And NZ land is still being sold offshore by this execrable pack of traitors – not Twyford.
Oh there may be some hurt feelings among 5th generation Chinese kiwis. There are hurt feelings among people struggling for housing too. Of the two I’m more concerned about those with housing stress.
All the parallel data from offshore, and qualitative data from onshore indicates that Chinese investment has been a significant driver of NZ house price inflation. And the government got a free pass on enabling that because they sold Twyford’s critique as ‘racism’.
Funny they are both the same in my book although I spose as 5th generation they could feel even more aggrieved because they can’t buy a house and less generation euros think they are to blame because of the way they may look.
The original analysis took the list of names from the property sales, the list of names from the census ethnicity data, and identified a massive discrepancy between the two. Purchaser names like “Lee” were weighted according to the proportion of census respondents called “Lee” who were e.g. ethnically Chinese vs ethnically Scottish.
Labour never said the methodology was perfect, just that there seemed to be a discrepancy and that this crude attempt was the best data available under the National government, and we should have better data on overseas buyers.
The “Chinese sounding names” soundbite was a tory shill construction to dodge the issue Labour raised, and it worked.
Good clarification – couldn’t really remember. As I said I don’t disagree with the discussion or even the conclusions but it was a crude attempt that just gave the racists and xenophobes ammo. I find it hard to imagine the pointy heads within labour didn’t think that through but then again that was then and this is now. Can’t see Jacinda allowing that approach now.
Lee would cause a few problems – but first names would go some way to sorting out the continent. There’s probably a whole project in that name for an enterprising onomastician – but if it were too complex to sort it could be safely put to one side without compromising the overall data significantly.
Think further about it. The reason for talking about ‘Chinese sounding names’ is because the Government of National Party NZ had no wish to know or reveal to others the extent of foreign buyers ‘investing’ in NZ infrastructure, namely no-risk housing. So they didn’t keep close records, were loose about it, and evasive when questioned.
Twyford was reduced to trawling through all the names to get some approximate idea of extent and get some stats as a basis for discussion. He wanted the sort of information that shows up in RedLogix at 10.12am. Don’t cuss Phil Twyford, save your spittle for the National Party of the World (formerly NZ).
There has been plenty of negative commentary at Bloomberg about Australia recently. It covers real estate of course, but also brittle government, commodity cycle reliance, and even their massive superannuation funds under management.
I view Chinese property and business purchasing with the same kind of threat as British purchasing and ownership for our first 150 years. It formed us, sucked a lot of profit out of us, and did both good and bad. IMHO Bruce Jesson gets the balance right in his book “To Build a Nation: collected writings 1975-1999”. He traces and graphs many of the British ownership networks.
The most interesting part of a new government is where Winston and the new government land on foreign land ownership .
After what we experienced at the airport today, my family and friends have decided to never ever fly with your airline again. I will be advising others not to use your airline either.
Dear Public, if you wish to fly Nelson to Wellington, don’t fly Jetstar, instead there is the national airline AirNZ or another awesome awesome service that we have never had problems with is Sounds Air. We’ve travelled back and forth to Welly numerous times, but this will be the first and last time we will ever fly Jetstar.
I felt so sorry for the manager who had to follow rules and options on the computer instead of being able to use her own common sense, you did your best lovely lady, you did your best, it wasn’t your fault.
Needed to vent, that is all. It’s a beautiful day in Motueka.
You’re not alone! But then they’re part of Qantas. Famous for misreading baggage labels
What is it about Joyces? Alan….. Barnaby…..Steven. 3 I’ve had the misfortune to cross paths with
LMFAO.. seeing you asked.. way to much drama lolz.
A child was accidently booked on as an adult, said child had no ID on her, go home and get some ID they say (home is up to 2hrs return on the open road lolz), why dosen’t she have a cell phone they ask, you could use that (far out lady not every kid has a phone), but look she has an IPad, oh sorry only a cellphone will do, her passport would have be fine, but her passport photo was when she was a toddler, yes that would be fine they say.
Umm the school sports top she is wearing has her name on it, she is accompanied by her grandmother, grandfather and lil sister, but still they don’t believe miss twelve is who she says she is. Does she have school ID, umm she isn’t at high school yet, would a public library card do, no sorry, wait what… she had to bring in her birth cert to get a public library card in the first place.
Ummm sorry she has too much carry on… bag, sleeping bag and a birthday gift in a box, we will have to check in that luggage, and that will cost you an extra $70, but don’t worry, it will only cost an extra $13.50 for the trip back if you pay for it now.
Sheez I felt bad for my folks, it was so nice of them to take her there as I had to work. And it was so generous of the person who shouted her the flight, I felt bad for them too, they would not have wanted anyone to go through all the drama
If we change her ticket from an adult to a child that will cost you an extra (insert large ammount here), are you serious? It wasn’t a cheap flight to start with, but if she is booked as a child she won’t need ID…. far out unreals.
Apparently the manager was great, but you have to make your decisions in accordance to the options on the screen. In the end they let her on, but what a freakin circus. A nice lady in the queue offered to accompany her on the plane so she wouldn’t be travelling alone, and that was acceptable to the airline.
The werid thing is neither of my kids have been asked for personal ID before when flying alone, the adult dropping them off/picking them up is required to have ID, and just fill in the form. But then again they’ve never been on Jetstar and never will again lolololz
Miss 12 has since arrived safe and sound in fabulous Wellywood, and as long as I scan and email her some ID she should be able to get home again. She’s going to have the best time.
Meanwhile in stark contrast… the day prior we went to book her bus ticket, and the lady at our local info centre, asked her if she would like to go behind the counter and she would talk her through doing the booking herself, miss twelve buzzed out about that, no ID required. Love Motueka.
Once were Tim, sounds like Joyces aren’t so joyful lololz
Ed, that looks like a great clip thank you 😀 Will check it out
Important story on RNZ today, a community law lawyer is pointing out that the WINZ review system entirely lacks independence and the process is a crock from any reasonable legal perspective. The “review” is by WINZ staff and tends to just rubber stamp whatever outcome WINZ is already seeking. Questioning of “witnesses” hectors and badgers and uses leading questions, that would never be allowed in any fair court or tribunal.
More abuse of process, in NZ’s continuing abuse of the vulnerable.
As Chris Trotter says, Winston Peters should support a de- neoliberalisation of all NZ’s institutions, in the same way de Nazification was completed post WW2.
Big ups to Peace Action Wellington – these wonderful people did a fine job yesterday of blockaded the entrance to the Westpac Stadium, and stopping the Hawks from there purchases of death.
Love how the NZ police react with violence to peaceful protest, must make them feel like real men.
They even got to beat up a disabled man, did our bully boys in blue.
Love the spin at the end of the stuff piece, it will make all the soft libs here happy, as they will not have to think hard about their continued support of the death machine.
Andrew Ford, how do you sleep at night?
Is your pay packet enough to salve your conscience for being a spin merchant for crimes against humanity?
Do you dream of Yemenis, Iraqis, Syrians, Afghani being bombed in their beds?
There are words for people like Ford.
‘NZDIA deputy chairman Andrew Ford said labelling the forum a “weapons expo” was “stretching the truth” and the event was mainly about bringing together suppliers of services and products to support the defence and national security sectors, not weapons.
Most people would support New Zealand’s defence forces being properly equipped to defend themselves and fulfil their peacekeeping duties, he said.’
Emirates plans to end most of its flights between Australia and New Zealand as part of a renegotiated joint venture with Qantas Airways Ltd that will also see the Australian carrier quit flying to Dubai, the airlines said on Wednesday.
That, I believe, is cartel behaviour but it also highlights the failure of competition and the added costs it brings.
I have just been reading the latest edition of “Air Force News” – it seems the RNZAF is about to begin “Exercise Southern Katipo and the West Coast is being transformed into the fictional Pacific Island of Becara. The exercise is based on the premise that armed militia groups have sparked the breakdown of public order and a New Zealand-led coalition has been invited to restore law and order.” It then goes on further in the article to say “another task would be to take care of the island’s trouble-makers, which might require an armed response”.
Why on earth are they needing to train our military to supress civilian dissent – is this the future of our military – to squash any uprising because of the many injustices that our citizens in the future may want to fight against – do our governments expect this sort of event in the future – if so shouldn’t they be making our society a fairer place for all of us so this sort of expensive exercise isn’t ever needed.
It smacks of the police tapping into human rights activists phones – what has happened to our usual robberies and murder and conventional wars that our police and military were needed for.
Actually DTB, I remember reading somewhere that Bill Rowling put the NZ Armed Forces on standing by to stop the the TNI from invading ET and restore law and order. But Gough Witham wasn’t up for it and the Poms were pulling out of SE Asia, so the order was finally cancelled. It was like a re-run of what happen during West Papua where the Dutch asked for assistance from Commonwealth at the time the Poms and NZ government were prepared to assist the Dutch but old Meng (Menzies) pull out at the last minute and no doubt the JFK had a hand in it as it was trying to persuade the then Ino government to turn from a leftist government to a pro west government at the time.
Come to think about it may have been in the Official History of Australian involvement in South East Asia. Which was Six or seven, eight part volume which were all first edition before lost them a defence removal.
Had some interesting stuff about Kiwi Keith dragging his heels in regards to New Zealand’s involvement in South Vietnam. Which there was two part volume with regards to the political issues from Oz government POV.
DTB, thanks for the link and it was good read as will.
Sentiment among us INTERTFET vets and those on UN mission after us (note I lost a good mate from NZBATT 2, the first Kiwi to KIA since Vietnam. Pvte Lenny Manning B Coy 2/1st Battalion). Is why did our pollies allow this to happen especially amongst some of the Aussie Army All Arms Corps (My neighbor at my bush block as Ex 2RAR and did a UN tour as well) as the people of Timor help members of the Aussie Army during WW2 and only to kick down the road like a coke can or as a sacrificial sheep after the TNI invasion. As us vets know what the TNI is doing to the people of West Papua as we seen the same thing at what happening to the people ET.
And really piss’s me is that most of the left supported the then leftist Ino government annexation of West Papua from the Dutch and now these assholes are supporting West Papua freedom!
The last scenario the military forces (international) operated under had uncomfortable similarities with the fall of the Muldoon government and the time between that and Labour taking over. It is on google somewhere but it makes my skin creep, like a cold breeze passing by.
The current SK17 scenario appears to be base around what happen in East Timor back in 2006 and some other scenarios are also similar to what we face during INTERFET 99-00. The TNI Forces and the TNI backed militia push the our boundaries in terms of our ROE/ OFOF to the limit weather it was on the sea (even under the Sea), in the Air harassing the Naval Task Group incl the Air Bridge between Oz and ET and on the land around Dili and down towards the main centres around the border provinces of ET incl the onclave. You don’t know just how close it came to a all out war with the TNI. Once our section was outnumbered by 3to1 at abandoned police/ TNI barracks and it was only when shook out into a attacking formation, (I) loaded the M79’s/ prep the M72’s for firing etc and for a few mins we were about to meet our making, then other side backed down rather quickly once they saw that we meant business.
Then there is the handling of dead bodies, documented the voting fraud, the illegal abuse detainees by the TNI/ police and the human rights abuse aka rape, torture, shooting detainees etc. But another story to tell one day.
SK ex’s are a good foundation stone for the NZDF, foreign forces, other agencies both Government and NGO’s to prepare for such events for the future. Because Peacekeeping operations can be very fast and dynamic with a lot of thinking on your feet, be it the humble private/ trooper or PC etc to very to top of the decision making progress at inter government level?
To some on the left Peacekeeping may sound sexy to you, but as follow lefty who has done Peacekeeping I’ve seen the best of human kind and the bloody worst of human kind.
A well prepared, well equipped and trained Defence Force for UN peacekeeping for Chapter 1 to Chapter 7 missions comes with a big price tag than most people here realise.
I had a deal with my CO at the start of the yr after I was sent home from the Middle East late yr when I went down the rabbit hole the choice between SK17 or go back to Middle East if I was back to full health by June. Alas I’m not as I would back in NZ right now, but facing a Med discharge sometime next yr.
‘IMF: higher taxes for rich will cut inequality without hitting growth
Analysis supports tax strategy of Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour in UK – and undermines that of Donald Trump in US’
New Zealand Labour and New Zealand First please note.
Brilliant article by Rachel Stewart.
Worthy of a thread in its own right.
I share her outlook.
‘What are the signs that the world’s resources are running out?
‘What are the things we need to face? It’s a ruddy great neon sign and if you can’t see it flashing, you’re either obtuse, changing nappies, and/or too busy arguing the toss on.’
‘Climate change is here. The race between human survival and the melting ice sheets is on…… The storms will be more frequent and deadly; the diseases will come thick and fast; the crops will fail and, if humans are still standing at the end of that, the heat will shut our bodies down and we will die.’
‘Population. The number of people on the planet will rise from 7.6 billion today to 9.7 billion in 2050, according to UN projections. Is that number the problem, or is it over-consumption? It’s both. One leads to the other, and both are killing us.’
‘Water. The new oil. Without it, humanity is condemned. Climate change is affecting water quality, and the risks are incalculable. Rising temperatures; increased levels of sediments, nutrients, and pollutants triggered by more frequent and heavy rainfall; industrial agriculture. The world faces an imminent water crisis that is affecting every part of the planet. Are we ready for the massive influx of refugees from Australia and Asia?’
‘Poverty and inequality are massive, unstoppable forces. Electing new governments, and new faces, is unlikely to meaningfully alter anything. No politician has the capacity to change what’s coming. The pendulum is in motion; counting down the beats to our demise.’
‘Depressed yet? You should be. And when you’re bored with that, maybe stop blaming others for their point of view, and start blaming the real culprits. Picking off fundamentally decent – and basically planetarily powerless – others is a waste of your time. Anger, sadness and fear is best expressed by doing, rather than talking into a vacuum (which, ironically, I’m likely doing here).’
‘The culprits? Oil companies, industrial agriculture, the 1 per cent, over-fishing, neoliberalism, capitalism, Monsanto, Trump, the “free” market (an oxymoron if ever there was one). You know who they are.’
Get off the cyber treadmill of judgment and virtue signalling, and dismount your fat donkey and make a change in the world. Maybe there’s still time?
Whoa Rachel! You hit a few nails on the head there. Now wait for the response….. Our small interest group in Wellington has been saying this for years! So it’s not news. It’s just becoming news now! Lol
David Farrar of course defends the Alcohol Industry.
There are words for people like him.
‘Lead researcher Tim Chambers says the study provides further evidence of the need to ban alcohol sales in supermarkets. This is feasible given we have prohibited alcohol sales in supermarkets in the past and other countries, such as Australia, currently do. Moreover, supermarkets make up only three per cent of alcohol retailers but sell 30 per cent of all beer and 60 per cent of all wine.
“Children in the study were exposed to alcohol marketing almost every time they entered a supermarket, often the exposure occurred near everyday products, like bread and milk,” says Tim Chambers, research fellow at Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, Wellington.
In New Zealand, alcohol contributes to 800 deaths and costs the country over $5 billion per year. Moreover, alcohol is linked to over 200 medical conditions and causes a number of cancers. World Health Organization (WHO) Global Alcohol Strategy recommends restrictions on alcohol marketing as a ‘best buy’ for reducing alcohol-related harm. New Zealand supermarkets have some responsibility for the burden of alcohol-related harm due to their provision of convenient, low-cost alcohol as well as their market share of alcohol sales.
In New Zealand, supermarkets were not permitted to sell alcohol until the liberalisation of the alcohol laws in 1989. The researchers say that improving the supermarket promotional environment, by repealing the section of the 2012 Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act that permits supermarket alcohol sales, would both significantly reduce children’s overall exposure to alcohol marketing, and reduce the prevalence of other supermarket related infractions such as underage sales, loss-leading alcohol sales and cross-promotional activity. Further, it would save councils millions of dollars from the judicial challenges by supermarkets against Local Alcohol Policies.’
Yet Farrar – with no evidence – spins for big liquor.
And the miserable host giggles at his ridiculous defence of these multinational drug peddlers.
Farrar of course will know that Katherine Rich, is another pimp for big liquor.
No doubt his pr activities and involvement in Dirty Politics ( another fact not mentioned by RNZ in its introduction) assisted her defence of the food and liquor industries.
And we are the 3rd most obese in the world.
Thanks David and Katherine for caring about our health.
Awkward moment on the Panel as Catherine Robertson describes the traits of psychopaths,
And David Farrar remains a bit silent as he thinks of his National masters.
The past week marks the 40th and 50th anniversaries of the killings of two of the 20th century’s outstanding socialist figures, Che Guevara (executed without trial in Bolivia on October 9, 1967) and Seamus Costello (assassinated in Dublin on October 5, 1977).
A few days ago, a friend sent me a link to a health-related FB page that had published a post from a homeopathist, offering homeopathic “vaccination”¹ against measles (using something called a “Morbillinum nosode” at a “potency” of 200C, which I’ll explain shortly). I followed the link, left a comment ...
by Gearóid Ó Loingsigh This year marks the 20th anniversary of the La Gabarra massacre. The community organised an event to remember the most well-known of the horrendous heart-breaking events that befell the communities of this area of the municipality of Tibú: the massacre carried out on August 21st 1999. ...
There was another police chase in Christchurch this morning, resulting in a crash which killed one person and injured five more. Because someone died, the chase is being investigated by the Independent Police Conduct Authority. And based on previous reports by the IPCA, we know how it will go: the ...
Just a month ago we saw the biggest protest in a generation as people marched to demand stronger action on climate change. A core demand of the protesters was to strengthen the Zero Carbon Bill's target to net-zero by 2040. So what is the government's response? Judging by the ...
Back in 2010, I wrote about the strange tale of the zombie ants, which do the bidding of their fungal overlords. (They’re not an isolated example; a range of parasites change their hosts’ behaviour. See here and here for example – though as you’ll find, the toxoplasmosis story may be ...
Shouldn't That Be: "Wrong White Crowd"? Rather than apportion guilt, would it not have been wiser for the makers of Land Of The Long White Cloud to accept that the Pakeha of 2019 are not – and never will be – “Europeans”? Just as contemporary Maori are not – and ...
One, Two, Many Truths: With the collapse of “actually existing socialism” in 1991, the universities of the West found themselves saddled with a new mission. With their ideological competitors now soundly defeated they were no longer required to demonstrate the superiority of capitalist values. Their job now was to cement ...
by the Council of Disobedient Women We call on the Council of Trade Unions to show some fortitude and take a stand with your sisters. Unionists know that there is a material world, otherwise workers could simply identify out of poverty. They could declare themselves Well Paid. Why stop ...
I spent some time reading the Regulatory Impact Statement and Bill of Rights Act advice for the government's odious control order scheme today. I am not impressed with either of them. Starting with the RIS, it is built on some pretty questionable assumptions. For example:Unless individuals have been convicted of ...
#NoFly: Walking the talk on climate change, by Shaun Hendy. BWB Texts, 2019. Reviewed by Robert McLachlan In June 2018, Swede Maja Rosén founded We stay on the ground with a pledge not to fly in 2019, and a goal of persuading 100,000 other Swedes to join her. In August, ...
We all know that NZ First is a party of and for old people who hate the young. But they've topped their previous pedophobia with a proposal that all young people be forced to do 100 hours community work:NZ First wants all young people to do 100 hours of community ...
A couple days ago the NZ Herald published a story with the headline, “Science says Bella Hadid is world’s most beautiful woman“, and followed up with the ridiculous statement that Supermodel Bella Hadid has been declared as the world’s most beautiful woman following a scientific study into what constitutes as ...
A Sustainable Proposition: With as much as 18 percent of the electorate declaring itself “undecided” about who to vote for, there is obviously plenty of space for a party like former Green Party member, Vernon Tava's, about-to-be-launched "Sustainable NZ Party" to move into. The most hospitable political territory for such ...
Keir Starmer has hinted that Labour might vote in favour of the Johnson government's shoddy deal, with the proviso that a second referendum is attached:Speaking to BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show, he said: “We will see what that looks like but it makes sense to say that by whatever ...
In 1994, I was the editor for an issue of Planet magazine focused on cannabis, its culture and the prospects for the end of its prohibition. Part of that issue was an interview with 'Ringo', an experienced cannabis dealer.I recently posted my essay from that issue, and I figured it ...
Dr Helen Waite, sports sociologist and former elite athlete, on the invasion of women’s sport by men and the anti-scientific and misogynist ideology used to rationalise it. ...
As Brexit comes to a grisly conclusion (perhaps) people on all sides are saying intemperate and uwise things. Some, like the Daly Mail, have been doing it for years.People as normally level headed as Jon Lansman are calling for automatic deselection of MPs who vote against a (likely) Labour three ...
I've got one source saying more Labour MPs than expected are mulling whether to vote for the deal - including names who were not on the letter to Juncker and Tusk— Emilio Casalicchio (@e_casalicchio) 17 October 2019 I've compiled a list of possible reasons why Labour ...
On Wednesday, the government was loudly telling us that it needed to legislate to allow it to impose "control orders" - effectively a parole regime, but imposed without charge, prosecution, conviction or real evidence - on suspected terrorists because they couldn't be prosecuted for their supposed crimes. Today, it turns ...
On Monday, the Hit and Run inquiry heard from NZDF's former director of special operations, who claimed that the defence Minister knew everything about the Operation Burnham raid. Today, the inquiry heard from that (former) Minister - and it turns out that he didn't know nearly as much as NZDF ...
Yoga gurus and cult leaders – I’ve seen a few. Two weeks ago, I unknowingly joined an alleged new-age cult at the Kāpiti coast, together with a giant kraken and some neatly dressed pensioners who would make any book club proud.They were among the two hundred people of all ages ...
The last decade has seen a trend of increasing weapons availability to police. Assault rifles. Tasers on every hip. Guns in cars. And following the march 15 massacre, pistols on every hip, all over the country. At the same time, its also seen an increase in the abuse of force: ...
In the last couple of weeks, I’ve been busy preparing for our summer paper on Science Communication. Looking for something amusing about ‘risk’ in science, I came across this neat xkcd.com cartoon about why so many people come knocking on my door (or phoning me, or emailing me) desperately wanting ...
by John Edmundson The International Socialist Organisation (ISO) have recently reposted a February article, by Romany Tasker-Poland, explaining ISO’s position in the “trans rights” debate. It is available on their website and on their Facebook Page. The article sets out to explain why “socialists support trans rights”. It reads more ...
"Auckland City Mission: 10% of Kiwis experiencing food insecurity", RNZ, 16 October 2019:About half a million people are experiencing food insecurity, according to new research from the Auckland City Mission. Food insecurity, or food poverty, is defined as not having enough appropriate food. The City Mission said over the last ...
Media Statement for Immediate Release 16th October 2019 “Fake News” from Auckland City Council CCOs Board Chairs re pay and performance bonuses for top managers Despite comments from Auckland City Council CCOs Board Chairs re pay and performance bonuses for top managers—Herald Newspaper Tuesday Oct 15th–there is very little evidence ...
Would You Buy A Used Propaganda Video From This Man? Bridges and the National Party’s strategists have discovered that the ideas and attitudes considered acceptable by today’s editors and journalists are no longer enforceable. The rise and rise of the Internet and the social media platforms it spawned means that ...
There is plenty of evidence of the way the business mentality has permeated every level of society since the recrudescence of market liberalism 35 years ago. You only need to think of how citizens in need of help from their government, their state, their country, are now routinely described as ...
John MacCormickOver the last 40 years, New Zealanders – and people in other countries – have experienced big changes in the jobs they do and where they live and work. These changes include: a decline in manufacturing jobs an increase in jobs in ‘information-intensive’ industries (which are better paid ...
Nick Wilson, Leah Grout, Mereana Wilson, Anja Mizdrak, Phil Shoemack, Michael BakerProtecting waterways has the benefits of: (1) protecting water from hazardous microbes; (2) minimising cancer risk and other problems from nitrates in water; (3) avoiding algal blooms that are hazardous to health; (4) protecting mahinga kai uses (cultural ...
by The Council of Disobedient Women In a press release today Massey University announced it has decided to rebrand and reorientate after struggling to be a University for grown-ups. For some time the University has wanted to be a safe play space for wee-woke-misogynists who have been really badly triggered ...
After a brief dalliance with 'hard Revoke' it looks like the Lib Dems are changing ground on on Brexit, with leader Jo Swinson reverting to calling for a second referendum on Johnson's deal.The party has tabled an amendment to the Queen’s speech requesting that any deal brought back from Brussels ...
The government has decided that someone has done Something Bad. But despite their belief, there seems to be no evidence that they have actually broken the law. So the government's solution is to pass a retrospective law allowing them to be punished anyway, on a lower standard of proof. If ...
So, Judith Collins has done a Facebook rant about climate change, peddling the same shit National has been shovelling for the past twenty years: the impacts are overstated, there's no need to do anything about it, and its too hard anyway (oh, and its so unfair that people who peddle ...
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nzThere is a lot of discussion on the benefits of ...
I came across this song quite by accident. If it isn't one of Greta Thunberg's favourites - it should be.Video courtesy of YouTube.This post is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
Last month, NZDF's shoddy coverup of what it knew about civilian casualties in Operation Burnham began to fall apart, with the revelation that a report on the matter, which NZDF claimed not to have, had been sitting in an NZDF safe for the past nine years. Yesterday, the man responsible ...
While many imagine that countries like the USA and Europe dominate space activities, in fact India is now a major player on this stage. It launches satellites for its own purposes and also commercially, and has constellations orbiting our planet and returning data of vital importance to that nation in ...
Thanks to a report from the Acting Inspector General of Intelligence and Security following a complaint by Nicky Hager, we have come to find out that the SIS illegally spied on Mr. Hager on behalf of the NZDF after publication of Hager’s 2011 book, Other People’s Wars. The NZDF justified ...
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING MYTH 1: Global temperatures are rising at a rapid, unprecedented rate. FACT: The HadCRUT3 surface temperature index, produced by the Hadley Centre of the UK Met Office and the Climate Research Unit of the University of East Anglia, shows warming to 1878, cooling to 1911, ...
For the past week, Extinction Rebellion has been peacefully protesting in London to demand action on climate change. The British government's response? Ban their protests:Police have banned Extinction Rebellion protests from continuing anywhere in London, as they moved in almost without warning to clear protesters who remained at the movement’s ...
An essay by Judith Collins MP reported on Carbon News yesterday seems to show an alarming shift in attitude within the National Party. Collins argues against the Zero Carbon Bill, the Paris Agreement, and downplays the magnitude of climate impacts. The Paris Agreement was adopted in December 2015 and ratified ...
When they were running for election, Labour promised to overhaul the Employment Relations Act and introduce fair pay agreements to set basic pay and conditions on an industry level, preventing bad employers from undercutting good ones. They followed this up by establishing a working group, which reported back in January ...
A list of indicators of bad science – many of these are found in articles promoted by anti-fluoride activists. Anti-fluoride activists have been pouring money into a scaremongering campaign warning pregnant women not to drink fluoridated water. They claim fluoride will lower the IQ of their future child. Fluoride ...
Nothing Left To Say: Labour's pollster, Stephen Mills, remains swaddled-up in the comforting myths of the 1980s. As if the experience of Roger Douglas’s genuinely radical post-Muldoon policy agenda was literally a once-in-a-lifetime thing – as much as the party could possibly absorb for at least the next 50 years.MEMO ...
The Royal Commission on abuse in care is very significant for the disability community. For many decades last century, thousands of disabled children, and adults who managed to survive, were locked away from families and communities. This was not for anything they had done, but for the perceived threat their ...
With an unfair voting system, uneven electorates and an un-elected upper house, the UK's "democracy" is barely worthy of the name. But now the government wants to make it worse:The government has been accused of suppressing voters’ rights with the potential disenfranchisement of tens of thousands of people after plans ...
Back in the 90's and early 2000's, the building industry was building leaky homes which should never have been granted consent. Now it turns out they've been building dodgy office blocks as well:New imaging technology has revealed hundreds of major buildings nationwide have defective or missing concrete or reinforcing steel. ...
Local body election results were released over the weekend, to joy or despair depending on where you live. In Auckland, Phil Goff trounced John Tamihere, who is muttering darkly about running for Parliament again (but which party would want him?) Wellington is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Weta Workshop, except ...
How could government evolve over the next decades? Reports of democracy’s imminent demise are greatly exaggerated. However, satisfaction with political systems in many countries is low, so there is much to do for governments of all political stripes to improve relevance and trust. Digital technologies are seen as one ...
Two years have now gone by since the Friday afternoon when my university-student son and I headed out of our Barcelona flat to a nearby primary school, designated as a polling station for the vote that was to be held the following Sunday: the referendum on Catalonia’s independence from Spain ...
Overruled: The joint decision of Finance Minister, Grant Robertson (Labour) and his Associate Minister, David Parker (Labour) arguably the two most powerful ministers in Jacinda Ardern’s government, to grant OceanaGold the consents which Land Information Minister, Eugenie Sage (Greens) had earlier denied them, offers bitter proof of how hard fighting ...
More than double the number of people who will vote in this year’s local body elections have tried marijuana or urinated somewhere they shouldn’t have. As local elections look set for the lowest turnout in decades, with many regions falling well short of 40%, the Government is exploring a number ...
A Statement on Abortion Law Reform by the Council of Disobedient Women On the eve of bringing an end to antiquated, anti-women abortion laws Green MP Jan Logie intends to write women out of the Bill. With a stroke of the pen, the woke are aiming for total erasure ...
Musings continue apace about “the experienced businessman!” soon to be taking up a National Party MP position. Or to be more accurate, being parachuted into a seat to shut down their former MP Jamie-Lee Ross, who despite his own shortcomings shed at least some more light on the inner workings ...
The Ugandan government wants to murder gay people:Uganda has announced plans to impose the death penalty on homosexuals. The bill, colloquially known as “Kill the Gays” in Uganda, was nullified five years ago on a technicality, but the government said on Thursday it plans to resurrect it within weeks. The ...
Hassan Vally, La Trobe UniversityWho doesn’t want to know if drinking that second or third cup of coffee a day will improve your memory, or if sleeping too much increases your risk of a heart attack? We’re invested in staying healthy and many of us are interested in reading ...
Freedom Of Speech? The Säuberung (cleansing by fire) was the work of the German Student Union which, on 10 May 1933, under the watchful eye of the Nazi Reichminister for Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, consigned 25,000 books to the flames in a ritual exorcism of “un-German thought”. According to the logic of the ...
“There can be no such thing as kaupapa Māori political parties or politics in Aotearoa” (Willie Jackson, Labour Party (2017). Māori TV, General/List Election Special) I begin with that claim because at the time, I was confounded at first that it fell out of Willie Jackson’s mouth, and then ...
New Zealand has prided itself for decades with regard to its lack of pollution, and all will be aware that the ‘100% Pure New Zealand‘ meme is under threat through land, water and air pollution of various causes. There is another type of contamination that the country also faces: light ...
New Zealand’s media is doing its part in Japan, reassuring those in the path of the storm that they won’t miss any rugby while away from their flooded homes. New Zealand sports reporters stationed in Japan for the Rugby World Cup have had the rare and heartwarming opportunity to inform ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones is the only Cabinet member in favour of putting it all on green. As Finance Minister Grant Robertson finds himself with an enormous $7.5 billion surplus, the Government has begun intense, at times contentious conversations about whether to put the money on red or black at ...
by Susanne Kemp At the start of September close to 100,000 school teachers went on strike in Jordan. They demanded a 50% pay rise. A pay rise actually agreed to by the regime back in 2014. In early October, however, in the face of government repression and threats, the teachers’ ...
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nzWhy do people still think climate change isn’t real?David ...
Back in 2011, journalist Nicky Hager published Other People's Wars, an expose on NZDF's activities over the previous decade of the "war on terror". NZDF didn't like this, and especially didn't like the fact that it was base don leaks from their own. So, they had the SIS investigate him ...
The Zero Carbon Bill is due back from select committee in two weeks, and will likely pass its final stages in November. So naturally, farmers are planning a hate-march against it. But they're not just demanding lower methane targets so they can keep on destroying the planet; they're also demanding ...
Last year, California burned. This year, to stop it happening again (or rather, to stop themselves from being found liable if it happens again), Pacific Gas and Electric is cutting power to half the state for a week:Schools are closed. Traffic lights down. Tunnels dark. Businesses unopened. Hospitals running on ...
The Best Way: Missing from the on-line voting debate is any reference to the voting system that produces turn-out figures ranging from 77 to 93 percent of registered voters. The voting system used to collect and count the votes cast in our parliamentary elections. The system that involves citizens making ...
Among the great new bunch of political friends we have been making recently is the excellent Australian-based Marxist gender-critical site, Freer Lives. So we asked the comrade who set up that blog to write something for Redline on the blog, himself, his analysis of the rise of gender politics and ...
by Don Franks The Auckland City Mission is struggling with a 40 percent increase in demand for food parcels this year. A total of 23,020 were needed by June. Last month Missioner Chris Farrelly told the Herald the “cupboards are bare” and without an emergency food drive, he can’t see ...
Journalist Andrew Dickens, reporting from the 2019 New Zealand First Conference, states that the Party once again proved “they are more than a sideshow”. In his op-ed article for NewstalkZB, Mr Dickens said he has always been an admirer of the Party, saying they are “a true centrist party”. “[NZ ...
New Zealand First's potential policy of compulsory community service for ages 15-19 years old has been getting support from those in the industry. A policy remit was passed during their recent Conference in Christchurch, gaining the support of a majority of its membership. Party leader Winston Peters has been talking ...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says the Party hopes to decide it’s stance pill testing at music festivals "before the season of concern", with festivals generally held during the summer months. Mr Peters' comments come in an interview with TVNZ's Q+A and follow a remit from the party's youth ...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says he has been told to be "alert" to potential cost blowouts for the light rail project in Auckland. Mr Peters said no such concerns were raised with him from ministerial colleagues, including Transport Minister Phil Twyford of the Labour Party. He suggested that ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters Leader of New Zealand First The Benefits of having New Zealand First in the Centre: Security, Experience & Balance 2.00pm, 20th October 2019 Ladies and Gentlemen Thank you all for your warm welcome to this, the party’s 26thConvention. Speaking on behalf of caucus colleagues, it’s great to ...
Fletcher Tabuteau, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs Fletcher Tabuteau is travelling to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu this week to continue toadvance important bilateral relationships in our region consistent with thePacific Reset. Mr Tabuteau will engage in a range of bilateral meetings and visit New Zealand development ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is predicting a hard Brexit for the United Kingdom, as he believes British Prime Minister Boris Johnson won’t be able to negotiate terms before the October 30 deadline. The Minister, who was one of the first to publicly come out and predict British voters would leave ...
Speaking at the Council of Trade Unions' (CTU) biennial conference, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters told unionists that any future attacks on the Government won't work. "Now, we are being attacked by the union movement in this country. You can have your views but I'm here to say standing ...
We want every New Zealander to be happy, safe, and healthy. To do this, we need to support strong, safe communities, and a robust and efficient health system. ...
Defence Minister Ron Mark has used his powers to overrule a noise complaint ruling against Whenuapai airbase on the grounds of "national security". The Environment Court last month released a ruling in favour of a private developer, declaring the Auckland airbase had to comply with noise restrictions when it performs ...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has opened fire against "unreconstructed morons" after NZ First MP Shane Jones was photographed on holiday holding an AR-15 rifle. Mr Peters is defending Mr Jones, telling Magic Talk host Peter Williams that his MP was just having fun "like most people do". "The ...
New Zealand First Deputy Leader and Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau was in attendance during the morning blessing of the Rotorua Lakefront development project. Around 60 people gathered on the shores of Lake Rotorua, including city mayor Steve Chadwick and deputy Dave Donaldson. The Lakefront development is a ...
Forestry Minister Shane Jones is considering reining in on conversions of farmland to forestry, and also issued a warning to foreign-owned forestry companies that make up nearly 75 per cent of the industry. He said too many foreign companies had not provided enough access for domestic processors to get timber. ...
Speaking to Radio NZ, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said the tightening of the parental category visa is a direct result of the Party’s coalition negotiations with the Labour Party. He said the new changes switch the financial onus from the parent moving to New Zealand to the child ...
The Coalition Government is set to cut red tape in the building and construction sector in an effort to allow more houses to be built, including prefabricated houses. The changes will enable the mass factory production of "high quality" buildings, slash the likely number of building inspections for factory produced ...
Since coming into Government, we’ve worked hard to tackle homelessness and make sure everyone has a warm, dry home. And today, on World Homeless Day, we want to report back and update you on our progress so far. ...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has hit back at National Party leader Simon Bridges who criticized the Coalition Government’s approach to crime, and said that the latter isn't credible in his attack on the Government over gang recruitment. "We've got as massive drug problem in this country. It is ...
New Zealand Mānuka honey exporters have welcomed an initiative by the Coalition Government to help secure the term “mānuka honey” to be used exclusively by Kiwi exporters, ensuring that our multimillion-dollar industry is protected. Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones had recently announced that a Provincial Growth Funding of $5.7 ...
Political commentator Mike Hosking has labelled New Zealand First leader Winston Peters as “the voice of reason in a government soft on drugs”, for the Party’s stance on drug testing at music festivals. “If common sense is worth a vote, Winston Peters is quids in,” Mr Hosking said. The Labour ...
Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau has announced Provincial Growth Funding to ensure work opportunities in Turangi and Whanganui, through its skills and employment programme, Te Ara Mahi. A fund of $500,000 will go to Rafting NZ in Turangi for a 16-week river guide training course to train ...
Treasury has shown that the Coalition Government has a $7.5 billion surplus, which is $4 billion higher than what was expected in the 2019 Budget unveiled last May. It is also $2 billion higher than the actual surplus unveiled this time last year, and at a size that has not ...
Official Information Act figures released to NZME show there were 350 assaults on officers in the year to the end of June, 79 more than the year before. The increase in attacks have sparked calls for more legal protection for first responders to be enacted. The assaults included officers being ...
“Nobody wants to see babies uplifted”, this was the pronouncement of Minister for Children Hon. Tracey Martin as her department, Oranga Tamariki, faces multiple inquiries into the number of babies being taken from their families. “But a baby can die with a single punch, “the Minister continued. “So sometimes, Oranga ...
We're making progress on tackling the long-term challenges: from homelessness, to strengthening border security, to bringing banking back New Zealand's small towns. ...
Associate Transport Minister Shane Jones has backed the ambitious plan to move Auckland’s port to Northport, at Whangarei harbour, which he says will be the “King Kong of infrastructure”. The plan is part of the recommendations of a six-person independent working group, which has recommended the Ports of Auckland be ...
A six-member independent working group selected the option of moving Auckland’s port to Northport, in Whangarei, ahead of other options. In what could be New Zealand’s most ambitious infrastructure project yet, a major expansion of the Marsden Point port could happen within 15 years. The project, officially called the “Upper ...
The final Electricity Price Review recommended prohibiting prompt payment discounts but allowing “reasonable” late fees. The findings of this review was welcomed by the Coalition Government, but they hope companies will follow through with its recommendations without regulations needed to be passed. Meridian Energy had already stopped prompt payment discounts, ...
Fletcher Tabuteau, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF)through its skills and employment programme, Te Ara Mahi,will invest nearly $600,000 to ensure work opportunities for locals in Turangia and Whanganui, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced today. “I’m pleased to announce the PGF ...
An export-led economy is one of New Zealand First’s key principles, and our commitment to achieving this is shown by the continuing skyrocketing demand for our beef and sheep meat exports. Beef + Lamb New Zealand's New Season Outlook 2019-20 report forecasts beef, lamb and mutton prices to lift from ...
A Bill to improve prison security and ensure the fair, safe, and humane treatment of people in prison while upholding public safety has passed its third reading. Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says the Corrections Amendment Bill makes a number of changes to ensure the Corrections Act 2004 is fit for ...
Minister for Māori Development, Nanaia Mahuta, has selected Arihia Bennett MNZM, Chief Executive Officer of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, as the Te Puni Kōkiri appointed representative on the New Zealand-China Council. The New Zealand-China Council (the Council) was established in 2012 as a New Zealand led and funded organisation ...
Responsibility for processing the small number of Southern Response claims still to be settled will be transferred to EQC by the end of the year. “As claim numbers reduce, it no longer makes sense for the Crown to have two organisations processing the remaining Canterbury claims,” Grant Robertson says. “Since ...
Health Minister David Clark is encouraging Whanganui residents to take up the opportunity for free bowel screening, which can detect cancer early when it’s easier to treat. Over the next two years 12,000 Whanganui locals, aged 60 to 74 will be invited to participate in the National Bowel Screening ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio, heads to Oslo today to represent New Zealand at the sixth Our Ocean Conference, which is being hosted by the Norwegian Government from the 23-24 October. “The Our Ocean Conference mobilises real action on issues like marine plastic pollution and the impacts of ...
Two secondary-school initiatives are being expanded as part of the Government’s plan to see more young New Zealanders take up a trade to help close the skills gap. This includes the largest single increase in Trades Academy places in recent years. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Education Minister Chris ...
Session 4: Pacific Connectivity – Youth, Media and New Opportunities Kia ora tatou katoa and Warm Pacific greetings to one and all. Representatives of Tainui, the local people of the land, or manawhenua – the indigenous peoples of this area – have welcomed you this morning in accordance with ...
The Government today announced its support for a project that could substantially reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions from cattle. The announcement was made as part of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor’s visit to Nelson’s Cawthron Aquaculture Park. The Cawthron Institute will receive $100,000 from the Government’s ...
Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni has welcomed the first reading of the New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension Legislation Amendment Bill. “Every New Zealander has a stake in New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension,” says Carmel Sepuloni. “They are our most common form of social assistance – nearly 800,000 New ...
Babies in Auckland aged six months and over can receive a free vaccination and children will all have access to vaccines, Associate Minister of Health Julie Anne Genter announced today at Papatoetoe High School. The move comes as part of Government efforts to step up the fight against measles. ...
***Check against delivery*** Good morning. It is a pleasure to be here, and to have the honour of opening this important conference on behalf of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. Let us take the opportunity to acknowledge all the people who have helped make today possible, including our special ...
Police Minister Stuart Nash says the safety of frontline officers and members of the public will be the focus of a new trial of specialist Police response teams in three of our largest urban centres. Police have this morning released details of an initiative to be trialled in Counties Manukau, ...
The Minister of Fisheries is calling for entries for a new public award to celebrate innovation in our seafood sector. “I have established the Seafood Sustainability Awards to recognise and celebrate those throughout industry, tangata whenua and communities who demonstrate outstanding dedication and innovation towards the sustainability of New Zealand’s ...
Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter welcomes leaders in the private sector taking action on closing their gender pay gaps to ensure a fairer workplace for all New Zealanders. Ms Genter today launched a new report, Addressing the gender pay gap and driving women’s representation in senior leadership, from the Champions for ...
Government Ministers today welcomed the release of a marine environment report highlighting the four key issues affecting our oceans, estuaries and coastlines. The release underlines the importance of government proposals to combat climate pollution, ensure clean freshwater, protect biodiversity, make land use more sustainable, and reduce waste and plastic. Environment ...
The Government has approved funding for a new acute mental health facility for Waikato which will provide better care and support to people with mental health and addiction issues. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Health Minister Dr David Clark announced the $100 million project to replace the aging Henry Rongomau ...
The Government is making progress on its goal to integrate te reo Māori into education by 2025, with over 500 teachers and support staff already graduating from Te Ahu o te Reo Māori, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis announced today. Kelvin Davis made the announcement at an awards ceremony in Waikanae today, for ...
Statistics Minister James Shaw has welcomed the first release of 2018 Census data. The first release of data today, 23 September, includes key data on population, regional growth, the number of homes and the size of different ethnic groups in New Zealand. Data from the 2018 Census will support the ...
Minister for Statistics James Shaw today announced a public consultation on a proposed algorithm charter for government agencies. The charter has been developed by the Government Chief Data Steward in response to growing calls for more transparency in government use of data. Computer algorithms – procedures or formulas for solving ...
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, Climate Change Minister James Shaw and visiting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte co-hosted a business roundtable in Auckland this morning focused on working together to address climate change. “The Netherlands is an important partner for New Zealand. We share a strong agricultural history. Sustainable agribusiness and ...
The Government is taking action to build an inclusive economy where more of us receive our fair share at work and businesses can compete on great products and services, not undercutting wages and conditions, Immigration and Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says. Two consultations launched today seek feedback ...
The future for New Zealand’s threatened indigenous freshwater fish looks brighter with the passing of the Conservation (Indigenous Freshwater Fish) Amendment Bill in Parliament today said Minister of Conservation, Eugenie Sage. “Until now, our freshwater fish legislation has been 20 years out of date. We have lacked effective tools to ...
At 1.30pm tomorrow, hundreds of thousands of Kiwis will join about 65 million people around the globe in ShakeOut, the world’s biggest earthquake drill. The annual drill is to remind people of the right action to take during an earthquake which is to Drop, Cover, Hold, and to practise their ...
Kiwis are benefiting from higher wage growth and low inflation under the Coalition Government. Stats NZ data out today shows the rise in the cost of living remains low, as annual Consumers Price Index (CPI) inflation fell to 1.5% in September from 1.7% in June. “The low inflation comes as ...
New Zealand’s economic strength and resilience has been recognised in a major update on the state of the global economy. The IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook released overnight shows a reduced global growth forecast over the next two years as issues like the US-China trade war and Brexit take hold. ...
Justice Minister Andrew Little has today introduced a new Bill to prevent terrorism and support the de-radicalisation of New Zealanders returning from overseas. The Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Bill gives the New Zealand Police the ability to apply to the High Court to impose control orders on New Zealanders who ...
A Bill that proposes targeted changes to simplify the processes for Māori land owners when engaging with the Māori Land Court has had its First Reading today. “The approach taken by the Government is to ensure that the protection of Māori land remains a priority as we seek to improve ...
Let me first thank all the new unionists and members in the room. There is nothing more important to improving people’s working lives than people making the decision to care, to get on board and help, to take up the reins and get involved. Congratulations to you. You bring the ...
Minister of Defence Ron Mark has signed a certificate exempting the activity of engine testing at Whenuapai Airbase from the Resource Management Act 1991. The Act gives the Minister of Defence the power to exempt activities for the purposes of national security. The certificate will mean the recent Environment Court ...
Finance Minister Grant Robertson has announced New Zealand will join the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action while attending APEC meetings in Chile. The objective of the 39 member Coalition is to share information and promote action to tackle climate change. It was formed in April this year, in ...
Feedback sought– Lyttelton commercial zone parking The Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Poto Williams, is seeking feedback on a proposal to remove on-site car parking requirements for new developments in the Lyttelton commercial zone. The proposal, by Christchurch City Council, asks that powers under section 71 of the Greater ...
Hon Minister Poto Williams Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration MEDIA STATEMENT Tuesday 15 October 2019 Feedback sought – Hagley Oval The Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Poto Williams, is seeking feedback on a proposal about Hagley Oval. The proposal was developed by Regenerate Christchurch ...
Ladies and gentlemen, NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff, members of respective unions – thank you for the invitation to speak to you today. This might be preaching to the choir, but the importance of trade unions in New Zealand’s historical arch is difficult to understate. And it is my belief that ...
"Let’s start by acknowledging that it has been a huge year. " Police Association Annual Conference James Cook Grand Chancellor Hotel Wellington Nau mai, haere mai. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, ka nui te mihi, ki a koutou katoa. President of the Police Association, Chris Cahill; Members of the Association and ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters and Minister of Defence Ron Mark have announced the New Zealand Government’s decision to again deploy a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 (P-3) maritime patrol aircraft to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions imposing sanctions against North Korea. New ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand continues to have serious concerns for peace and stability in north-east Syria. “Recent reports that hundreds of ISIS-affiliated families have fled from a camp are deeply concerning from a humanitarian and security perspective”, Mr Peters says. “While we acknowledge Turkey’s domestic security ...
Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor is warning travelling Kiwis to be vigilant as the high-season for the crop-eating brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is under way. “We’re on high alert to stop BMSB arriving in NZ. The high season runs until April 30 and we’ve strengthened our measures to stop stink ...
The Government is moving swiftly to change the law to improve the welfare and pastoral care of students living in university halls of residence and other tertiary hostels. Cabinet has agreed to several changes, including creating a new mandatory Code of Practice that sets out the duty of pastoral care ...
The Minister for Conservation Eugenie Sage has launched a new comprehensive trapping guide for community trappers to help them protect our native birds, plants and other wildlife, at Zealandia in Wellington today. ‘A practical guide to trapping’, has been developed by the Department of Conservation (DOC), and was launched during ...
Associate Health Minister Julie Anne Genter welcomes PHARMAC’s move to improve access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs). PHARMAC has today announced it will fund the full cost of Mirena and Jaydess for anyone seeking long term contraception, lifting previous restrictions on access to Mirena. “I welcome women having greater choices ...
By Rebecca Ananian-Welsh Australians picked up their morning papers yesterday to find heavily blacked-out text instead of front-page headlines. This bold statement was instigated by the “Your Right to Know” campaign, an unlikely coalition of Australian media organisations fighting for press freedom and source protection. A key reform advocated by a ...
Surrounding sites evacuated and one reported hospitalised in serious condition as blaze rips through two floors of the under-construction building in the Auckland CBDLast updated: 6.30pmParts of central Auckland have been brought to a standstill this afternoon after a major fire broke out shortly after 1pm at the Sky City ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phil McManus, Professor of Urban and Environmental Geography: Head of School of Geosciences, University of Sydney In the wake of a shocking ABC report on the dismal end of many racehorses’ lives in slaughterhouses, many Australians are questioning whether the horse racing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mohiuddin Ahmed, Lecturer of Computing & Security, Edith Cowan University Machines and the internet are woven into the fabric of our society. A growing number of users, devices and applications work together to produce what we now call “big data”. And this ...
After an unusually nasty campaign for their country, Canada has gone to the polls. They’ve decided that Justin Trudeau will continue as prime minister, but just like in New Zealand, he’ll have to work with coalition politics. What’s happened?After a brutal and at times humiliating campaign, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has ...
“The Prime Minister must publicly support an immediate ban on Gay Conversion Therapy . If I was Jacinda I would feel morally obligated to give more confidence on where I stand, when I have asked for, and received, support from that community.” ...
New abortion law marks significant and needed progress for reproductive rights in New Zealand Amnesty International has today made its submission to the Abortion Legislation Committee in Wellington. The rights at stake in the legislation include the rights ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.Transport Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): NZ Transport Agency to Phil Twyford: We should have done better ...
Crisis of Safety and Confidence in our Engineering, Building and Construction Industries Please find attached a copy of an Open Letter from Professor Maan Alkaisi, Spokesperson CTV Families Group. This was sent a short time ago to the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, ...
Safe speed limits are survivable speed limits and this is what AT has endorsed in its step change decision today. This decision is a landmark that sets the scene for a new focus on road safety in New Zealand. ...
The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) says the inadequate treatment of urology patients in Southern District Health Board is distressing and should serve as a broad reminder to DHB management to listen when specialists raise concerns. ...
Informed via telegram that Netflix has released a full trailer for the new season of The Crown, Tara Ward puts on her best boxhat and white gloves to find out what round three will bring. The good Lorde told us we’ll never be royals, so the first full trailer for the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sara Dehm, Lecturer, University of Technology Sydney Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie has some sobering reading to do over the coming weeks: an 88-page Senate report into the government-sponsored bill to repeal the medevac law that allow refugees and asylum seekers in Papua ...
Eric Crampton has fun imagining a version of MBIE that worried it could be subject to cartel criminalisation provisions for the anticompetitive regimes it has established. ...
Criminologist Antje Deckert has just completed a two-year study of how women offenders are portrayed in New Zealand newspapers. The results show that journalists are telling very different stories abut Māori and Pākehā. That our criminal justice system is in desperate need of reform and that we need to reduce the ...
China continues its march into the Pacific with a China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum in Samoa this week. Ahead of the forum, Beijing has signed seven new agreements with Samoa covering education, trade, e-commerce, investment, infrastructure and agriculture. China’s Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua heads his delegation in Apia ...
It might be tempting to yell, but there are more effective ways to talk to doubters about the value of vaccines, write Julie Leask and Maryke Steffens.Your neighbour is telling you about his new baby. He feels nervous about vaccinating, and says he’s considering delaying Lucy’s vaccines.Your mother’s group is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Debra Wain, Academic in Professional and Creaive Writing, Deakin University Why do we tell stories, and how are they crafted? In this series, we unpick the work of the writer on both page and screen. Anna Spargo-Ryan’s debut novel, The Paper House ...
The Movies, a documentary series that celebrates movies and their impact on culture, is available on TVNZ OnDemand today. Sam Brooks pulls some of the best quotes from its galaxy of stars.Ever wanted to get a snapshot of cinematic history without leaving the comfort of your couch, or even your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ronald F Pol, Senior researcher NZ, La Trobe University Money laundering rarely gets as literal as the case in Thailand last week, where police raided homes of a ring suspected of laundering a billion baht (about A$48 million) of drug proceeds and ...
The NZTA chair has acknowledged the agency dropped the ball in its early handling of Auckland's light rail project, as the NZ Infra proposal grips ministers. ...
On Friday it was announced that Armed Offenders Squad patrols will be trialled in Counties Manukau, Waikato and Canterbury over the next six months. The data suggests this will increase police violence and unfairly target Māori, writes Emilie Rākete.Police Commissioner Mike Bush announced on Friday that cars of Armed Offender ...
This summary is provided to assist in the understanding of the Court’s judgment. It does not comprise part of the reasons for that judgment. The full judgment with reasons is the only authoritative document. The full text of the judgment and reasons ...
There’s something about the feeling of wind whipping my face that brings me out of my head and into the moment. Once a month we pedal as a group: recreating the feeling of childlike glee riding our bikes together, writes Helen King.The first bike I learned to ride belonged to ...
More than 10,000 school support staff around the country have begun two weeks of paid union meetings to discuss progress on pay equity, and next steps following the Ministry of Education's failure to present a collective agreement offer. ...
Government ministers are adamant New Zealand’s economic fundamentals are solid, unemployment is at a record low, growth is faster than in Australia, and the surplus in the government accounts and low debt present further opportunities to strengthen the economy. Yet, across the road from the Beehive, the view from the ...
Wellington's mayor-elect Andy Foster says talk about a recount is causing a "distraction" for the council at the start of their term, but the incumbent Justin Lester says it's essential for a democratic process. ...
Police Commissioner Mike Bush has today announced an independent review of the systems and processes NZ Police has in place to address complaints of bullying. ...
The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry has formalised an integrated pathway for survivors to seek justice for the abuse they suffered in State care or in the care of faith-based institutions. ...
The small-claims mediation process is meant to give real people a voice, but the financial and emotional sacrifice just isn’t worth it, writes Jai BreitnauerWhen we moved to the semi-rural dreamland of Te Henga (Bethell’s Beach) in 2017, we couldn’t imagine that anything would be able to tarnish the beautiful ...
The New Zealand Bar Association welcomes a Court of Appeal decision which gives detailed guidance on sentencing people convicted of offences related to the importation, manufacture and supply of methamphetamine. ...
Methamphetamine (meth) dealers who can prove their own addiction caused their drug offending could have their sentences cut by 30 per cent, according to a landmark judgement released by the Court of Appeal. The role of an offender in a drug network ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Ananian-Welsh, Senior Lecturer, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland Australians picked up their morning papers yesterday to find heavily blacked-out text instead of front-page headlines. This bold statement was instigated by the “Your Right to Know” campaign, an ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science, University of Sydney The slaughter of horses bred for racing in Australia, as revealed in the ABC’s investigation, highlights the challenge of what to do with racehorses when their careers are over. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carlina Black, PhD candidate, La Trobe University It’s a year since the national apology to victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. While national apologies can acknowledge survivors, sorry is just the beginning. Access to healing is needed. Our research shows ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Hepburn, Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Right now, two projects have been proposed to import gas from overseas to supply eastern Australia. This is an absurd prospect. Australia is a resource-rich ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Pitman, Senior Research Fellow, Curtin University In a recent nation-wide survey by online tutoring company Cluey Learning, 75% of Australian senior students said their ATAR score would impact on the rest of their life. And more than 80% said a score ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shih-Wen Sue Chen, Senior Lecturer in Writing and Literature, Deakin University There is a new challenger to Disney’s hold on the global animation industry, and he is a Chinese demon child. [embedded content]Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Child, from Chengdu Coco ...
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Wellington’s new mayor faces difficult three years, Zero Carbon bill select committee report comes back, and extremist preacher barred from NZPartly because it was a widely unexpected result, the opening days of Wellington mayor Andy Foster’s tenure have been gripping. He ...
Laurence Fearnley, author of a best-selling novel about perfumes, proposes a radical new scheme in which people of refined noses set out together and establish a sniffing group. ...
A string of failures over the past 25 years has drawn attention to the quality of regulatory practice in NZ. Jeroen van der Heijden looks at what we can do differently. ...
After her own troubled teenage years, Fran McEwen doesn't want to see other girls going through the same challenges. So she's running a race across a Middle Eastern desert to help them. ...
Last night, the two titans of the cannabis referendum came together for their first televised debate on the issue – Paula Bennett and Chlöe Swarbrick.From a distance, Paula Bennett and Chlöe Swarbrick don’t feel like the most likely opponents. What with Paula Bennett recently-ish stating she would not seek re-election ...
Andrew Little’s terrorism suppression bill is facing two very different forms of resistance, from National and from the Greens. What is the legislation, and why is it controversial?What this then? The Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Bill, introduced to parliament by the justice minister, Andrew Little, last Wednesday, seeks to introduce “a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Given her status as holding two vital Senate crossbench votes Pauline Hanson is at times, in the eyes of senior government figures, She Who Must Be Obeyed. And so it was last week, when Hanson ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says he'll be watching out for potential cost blow-outs for Auckland's light rail project, after warnings from a source within the transport industry. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leah Mercer, Associate Professor of Theatre Arts, Curtin University Fully Sikh, directed by Matt Edgerton, Perth’s Studio Underground The foyer is adorned with colourful fabric and bunting. We’re welcomed by the sounds of Indian music while members of the Sikh community offer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leah Mercer, Associate Professor of Theatre Arts, Curtin University Fully Sikh, directed by Matt Edgerton, Perth’s Studio Underground The foyer is adorned with colourful fabric and bunting. We’re welcomed by the sounds of Indian music while members of the Sikh community offer ...
New Zealand First leader and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters with Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.Trying to make sense of the New Zealand First party can be difficult at the best of times. Political journalists and commentators attempt to work out where the party ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.TV3 sale Tim Batt (Metro): What if THREE’s problem isn’t TVNZ but… MediaWorks? Alex Braae ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Miller, Professor of Violence Prevention and Addiction Studies, Deakin University Over recent weeks, the alcohol industry has been drumming up mediadiscussion around Australia’s new drinking guidelines. Australia’s guidelines on alcohol consumption are under ongoing review by the National Health and ...
Extremist Baptist pastor Steven Anderson has just been blocked from entering New Zealand, making us the 34th country to reject his hate speech-filled sermons. American pastor Steven Anderson of the Faithful Word Baptist Church has been denied entry to New Zealand on character grounds, putting a stop to his plans to ...
Twenty years ago Stephen Chbosky had a massive hit with coming-of-age novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Now the director/producer/scriptwriter is back with an epic, kid-centric horror. Early on in Stephen Chbosky’s frustrating new horror novel, Imaginary Friend, its seven-year-old protagonist Christopher is sitting down to watch his favourite cartoon, ...
Hold on to your sponge nubbins, New Zealand’s loveliest reality show Great Kiwi Bake Off is back for a second serving. Before the show’s return on November 3, Tara Ward takes a sneak peek at 2019’s contestants. Lay me down on a soft bed of whipped cream and swab my forehead with a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ronald F Pol, Senior researcher NZ, La Trobe University Money laundering rarely gets as literal as the case in Thailand last week, where police raided homes of a ring suspected of laundering a billion baht (about A$48 million) of drug proceeds and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wilfred Wang, Lecturer, Communications & Media Studies, Monash University The Australian society has changed significantly since cemeteries in Victoria were planned and designed 150 years ago. But there haven’t been any major redevelopment or review of the community’s changing requirements for what ...
NZ Post’s failure to maintain an adequate postal voting infrastructure has been the subject of two submissions to Parliamentary Select Committees by the Postal Workers Union since the last Local Authority postal vote in 2016. The union maintained that ...
New Zealand honey growers appear to have so far avoided the heavy hand of the Australian government in their dispute with apiarists across the Tasman. ...
A downturn in Tourism Holdings' (THL) vehicle sales business in the United States is likely to have a material negative affect on its full year results, the company warns. ...
The troubled Auckland Light Rail project is back in the news again, and not for good reasons. So what does it all mean for transport and traffic congestion in New Zealand’s biggest city?What’s all this then?It seemed like such a good plan at the time. Over the course of 10 ...
Open Mike 12/10/2017 
A few days ago, a friend sent me a link to a health-related FB page that had published a post from a homeopathist, offering homeopathic “vaccination”¹ against measles (using something called a “Morbillinum nosode” at a “potency” of 200C, which I’ll explain shortly). I followed the link, left a comment ...1 hour ago
by Gearóid Ó Loingsigh This year marks the 20th anniversary of the La Gabarra massacre. The community organised an event to remember the most well-known of the horrendous heart-breaking events that befell the communities of this area of the municipality of Tibú: the massacre carried out on August 21st 1999. ...1 hour ago
There was another police chase in Christchurch this morning, resulting in a crash which killed one person and injured five more. Because someone died, the chase is being investigated by the Independent Police Conduct Authority. And based on previous reports by the IPCA, we know how it will go: the ...5 hours ago
11 hours ago
by the Council of Disobedient Women We call on the Council of Trade Unions to show some fortitude and take a stand with your sisters. Unionists know that there is a material world, otherwise workers could simply identify out of poverty. They could declare themselves Well Paid. Why stop ...1 day ago
Keir Starmer has hinted that Labour might vote in favour of the Johnson government's shoddy deal, with the proviso that a second referendum is attached:Speaking to BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show, he said: “We will see what that looks like but it makes sense to say that by whatever ...1 day ago
In 1994, I was the editor for an issue of Planet magazine focused on cannabis, its culture and the prospects for the end of its prohibition. Part of that issue was an interview with 'Ringo', an experienced cannabis dealer.I recently posted my essay from that issue, and I figured it ...3 days ago
Media Statement for Immediate Release 16th October 2019 “Fake News” from Auckland City Council CCOs Board Chairs re pay and performance bonuses for top managers Despite comments from Auckland City Council CCOs Board Chairs re pay and performance bonuses for top managers—Herald Newspaper Tuesday Oct 15th–there is very little evidence ...5 days ago
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nz There is a lot of discussion on the benefits of ...6 days ago
Thanks to a report from the Acting Inspector General of Intelligence and Security following a complaint by Nicky Hager, we have come to find out that the SIS illegally spied on Mr. Hager on behalf of the NZDF after publication of Hager’s 2011 book, Other People’s Wars. The NZDF justified ...1 week ago
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING MYTH 1: Global temperatures are rising at a rapid, unprecedented rate. FACT: The HadCRUT3 surface temperature index, produced by the Hadley Centre of the UK Met Office and the Climate Research Unit of the University of East Anglia, shows warming to 1878, cooling to 1911, ...1 week ago
A list of indicators of bad science – many of these are found in articles promoted by anti-fluoride activists. Anti-fluoride activists have been pouring money into a scaremongering campaign warning pregnant women not to drink fluoridated water. They claim fluoride will lower the IQ of their future child. Fluoride ...1 week ago
More than double the number of people who will vote in this year’s local body elections have tried marijuana or urinated somewhere they shouldn’t have. As local elections look set for the lowest turnout in decades, with many regions falling well short of 40%, the Government is exploring a number ...2 weeks ago
Musings continue apace about “the experienced businessman!” soon to be taking up a National Party MP position. Or to be more accurate, being parachuted into a seat to shut down their former MP Jamie-Lee Ross, who despite his own shortcomings shed at least some more light on the inner workings ...2 weeks ago
“There can be no such thing as kaupapa Māori political parties or politics in Aotearoa” (Willie Jackson, Labour Party (2017). Māori TV, General/List Election Special) I begin with that claim because at the time, I was confounded at first that it fell out of Willie Jackson’s mouth, and then ...2 weeks ago
Journalist Andrew Dickens, reporting from the 2019 New Zealand First Conference, states that the Party once again proved “they are more than a sideshow”. In his op-ed article for NewstalkZB, Mr Dickens said he has always been an admirer of the Party, saying they are “a true centrist party”. “[NZ ...6 hours ago
We're rebuilding our hospitals, protecting our oceans, and taking mental health seriously. ...4 days ago
A Bill to improve prison security and ensure the fair, safe, and humane treatment of people in prison while upholding public safety has passed its third reading. Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says the Corrections Amendment Bill makes a number of changes to ensure the Corrections Act 2004 is fit for ...2 hours ago
By Rebecca Ananian-Welsh Australians picked up their morning papers yesterday to find heavily blacked-out text instead of front-page headlines. This bold statement was instigated by the “Your Right to Know” campaign, an unlikely coalition of Australian media organisations fighting for press freedom and source protection. A key reform advocated by a ...32 mins ago
Surrounding sites evacuated and one reported hospitalised in serious condition as blaze rips through two floors of the under-construction building in the Auckland CBDLast updated: 6.30pmParts of central Auckland have been brought to a standstill this afternoon after a major fire broke out shortly after 1pm at the Sky City ...1 hour ago
Changes to how courts deal with meth-related offending can only go so far thanks to current laws. And that's how it's going to stay. ...3 hours ago
“The Prime Minister must publicly support an immediate ban on Gay Conversion Therapy . If I was Jacinda I would feel morally obligated to give more confidence on where I stand, when I have asked for, and received, support from that community.” ...3 hours ago
The failure to get the National Party on board over the returning foreign fighters legislation means it will now be delayed. ...3 hours ago
Eric Crampton has fun imagining a version of MBIE that worried it could be subject to cartel criminalisation provisions for the anticompetitive regimes it has established. ...5 hours ago
China continues its march into the Pacific with a China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum in Samoa this week. Ahead of the forum, Beijing has signed seven new agreements with Samoa covering education, trade, e-commerce, investment, infrastructure and agriculture. China’s Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua heads his delegation in Apia ...6 hours ago
Fonterra has increased its forecast farmgate milk price for the current dairy season, sighting strong demand for the co-op's milk. ...8 hours ago
Government ministers are adamant New Zealand’s economic fundamentals are solid, unemployment is at a record low, growth is faster than in Australia, and the surplus in the government accounts and low debt present further opportunities to strengthen the economy. Yet, across the road from the Beehive, the view from the ...10 hours ago
Otago can boast having the cleanest air in NZ but it’s not in the mountains of Central Otago or on the windswept beaches of Dunedin. ...11 hours ago
A government agency puts a scientist off-limits after the re-discovery of an oyster parasite. ...14 hours ago
The uptake rate of a free whooping cough vaccine during pregnancy to protect newborns is described as dismal. ...14 hours ago
Laurence Fearnley, author of a best-selling novel about perfumes, proposes a radical new scheme in which people of refined noses set out together and establish a sniffing group. ...14 hours ago
A string of failures over the past 25 years has drawn attention to the quality of regulatory practice in NZ. Jeroen van der Heijden looks at what we can do differently. ...14 hours ago
Urgent action on climate change will be costly. But inaction could be four or five times more expensive, according to new climate accounting. ...14 hours ago
After her own troubled teenage years, Fran McEwen doesn't want to see other girls going through the same challenges. So she's running a race across a Middle Eastern desert to help them. ...14 hours ago
Andy Foster was backed by Sir Peter Jackson for the Wellington mayoralty, but his election victory was about more than that. ...15 hours ago
A sudden change in the interpretation of how Immigration NZ makes decisions relating to partnership visas has been labelled racist and unjust. ...21 hours ago
Winston Peters has warned those serving their own 'egregious self-interests' in the Pacific. ...1 day ago
New Zealand honey growers appear to have so far avoided the heavy hand of the Australian government in their dispute with apiarists across the Tasman. ...1 day ago
A downturn in Tourism Holdings' (THL) vehicle sales business in the United States is likely to have a material negative affect on its full year results, the company warns. ...1 day ago
Here we are then. Awaiting the outcome of the negotiations. May fairness prevail.
I’ve given up reading or watching anything from the political commentariat. It’s all just so much rubbish.
Agreed Patricia,
I am confident that Winston has NZ future in his heart as he goes forward today.
he cares passonately about our beautiful country as we all do, and he wants to return NZ to a solid future where we can again feel as we all some say into how our future is planned and not just exclusively by large vested corporate interests as we now see happening now.
This is Winston’s most compeling message he sends us all when we attend any public meetings he speaks at.
We are in good hands with Winston & NZF.
+1 CleanGreen, I feel the same
Really; you’re in la la land if you think we’re in “good hands with Winston and NZF”.
How to avoid sexually harassing someone.
A quick hack, approved on Twitter by The Rock himself:
View at Medium.com
.
For the life of me I cannot understand why intelligent people take any notice of Twitter at all. It’s a forum for intellectually crippled discourse.
Worse, the practise of filing “news” stories padded out with Twitter comments, often anonymous, is the ultimate in lazy journalism.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Not really. I don’t read every tweet but many Twitter conversations are quite enlightening.
The best are treatable as Zen Koans. Or something as concise as William Carlos Wiliams.
It sure teaches concision.
Think of The Standard as a good-sized regional road through a city with lots of side streets. Think of Twitter as one stretch of highway where you get on fast into brutal traffic and get off at the next exit.
Why Were Police Tapping the Phones of NZ Human Rights Activists?
One wonders how the police even managed to get a warrant for this spying and if they even followed the law to do so.
DTB
But, but, but it was needed for homeland security! There is so much to be afraid of, particularly people who express ideas.
Ideas that are different from those established by conformists are obviously dangerous, and are a threat that the police, charged with prevention of crime must become aware of. Listening into conversations provides useful information to the point of establishing when the originating thought might be first uttered, or picked up as code by experienced snoopers, or be seen as starting possible behaviours that would lead to some criminal act, violence or subversion. /sarc
(Likely to be found in some possible police manual that might have been written, is in the process of, or is just in the mind of some officious official at present.)
+1 this is an abuse of power. Prison rights activists ffs. The police have learned nothing since their terror raids 10 years ago.
Interesting information from Australia.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-11/foreign-buyers-not-deterred-by-rising-stamp-duty/9038014
Which is probably why our local front for the CCCP (aka National) doesn’t want to collect any data.
And puts some perspective on Labour’s ‘Chinese sounding names’. In fact, all the evidence from around the world where these types of studies have been done are showing that Chinese buyers are a large part of the problem. It’s naive to think that NZ is any different – especially when we have even less restrictions than those countries and no CGT.
Think about it – Chinese sounding names – what about Lee, is that Chinese sounding? What about if they changed their names to Harris or Smith – would the situation improve? Chinese sounding names is a euphemism for straight racism imo. And it actually hides the real issues around foreign ownership and citizenship. So it fails on many levels and does nothing to improve the situation for non Chinese sounding named people. Sad.
It was probably more correct to say Chinese names. It is perfectly possible to extract ethnicity data from a list of names. Names like Lee in a population have a consistent and predictable percentage of European origin and another of Asian origin.
The “Chinese sounding names” was a successful Gnat communications dirty trick. It diverted attention from foreign buyers and from Gnat complicity. It also turned a lot of activist comment against them. Had Twyford’s intention been racist it would be reasonable to expect some other evidence of this personality flaw. None exists of course.
Twyford did base his initial and subsequent efforts on Chinese sounding names not Chinese names (if there is such a beastie) I thought. The underlining debate is important and valid, the framing not so much imo. Maybe Chinese looking people might have worked…
He couldn’t have done ‘Chinese looking’ because the sales data didn’t come with photos.
There are of course Chinese names – though some of them occur in other countries too – Lee for example is one of the four most common surnames in Korea. It’s quite possible to divide English names between southern and northern origins or frequency in those areas. It is much easier to distinguish names with other language origins. I know something about this, having done a bit of corpus linguistics.
Twyford’s data was good – not perfect, but it cast some light on the void the Gnats created to hide their misdeeds. And all subsequent data has tended to confirm it.
Well we’ll never know if a different push would have yielded better results. I spose all the Canadians and us college pension funds and ukians must be quaking in their boots. First they came for the wongs and we did nothing, then the wilsons but because that wasn’t my name I let it go…
Quite a history of this in this country. Even now better to be a Jones than Parata when trying to get a flat for some reason…
Which is why an Irish immigrant family I knew when I was a kid changed their name from Kehoe to Keogh.
Lot of germans did too after the war – seems to have happened a lot.
This was in the mid-sixties and it was the first time I realised that discrimination and racial bias was a thing,
So sad the Irish persecuted there and here. Not acceptable imo
Marty, because of the way they spelt their name it was assumed they were Māori, and they were denied rental accommodation.
Wow i finally get it. Thanks Joe.
All good of course except they never did come for the Wongs. And NZ land is still being sold offshore by this execrable pack of traitors – not Twyford.
So the twyford approach didn’t work? Has it made it better or worse for kiwis? What about for the 5th generation kiwi Wongs?
Oh there may be some hurt feelings among 5th generation Chinese kiwis. There are hurt feelings among people struggling for housing too. Of the two I’m more concerned about those with housing stress.
All the parallel data from offshore, and qualitative data from onshore indicates that Chinese investment has been a significant driver of NZ house price inflation. And the government got a free pass on enabling that because they sold Twyford’s critique as ‘racism’.
Funny they are both the same in my book although I spose as 5th generation they could feel even more aggrieved because they can’t buy a house and less generation euros think they are to blame because of the way they may look.
Actually, no, he didn’t.
The original analysis took the list of names from the property sales, the list of names from the census ethnicity data, and identified a massive discrepancy between the two. Purchaser names like “Lee” were weighted according to the proportion of census respondents called “Lee” who were e.g. ethnically Chinese vs ethnically Scottish.
Labour never said the methodology was perfect, just that there seemed to be a discrepancy and that this crude attempt was the best data available under the National government, and we should have better data on overseas buyers.
The “Chinese sounding names” soundbite was a tory shill construction to dodge the issue Labour raised, and it worked.
Good clarification – couldn’t really remember. As I said I don’t disagree with the discussion or even the conclusions but it was a crude attempt that just gave the racists and xenophobes ammo. I find it hard to imagine the pointy heads within labour didn’t think that through but then again that was then and this is now. Can’t see Jacinda allowing that approach now.
@ Stuart (5.1.1.1) … “Names like Lee in a population have a consistent and predictable percentage of European origin and another of Asian origin.”
That’s true.
And for some reason or other, the name Lee appears frequently throughout the British Romany population also.
Proves name alone cannot be used to confirm ethnicity.
Lee would cause a few problems – but first names would go some way to sorting out the continent. There’s probably a whole project in that name for an enterprising onomastician – but if it were too complex to sort it could be safely put to one side without compromising the overall data significantly.
Think further about it. The reason for talking about ‘Chinese sounding names’ is because the Government of National Party NZ had no wish to know or reveal to others the extent of foreign buyers ‘investing’ in NZ infrastructure, namely no-risk housing. So they didn’t keep close records, were loose about it, and evasive when questioned.
Twyford was reduced to trawling through all the names to get some approximate idea of extent and get some stats as a basis for discussion. He wanted the sort of information that shows up in RedLogix at 10.12am. Don’t cuss Phil Twyford, save your spittle for the National Party of the World (formerly NZ).
I will cuss those I deem deserve a cussing. Sorry if you disagree.
There has been plenty of negative commentary at Bloomberg about Australia recently. It covers real estate of course, but also brittle government, commodity cycle reliance, and even their massive superannuation funds under management.
I view Chinese property and business purchasing with the same kind of threat as British purchasing and ownership for our first 150 years. It formed us, sucked a lot of profit out of us, and did both good and bad. IMHO Bruce Jesson gets the balance right in his book “To Build a Nation: collected writings 1975-1999”. He traces and graphs many of the British ownership networks.
The most interesting part of a new government is where Winston and the new government land on foreign land ownership .
Dear Jetstar
After what we experienced at the airport today, my family and friends have decided to never ever fly with your airline again. I will be advising others not to use your airline either.
Dear Public, if you wish to fly Nelson to Wellington, don’t fly Jetstar, instead there is the national airline AirNZ or another awesome awesome service that we have never had problems with is Sounds Air. We’ve travelled back and forth to Welly numerous times, but this will be the first and last time we will ever fly Jetstar.
I felt so sorry for the manager who had to follow rules and options on the computer instead of being able to use her own common sense, you did your best lovely lady, you did your best, it wasn’t your fault.
Needed to vent, that is all. It’s a beautiful day in Motueka.
You’re not alone! But then they’re part of Qantas. Famous for misreading baggage labels
What is it about Joyces? Alan….. Barnaby…..Steven. 3 I’ve had the misfortune to cross paths with
So what happened?
LMFAO.. seeing you asked.. way to much drama lolz.
A child was accidently booked on as an adult, said child had no ID on her, go home and get some ID they say (home is up to 2hrs return on the open road lolz), why dosen’t she have a cell phone they ask, you could use that (far out lady not every kid has a phone), but look she has an IPad, oh sorry only a cellphone will do, her passport would have be fine, but her passport photo was when she was a toddler, yes that would be fine they say.
Umm the school sports top she is wearing has her name on it, she is accompanied by her grandmother, grandfather and lil sister, but still they don’t believe miss twelve is who she says she is. Does she have school ID, umm she isn’t at high school yet, would a public library card do, no sorry, wait what… she had to bring in her birth cert to get a public library card in the first place.
Ummm sorry she has too much carry on… bag, sleeping bag and a birthday gift in a box, we will have to check in that luggage, and that will cost you an extra $70, but don’t worry, it will only cost an extra $13.50 for the trip back if you pay for it now.
Sheez I felt bad for my folks, it was so nice of them to take her there as I had to work. And it was so generous of the person who shouted her the flight, I felt bad for them too, they would not have wanted anyone to go through all the drama
If we change her ticket from an adult to a child that will cost you an extra (insert large ammount here), are you serious? It wasn’t a cheap flight to start with, but if she is booked as a child she won’t need ID…. far out unreals.
Apparently the manager was great, but you have to make your decisions in accordance to the options on the screen. In the end they let her on, but what a freakin circus. A nice lady in the queue offered to accompany her on the plane so she wouldn’t be travelling alone, and that was acceptable to the airline.
The werid thing is neither of my kids have been asked for personal ID before when flying alone, the adult dropping them off/picking them up is required to have ID, and just fill in the form. But then again they’ve never been on Jetstar and never will again lolololz
Miss 12 has since arrived safe and sound in fabulous Wellywood, and as long as I scan and email her some ID she should be able to get home again. She’s going to have the best time.
Meanwhile in stark contrast… the day prior we went to book her bus ticket, and the lady at our local info centre, asked her if she would like to go behind the counter and she would talk her through doing the booking herself, miss twelve buzzed out about that, no ID required. Love Motueka.
Once were Tim, sounds like Joyces aren’t so joyful lololz
Ed, that looks like a great clip thank you 😀 Will check it out
Thank you for sharing.
Jetstar is just another symptom of neoliberalism.
Are they as bad as this bunch of clowns?
Important story on RNZ today, a community law lawyer is pointing out that the WINZ review system entirely lacks independence and the process is a crock from any reasonable legal perspective. The “review” is by WINZ staff and tends to just rubber stamp whatever outcome WINZ is already seeking. Questioning of “witnesses” hectors and badgers and uses leading questions, that would never be allowed in any fair court or tribunal.
More abuse of process, in NZ’s continuing abuse of the vulnerable.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/341404/lawyer-urges-independent-benefit-reviews
As Chris Trotter says, Winston Peters should support a de- neoliberalisation of all NZ’s institutions, in the same way de Nazification was completed post WW2.
Big ups to Peace Action Wellington – these wonderful people did a fine job yesterday of blockaded the entrance to the Westpac Stadium, and stopping the Hawks from there purchases of death.
Love how the NZ police react with violence to peaceful protest, must make them feel like real men.
They even got to beat up a disabled man, did our bully boys in blue.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/97713861/peace-action-blockades-westpac-stadium-arms-industry-forum
Love the spin at the end of the stuff piece, it will make all the soft libs here happy, as they will not have to think hard about their continued support of the death machine.
Andrew Ford, how do you sleep at night?
Is your pay packet enough to salve your conscience for being a spin merchant for crimes against humanity?
Do you dream of Yemenis, Iraqis, Syrians, Afghani being bombed in their beds?
There are words for people like Ford.
‘NZDIA deputy chairman Andrew Ford said labelling the forum a “weapons expo” was “stretching the truth” and the event was mainly about bringing together suppliers of services and products to support the defence and national security sectors, not weapons.
Most people would support New Zealand’s defence forces being properly equipped to defend themselves and fulfil their peacekeeping duties, he said.’
Talking about Qantas:
That, I believe, is cartel behaviour but it also highlights the failure of competition and the added costs it brings.
Bugger ! Personally I always preferred Emirates to the ‘budget in everything but price’ services Air NZ and Qantas run.
I have just been reading the latest edition of “Air Force News” – it seems the RNZAF is about to begin “Exercise Southern Katipo and the West Coast is being transformed into the fictional Pacific Island of Becara. The exercise is based on the premise that armed militia groups have sparked the breakdown of public order and a New Zealand-led coalition has been invited to restore law and order.” It then goes on further in the article to say “another task would be to take care of the island’s trouble-makers, which might require an armed response”.
Why on earth are they needing to train our military to supress civilian dissent – is this the future of our military – to squash any uprising because of the many injustices that our citizens in the future may want to fight against – do our governments expect this sort of event in the future – if so shouldn’t they be making our society a fairer place for all of us so this sort of expensive exercise isn’t ever needed.
It smacks of the police tapping into human rights activists phones – what has happened to our usual robberies and murder and conventional wars that our police and military were needed for.
Neoliberalism is not at its core a democratic idea or cult.
It needs to be enforced.
QFT
– East Timor
– Fiji
– Tonga riots
– Bouganville
– Solomon Islands
Sometimes we get asked to help, the rest of the time it’s good to be ready.
East Timor is an interesting one because before we went in to help them become independent we helped the dictator oppress them.
Actually DTB, I remember reading somewhere that Bill Rowling put the NZ Armed Forces on standing by to stop the the TNI from invading ET and restore law and order. But Gough Witham wasn’t up for it and the Poms were pulling out of SE Asia, so the order was finally cancelled. It was like a re-run of what happen during West Papua where the Dutch asked for assistance from Commonwealth at the time the Poms and NZ government were prepared to assist the Dutch but old Meng (Menzies) pull out at the last minute and no doubt the JFK had a hand in it as it was trying to persuade the then Ino government to turn from a leftist government to a pro west government at the time.
Come to think about it may have been in the Official History of Australian involvement in South East Asia. Which was Six or seven, eight part volume which were all first edition before lost them a defence removal.
Had some interesting stuff about Kiwi Keith dragging his heels in regards to New Zealand’s involvement in South Vietnam. Which there was two part volume with regards to the political issues from Oz government POV.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0209/S00107/new-zealand-ought-to-say-sorry-to-east-timorese.htm
DTB, thanks for the link and it was good read as will.
Sentiment among us INTERTFET vets and those on UN mission after us (note I lost a good mate from NZBATT 2, the first Kiwi to KIA since Vietnam. Pvte Lenny Manning B Coy 2/1st Battalion). Is why did our pollies allow this to happen especially amongst some of the Aussie Army All Arms Corps (My neighbor at my bush block as Ex 2RAR and did a UN tour as well) as the people of Timor help members of the Aussie Army during WW2 and only to kick down the road like a coke can or as a sacrificial sheep after the TNI invasion. As us vets know what the TNI is doing to the people of West Papua as we seen the same thing at what happening to the people ET.
And really piss’s me is that most of the left supported the then leftist Ino government annexation of West Papua from the Dutch and now these assholes are supporting West Papua freedom!
The last scenario the military forces (international) operated under had uncomfortable similarities with the fall of the Muldoon government and the time between that and Labour taking over. It is on google somewhere but it makes my skin creep, like a cold breeze passing by.
The current SK17 scenario appears to be base around what happen in East Timor back in 2006 and some other scenarios are also similar to what we face during INTERFET 99-00. The TNI Forces and the TNI backed militia push the our boundaries in terms of our ROE/ OFOF to the limit weather it was on the sea (even under the Sea), in the Air harassing the Naval Task Group incl the Air Bridge between Oz and ET and on the land around Dili and down towards the main centres around the border provinces of ET incl the onclave. You don’t know just how close it came to a all out war with the TNI. Once our section was outnumbered by 3to1 at abandoned police/ TNI barracks and it was only when shook out into a attacking formation, (I) loaded the M79’s/ prep the M72’s for firing etc and for a few mins we were about to meet our making, then other side backed down rather quickly once they saw that we meant business.
Then there is the handling of dead bodies, documented the voting fraud, the illegal abuse detainees by the TNI/ police and the human rights abuse aka rape, torture, shooting detainees etc. But another story to tell one day.
SK ex’s are a good foundation stone for the NZDF, foreign forces, other agencies both Government and NGO’s to prepare for such events for the future. Because Peacekeeping operations can be very fast and dynamic with a lot of thinking on your feet, be it the humble private/ trooper or PC etc to very to top of the decision making progress at inter government level?
To some on the left Peacekeeping may sound sexy to you, but as follow lefty who has done Peacekeeping I’ve seen the best of human kind and the bloody worst of human kind.
A well prepared, well equipped and trained Defence Force for UN peacekeeping for Chapter 1 to Chapter 7 missions comes with a big price tag than most people here realise.
Thank you ExKF, for your analysis and setting the context.
No worries Philj,
I had a deal with my CO at the start of the yr after I was sent home from the Middle East late yr when I went down the rabbit hole the choice between SK17 or go back to Middle East if I was back to full health by June. Alas I’m not as I would back in NZ right now, but facing a Med discharge sometime next yr.
‘IMF: higher taxes for rich will cut inequality without hitting growth
Analysis supports tax strategy of Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour in UK – and undermines that of Donald Trump in US’
New Zealand Labour and New Zealand First please note.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/oct/11/imf-higher-taxes-rich-inequality-jeremy-corbyn-labour-donald-trump
Brilliant article by Rachel Stewart.
Worthy of a thread in its own right.
I share her outlook.
‘What are the signs that the world’s resources are running out?
‘What are the things we need to face? It’s a ruddy great neon sign and if you can’t see it flashing, you’re either obtuse, changing nappies, and/or too busy arguing the toss on.’
‘Climate change is here. The race between human survival and the melting ice sheets is on…… The storms will be more frequent and deadly; the diseases will come thick and fast; the crops will fail and, if humans are still standing at the end of that, the heat will shut our bodies down and we will die.’
‘Population. The number of people on the planet will rise from 7.6 billion today to 9.7 billion in 2050, according to UN projections. Is that number the problem, or is it over-consumption? It’s both. One leads to the other, and both are killing us.’
‘Water. The new oil. Without it, humanity is condemned. Climate change is affecting water quality, and the risks are incalculable. Rising temperatures; increased levels of sediments, nutrients, and pollutants triggered by more frequent and heavy rainfall; industrial agriculture. The world faces an imminent water crisis that is affecting every part of the planet. Are we ready for the massive influx of refugees from Australia and Asia?’
‘Poverty and inequality are massive, unstoppable forces. Electing new governments, and new faces, is unlikely to meaningfully alter anything. No politician has the capacity to change what’s coming. The pendulum is in motion; counting down the beats to our demise.’
‘Depressed yet? You should be. And when you’re bored with that, maybe stop blaming others for their point of view, and start blaming the real culprits. Picking off fundamentally decent – and basically planetarily powerless – others is a waste of your time. Anger, sadness and fear is best expressed by doing, rather than talking into a vacuum (which, ironically, I’m likely doing here).’
‘The culprits? Oil companies, industrial agriculture, the 1 per cent, over-fishing, neoliberalism, capitalism, Monsanto, Trump, the “free” market (an oxymoron if ever there was one). You know who they are.’
Get off the cyber treadmill of judgment and virtue signalling, and dismount your fat donkey and make a change in the world. Maybe there’s still time?
I doubt it, but at least you’ll go down trying.’
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11931445
Whoa Rachel! You hit a few nails on the head there. Now wait for the response….. Our small interest group in Wellington has been saying this for years! So it’s not news. It’s just becoming news now! Lol
Some people know powerful people who can pull strings for them.
David Farrar (National propagandist – not that this is ever acknowledged by RNZ) gets airtime the day the coalition talks end.
Mr Griffin, I presume, acting on behalf of the people who actually control New Zealand.
Amazing – no ACT spokesperson on the panel today!
‘NZ kids can’t escape alcohol marketing next to bread and milk’
http://www.otago.ac.nz/news/news/otago665655.html
David Farrar of course defends the Alcohol Industry.
There are words for people like him.
‘Lead researcher Tim Chambers says the study provides further evidence of the need to ban alcohol sales in supermarkets. This is feasible given we have prohibited alcohol sales in supermarkets in the past and other countries, such as Australia, currently do. Moreover, supermarkets make up only three per cent of alcohol retailers but sell 30 per cent of all beer and 60 per cent of all wine.
“Children in the study were exposed to alcohol marketing almost every time they entered a supermarket, often the exposure occurred near everyday products, like bread and milk,” says Tim Chambers, research fellow at Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, Wellington.
In New Zealand, alcohol contributes to 800 deaths and costs the country over $5 billion per year. Moreover, alcohol is linked to over 200 medical conditions and causes a number of cancers. World Health Organization (WHO) Global Alcohol Strategy recommends restrictions on alcohol marketing as a ‘best buy’ for reducing alcohol-related harm. New Zealand supermarkets have some responsibility for the burden of alcohol-related harm due to their provision of convenient, low-cost alcohol as well as their market share of alcohol sales.
In New Zealand, supermarkets were not permitted to sell alcohol until the liberalisation of the alcohol laws in 1989. The researchers say that improving the supermarket promotional environment, by repealing the section of the 2012 Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act that permits supermarket alcohol sales, would both significantly reduce children’s overall exposure to alcohol marketing, and reduce the prevalence of other supermarket related infractions such as underage sales, loss-leading alcohol sales and cross-promotional activity. Further, it would save councils millions of dollars from the judicial challenges by supermarkets against Local Alcohol Policies.’
Yet Farrar – with no evidence – spins for big liquor.
And the miserable host giggles at his ridiculous defence of these multinational drug peddlers.
Farrar of course will know that Katherine Rich, is another pimp for big liquor.
No doubt his pr activities and involvement in Dirty Politics ( another fact not mentioned by RNZ in its introduction) assisted her defence of the food and liquor industries.
And we are the 3rd most obese in the world.
Thanks David and Katherine for caring about our health.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/66427410/ties-to-liquor-industry-hamstring-health-promotion-agency-say-critics
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11448711
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10853482
Awkward moment on the Panel as Catherine Robertson describes the traits of psychopaths,
And David Farrar remains a bit silent as he thinks of his National masters.
The past week marks the 40th and 50th anniversaries of the killings of two of the 20th century’s outstanding socialist figures, Che Guevara (executed without trial in Bolivia on October 9, 1967) and Seamus Costello (assassinated in Dublin on October 5, 1977).
There is a number of articles about them – and links to some stuff by them – here: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/10/01/che-guevara-and-seamus-costello/