Now who said this? “Then he turned to them and said, “Which of you doesn’t work on the Sabbath? If your son or your cow falls into a pit, don’t you rush to get him out?”
Its not fair that the Lab NZF part of our government is signing away OUR future TO the gangs of Big business the tpp these people are just evil self serving organizations.
In your reality is it impossible for you to think that 200 years ago that some busness people got together and made a long term plan to dominate the worlds society .
They would have pooled there money together to use to manipulate nz society to benefit the one%. that is quite plausible to ECO Maori as these people will get more money and more control by these actions I know what data you have access to of mine Breaks fast people every bit ECO knows Ka pai water off a ducks back
[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.]
Yes if the government signs the TPP, future governments hand will be tied if they want to tackle housing, inequality, obesity, suicide, in a meaningful way,
Corporations already run the country.
The signing of the TPP will set that rule in stone.
I am concerned that NZ citizens will lose even more control of their sovereignty to big business once it is signed.
I am not party political on this.
Both 2017 Labour and 2017 National are parties that support the neoliberal globalist agenda of multinational corporations.
Are you concerned by the fact our sovereignty will be eroded?
I wanted the TPP signed in the first place so I’m well pleased with what Labours is doing , they’re putting NZs interests ahead of thier own ideology and should be congratulated for that
I’ll admit I was a little disappointed with the election result but Labour thus far has shown me to be a center-left government so I can live with that
What do the chapters say Ed.
You appear to be aware of all the information that the rest of us mere mortals have had kept from them.
What are the contents of these “chapters” you refer to and that so upset you? Please tell.
It really isn’t research, you know: finding articles you agree with on the internet. “What happened to Mexico” is at least as well described in the lyrics of Los Cuates De Sinaloa. NAFTA had nothing to do with that, although the USA certainly played its part.
That they be tied at all is problematic. Treaties between nations impose responsibilities, our courts constrain Parliament’s excesses. That I can live with. And defend.
Limited liability private business concerns, not so much. Hire a lawyer and go to court like everyone else.
At last night’s anti-TPPA-11 meeting in Auckland, Laila Harre said that there is no protection for NZ sovereignty over it’s labour/employment laws in the TPP agreement our government plans to sign on 8th March.
Harre has been researching and writing a thesis on it.
She says such agreements cannot protect our labour laws and this needs to be done through the ILO.
Under the TPPA that our government plans to sign, they could be sued for the labour regulations the government is planning to implement.
Harre and Kelsey say that if this agreement is signed, it will be used as a model for other trade agreements.
Kelsey said some in the labour caucus won’t to maintain such a model. But this model is in crisis, and we need to respectful campaign to shift the balance in the government to something more progressive.
National Day of anti-TPPA action on Sunday 4th March.
How will future governments hands be tied in relation to housing, inequality, obesity and suicide if the CPTPP is entered into ?
They can’t go against the agreement. So, say the NZ government decides to build 100,000 homes and the decide that the best way to do that would be to reinstitute the Ministry of Works and have it all done in house.
Well, they can’t do that. The FTAs, including the TPP, demand that the government put it out to tender instead. And even in doing that they can’t choose a NZ company over a foreign company in NZ’s interests.
But the contents of the treaty remain secret. And you’re happy about that?
You trust Labour and NZFirst to do what’s best for you?
But you didn’t vote for either.
Why not?
Why’s The Guardian teaming up with the government to “do a number” on Oxfam?
Some workers in Haiti used prostitutes = loss of government funding with The Guardian leading the charge? Wtf?
Anyone remember War on Want getting buried because they were “too political”?
Oxfam have released a number of good reports on poverty/inequity etc. Anyone want to tell me that’s not why they’re in the firing line?
And if Oxfam UK goes down the gurgler, then what of Oxfam NZ. And where in the name of fuck is the next NGO speaking out against the bullshit effects of global capitalism?
He don’t agree leaders of the world are responsible for the state its in …
And he don’t agree that putting children into poverty is abuse …
In Keys case … when he was creatively helping u.s.a corporations become Irish ones ….. the result was less money for things like schools and infrastructure in the u.s.a. ….. How much money did that deprive from the poor in the u.s.a ?
When Key got bailed out …. he took even more money from the long suffering u.s.a taxpayers .
And then the greedy dirt bag plugged New Zealand into the Tax Haven net-work …. The biggest cause of inequality and poverty in the world …. as high lighted by Oxfam.
Please tell us all how stealing from poor children is not child abuse James …
Explain yourself without looking like a dirt bag yourself …. if you can.
Unless I’ve missed something, there was no abuse of children. Some employees paid prostitutes for sex. No allegations of paying for underage sex have been made as far as I’ve read.
Now sure, it’s not the best look to be all “I’m here to help, and by the way, how much for a blow-job around these parts?”
But I guess we need to understand that no business in receipt of government assistance or support (like say an arms manufacturer) has employees who go to prostitutes. And if they did have, then government would of course, cut said company loose.
And next time a government MP goes to a prostitute and is sprung, they won’t just resign, but the government will throw a vote of no confidence against itself and a general election will ensue.
I think one of the things you’ve maybe missed, Bill, is that prostitution is often fine when everyone is on an equal power footing, but not so much when the customer is well resourced and secure but the “prostitute” is struggling to find basic essentials for life. Especially when the customer is also responsible for the distribution of those essentials.
There is always a power differential in prostitution, it’s why our law around prostitution is a crook. It makes little difference if the place is Haiti or if it is South Dunedin.
I did not see anywhere where they didn’t pay. Or curried favour for the client/john/user of prostitutes. Did you see that?
And the employees employments were terminated regardless of any power at play. I don’t know whether these guys “created” prostitutes due to peoples circumstances or paid pre-existing prostitutes.
But either way, it’s a howling bullshit excuse for government and whatever media lackeys to leverage in a way that could bury the entire organisation.
Do you believe for even one second that the following statement is meant to apply to any and all organisations government works with? Or just those those that “show it up” from time to time?
I suspect the outrage of the government is cynical as you suggest.
But given that some of your links refer to problem men flowing from one organisation to another, employment termination isn’t the solution it might seem at first glance.
Why should an org. be held accountable for the fact an ex-employee secured employment elsewhere? Are they meant to hire Private Dicks, monitor and surveil them?
Beyond not giving references (and there are potential issues with that in a NZ context), what the fuck are they legally capable of doing?
Well sure. Some poorly handled shit justifies sinking an entire org that just happens to be vocally critical….how?
No winks and nods to the EU from the UK to follow suit and rid themselves of an annoying thorn in the side? Just upstanding governments, aye?
Fuck. I’d hate to be running the next arms fair given this upstanding morality government’s discovered for itself!
The Guardian “reporting”. Anything new in those dozen pieces from the past two days that wasn’t previously reported last October? (I don’t think there is.) So, if not a campaign of righteous indignation and condemnation then, why now?
edit – and when did paying another person for sex become a definition for abuse?
edit no. 2 “Two staff members resigned before investigations were complete” Not much can be done about that.
I think if the UK outright begged the EU to do something at the moment, the EU would fucking laugh in their face. Seems to be the norm with the brexit negotiations.
edit – and when did paying another person for sex become a definition for abuse?
sounds like capitalism is always a free exchange between indiciduals, eh. No power imbalance there, even if one party has no shoes.
edit no. 2 “Two staff members resigned before investigations were complete” Not much can be done about that.
Except continue the investigations and deliver your findings to the police if something illegal turns up.
A mutual interest in silencing Oxfam requires no begging on any party’s part. And there’s been a fair amount of this silencing of dissident opinion lately. (Yes, I know you disagree on that front)
Prostitution and power imbalances exist right here in NZ. You against the legalisation of sex work? You think Johns should be jailed or some-such?
Oxfam has referred cases to the police.
But the headline case involves paying for sex in Haiti. That’s illegal in
Haiti. You think Oxfam should refer that to the English police? You think the UK would/should extradite someone to answer allegations of having paid for sex in Haiti?
You think Oxfam should refer that to the English police? You think the UK would/should extradite someone to answer allegations of having paid for sex in Haiti?
That depends entirely on the circumstances in which the transaction was made.
Frankly, if the person who was paid for sex felt coerced into it or received unfair advantage in aid, then either the local police or the British ones should be involved.
Prostitution and power imbalances exist right here in NZ. You against the legalisation of sex work? You think Johns should be jailed or some-such?
The reason sex work is legal in NZ is because it helps create safe spaces for sex workers. I’m unconvinced that it’s an apt metaphor for a disaster zone, expect inasmuch as NZ is an ongoing “free” “market” disaster itself.
It was a comparison, not a metaphor. But let me put it this way. Paying people for sex has been normalised. There are possible debates and arguments around that fact, but it’s the fact I’m pointing to.
So a guy paid someone for sex in a country where that’s not legal. And an entire aid agency that has a habit of producing “embarrassing” reports (from a government perspective) has its future put in jeopardy by government.
As I asked in my originla comment – anyone remember War on Want and how they were silenced and shut down? Because I’m seeing parallels, though the pre-text for hitting Oxfam is different.
“So a guy paid someone for sex in a country where that’s not legal.”
In addition to the comment I made below about minimising, let me put it another way. Your critique of the Guardian would carry more punch if you stopped minimising the rape culture and gender issues here.
If the argument is that the Guardian are blowing something out of proportion in order to manipulate the public against an NGO, you’re going to run up against the problems I outlines below. We don’t know what happened, and there are still issues to look at about what Oxfam did even if what you say about the Guardian is true.
As a sidebar, this is another example of how one can frame things that undermines other politics. If the problem here is that the Guardian has an agenda of supporting the status quo, that seems reasonable to critique. But one doesn’t actually have to do that by way of minimising the issues around the thing being badly reported.
Prostitution includes children doing sex work, including in NZ and irrespective of legislation. When we change the subject in that sentence, we can say that by definition someone using sex work services is committing rape if the worker is underage. Because of the nature of the patriarchy, that is very hard to address, so politically I think it’s better to not assume that no underage people were involved as a base line. If you think that’s daft, consider how many men can’t tell the difference between an 18 year old and a 15 year old. Or don’t want to. The way you are putting your arguments here makes that stuff less visible.
I haven’t followed the story much, but afaik there is at least question of whether underage people were involved.
Prostitution in Haiti is illegal. Again, given the nature of the powers involved, it makes more political sense to me to include the problems inherent in that. For instance a population that is eating mud pies due to lack of food is much more likely to have high numbers of women, transgender people, children and men doing sex work in conditions that are coercive.
That’s not necessarily a comment on *your politics, but on the framing that *might be going on here. For instance, this sentence,
“Now sure, it’s not the best look to be all “I’m here to help, and by the way, how much for a blow-job around these parts?”
seriously minimises the broader politics in the situation. The critique of the Guardian doesn’t require that.
Making a sardonic comparison with arms dealers and MPs likewise. I mean, I get it, it’s funny and pointed if one is looking at the hypocrisy of the establishment in the West. It’s less funny if one is looking at rape culture politics.
There hasn’t been any allegation of underage sex in what I’ve read.
And the comparisons to arms fairs/arms dealers and MPs and the reaction (obvious lack of) isn’t meant to be funny.
The critique isn’t about “supporting the status quo” but that a newspaper is quite overtly running a government’s political agenda out to the public. (Nothing new in that, I know)
As disgusting as it might seem, as authorities crack down on paedophilia in the developed world, predatory paedophiles are now going to the developing world to gain access to children. One of their preferred methods is to join a children’s charity
Shocking revelations on BBC’s Newsnight on Friday 9 February saw former Oxfam head Dame Barbara Stocking admit that she “knew for years” after an internal Oxfam investigation that sexual exploitative behaviour has been going on at Oxfam. The behaviour included hiring prostitutes in earthquake-torn Haiti – who may have been underage – and downloading illegal material. It was revealed that the aid workers involved in such acts moved from aid job to aid job with spotless references.
Yep. I think it’s safe to assume that there is probably abuse going on, rather than not. We can wait for an investigation for details about specific people, but in terms of discussing the general politics, I can’t see that Oxfam should be given the benefit of the doubt as an organisation. No-one should.
You suggesting I google Oxfam workers in Haiti paying for underage sex? Or what? Presumably what I’ll get will be in line with the dozen or so links I provided in my original comment.
none of that addresses the issues I am raising, and that you haven’t yet read more widely doesn’t mean the issues aren’t pertinent.
If you google Oxfam Haiti underage you will find some reading.
“And the comparisons to arms fairs/arms dealers and MPs and the reaction (obvious lack of) isn’t meant to be funny.”
Take out the word funny then, and reread it. The point stands.
“The critique isn’t about “supporting the status quo” but that a newspaper is quite overtly running a government’s political agenda out to the public. (Nothing new in that, I know)”
Good to have the clarification, but again, it avoids the point I was making.
I’m not “avoiding” your point so much as simply not focusing on it. You and who-ever can look at all this through lenses of gender, but you can’t reasonably insist that everyone else does.
A publication running government attack lines. Where we seen that before?
If the pieces focused on the men, who are known, and investigated their past behaviours, allegations against them, positions held and which other orgs money they had spent for personal gratification (though I think it’s reasonable to assume it was their own money and on their own time), then that would be entirely different to what is actually happening.
These men having paid for sex is being used to attack and silence an organisation that is a reasonable and vocal critic of governments and their policies. And media are willfully running governments attack lines against that org. I think that’s hugely important.
What I’m suggesting is that you have an opportunity here to engage in some solidarity politics. That’s a good thing, because solidarity, but also it means you won’t get as much push back on your actual points because of the framing. At the moment I’m just seeing dismissal and minimising, so I’m not convinced this is simply choosing not to focus on it. Looks more like discounting it.
There’s a limit to how much support can be given to strategies that misuse gender and rape culture issues to address this kind of issue. That’s not new either.
Sorry Bill … the Guardians blitz of stories, combined with James …. our king of grubby toilet sex using the word “bad” … lead me to assume it was something like underage prostitutes …. and memories of UN sex trafficking sucked me in. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_sexual_abuse_by_UN_peacekeepers
That it is not …. shows a contrived Guardian hit job ….and pathetic excuse for the Tory Tax haven party to threaten Oxfams funding.
James hypocrisy and criticism of Oxfam ……….. stands in stark contrast to his excuses and support of Rugby players abusing sex workers … or rooting strangers in public toilets…. while being in a relationship.
‘Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it’ is his advice over toilets …. but sex with prostitutes is bad.
Indicating both his morals and taste …….. are located up his arse.
Hopefully good Poms …. decent ones like Corbyn …. fight against this Guardian / Tory abuse.
“An Associated Press investigation revealed in 2017 that more than 100 UN peacekeepers ran a child sex ring in Haiti over a 10 year period and none were ever jailed.”
I know that a lot of Maori leaders are saying you Ngati Porou sided with the crown during the turmoils of the early days of out country been turned into NZ why should we listen to you Eco Maori .
In reality when one is swimming and gets caught in a big a Rip tide if one does not swim with the rip tide one will get tired swimming against the tide that one drowns ka pai.
So If Ngati Porou Great leaders Ropata Wahawaha. Kohere Mokena. Potae Henare sided with other Maori and we killed all the settlors this would have given the neo liberals the power to up set the Killer Whale I.E rally Great Briton against Aoetearoa . She was the Superpower in those days we would have been at war for years a lot of tangata would have been lost and in reality we would not have any Mana now we would all be living on the Ruapehu the desert road and the neo librels would have total control .
IF we lett the government sign the tpp go have a look at America look at its roads look at its dams are running dry look at its ghettos look at its health systems look at its finance systems .
Is this what you want to leave behind for all OUR Mokos ECO MAORI says NO .
We are but caretakers of Papatuanuku for the very short time we are here OUR main job is to pass her on to OUR mokos in a good healthy state .
That is a good point Jack and Haley the state of our poor housing the Tidal wave of inequality instigated by nationals shonky and bills polices will still be rolling in for years . Ana to kai
Ka kite ano
Rock Rumble I know what to say I dont want this tpp to stuff up Aotearoa and I wont fall for the bait others are putting out there I get to chose what I talk about I will forgive them I see the bigger picture .Give us a sore face P.S the sandflys delete things out of my inbox for me IPCA files
Ka pai ka kite ano
All the best on your new journey Bill English.
Time for he tangata of Aotearoa to take a new path to ensure all OUR mokos are all treated equally time for New Zealanders to respect Papatunuku / Mother Earth and all her creatures .So all our mokos can be guarantee a health prosperous future.
Hilary & Jeremy some think that I should have deleted my e-mail encourageing Tops party to help me to stop this farcical ttp trade our sovereign away contract .
New Zealand doesn’t need that the whole world wants our food that is the best food on Papataunuku we are not even known in a lot of countries we just have to tell the World our beautiful story about our clear sky’s green grass ect.
I told people that I would hold them accountable for there actions .
I was disappointed with one policy I bit my tongue .Eco Wil not bite his tongue on this farcical trade our sovereignty away contract tpp. Anyway I’m not a person who does things behind-the-scenes or behind one’s back .I want everyone to know my view on the reality of the ttp . I new labour would find out /be informed from the sandflys about my e-mail to Gareth Morgan .This action of mine puts labour on notice don’t underestimate ECO MAORI . I still back Labour lead Government I just want some of Tops researched good policies to be legislated into our laws sooner or later he got us all talking about Maori receiving 1cent in the dollar for compensating for our land being stolen by the NZ Company he is a great good hounerable Kiwi who put his money were his mouth is . Ka kite ano
National’s legacy. Not content with elevating NZ to the top of domestic abuse statistics, they underfund support services so badly, under the banner of restructuring, no-one answers the phone.
I’m seeing some evidence by way of hit and run comments on other blogs that the dirty politics brigade is going to target Clark Gayford’s past as a way to attack JA and the government.
The Nats know this is a very, very dangerous strategy but I think they’re incapable of changing their ways, and it worked with Metiria Turei after all, even though they lost the election in the end.
Wouldn’t be surprised if Gayford’s past is in the spotlight soon.
These “innuendoes” have been going on for about three weeks with several kiwiblog commentators chiming in as if they know something. Farrar, as per his instructions, is letting it go and the shit slinging is continuing. Much like the innuendoes regarding Ardern’s mental health status pre election. There are a few specific commentators who kept that one up with regularity.
Depends what they are – and who says its dirty politics – what if its a #MeToo type issue?
(Not saying it is (nor have I read anything suggesting that this is the case – Just using this as an example of something in his past that isnt dirty politics and may indeed be a valid complaint from somebody).
If the revealing and dirt digging is being run by a political party and/or their proxies then it is dirty politics regardless of the nature of the accusations.
A self-described drug dealer claims to have supplied ecstasy and “speed” to a third party. It’s all part of a big conspiracy against journalists and writers, apparently.
While he hasn’t run for office hes certainly been front and centre, he accepted the wiro at Waitangi, has wrote some pieces about why we should vote for Jacinda
Hes not like Peter Davis or Bronagh Key in that respect so if you want to have influence you need to accept the negative with the positive
He’s had a bigger profile than Ardern over much of his career through his radio and tv work. I actually think he’s done a good job of being in the background considering. It doesn’t look like he’s going to use his new found fame to get tv jobs either.
And his wife, Mary English, who was also with him today when he resigned along with three of the sons.
Mrs English (or rather Dr) also featured in a number of fluff pieces in the Herald etc as well as Gayford about their relationships with their respective partners.
Mary English didn’t start doing much campaigning until late in the picture, she was fairly anonymous for much of Bills career (which is a shame as shes quite the catch)
And kids should be off limits up until they start chiming in so, as an example, criticism of Max Key is fine but criticism of Stephanie Key isn’t
As Maui says, Gayford has had a public profile for almost 20 years through his TV and radio work.
He left his safe TV and radio jobs about three years ago to take a gamble and follow his dream of creating his own TV series combining travel, fishing and food, and marine sustainability and protection – with Jacinda Ardern’s blessing and encouragement.
The third series of “Fish of the Day” is due to run here in NZ soon on Prime TV (it was previously on Choice TV) and in about 38 countries through the National Geographic’s network (up from about 20 countries for the previous two series).
Brilliant (award winning) photography, particularly underwater, by his partner in this venture – Mike Bhana, a NZer also known as ‘Mr Shark’ as one of the creators of the largest shark exhibition in the world – Planet Shark http://www.planetshark.com – a huge educational installation designed to promote awareness, conservation and understanding of sharks and our oceans. Bhana is also known for his photographic/video work in documenting the work of the Red Cross teams worldwide.
Gayford and Bhana also do a lot of other work in relation to marine sustainability and protection both in NZ and in the Pacific, eg the proposed Niue Marine Sanctuary and the annual Humpback Whale migration. The ‘Fish of the Day’ also focuses on these issues.
That place is a cinematographers dream. We've just been back again filming this years Humpback migration, even better footage to come pic.twitter.com/bD53erNlth
They have also done a series of short travel promotion videos for Niue – keeping in with the ‘father in law’! – Ross Ardern, NZ High Commissioner to Niue, soon to return to NZ and become the NZ Administrator of Tokelau, based in Auckland.
Gayford will be putting most of the above on hold to become the prime caregiver of their child, so he deserves credit for this.
[And no, Ed – I am not getting paid for this promo.]
Turei tried to paint the picture she had no other choice but to commit fraud. Which is only half a step away from telling NZ that her former partner and his family did bugger all to help support their daughter/granddaughter
When in fact Turei had massive support from them, they were always going to hit back at Turei. Of course, you do know who the grandmother is of Metiria Turei baby?
[if you’re going to make statements of fact about a public/political figure on this political blog, you need to back them up. I’d now like to see some credible back up for the statement that Turei had ‘massive support’ from her family. Putting you in moderation so I can pick it up when it comes through – weka]
For context, many lies have been told about Turei, and much of them were politically motivated. If you want to make claims in the future, don’t make me ask for back up, provide it at the time.
Turei claim of she had to commit fraud was BS. She received massive support (her own words were “really fantastic support”).
It belittled the sole parents who do not have the support of their family or friends.
Sorry, but Turei was caught out.
[You need to provide evidence of your assertion of fact. i.e. actual links that are credible, and quotes from those links that explicitly support what you are saying. Your reckons aren’t enough, nor are vague references to other commenters. The onus is on *you to do the work. Note that for future reference too in what I said in the other note. Please also read the Policy about wasting moderator time. I’ve asked twice now, don’t make me come back at it again because I’m more likely just to ban you – weka]
“I’d now like to see some credible back up for the statement that Turei had ‘massive support’ from her family.”
Quote from Turei: “I have always said I did have really fantastic support from friends and family and that Piupiu’s family really supported me especially when I was in law school with things like you know, child care, stuff like that. Like the sort of stuff that you would expect.
If you want me to link to Turei admitting she did not have to cheat…well I can’t.
[good. Because now we can see the difference between what Turei actually said, and what you claimed as fact. People can then respond to your comment without having to deal with you asserting opinion as fact. From now on I suggest that at the time you either don’t assert fact but instead state clearly that things are in your opinion, or you put up a link and quote to back up the claim of fact. I don’t want to have to waste my time on this again, nor do I think it’s ok to have this cleared up a day after the conversation is moved on. You are allowed to express opinion on this site (within bounds), but misusing statements of facts to take part in a long attack on a public figure is not ok – weka]
Turei: I have always said I did have really fantastic support from friends and family and that Piupiu’s family really supported me especially when I was in law school with things like you know, child care, stuff like that. Like the sort of stuff that you would expect.
You: When in fact Turei had massive support from them
There is nuance in what Turei is saying. Obviously she is sending a message to her family and friends that she really appreciated the support she received from. We don’t know how much of the ‘really fantastic support’ was financial, or of the financial support, what weekly or yearly amount that was.
We also don’t know what shortfall she had in her budget over time. That she had wealthy in laws who gave some financial support doesn’t mean that they were giving her what she needed.
The crux of the issue here is whether Turei needed the additional money from the benefit or not. Again, we don’t know the figures involved, so there is no way to assess this from a maths point of view. What we do know is that at that time, the benefit wasn’t enough to live on. It is widely held opinion that benefits were already at that time set below the poverty line in order to force people into work. For a single parent raising a child and going to law school there is very little space to take on extra work to supplement income. This is why most compassionate and knowledgeable people either understand what Turei did or actively support it.
Further, as Bill pointed out, financial support from family (or anyone) is technically considered income by WINZ and had she declared it she would have had a portion of her benefit taxed. Catch 22.
I don’t actually care who Turei’s in laws are. There are plenty of middle class beneficiaries whose families help in some ways but where the beneficiary still struggles and the family is either aware or unaware. This is neither news nor surprising. The only people that don’t understand this social reality are people who are ignorant. And far too many people are wilfully ignorant and want their bigotry to trump everything else. That is what I see in your series of posts. You are willing to believe second or third hand information and rumour instead of looking at what was most likely to have been going on.
John Campbell is a very compassionate man. But in this instance he did one of the worst things I have ever seen him do. He did that interview from a place of utter ignorance of the reality of being a beneficiary and he chose to amplify the voices of reactionaries rather than vulnerable people. He ran a line of sex workers and drug addicts might be justified in needing more income, but that law students with wealthy in laws aren’t. That is as fucked up as it comes, and I don’t care what someone’s politics are at that point, if they are abusing their position of power by promoting bludger memes. Campbell should be ashamed of himself.
You mean when the family contacted the press to say that her comments were ‘galling’
“The allegations were put to Turei by RNZ Checkpoint who said a family member told them the extended family found Turei’s comments about the hardships she faced in her 20s and her benefit fraud “galling”.
Fuck off James. Any financial aid from a family member would have been viewed as income, and if not declared to WINZ (so they could dock payments accordingly) then said aid becomes a matter of fraud.
Bill English a millionaire lives in a house owned by his trust … but claims $900 per week in rent expenses … the motive was pure greed …but he ADMITS nothing
James and our dirty politics goons go on and on about a solo mum getting a fraction of that to try and live on a benefit that the national party set at punitive poverty levels …..
James ADMITS his clearly dirty stinking morals …. underpinned by hypocrisy.
All good? As a species, we’ve made our bed. What a world we lived in. At least Binglish is gone (small mercies; anyone feeling for Paula?) – like Key, toddling off to those greener pastures…
If anything happens to me like the games the sandflys are playing with me on the roads every time I get in a vehicle.
That will turn ECO MAORI into a Martyr then YOU will have really big problems you create OK sandflys. Ana to kai
Bill English stepping down? Our caption contest had a sharp edge? Listen in to Radionz.
And if you have been doing so and heard Rod Oram, there seemed some very interesting points raised. Ad would have some comments about this I imagine. Trade with Russia and Fonterra. Possible unhappiness with Fonterras initiatives of recent years by shareholders.
NZ government revenue is highly leveraged Rod says. When times are good this works well, but when there is a drop gummint needs to be prepared to borrow and initiate activity? (and there is room to do so within conservative management policies.)
English goes on Tuesday 27 February. (I misheard and thought it was 22 Feb.) He referred to the weight of service hanging over the whole family for many years, and it was an emotional moment for him. (This is not verbatim and my take on it.)
Interesting. Let me put it this way, while I can imagine a world in which I could actually vote for Bill English, there just isn’t one in which I ticked a party led by any of his probable successors.
Well that was a long career and in years to come he’ll be remembered a bit like Jim Bolger, ‘for a Tory he could’ve been a lot worse’.
I can’t. He is a pseudo nice guy. He engaged lawyers and accountants to steal from us with a veil of legitimacy, he denied a housing cris, he denied poverty, he proppped up Ruth Richardson and her lot. he lied about a hole when he knew the real hole was 21b which he and Joyce hid from PREFU. ALL of his actions enabled the appalling attack and denigration on our vulnerable that is prevalent today. He oversaw a campaign designed to set kiwi against kiwi.
Anti gay marriage (an dcivil union) anti aborton
Fed farmers given adavnc enotice of the decision furthe rproving their place as a Nat lobby group (and NO they do not represent farmers in NZ, only about 15-20% of the despite what they Nats and media portray)
Nope, cannot envisage a world where he would ever have got my vote.
Former Prime Ministers MPs should always be allowed to do this when they step down. If they want to hang on until the next election that is fine but they shouldn’t continue past that.
Lange and Muldoon are two who hung on and on.
They both ended up as sad figures from the past hanging around the House. Lange admitted when he finally quit, in failing health, in 1996 that he should have gone earlier but he wanted the money.
Muldoon also stayed on, a thorn in his parties side, until he also stood down in ill health at the end of 1991 not long before his death.
Both should have gone long before their actual retirement date.
English has the time to try a new career. He is, after all, only just 56.
They haven’t cottoned on to the George Constanza method of success –
When you are a loser – just do everything the opposite and by a sort of logic you should then be sure of success, with your fingers crossed.
The sandflys master are really upset about me cutting there farcical Tpp to pieces they are playing all the low down moves today people here is a music video to show them ECO MAORI Mana
Technology annoying. Woogle have to have a noise start when going to the search line. It is something to do with some game they have devised. It’s not a toy so stop trying to amuse the punters will you developers; just stay out of my head.
Its supposed to be something to do with the winter olympics, a blizzard type noise or the sound the luge makes…who knows? Damned annoying, and until I muted things I thought my laptop had finally caught fire.
I know, I know – just had that same feeling myself. Have I got tinnitus, are there cicadas in the room, is there something collapsing behind the computer? Everyone is trying to be so clever these days. Its exhausting, I wish they would stop and spend 30 minutes having a drink and pondering about life. I think that’s what’s needed these days – more pondering time.
We have been pondering how to utilise the sadly deceased crickets invading our home at the moment. Deceased, because they are so numerous stepping upon them is unavoidable. Someone in the house just told the dogs they have to develop a taste for them…
What did you expect from Winston Peters?
Once an a*hole, always an a*hole.
And he is, supposedly the “Right Honourable” Winnie the Pooh.
That is one title that should definitely be dumped.
You might think exactly the same thing.
It certainly doesn’t say much for your character then.
I guess, if that is the way you really think, the second line of my comment must apply to you as well.
What sort of character makes banal platitudes when a mediocre leader with a history of failure is finally put out to pasture by his supposed colleagues?
The public “servant” was on double or treble what most NZers get for the better part of three decades, still felt the need to double-dip on his accommodation allowance, and during his career participated in some of the worst economic abuses of society’s most vulnerable we’d seen in a century.
Ka pai Duncan & Zane from Rock radio your segment with Johnny K the lawyer is a good service for he Tangata the kumara
never tells how sweet it is but I got the welcome home sirens again they are up set ECO gets blamed for lots of phenomenon Ka kite ano
Nelson, Chch, and Dunedin meetings still have a bit more time before they occur if you want to plan around them.
(If I had spotted this earlier, I would have posted it, but with all the news today and as a last minute notification… lol no. I hope plenty of you showed in Auckland!)
The Wagner Group is a private military company – effectively mercenaries. It has been used for the military activity of the Russian Federation in various parts of the world. Currently, it is operating in Ukraine and apparently has a reputation as a very brave and effective force in the ...
I have said this in other forums, but here is the deal: PRC military exercises after Pelosi’s visit are akin to male gorillas who run around thrashing branches and beating their chests when annoyed, disturbed or seeking to show dominance. They are certainly dangerous and not to be ignored, but ...
From July 7 to 26 we tried something new on our Facebook page by sharing one Cranky Uncle cartoon each day for 20 days in a row. There were two reasons for doing this: firstly, we wanted to ensure that at least one post would get published each day while I was ...
Too many commentators on current price pressures have not understood that this time it is very different from the 1970s. Their prescriptions may accelerate inflation.The New Zealand economy is experiencing an external price shock arising from the Covid pandemic and the Ukrainian invasion compounded by related supply chain difficulties. It ...
During the years of the Key government one hardy perennial of political journalism was that whenever the Labour Opposition would suggest a policy alternative to the status quo, the hard bitten response from the Gallery realists would be “But how’re you gonna pay for it?” National in Opposition has been ...
In The Wizard’s Garden: George Dunlop Leslie, 1904IT ALL SEEMS so long ago now, and, to be fair, in human terms, 48 years is a long time. New Zealand was a different country in 1974. Someone unafraid of courting controversy might say it had achieved “Peak Pakeha”. Although the Labour Government of ...
Proximate Cause: Tellingly, it was Helen Clark who was seated close by when, earlier this week, Jacinda Ardern delivered a speech carefully crafted to keep New Zealand’s dairy exports heading China’s way. Photo by PolitikPURISTS WOULD ARGUE that New Zealand’s foreign policy should not be determined by who its Prime Minister ...
We have a new clip out of The Rings of Power. It sees Galadriel and the affectionately nicknamed Gigwit* venturing into dark places in search of evil. At fifty-odd seconds, it also constitutes the longest single piece of show dialogue we have seen thus far. *An acronym. “Galadriel Is ...
Rising To The Challenge: Te Pāti Māori is reassuring the angry and the alienated that in 2023 voting will make a difference. Aotearoa is changing. Pakeha – especially young Pakeha – are changing. The racism is still there, of course, heightened, it would seem, by the prospect of Labour, the ...
"CAGW." A thing? With its provocative title and remarks grounded in respected published research, the perspective Climate Endgame: Exploring catastrophic climate change scenarios just published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has caused a few ripples reaching into popular media. "Endgame" and "catastrophic" lean hard in the direction of "pay ...
In the past there's been a few interesting data points about the New Zealand Intelligence Community's desire to covertly manipulate public opinion through media and academic mouthpieces. In 2015 the Council for Civil Liberties revealed the existence of an NZIC "Strategic Communications Group" tasked with persuading the public that spying ...
Inflation is through the roof, and "coincidentally" so is oil company profiteering. UN Secretary-General António Guterres calls it what it is: grotesque: The UN secretary general, António Guterres, has described the record profits of oil and gas companies as immoral and urged governments to introduce a windfall tax, using ...
What on earth is going on with the main opposition parties at the moment? Both National and ACT have been making numerous flip-flops and miscommunications, clearly indicating that they aren’t a viable alternative to the current Labour led Government.Of particular note is the duplicitous reasoning given for why they support ...
A ballot for two member's bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Housing Infrastructure (GST-sharing) Bill (Brooke van Velden) Prohibition on Seabed Mining Legislation Amendment Bill (Debbie Ngarewa-Packer) Ngarewa-Packer's bill looks likely to start a shitfight with Labour, and not just because the ...
As you might have noticed, I have an on-going interest in working my way through old and intellectually influential reading material. Occasionally I even share my thoughts on it, which allows me to take a break from my generally-dominant Tolkien analysis. Well, today I thought I would take a ...
Golriz Ghahraman's Electoral (Strengthening Democracy) Amendment Bill will probably face its first reading today. And three months after it was introduced - pissing on the "as soon as practicable" requirement of Standing Order 269 - it has received a section 7 report from Attorney-General David Parker stating that its proposed ...
There's an interesting select committee report out today, from the Petitions Committee on the Petition of Conrad Petersen: The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA). The petitioner raises some concerns about the slowness of the IPCA process and its lack of oversight, and suggests some solutions. The committee doesn't seem keen ...
Today is a Member's Day, but likely to be a boring one. There's no general debate today, and instead the House will move right into the third reading of the Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu Representation) Bill, which will add unelected, inherently conflicted Ngai Tahu representatives to ECan. Then there's ...
That gormlessly glum picture of Christopher Luxon in Samoa graphically tells us what kind of image New Zealand would be projecting abroad if there’s a change of government next year. The glumness is understandable. For months, National and ACT had been dog whistling to the bigots who oppose the creation ...
There is no corruption in New Zealand. At least that’s what authorities want the public to believe. For decades now our system of political finance regulation has been portrayed as highly rigorous, ensuring our politicians cannot be bought. Unfortunately, that’s just not true. Although politicians and officials have claimed tight ...
Pundits have come out of the woodwork to defend the Greens co-leader, after he was stripped of his leadership last week by unhappy party members. The defences have all stuck to basically the same script: Shaw is a successful leader and minister who’s handed the party big victories in politics ...
Meghan Murphy talks with Batya Ungar-Sargon the author of Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy. The book charts the trajectory of journalism in the US as it shifted from being a blue collar occupation producing the penny press for the masses, to a profession for Ivy League university ...
Co-Leaders? The uncomfortable truth is: not the Army, not the Police, not the Spooks, and not even a combination of all three, could defeat the scale and violence of White Supremacist and Māori Nationalist resistance which the imposition of radical decolonisation – or its racism-inspired defeat – would unleash upon ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob Henson and Jeff Masters Torrents of rain that began before dawn on Tuesday, July 26, gave St. Louis, Missouri, its highest calendar-day total since records began in 1873. And the deadly event is just the latest example of a well-established trend ...
Completed reads for July: The Prince, by Niccolo MachiavelliFaust, Part I, by Johann Wolfgang von GoetheFaust, Part II, by Johann Wolfgang von GoetheParadise Lost, by John MiltonParadise Regained, by John MiltonThe NibelungenliedAgricola, by TacitusGermania, by TacitusDialogue on Orators, by TacitusThe Gods of Pegana, by Lord DunsanyTime and the Gods, ...
A couple of weeks ago the High Court exposed a loophole in our electoral donations law, enabling corrupt parties to take in unlimited amounts of secret money and explicitly sell policy to the rich. Pretty obviously, this is unacceptable in a country which wants to call itself a democracy, and ...
This morning, National’s deputy leader Nicola Willis managed to get top of the bulletin news coverage by pointing out that some Kiwis living abroad might receive the government’s cost of living payment. Quelle horreur. What is the problem here? Inflation is a global problem, and Kiwis living abroad may be ...
Beyond Fixing? The critical question confronting New Zealanders is whether we any longer have the resources to repair our physical and human infrastructure?WHO WILL MAKE the New Zealand of the next 50 years? We had better hope that, whoever they are, they make a better job of it than those ...
Today’s speech by Jacinda Ardern to the China Business Summit in Auckland was full of soothing words for Beijing. The headline-grabber was Ardern’s comment that ‘a few plans are afoot’ for New Zealand ministers to return to China – and that the Prime Minister herself hopes to return to the ...
Rule-Breaker? It is easy to see why poor James Shaw found himself brutally deposed as the Greens’ co-leader. By seeking the responsibilities of leadership – and exercising them – he violated the first rule of Green Party governance. Then, by accepting the limitations of the Green Party’s electoral mandate (7.8 ...
After the incredibly sad story about the deaths of over 50 Ukrainian POWs in a Ukrainian missile attack on the prison they were housed in (see Over 50 POWs killed. A military accident or a cynical war crime?)I came across the heartwarming story about another Ukrainian POW. It’s about a ...
British mercenary Aiden Aslin, now a prisoner in the Donetsk People’s Republic, expressed real concern that he may die from the Ukrainian shelling of Donetsk. He has experienced many missile attacks that came close to the prison.Is he still alive? Understandably, we are always shocked about the losses ...
Politics is largely reported as theatre: tragedy and comedy, thriller and farce. Andrea Vance captures it all very successfully in Blue Blood. But it is the politics of personality, not of policy – of the impact of government on the people’s wellbeing. Even so, we can see from the book ...
This year the government finally got its clean car feebate scheme into place. But there's a problem: it's been too successful: Transport Minister Michael Wood will shortly review the cost of the fees and rebates in the Government's "feebate" scheme after the runaway success of the policy has meant ...
Given how the pandemic has disrupted the sporting calendar, no-one would begrudge our elite athletes their chance to compete at international level. What with the war in Ukraine and the cost of living, there are also not many ‘good news” stories out there. So… I suppose the strenuous efforts the ...
Everybody Having A Say: Democracy commands us to look outward; it demands our trust; it tells us what is expected of our humanity; it elevates the collective above the self; it celebrates the things we have in common; it defines our morals and values; it calculates what we owe one ...
Even right-wing commentators have, over recent days, and jusrifiably enough, been taking the National leader, Christopher Luxon, to task. They have lambasted him over his soft-shoe shuffle over abortion, for bad-mouthing New Zealand business while he was overseas, and for pretending to be in Te Puke while he was actually ...
So, now we know for sure. The “protesters” who defiled the grounds of parliament and who (according to their own account) intended to create in three of our major cities “maximum disruption and inconvenience” to other citizens, are not interested in democracy – indeed, quite the contrary. Their objective, quite ...
The issue with Christopher Luxon’s social media post talking about his day in Te Puke when he was in Hawaii is it’s fake news. He has since apologised for the mistake. But this doesn’t negate its impact. This mistake, misstep, gaffe or whatever you like to call it, is about ...
Over the last couple of years there has been a disturbing trend of new legislation containing secrecy clauses, which effectively make it illegal for affected government bodies to disclose information under the Official Information Act. Some of these are re-enacting old legislation from the pre- or early-OIA era (in which ...
Allegations of political corruption are once again at the heart of a new High Court trial this week. The trial follows straight on from the “not guilty” verdict for those running the New Zealand First Foundation. And this latest trial is once again about whether wealthy businesspeople and political parties ...
Ukrainian operation to steal Russian military aircraft exposed [English edit] Representatives of the Ukrainian special services offered up to $2 million for hijacking Russian military aircraft, as well as European passports for the pilots and their families. In order to gain trust, Ukrainians shared information they were not allowed ...
Struck Down: As James Shaw saved the pure Greens from themselves in 2017, they resented him. As he secured the Climate Change portfolio for his party, they suspected him. As he achieved cross-party support for crucial climate change legislation, they condemned him. And, as he was white, and male, and ...
If nothing else, some of the media treatment of the Luxon lu’au has reeked of a double standard. If Jacinda Ardern – or any of her Cabinet Ministers – had been holidaying in Hawaii while their social media imagery was depicting them working hard on the public’s behalf in Te ...
The Emissions Trading Scheme is broken. Stuffed with free allocations and rigged with a "cost containment reserve" which floods the market any time prices get "too high" (for a definition of "too high" set in a different world), its basicly served as a machanism to subsidise the production of the ...
Think Big: A democratic-socialist government could remove GST from basic food items. It could re-nationalise and centralise the generation and distribution of electric power, and then retail it to citizens at an affordable price. A democratic-socialist government could nationalise the public transportation system and make it free for everyone. A democratic-socialist government ...
Pure Poison: It is when the fetid atmosphere created by the Right’s toxic accusations and denunciations is at its thickest, that comparisons with the Woke Left spring most easily to mind. If the level of emotion on display, and the strength of the invective used, is inversely related to the ...
New Zealand companies are using their oligopolistic market power to gouge mega profits, driving up inflation. Overseas, such actions have resulted in windfall taxes, which have been used both to drive down inflation, and ameliorate its impacts (while driving down emissions). With New Zealand petrol companies pocketing record margins and ...
Poll Axed: What happened to James Shaw on Saturday, 23 July 2022 exposed the Greens’ minoritarian political culture for all to see. Once voters grasp the enormity of 30 percent of Green delegates to the Green AGM being constitutionally empowered to overrule the wishes of the 70 percent of delegates ...
Now, that was strange. That was very strange. Having dropped an initial July teaser for The Rings of Power, Amazon put out a full two-minute trailer in the middle of the month. That one, I liked. Now, however, we have an additional three-minute trailer, released a couple of days ...
I have prepared the following (draft) submission on the Electoral (Māori Electoral Option) Legislation Bill, which you all have until Saturday to submit on. Happy to consider comments, or to fix typos: have I used the word whakapapa incorrectly, etc? Please let me know :-)======The Justice CommitteeElectoral (Māori Electoral Option) ...
The big news over the weekend was that Green party delegates at their AGM voted to re-open nominations for James Shaw's co-leadership position, effectively toppling him as co-leader. I'm not a member of the Greens, so its not really my place to have an opinion on who should lead them ...
James Shaw has lost his co-leadership position in the Green Party, and there’s a good chance he won’t be able to get it back. And he shouldn’t – it won’t be good for either him or his party. When delegates at the Green Party AGM voted on his position as ...
Climate change has gone from being one of those allegedly wacky Green ideas to wide mainstream acceptance. In their own ways, leaders like Jeanette Fitzsimons, Russel Norman and James Shaw each added to the increased credibility the Greens’ now have among the voting public. The decision not to re-endorse Shaw ...
So, now we know for sure. The “protesters” who defiled the grounds of parliament and who (according to their own account) intended to create in three of our major cities “maximum disruption and inconvenience” to other citizens, are not interested in democracy – indeed, quite the contrary. Their objective, quite ...
Don Franks was interviewed by Dr Toby Boraman in December 2013 about his time working in the militant Ford car plant in the 1970s. This is the fifth and final installment of that interview. The first installment is here, the second installment here, the third here and fourth installment here. (The interview has ...
Politics in New Zealand isn’t in a very good place at the moment. Not only do we have the opposition once again undermining our response to the Covid-19 pandemic, right when the number of cases are exploding, we also have former MPs thumbing their noses at the law and claiming ...
Imagine being a Green Party activist at the moment. You joined the party because climate change is an existential threat and truly radical change needs to be undertaken immediately. You’re deeply upset by inequality. You think that conventional politicians are part of the problem. However, you begin to realise that ...
Chris Trotter has put out a piece, lamenting the myopic focus of modern student activism on, well, students, and the tendency of university-educated policy-makers to take care of their own: https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2022/07/poverty-is-indivisible-ms-swarbrick.html I think he raises some fair points, at least in the sense that assisting New Zealand’s university ...
Are We Keeping Up With the Changing Global Trade Patterns?Much of the response to the recent New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement was disheartening, especially the complaints about the limited gains for our meat and dairy products. Yes, the gains were small, but significant in the circumstances.About a decade ago ...
Well, it has happened. Forty degrees Celsius. It was bound to happen eventually, given the lack of determined action to halt our rising temperatures worldwide. Those who insisted such a temperature was impossible here in the UK have been left with egg on their faces. It was not a case ...
Today’s January 6 committee hearings from Washington DC captured a series of remarkable, damning moments that make it clear Donald Trump is not fit for any role in public office, let alone the highest in the land. A series of moments, but one above all that leaves us in no ...
It’s shocking that the accused in the NZ First Foundation trial were declared “not guilty” in the High Court today. But it’s not actually surprising. There was always a strong chance that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) was not going to get a conviction over the machinations used to keep ...
When news about the New Zealand First Foundation broke, electoral law expert Andrew Geddis put it succinctly: [T]he alternative conclusion is, if anything, even more worrying. If it turns out that the foundation and the party somehow are operating lawfully, as we should note Winston Peters maintains, then that ...
The Green Party is once again calling on the Government to announce its support for a moratorium on deep sea mining, and to support a member’s bill going to select committee. ...
The Government must take steps to ensure that the way we build our homes is helping to meet New Zealand’s climate change targets, the Green Party said. ...
The Government’s employment initiatives led by the Ministry of Social Development must guarantee liveable incomes and fair working conditions, the Green Party says. ...
New Zealanders deserve a health system that works for everyone, no matter who you are or where you live. Our Government has a plan to make this a reality, and we’re taking the next steps. We now have thousands more health professionals, such as doctors and nurses, working in New ...
During her time as Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern has navigated New Zealand through unprecedented times. Through it all, she’s become known as someone who leads with kindness, compassion and strength, while keeping the wellbeing of Kiwis at the heart of her approach. To celebrate five years of Jacinda leading the ...
Since taking office in 2017, our Government has worked hard to lift wages and make life more affordable for New Zealanders, as we move forward with our plan to grow a secure economy for all. ...
The Government must use the opportunity of the Electoral Amendment Bill in Parliament to close the loophole in the political donations regime, the Green Party says. ...
Thanks to political pressure from the Green Party and the more than 900 personal stories of birth injury and trauma delivered to Minister Sepuloni, more injuries have been added to the ACC birth injuries bill. ...
Supporting New Zealanders is at the heart of our approach as a Government, and we’re working hard to tackle the big issues Kiwis are facing. While long term challenges like child poverty won’t be solved overnight, we’re putting in place policies that make a real difference for New Zealanders. Here ...
Delegates at the AGM of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand have voted to retain Marama Davidson as Green Party co-leader and to re-open nominations for the other co-leader position. ...
Every New Zealander deserves a healthy, affordable place to call home. We have a comprehensive plan to make it happen, and we’re making good progress. Here's the latest on how we're supporting Kiwis into homes: ...
The Government is allowing wealthy individuals to ‘purchase’ residency while entrenching a system that keeps low-waged workers on a precarious and temporary status, the Green Party says. ...
The Election Access Fund established by a Green Party members’ bill opened for submissions this week, showing positive progress towards more accessible elections. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to pass legislation to increase pay transparency, saying it is an urgent step that needs to be taken in response to shocking new evidence that most of the pay gap for Pacific, Māori, and other ethnic minorities cannot be explained. ...
The Foreign Minister has wrapped up a series of meetings with Indo-Pacific partners in Cambodia which reinforced the need for the region to work collectively to deal with security and economic challenges. Nanaia Mahuta travelled to Phnom Penh for a bilateral meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers and Aotearoa New Zealand, ...
Extension of Aotearoa Touring Programme supporting domestic musicians The Programme has supported more than 1,700 shows and over 250 artists New Zealand Music Commission estimates that around 200,000 Kiwis have been able to attend shows as a result of the programme The Government is hitting a high note, with ...
Minister of Defence Peeni Henare will depart tomorrow for Solomon Islands to attend events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal. While in Solomon Islands, Minister Henare will also meet with Solomon Islands Minister of National Security, Correctional Services and Police Anthony Veke to continue cooperation on security ...
The Government is partnering with Ngāi Tahu Farming Limited and Ngāi Tūāhuriri on a whole-farm scale study in North Canterbury to validate the science of regenerative farming, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. The programme aims to scientifically evaluate the financial, social and environmental differences between regenerative and conventional practices. ...
52.5% of people on public boards are women Greatest ever percentage of women Improved collection of ethnicity data “Women’s representation on public sector boards and committees is now 52.5 percent, the highest ever level. The facts prove that diverse boards bring a wider range of knowledge, expertise and skill. ...
I am honoured to support the 2022 Women in Governance Awards, celebrating governance leaders, directors, change-makers, and rising stars in the community, said Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. For the second consecutive year, MPP is proudly sponsoring the Pacific Governance Leader category, recognising Pacific women in governance and presented to ...
Today Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash turned the sod for the new Whakatāne Commercial Boat Harbour, cut the ribbon for the revitalised Whakatāne Wharf, and inspected work underway to develop the old Whakatāne Army Hall into a visitor centre, all of which are part of the $36.8 million ...
New Zealanders are not getting a fair deal on some key residential building supplies and while the Government has already driven improvements in the sector, a Commerce Commission review finds that changes are needed to make it more competitive. “New Zealand is facing the same global cost of living and ...
Mana in Mahi reaches a milestone surpassing 5,000 participants 75 per cent of participants who had been on a benefit for two or more years haven’t gone back onto a benefit 89 per cent who have a training pathway are working towards a qualification at NZQA level 3 or ...
The Government has invested $7.7 million in a research innovation hub which was officially opened today by Minister of Research, Science and Innovation Dr Ayesha Verrall. The new facility named Te Pā Harakeke Flexible Labs comprises 560 square metres of new laboratory space for research staff and is based at ...
Unemployment has remained near record lows thanks to the Government’s economic plan to support households and businesses through the challenging global environment, resulting in more people in work and wages rising. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate was 3.3 percent in the June quarter, with 96,000 people classed out ...
Action to address the risks identified in the 2020 climate change risk assessment, protecting lives, livelihoods, homes, businesses and infrastructure A joined up approach that will support community-based adaptation with national policies and legislation Providing all New Zealanders with information about local climate risks via a new online data ...
Māori with mental health and addiction challenges have easier access to care thanks to twenty-nine Kaupapa Māori primary mental health and addiction services across Aotearoa, Associate Minister of Health Peeni Henare says. “Labour is the first government to take mental health seriously for all New Zealanders. We know that Māori ...
A Bill which updates New Zealand’s statistics legislation for the 21st century has passed its third and final reading today, Minister of Statistics David Clark said. The Data and Statistics Act replaces the Statistics Act, which has been in effect since 1975. “In the last few decades, national data and ...
The Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament today, marking a significant milestone to improve the lives of disabled people. “The Bill aims to address accessibility barriers that prevent disabled people, tāngata whaikaha and their whānau, and others with accessibility needs from living independently,” said ...
Kia ora koutou, da jia hao It’s great to be back at this year’s China Business Summit. I would first like to acknowledge Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister Helen Clark, His Excellency Ambassador Wang Xiaolong, and parliamentary colleagues both current and former the Right Honourable Winston Peters, the ...
Narrowing the expenses considered by lenders Relaxing the assumptions that lenders were required to make about credit cards and buy-now pay-later schemes. Helping make debt refinancing or debt consolidation more accessible if appropriate for borrowers The Government is clarifying the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance (CCCFA) Regulations, to ensure ...
The Firearms Prohibition Order Legislation Bill will be passed through all remaining stages by the end of next week, Police Minister Chris Hipkins said. The Justice Select Committee has received public feedback and finalised its report more quickly than planned. It reported back to the House on Friday. “The Bill will ...
The Government has stepped up activity to protect kauri, with a National Pest Management Plan (NPMP) coming into effect today, Biosecurity Minister Damien O'Connor and Associate Environment Minister James Shaw said. “We have a duty to ensure this magnificent species endures for future generations and also for the health of ...
Prime Minister Ardern met with members of Samoa’s Cabinet in Apia, today, announcing the launch of a new climate change partnership and confirming support for the rebuild of the capital’s main market, on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between Aotearoa New ...
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta departs for the Indo-Pacific region today for talks on security and economic issues at meetings of ASEAN and the East Asia Summit in Cambodia, and during bilateral engagements in Malaysia. “Engaging in person with our regional partners is a key part of our reconnecting strategy as ...
United Nations Headquarters, New York City Thank you, Mr President. Ngā mihi ki a koutou. I extend my warm congratulations to you and assure you of the full cooperation of the New Zealand delegation. I will get right to it. In spite of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the nuclear ...
A major milestone of 10,037 additional public homes has been achieved since Labour came into office, the Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods confirmed today. “It’s extremely satisfying and a testament to our commitment to providing a safety net for people who need public housing, that we have delivered these warm, ...
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta has announced further sanctions on the armed forces and military-industrial complex of the Russian Federation. “President Putin and the Russian military are responsible for violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, which is a grave breach of fundamental international law,” Nanaia Mahuta ...
Easing the process for overseas nurses and provision of up to $10,000 in financial support for international nurses for NZ registration costs. Provide for the costs of reregistration for New Zealand nurses who want to return to work. Covering international doctors’ salaries during their six-week clinical induction courses and ...
A new future between Pacific Aotearoa and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is the essence of a Dawn Raids Apology anniversary event in Auckland this month, said Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. One year ago, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern formally apologised to Pacific communities impacted by the Dawn Raids in ...
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New Action Plan to eliminate HIV transmission released for consultation today $18 million Budget 2022 boost Key measures to achieve elimination include increasing prevention and testing, improving access to care and treatment and addressing stigma The Government has today released its plan to eliminate the transmission of HIV in ...
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I am delighted to join you today for the launch of the Construction Sector Accord Transformation Plan 2022-2025. I would like to acknowledge my colleagues – the other Accord Ministers, the Accord governance and sector leadership, the CEOs of Government agencies, and leaders from the construction sector. The construction ...
Associate Minister of Transport Kieran McAnulty was joined this morning by the Mayors of Carterton and Masterton, local Iwi and members of the Wairarapa community to turn the first sod on a package of crucial safety improvements for State Highway 2 in Wairarapa. “The work to improve safety on this ...
The board to take the Milford Opportunities Project (MOP) forward has been announced by Minister of Conservation Poto Williams today. “The Milford Opportunities Project is a once in a generation chance to reshape the gateway to Milford Sound Piopiotahi and redesign our transport infrastructure to benefit locals, visitors, and our ...
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Analysis by Keith Rankin. A couple of weeks ago I received a number of articles mainly about Covid19 deaths in the United States. (See below.) As I have noted in the past, it is important to address the reported facts, rather than to ignore them. As they stand, these articles ...
Former Labour Party leader Andrew Little and the Prime Minister's chief press secretary have appeared as witnesses in a trial about anonymous donations to the country's two biggest political parties. ...
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There’s a small hole in current law which a responsible camping group wants plugged. Often publicly blamed for fouling our natural environment, freedom campers and van travellers have been the target of a lot of poo-slinging lately. Tourism Minister ...
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Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui are this morning welcoming yesterday’s news that a members bill to ban seabed mining will finally enter the parliamentary process. “Ngāti Ruanui is thrilled to hear that Debbie Ngarewa-Packers bill to ban seabed mining ...
The Government’s meddling is driving up the cost of land and contributing to the ongoing housing crisis, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says. “The ‘huge upfront’ purchase of land at Ferncliffe Farms is setting off major ...
By Susana Suisuiki and Finau Fonua of RNZ Pacific The Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau, Auckland came alive with music, glitz and glam for the first live Pacific Music Awards in two years last night. The annual ceremony has been held online for the past two years due to covid-19 ...
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Thoughts with the people of Tonga this morning.
There was a brief item on the new on mon? where a shop had opened in tonga for a couple of hours on sun afternoon for emergency supplies.
The police shut them down, cause there is NO trading on sunday.
Seemed a bit over the top.
Never underestimate the stupidity of people.
Now who said this? “Then he turned to them and said, “Which of you doesn’t work on the Sabbath? If your son or your cow falls into a pit, don’t you rush to get him out?”
That person understood Christianity in action.
Indeed. Just reading about it this morning. Hard to imagine seeing your beautiful country devistated like that.
(Ps – let’s just agree on something and not make this a cc debate)
Its not fair that the Lab NZF part of our government is signing away OUR future TO the gangs of Big business the tpp these people are just evil self serving organizations.
In your reality is it impossible for you to think that 200 years ago that some busness people got together and made a long term plan to dominate the worlds society .
They would have pooled there money together to use to manipulate nz society to benefit the one%. that is quite plausible to ECO Maori as these people will get more money and more control by these actions I know what data you have access to of mine Breaks fast people every bit ECO knows Ka pai water off a ducks back
[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.]
Yes if the government signs the TPP, future governments hand will be tied if they want to tackle housing, inequality, obesity, suicide, in a meaningful way,
Corporations already run the country.
The signing of the TPP will set that rule in stone.
And it will impact on the Treaty.
Don’t know what you’re worrying about, don’t you remember this:
https://thespinoff.scdn5.secure.raxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/TPPA-billboard_feat.jpg
I am concerned that NZ citizens will lose even more control of their sovereignty to big business once it is signed.
I am not party political on this.
Both 2017 Labour and 2017 National are parties that support the neoliberal globalist agenda of multinational corporations.
Are you concerned by the fact our sovereignty will be eroded?
I wanted the TPP signed in the first place so I’m well pleased with what Labours is doing , they’re putting NZs interests ahead of thier own ideology and should be congratulated for that
I’ll admit I was a little disappointed with the election result but Labour thus far has shown me to be a center-left government so I can live with that
Are you not worried by the main chapters of the TPP that will restrict your rights as a NZ citizen ?
Are you aware of the contents of these chapters?
Have you? Considering labour have kept them secret.
I have listened to Jane Kelsey.
How is it possible to “put NZ’s interests ahead of their (sic) own ideology”?
chris73?
Except that they’re not. They’re putting ideology ahead of NZ’s interests.
Nope. I’ve always been for the signing of the TPPA. But like a lot thought labour were going to cause it to fail (which I thought was stupid)
Turns out they just assumed voters were stupid and did a bait and switch.
Are you aware of the contents of these chapters?
Have you? Considering labour have kept them secret.
What do the chapters say Ed.
You appear to be aware of all the information that the rest of us mere mortals have had kept from them.
What are the contents of these “chapters” you refer to and that so upset you? Please tell.
Listen to Jane Kelsey.
Go on the It’s our future website.
Which corporations run NZ ?
How will future governments hands be tied in relation to housing, inequality, obesity and suicide if the CPTPP is entered into ?
Google is your friend.
Tin foil hats must be yours?
Are you aware of the contents of these chapters?
Have you? Considering labour have kept them secret.
Research what happened to Mexico after NAFTA.
We disagree.
What a surprise.
“Research”.
It really isn’t research, you know: finding articles you agree with on the internet. “What happened to Mexico” is at least as well described in the lyrics of Los Cuates De Sinaloa. NAFTA had nothing to do with that, although the USA certainly played its part.
That they be tied at all is problematic. Treaties between nations impose responsibilities, our courts constrain Parliament’s excesses. That I can live with. And defend.
Limited liability private business concerns, not so much. Hire a lawyer and go to court like everyone else.
At last night’s anti-TPPA-11 meeting in Auckland, Laila Harre said that there is no protection for NZ sovereignty over it’s labour/employment laws in the TPP agreement our government plans to sign on 8th March.
Harre has been researching and writing a thesis on it.
She says such agreements cannot protect our labour laws and this needs to be done through the ILO.
Under the TPPA that our government plans to sign, they could be sued for the labour regulations the government is planning to implement.
Harre and Kelsey say that if this agreement is signed, it will be used as a model for other trade agreements.
Kelsey said some in the labour caucus won’t to maintain such a model. But this model is in crisis, and we need to respectful campaign to shift the balance in the government to something more progressive.
National Day of anti-TPPA action on Sunday 4th March.
Demo in Wellington on day of signing, 8 March.
FUrther meetings around NZ before then.
All of them.
It’s generally how oligarchies operate.
They can’t go against the agreement. So, say the NZ government decides to build 100,000 homes and the decide that the best way to do that would be to reinstitute the Ministry of Works and have it all done in house.
Well, they can’t do that. The FTAs, including the TPP, demand that the government put it out to tender instead. And even in doing that they can’t choose a NZ company over a foreign company in NZ’s interests.
It’s not IF it’s when they sign it.
But the contents of the treaty remain secret. And you’re happy about that?
You trust Labour and NZFirst to do what’s best for you?
But you didn’t vote for either.
Why not?
Housing us the top issue but I’m more concerned about the commercialisation of water.
Signing the TPPA in any form will ensure that gap between have/have not expands.
The special protection for foreign investors remains.
Sorry
Hey, eco maori
Can you please tell me; what does, “Ana to kai” mean?
http://maoridictionary.co.nz/word/222
Take that!
Aha!
Why’s The Guardian teaming up with the government to “do a number” on Oxfam?
Some workers in Haiti used prostitutes = loss of government funding with The Guardian leading the charge? Wtf?
Anyone remember War on Want getting buried because they were “too political”?
Oxfam have released a number of good reports on poverty/inequity etc. Anyone want to tell me that’s not why they’re in the firing line?
And if Oxfam UK goes down the gurgler, then what of Oxfam NZ. And where in the name of fuck is the next NGO speaking out against the bullshit effects of global capitalism?
This piece is from last October.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/31/oxfam-says-it-has-sacked-22-staff-in-a-year-over-sexual-abuse-allegations
Then there’s nothing until …well, here’s the Guardian articles from the past two days.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/11/oxfam-staff-raise-concerns-over-charity-vetting-processes-haiti-abuse
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/12/haiti-demands-oxfam-identify-workers-who-used-prostitutes
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/12/oxfam-hit-cancelled-donations-charity-shop-volunteers-shock
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/11/we-fear-whats-next-oxfam-reels-from-prostitution-scandal
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/11/oxfam-show-moral-leadership-lose-government-funds-prostitutes-haiti
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/10/oxfam-faces-allegations-staff-paid-prostitutes-in-chad
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/12/the-oxfam-scandal-shows-colonialism-is-alive-and-well
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/12/aid-worker-oxfam-scandal-haiti-abuse-bullying-culture
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/12/how-has-recent-news-affected-oxfam-donations-where-you-are-tell-us
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/12/monday-briefing-oxfam-pleads-for-charity-amid-sex-scandal
https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2018/feb/11/penny-mordaunt-oxfam-moral-leadership-video
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/video/2018/feb/10/i-am-deeply-ashamed-says-oxfam-ceo-of-the-haiti-sex-scandal-video
If they don’t want bad press – don’t do bad things.
They are only getting what they caused.
That’s not doing a number – that’s reporting.
So James. You’re saying that any org. receiving government funds should have those funds pulled if a staff member pays someone for sex?
The matter was reported last October. Once.
Twelve articles in two days that excuse and condone government moves to pull funding isn’t reporting. It’s campaigning.
This is much worse.
https://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/30/world/france-un-car-sex-abuse-claims/index.html
Oxfam were doing a good job in highlighting Tax havens as being the biggest drivers of inequality and poverty in the world ….
Starving children in poor countries … Student loans and ‘Austerity’ for kids in rich ones.
In a world with decent leaders oxfam would not be needed.
Abuse of children starts with sick leaders …. like our own John Key.
He personally would have abused thousands of times more children than oxfam ..
And he’d be happier than James about the Guardians oxfam campaign …
I wonder if they have written as much about vulture capitalists ? … another group of prolific family and child abusers.
“Abuse of children starts with sick leaders …. like our own John Key.
He personally would have abused thousands of times more children than oxfam”
Now there is a perfectly sane and reasonable comment / sarc.
James is the lowest form of argument …
He don’t agree leaders of the world are responsible for the state its in …
And he don’t agree that putting children into poverty is abuse …
In Keys case … when he was creatively helping u.s.a corporations become Irish ones ….. the result was less money for things like schools and infrastructure in the u.s.a. ….. How much money did that deprive from the poor in the u.s.a ?
When Key got bailed out …. he took even more money from the long suffering u.s.a taxpayers .
And then the greedy dirt bag plugged New Zealand into the Tax Haven net-work …. The biggest cause of inequality and poverty in the world …. as high lighted by Oxfam.
Please tell us all how stealing from poor children is not child abuse James …
Explain yourself without looking like a dirt bag yourself …. if you can.
You can’t.
Unless I’ve missed something, there was no abuse of children. Some employees paid prostitutes for sex. No allegations of paying for underage sex have been made as far as I’ve read.
Now sure, it’s not the best look to be all “I’m here to help, and by the way, how much for a blow-job around these parts?”
But I guess we need to understand that no business in receipt of government assistance or support (like say an arms manufacturer) has employees who go to prostitutes. And if they did have, then government would of course, cut said company loose.
And next time a government MP goes to a prostitute and is sprung, they won’t just resign, but the government will throw a vote of no confidence against itself and a general election will ensue.
I think one of the things you’ve maybe missed, Bill, is that prostitution is often fine when everyone is on an equal power footing, but not so much when the customer is well resourced and secure but the “prostitute” is struggling to find basic essentials for life. Especially when the customer is also responsible for the distribution of those essentials.
There is always a power differential in prostitution, it’s why our law around prostitution is a crook. It makes little difference if the place is Haiti or if it is South Dunedin.
I did not see anywhere where they didn’t pay. Or curried favour for the client/john/user of prostitutes. Did you see that?
No, I get all that McFlock.
And the employees employments were terminated regardless of any power at play. I don’t know whether these guys “created” prostitutes due to peoples circumstances or paid pre-existing prostitutes.
But either way, it’s a howling bullshit excuse for government and whatever media lackeys to leverage in a way that could bury the entire organisation.
Do you believe for even one second that the following statement is meant to apply to any and all organisations government works with? Or just those those that “show it up” from time to time?
Penny Mordaunt. UK’s International Development Secretary –
I am very clear: we will not work with any organisation that does not live up to the high standards on safeguarding and protection that we require.
I suspect the outrage of the government is cynical as you suggest.
But given that some of your links refer to problem men flowing from one organisation to another, employment termination isn’t the solution it might seem at first glance.
Why should an org. be held accountable for the fact an ex-employee secured employment elsewhere? Are they meant to hire Private Dicks, monitor and surveil them?
Beyond not giving references (and there are potential issues with that in a NZ context), what the fuck are they legally capable of doing?
Firstly, try handling the initial complaint about your country director properly, instead of transferring him to the next disaster zone.
Secondly, try firing them rather than allowing resignations. That’ll make it more difficult for them to move into other organisations to abuse.
And it’s not just May’s govet looking at funding, so is the European Union.
BTW, everything I’m saying comes from the list of links you’re outraged over.
Well sure. Some poorly handled shit justifies sinking an entire org that just happens to be vocally critical….how?
No winks and nods to the EU from the UK to follow suit and rid themselves of an annoying thorn in the side? Just upstanding governments, aye?
Fuck. I’d hate to be running the next arms fair given this upstanding morality government’s discovered for itself!
The Guardian “reporting”. Anything new in those dozen pieces from the past two days that wasn’t previously reported last October? (I don’t think there is.) So, if not a campaign of righteous indignation and condemnation then, why now?
edit – and when did paying another person for sex become a definition for abuse?
edit no. 2 “Two staff members resigned before investigations were complete” Not much can be done about that.
I think if the UK outright begged the EU to do something at the moment, the EU would fucking laugh in their face. Seems to be the norm with the brexit negotiations.
sounds like capitalism is always a free exchange between indiciduals, eh. No power imbalance there, even if one party has no shoes.
Except continue the investigations and deliver your findings to the police if something illegal turns up.
A mutual interest in silencing Oxfam requires no begging on any party’s part. And there’s been a fair amount of this silencing of dissident opinion lately. (Yes, I know you disagree on that front)
Prostitution and power imbalances exist right here in NZ. You against the legalisation of sex work? You think Johns should be jailed or some-such?
Oxfam has referred cases to the police.
But the headline case involves paying for sex in Haiti. That’s illegal in
Haiti. You think Oxfam should refer that to the English police? You think the UK would/should extradite someone to answer allegations of having paid for sex in Haiti?
That depends entirely on the circumstances in which the transaction was made.
Frankly, if the person who was paid for sex felt coerced into it or received unfair advantage in aid, then either the local police or the British ones should be involved.
The reason sex work is legal in NZ is because it helps create safe spaces for sex workers. I’m unconvinced that it’s an apt metaphor for a disaster zone, expect inasmuch as NZ is an ongoing “free” “market” disaster itself.
It was a comparison, not a metaphor. But let me put it this way. Paying people for sex has been normalised. There are possible debates and arguments around that fact, but it’s the fact I’m pointing to.
So a guy paid someone for sex in a country where that’s not legal. And an entire aid agency that has a habit of producing “embarrassing” reports (from a government perspective) has its future put in jeopardy by government.
As I asked in my originla comment – anyone remember War on Want and how they were silenced and shut down? Because I’m seeing parallels, though the pre-text for hitting Oxfam is different.
As you know, I think charity is obscene in the first place. From a realpolitik perspective, you’re probably right.
“So a guy paid someone for sex in a country where that’s not legal.”
In addition to the comment I made below about minimising, let me put it another way. Your critique of the Guardian would carry more punch if you stopped minimising the rape culture and gender issues here.
If the argument is that the Guardian are blowing something out of proportion in order to manipulate the public against an NGO, you’re going to run up against the problems I outlines below. We don’t know what happened, and there are still issues to look at about what Oxfam did even if what you say about the Guardian is true.
As a sidebar, this is another example of how one can frame things that undermines other politics. If the problem here is that the Guardian has an agenda of supporting the status quo, that seems reasonable to critique. But one doesn’t actually have to do that by way of minimising the issues around the thing being badly reported.
Prostitution includes children doing sex work, including in NZ and irrespective of legislation. When we change the subject in that sentence, we can say that by definition someone using sex work services is committing rape if the worker is underage. Because of the nature of the patriarchy, that is very hard to address, so politically I think it’s better to not assume that no underage people were involved as a base line. If you think that’s daft, consider how many men can’t tell the difference between an 18 year old and a 15 year old. Or don’t want to. The way you are putting your arguments here makes that stuff less visible.
I haven’t followed the story much, but afaik there is at least question of whether underage people were involved.
Prostitution in Haiti is illegal. Again, given the nature of the powers involved, it makes more political sense to me to include the problems inherent in that. For instance a population that is eating mud pies due to lack of food is much more likely to have high numbers of women, transgender people, children and men doing sex work in conditions that are coercive.
That’s not necessarily a comment on *your politics, but on the framing that *might be going on here. For instance, this sentence,
“Now sure, it’s not the best look to be all “I’m here to help, and by the way, how much for a blow-job around these parts?”
seriously minimises the broader politics in the situation. The critique of the Guardian doesn’t require that.
Making a sardonic comparison with arms dealers and MPs likewise. I mean, I get it, it’s funny and pointed if one is looking at the hypocrisy of the establishment in the West. It’s less funny if one is looking at rape culture politics.
There hasn’t been any allegation of underage sex in what I’ve read.
And the comparisons to arms fairs/arms dealers and MPs and the reaction (obvious lack of) isn’t meant to be funny.
The critique isn’t about “supporting the status quo” but that a newspaper is quite overtly running a government’s political agenda out to the public. (Nothing new in that, I know)
There have been allegations.
As disgusting as it might seem, as authorities crack down on paedophilia in the developed world, predatory paedophiles are now going to the developing world to gain access to children. One of their preferred methods is to join a children’s charity
Shocking revelations on BBC’s Newsnight on Friday 9 February saw former Oxfam head Dame Barbara Stocking admit that she “knew for years” after an internal Oxfam investigation that sexual exploitative behaviour has been going on at Oxfam. The behaviour included hiring prostitutes in earthquake-torn Haiti – who may have been underage – and downloading illegal material. It was revealed that the aid workers involved in such acts moved from aid job to aid job with spotless references.
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/oxfam-aid-work-prostitutes-un-workers-child-sex-abuse-harassment-dfid-a8204526.html
Yep. I think it’s safe to assume that there is probably abuse going on, rather than not. We can wait for an investigation for details about specific people, but in terms of discussing the general politics, I can’t see that Oxfam should be given the benefit of the doubt as an organisation. No-one should.
Please look at James’s 2 comments at 6.47 pm on Daily Review.
Personal attacks and clearly stalking me.
you need to provide links Ed
With reference to Oxfam and Haiti, that reads as speculation on the authors part rather than any reporting of an allegation.
Is there anywhere (any article) stating that allegations have been made that Oxfam employees in Haiti had sex with minors?
The Guardian article you posted up thread.
–Oxfam staff in Haiti paid prostitutes – possibly underage – for sex in 2011,
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/11/oxfam-staff-raise-concerns-over-charity-vetting-processes-haiti-abuse
Joe. That’s bloody speculation again. The piece could just as well have said …paid prostitutes – possibly boys – for sex in 2011.
No claim or allegation is made, and no allegation or claim is referred to.
I’ve suggested you google it. Try putting ambassador in the search.
You suggesting I google Oxfam workers in Haiti paying for underage sex? Or what? Presumably what I’ll get will be in line with the dozen or so links I provided in my original comment.
I’ve already said Bill.
Oxfam Haiti underage. Now add ambassador. This isn’t difficult.
Oh. I already did. And predictably got articles in a similar vein to those already posted in my orignal comment.
none of that addresses the issues I am raising, and that you haven’t yet read more widely doesn’t mean the issues aren’t pertinent.
If you google Oxfam Haiti underage you will find some reading.
“And the comparisons to arms fairs/arms dealers and MPs and the reaction (obvious lack of) isn’t meant to be funny.”
Take out the word funny then, and reread it. The point stands.
“The critique isn’t about “supporting the status quo” but that a newspaper is quite overtly running a government’s political agenda out to the public. (Nothing new in that, I know)”
Good to have the clarification, but again, it avoids the point I was making.
I’m not “avoiding” your point so much as simply not focusing on it. You and who-ever can look at all this through lenses of gender, but you can’t reasonably insist that everyone else does.
A publication running government attack lines. Where we seen that before?
If the pieces focused on the men, who are known, and investigated their past behaviours, allegations against them, positions held and which other orgs money they had spent for personal gratification (though I think it’s reasonable to assume it was their own money and on their own time), then that would be entirely different to what is actually happening.
These men having paid for sex is being used to attack and silence an organisation that is a reasonable and vocal critic of governments and their policies. And media are willfully running governments attack lines against that org. I think that’s hugely important.
I think it’s important too.
What I’m suggesting is that you have an opportunity here to engage in some solidarity politics. That’s a good thing, because solidarity, but also it means you won’t get as much push back on your actual points because of the framing. At the moment I’m just seeing dismissal and minimising, so I’m not convinced this is simply choosing not to focus on it. Looks more like discounting it.
There’s a limit to how much support can be given to strategies that misuse gender and rape culture issues to address this kind of issue. That’s not new either.
Sorry Bill … the Guardians blitz of stories, combined with James …. our king of grubby toilet sex using the word “bad” … lead me to assume it was something like underage prostitutes …. and memories of UN sex trafficking sucked me in. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_sexual_abuse_by_UN_peacekeepers
That it is not …. shows a contrived Guardian hit job ….and pathetic excuse for the Tory Tax haven party to threaten Oxfams funding.
James hypocrisy and criticism of Oxfam ……….. stands in stark contrast to his excuses and support of Rugby players abusing sex workers … or rooting strangers in public toilets…. while being in a relationship.
‘Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it’ is his advice over toilets …. but sex with prostitutes is bad.
Indicating both his morals and taste …….. are located up his arse.
Hopefully good Poms …. decent ones like Corbyn …. fight against this Guardian / Tory abuse.
“An Associated Press investigation revealed in 2017 that more than 100 UN peacekeepers ran a child sex ring in Haiti over a 10 year period and none were ever jailed.”
Odd, you seem to have changed your tune since Sunday, you realise it’s only 2 days and your now running with a different tune.
Get your attack points sorted james, you’re looking unhinged.
.
I know that a lot of Maori leaders are saying you Ngati Porou sided with the crown during the turmoils of the early days of out country been turned into NZ why should we listen to you Eco Maori .
In reality when one is swimming and gets caught in a big a Rip tide if one does not swim with the rip tide one will get tired swimming against the tide that one drowns ka pai.
So If Ngati Porou Great leaders Ropata Wahawaha. Kohere Mokena. Potae Henare sided with other Maori and we killed all the settlors this would have given the neo liberals the power to up set the Killer Whale I.E rally Great Briton against Aoetearoa . She was the Superpower in those days we would have been at war for years a lot of tangata would have been lost and in reality we would not have any Mana now we would all be living on the Ruapehu the desert road and the neo librels would have total control .
IF we lett the government sign the tpp go have a look at America look at its roads look at its dams are running dry look at its ghettos look at its health systems look at its finance systems .
Is this what you want to leave behind for all OUR Mokos ECO MAORI says NO .
We are but caretakers of Papatuanuku for the very short time we are here OUR main job is to pass her on to OUR mokos in a good healthy state .
That is a good point Jack and Haley the state of our poor housing the Tidal wave of inequality instigated by nationals shonky and bills polices will still be rolling in for years . Ana to kai
Ka kite ano
Rock Rumble I know what to say I dont want this tpp to stuff up Aotearoa and I wont fall for the bait others are putting out there I get to chose what I talk about I will forgive them I see the bigger picture .Give us a sore face P.S the sandflys delete things out of my inbox for me IPCA files
Ka pai ka kite ano
All the best on your new journey Bill English.
Time for he tangata of Aotearoa to take a new path to ensure all OUR mokos are all treated equally time for New Zealanders to respect Papatunuku / Mother Earth and all her creatures .So all our mokos can be guarantee a health prosperous future.
Hilary & Jeremy some think that I should have deleted my e-mail encourageing Tops party to help me to stop this farcical ttp trade our sovereign away contract .
New Zealand doesn’t need that the whole world wants our food that is the best food on Papataunuku we are not even known in a lot of countries we just have to tell the World our beautiful story about our clear sky’s green grass ect.
I told people that I would hold them accountable for there actions .
I was disappointed with one policy I bit my tongue .Eco Wil not bite his tongue on this farcical trade our sovereignty away contract tpp. Anyway I’m not a person who does things behind-the-scenes or behind one’s back .I want everyone to know my view on the reality of the ttp . I new labour would find out /be informed from the sandflys about my e-mail to Gareth Morgan .This action of mine puts labour on notice don’t underestimate ECO MAORI . I still back Labour lead Government I just want some of Tops researched good policies to be legislated into our laws sooner or later he got us all talking about Maori receiving 1cent in the dollar for compensating for our land being stolen by the NZ Company he is a great good hounerable Kiwi who put his money were his mouth is . Ka kite ano
Thanks for the tautoko Big man Ka pai E hoa Ka kite ano
National’s legacy. Not content with elevating NZ to the top of domestic abuse statistics, they underfund support services so badly, under the banner of restructuring, no-one answers the phone.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/350270/child-abuse-hotline-overwhelmed-by-calls
I’m seeing some evidence by way of hit and run comments on other blogs that the dirty politics brigade is going to target Clark Gayford’s past as a way to attack JA and the government.
The Nats know this is a very, very dangerous strategy but I think they’re incapable of changing their ways, and it worked with Metiria Turei after all, even though they lost the election in the end.
Wouldn’t be surprised if Gayford’s past is in the spotlight soon.
Well if he hasn’t don’t anything to be ashamed of then he’s got nothing to worry about.
He is after all NZ’s first man of fishing.
So you agree with this kind of dirty politics?
If he hasn’t run for public office then he shouldn’t have anything to worry about regardless of whether he “hasn’t don’t anything” (sic).
Some of the accusations are rather serious and if true I can’t see how Ardern could survive.
And yesterday.
Without linking what was the post name from yesterday?
The one about the Chris Bishop smear.
Wow! Who knew that shadowy figures have been murdering NZ journalists and writers for years, and something about the KGB.
Serious stuff. 😆
These “innuendoes” have been going on for about three weeks with several kiwiblog commentators chiming in as if they know something. Farrar, as per his instructions, is letting it go and the shit slinging is continuing. Much like the innuendoes regarding Ardern’s mental health status pre election. There are a few specific commentators who kept that one up with regularity.
Depends what they are – and who says its dirty politics – what if its a #MeToo type issue?
(Not saying it is (nor have I read anything suggesting that this is the case – Just using this as an example of something in his past that isnt dirty politics and may indeed be a valid complaint from somebody).
If the revealing and dirt digging is being run by a political party and/or their proxies then it is dirty politics regardless of the nature of the accusations.
I disagree.
Sure, but that just makes you a very small cog in a rather large machine.
A self-described drug dealer claims to have supplied ecstasy and “speed” to a third party. It’s all part of a big conspiracy against journalists and writers, apparently.
While he hasn’t run for office hes certainly been front and centre, he accepted the wiro at Waitangi, has wrote some pieces about why we should vote for Jacinda
Hes not like Peter Davis or Bronagh Key in that respect so if you want to have influence you need to accept the negative with the positive
Mind you I also haven’t heard any rumours either
He’s had a bigger profile than Ardern over much of his career through his radio and tv work. I actually think he’s done a good job of being in the background considering. It doesn’t look like he’s going to use his new found fame to get tv jobs either.
” It doesn’t look like he’s going to use his new found fame to get tv jobs either.”
Doesn’t matter, he tried to influence the election, he accepted on behalf of either Jacinda or the Labour party the wiro at Waitangi so hes fair game
Then so are (or now were) Bill English’s kids who went around campaigning with him.
And his wife, Mary English, who was also with him today when he resigned along with three of the sons.
Mrs English (or rather Dr) also featured in a number of fluff pieces in the Herald etc as well as Gayford about their relationships with their respective partners.
Mary English didn’t start doing much campaigning until late in the picture, she was fairly anonymous for much of Bills career (which is a shame as shes quite the catch)
And kids should be off limits up until they start chiming in so, as an example, criticism of Max Key is fine but criticism of Stephanie Key isn’t
As Maui says, Gayford has had a public profile for almost 20 years through his TV and radio work.
He left his safe TV and radio jobs about three years ago to take a gamble and follow his dream of creating his own TV series combining travel, fishing and food, and marine sustainability and protection – with Jacinda Ardern’s blessing and encouragement.
The third series of “Fish of the Day” is due to run here in NZ soon on Prime TV (it was previously on Choice TV) and in about 38 countries through the National Geographic’s network (up from about 20 countries for the previous two series).
Brilliant (award winning) photography, particularly underwater, by his partner in this venture – Mike Bhana, a NZer also known as ‘Mr Shark’ as one of the creators of the largest shark exhibition in the world – Planet Shark http://www.planetshark.com – a huge educational installation designed to promote awareness, conservation and understanding of sharks and our oceans. Bhana is also known for his photographic/video work in documenting the work of the Red Cross teams worldwide.
http://fishoftheday.tv/profiles
A teaser video for the third series – https://www.facebook.com/pg/fishofthedaytv/videos/?ref=page_internal
Gayford and Bhana also do a lot of other work in relation to marine sustainability and protection both in NZ and in the Pacific, eg the proposed Niue Marine Sanctuary and the annual Humpback Whale migration. The ‘Fish of the Day’ also focuses on these issues.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11930357
They have also done a series of short travel promotion videos for Niue – keeping in with the ‘father in law’! – Ross Ardern, NZ High Commissioner to Niue, soon to return to NZ and become the NZ Administrator of Tokelau, based in Auckland.
Gayford will be putting most of the above on hold to become the prime caregiver of their child, so he deserves credit for this.
[And no, Ed – I am not getting paid for this promo.]
Of course he does solkta, james has no morals.
So Turei comes out and ADMITS benefit fraud in a speech and that’s nationals dirty politics.
Your tin foil hat is slipping.
They did go after her family. Even you’d have to admit that’s pretty low.
“They did go after her family.”
Metiria Turei pushed “her family” under the bus.
Turei tried to paint the picture she had no other choice but to commit fraud. Which is only half a step away from telling NZ that her former partner and his family did bugger all to help support their daughter/granddaughter
When in fact Turei had massive support from them, they were always going to hit back at Turei. Of course, you do know who the grandmother is of Metiria Turei baby?
[if you’re going to make statements of fact about a public/political figure on this political blog, you need to back them up. I’d now like to see some credible back up for the statement that Turei had ‘massive support’ from her family. Putting you in moderation so I can pick it up when it comes through – weka]
moderation note for you to respond to.
For context, many lies have been told about Turei, and much of them were politically motivated. If you want to make claims in the future, don’t make me ask for back up, provide it at the time.
Sure weka.
Read the stuff link that james posted…
Turei claim of she had to commit fraud was BS. She received massive support (her own words were “really fantastic support”).
It belittled the sole parents who do not have the support of their family or friends.
Sorry, but Turei was caught out.
[You need to provide evidence of your assertion of fact. i.e. actual links that are credible, and quotes from those links that explicitly support what you are saying. Your reckons aren’t enough, nor are vague references to other commenters. The onus is on *you to do the work. Note that for future reference too in what I said in the other note. Please also read the Policy about wasting moderator time. I’ve asked twice now, don’t make me come back at it again because I’m more likely just to ban you – weka]
“I’d now like to see some credible back up for the statement that Turei had ‘massive support’ from her family.”
Quote from Turei: “I have always said I did have really fantastic support from friends and family and that Piupiu’s family really supported me especially when I was in law school with things like you know, child care, stuff like that. Like the sort of stuff that you would expect.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/95624422/metiria-turei-says-support-from-her-childs-grandparents-wasnt-financial
Tureis statement was in response to John Campbell putting written questions to her re-extend family contacting Checkpoint.
Now John Campbell is respected on the left…so is he making this up?
I know Ann Hartley and the thought she would let any child let alone her granddaughter go without is just ridiculous.
For those not familiar with Ann Hartley here is a good overview…
https://ancad.org.nz/sites/default/files/Ann%20Hartley_LoRes.pdf
If you want me to link to Turei admitting she did not have to cheat…well I can’t.
[good. Because now we can see the difference between what Turei actually said, and what you claimed as fact. People can then respond to your comment without having to deal with you asserting opinion as fact. From now on I suggest that at the time you either don’t assert fact but instead state clearly that things are in your opinion, or you put up a link and quote to back up the claim of fact. I don’t want to have to waste my time on this again, nor do I think it’s ok to have this cleared up a day after the conversation is moved on. You are allowed to express opinion on this site (within bounds), but misusing statements of facts to take part in a long attack on a public figure is not ok – weka]
Turei: I have always said I did have really fantastic support from friends and family and that Piupiu’s family really supported me especially when I was in law school with things like you know, child care, stuff like that. Like the sort of stuff that you would expect.
You: When in fact Turei had massive support from them
There is nuance in what Turei is saying. Obviously she is sending a message to her family and friends that she really appreciated the support she received from. We don’t know how much of the ‘really fantastic support’ was financial, or of the financial support, what weekly or yearly amount that was.
We also don’t know what shortfall she had in her budget over time. That she had wealthy in laws who gave some financial support doesn’t mean that they were giving her what she needed.
The crux of the issue here is whether Turei needed the additional money from the benefit or not. Again, we don’t know the figures involved, so there is no way to assess this from a maths point of view. What we do know is that at that time, the benefit wasn’t enough to live on. It is widely held opinion that benefits were already at that time set below the poverty line in order to force people into work. For a single parent raising a child and going to law school there is very little space to take on extra work to supplement income. This is why most compassionate and knowledgeable people either understand what Turei did or actively support it.
Further, as Bill pointed out, financial support from family (or anyone) is technically considered income by WINZ and had she declared it she would have had a portion of her benefit taxed. Catch 22.
I don’t actually care who Turei’s in laws are. There are plenty of middle class beneficiaries whose families help in some ways but where the beneficiary still struggles and the family is either aware or unaware. This is neither news nor surprising. The only people that don’t understand this social reality are people who are ignorant. And far too many people are wilfully ignorant and want their bigotry to trump everything else. That is what I see in your series of posts. You are willing to believe second or third hand information and rumour instead of looking at what was most likely to have been going on.
John Campbell is a very compassionate man. But in this instance he did one of the worst things I have ever seen him do. He did that interview from a place of utter ignorance of the reality of being a beneficiary and he chose to amplify the voices of reactionaries rather than vulnerable people. He ran a line of sex workers and drug addicts might be justified in needing more income, but that law students with wealthy in laws aren’t. That is as fucked up as it comes, and I don’t care what someone’s politics are at that point, if they are abusing their position of power by promoting bludger memes. Campbell should be ashamed of himself.
You mean when the family contacted the press to say that her comments were ‘galling’
“The allegations were put to Turei by RNZ Checkpoint who said a family member told them the extended family found Turei’s comments about the hardships she faced in her 20s and her benefit fraud “galling”.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/95624422/metiria-turei-says-support-from-her-childs-grandparents-wasnt-financial
Anonymous family member, eh? Interesting…
to quote you from a couple of days ago “so obviously there was something inappropriate going on.”
Fuck off James. Any financial aid from a family member would have been viewed as income, and if not declared to WINZ (so they could dock payments accordingly) then said aid becomes a matter of fraud.
Bill English a millionaire lives in a house owned by his trust … but claims $900 per week in rent expenses … the motive was pure greed …but he ADMITS nothing
James and our dirty politics goons go on and on about a solo mum getting a fraction of that to try and live on a benefit that the national party set at punitive poverty levels …..
James ADMITS his clearly dirty stinking morals …. underpinned by hypocrisy.
…. his fingers do the talking .
No – James goes on about a self admitted benefit fraud.
you capitalized whats important to you ….
and your past form sticks and stinks ………..
Anyway good to see Bill English flushed from power …. another head for winston …. the key slayer.
Who next ?
There’s a really simple sequence to kill all that:
1. 2018. Prime Minister gives birth. That’s worth a year of publicity including international. WHo will supply the outfits?
2. 2019. Prime Minister take the baby to Waitangi. Solid month of coverage.
He proposes. That’s worth about 6 months of solid magazine covers and tv interviews locally.
3. 2020. They get married at start of campaign.
That’s worth 4% in the polls by itself, because it kills all other political coverage.
They get a second term.
4. 2022. Second baby. Gets a third term. Retires from politics end of Year 8.
Job done.
Pity you think she needs to be a baby factory / get married etc to get re-elected.
So much for substance.
Yeah, that’s a pretty insulting post.
Ad seems to think Arderns main worth is to be a breed mare and grace the covers of the woman’s mags.
You’d think impressing voters with her PM skills would be what gets her reelected, but, nope it’s babies and weddings.
No Ad’s just pointing out the shallow nature of what it takes to get elected in this country.
y’know smile n wave etc using the womens mags, have the msm repeat your spin, photo mop’s with the AB’s, get on the cover of Rugby times etc etc
Weak attempt at diversion BM, you can do better than that.
A woman who gives birth to two babies is a “baby factory”, James?
Pretty scabby stuff from you today. BM’s comments (below) are equally pustular.
using the term for knocking out another baby for the purpose of getting re-elected – yes.
But as usual – you miss the big point.
And you show us once again you have no moral compass.
Each and every day your lack of morals just becomes more and more apparent james.
So today your on a James has no morals kick huh.
Wonder what your pathetic meme of the day will be tomorrow?
to be fair, it’s not like you’ve shown much evidence of having a needle in your moral compass.
Like the March Hare’s fob-watch, stuffed with gobs of butter.
The smears are deranged drivel.
One of the other headlines at the blogsite which has the smears –
‘Exclusive – Is Jacinda Ardern another KGB Tavistock Agent Working for Putin & Netanyahu?’
Batshite lala land stuff.
I had to google for the blog site you hinted at above…”shape-shifting alien lizard conspiracy” kind of says it all 🙂
“deranged drivel”.
Thats the best it could be described as.
Has it all come from that one website?
Oh look if three of them say it , it must be true.
You lot are tired as you are predictable.
Proof, just show some real proof your not scumbags, with no morals, who hate on working people. That’s all we are asking for.
It has only taken our new Government four months to turn this country around.
$600M more tax collected than what National had forecasted.
Let the good times begin
More money collected, but not a single new house built, tree planted or child saved from poverty. The good times are definitely rolling!
But the TPP signing in on-track – so thats good.
It looks like a criminals charter …… judging by the corruption levels of those we are opening up to …
Brunei …. http://royaldutchshellplc.com/2014/04/30/corrupt-sultan-of-brunei-introduces-tough-islamic-penal-code/
Malaysia…… http://www.sarawakreport.org/2014/06/the-sarawak-timber-mafias-global-menace/
Mexico … https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/02/world/americas/mexico-corruption-commission.html
Singapore …. https://www.oxfam.org/en/even-it/singapore-switzerland-worlds-worst-tax-havens
What type of ‘trade agreement’ signs up such criminal elements ????
Will james be concerned ……….. or do they have to ADMIT something?.
“What type of ‘trade agreement’ signs up such criminal elements ????”
One that Labour will sign.
Its easy to see the greens taking 10% support off them over this …
Good to see the greens getting up around 15% …. because of Labour acting like National with corporate welfare….
The greens will rise further if they attack Nationals Tax Haven pollution…. And reverse Nationals damage to our corruption index ranking.
Seizure of criminal assets … just needs a politician or police officer to get the ball rolling and do the right thing .http://www.sarawakreport.org/2014/06/the-sarawak-timber-mafias-global-menace/
All good? As a species, we’ve made our bed. What a world we lived in. At least Binglish is gone (small mercies; anyone feeling for Paula?) – like Key, toddling off to those greener pastures…
https://earthfirstnews.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/tpp-shirt-comic.jpg
https://admin62b4b.davidicke.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Untitled-7-1-2.jpg
https://concisepolitics.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/tpp-free-trade.png
https://images.dailykos.com/images/56606/story_image/NAFTA_Whip.gif?1383851570
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/ae/25/1c/ae251c0cd3846c68c950ea17363101a7–agenda-corporate.jpg
http://www.thedawn-news.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/west-virginia-chemical-coal-spill-tpp-cartoon-1024×729.jpg
If anything happens to me like the games the sandflys are playing with me on the roads every time I get in a vehicle.
That will turn ECO MAORI into a Martyr then YOU will have really big problems you create OK sandflys. Ana to kai
Bill English gone.
BREAKING – Bill English holding press conference at 11.30am. Expected to step down.
EDIt – He was late for Nat Party Caucus and Mary and two sons at Parliament with him.
Bill English stepping down? Our caption contest had a sharp edge? Listen in to Radionz.
And if you have been doing so and heard Rod Oram, there seemed some very interesting points raised. Ad would have some comments about this I imagine. Trade with Russia and Fonterra. Possible unhappiness with Fonterras initiatives of recent years by shareholders.
NZ government revenue is highly leveraged Rod says. When times are good this works well, but when there is a drop gummint needs to be prepared to borrow and initiate activity? (and there is room to do so within conservative management policies.)
English goes on Tuesday 27 February. (I misheard and thought it was 22 Feb.) He referred to the weight of service hanging over the whole family for many years, and it was an emotional moment for him. (This is not verbatim and my take on it.)
Umm. Perhaps he shouldn’t have dragged them around on the campaign trail then.
I laugh at how politicians and sportspeople pretend they are doing it for their families…
Interesting. Let me put it this way, while I can imagine a world in which I could actually vote for Bill English, there just isn’t one in which I ticked a party led by any of his probable successors.
Well that was a long career and in years to come he’ll be remembered a bit like Jim Bolger, ‘for a Tory he could’ve been a lot worse’.
Funny that, you could say roughly the same thing about Helen Clark ‘for a leftie he could’ve been a lot worse’.
Wonder what will be said about Jacinda in years to come
I wonder what will be said about you PR in the years you have left? And then – dearly loved …..
I’d imagine it’ll be something like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-WFNbMohTQ
>about Helen Clark ‘for a leftie he could’ve been a lot worse’.<
Attention to detail! – or are you saying Helen Clark is a man?
No thats my bad, I should have been more careful on the cut and paste, heres what I should have said:
“for a leftie she could’ve been a lot worse”
Helen Clark is a better man than Bill English is.
I can’t. He is a pseudo nice guy. He engaged lawyers and accountants to steal from us with a veil of legitimacy, he denied a housing cris, he denied poverty, he proppped up Ruth Richardson and her lot. he lied about a hole when he knew the real hole was 21b which he and Joyce hid from PREFU. ALL of his actions enabled the appalling attack and denigration on our vulnerable that is prevalent today. He oversaw a campaign designed to set kiwi against kiwi.
Anti gay marriage (an dcivil union) anti aborton
Fed farmers given adavnc enotice of the decision furthe rproving their place as a Nat lobby group (and NO they do not represent farmers in NZ, only about 15-20% of the despite what they Nats and media portray)
Nope, cannot envisage a world where he would ever have got my vote.
Well said Tracey Agree 200%
I have often wondered about the stats of how many ordinary farmers – on the land – actually feel that Fed Farmers is good for them and their needs.
Leaving parliament effective 27 Feb
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1802/S00098/bill-english-announces-retirement-from-parliament.htm
Wow, only just caught on he’s not just stepped down as leader but is leaving parliament altogether and immediately.
Former Prime Ministers MPs should always be allowed to do this when they step down. If they want to hang on until the next election that is fine but they shouldn’t continue past that.
Lange and Muldoon are two who hung on and on.
They both ended up as sad figures from the past hanging around the House. Lange admitted when he finally quit, in failing health, in 1996 that he should have gone earlier but he wanted the money.
Muldoon also stayed on, a thorn in his parties side, until he also stood down in ill health at the end of 1991 not long before his death.
Both should have gone long before their actual retirement date.
English has the time to try a new career. He is, after all, only just 56.
Here is link for Rod Oram, economic watchers might think it striking stuff.
Radionz
business economy
Business commentator Rod Oram
From Nine To Noon, 36 minutes ago
Listen duration 16′ :54″
More bad news from Fletcher Building and Fonterra invests in a controversial joint venture in Russia.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018631839/business-commentator-rod-oram
that sounds about right.
Those wealth creators at it again.
They haven’t cottoned on to the George Constanza method of success –
When you are a loser – just do everything the opposite and by a sort of logic you should then be sure of success, with your fingers crossed.
The sandflys master are really upset about me cutting there farcical Tpp to pieces they are playing all the low down moves today people here is a music video to show them ECO MAORI Mana
Ana to kai
Technology annoying. Woogle have to have a noise start when going to the search line. It is something to do with some game they have devised. It’s not a toy so stop trying to amuse the punters will you developers; just stay out of my head.
Its supposed to be something to do with the winter olympics, a blizzard type noise or the sound the luge makes…who knows? Damned annoying, and until I muted things I thought my laptop had finally caught fire.
I know, I know – just had that same feeling myself. Have I got tinnitus, are there cicadas in the room, is there something collapsing behind the computer? Everyone is trying to be so clever these days. Its exhausting, I wish they would stop and spend 30 minutes having a drink and pondering about life. I think that’s what’s needed these days – more pondering time.
“…are there cicadas in the room”
We have been pondering how to utilise the sadly deceased crickets invading our home at the moment. Deceased, because they are so numerous stepping upon them is unavoidable. Someone in the house just told the dogs they have to develop a taste for them…
A tale of two leaders
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1802/S00100/jacinda-ardern-statement-on-bill-english.htm
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11993543
good on peters , english has been part of a government that has dragged politics in nz to new lows.
I did like Ardern’s mention of how English’s children were born and raised while he was an MP – gets a jab in, but with full deniability.
What did you expect from Winston Peters?
Once an a*hole, always an a*hole.
And he is, supposedly the “Right Honourable” Winnie the Pooh.
That is one title that should definitely be dumped.
Stop being so politically correct. On this subject, Peters says what we’re all thinking. Diddums.
You might think exactly the same thing.
It certainly doesn’t say much for your character then.
I guess, if that is the way you really think, the second line of my comment must apply to you as well.
Hi there! I’m your very own asshole.
What sort of character makes banal platitudes when a mediocre leader with a history of failure is finally put out to pasture by his supposed colleagues?
The public “servant” was on double or treble what most NZers get for the better part of three decades, still felt the need to double-dip on his accommodation allowance, and during his career participated in some of the worst economic abuses of society’s most vulnerable we’d seen in a century.
Well done, good and faithful servant, indeed…
Well put. I’ve found the praise of the Double Dipper today nauseating.
I’m not a big fan of Peters but sometimes he nails it.
He brought some healthy perspective to the assessments of English.
Ka pai Duncan & Zane from Rock radio your segment with Johnny K the lawyer is a good service for he Tangata the kumara
never tells how sweet it is but I got the welcome home sirens again they are up set ECO gets blamed for lots of phenomenon Ka kite ano
It’s hard to credit, but the lamentable Richard
Dimblebore is becoming even more obnoxious.
His interruptions and condescending remarks begin at about the 4:00 mark…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC4d5Ppr2V4
Wellington people who want something to do tomorrow evening, there is a public meeting featuring Jane Kelsey and Laila Harre about the TPP-11 at Wesley Church. See:
https://itsourfuture.org.nz/nationwide-public-meetings-tppa-11/
for more details.
Nelson, Chch, and Dunedin meetings still have a bit more time before they occur if you want to plan around them.
(If I had spotted this earlier, I would have posted it, but with all the news today and as a last minute notification… lol no. I hope plenty of you showed in Auckland!)
Yes we should donate as much as we can; we wouldn’t want the Tongan Royal family to dip into their personal massive coffers, would we.
[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.]