Two recent posts on David Shearer are not very illuminating.
Gordom Campbell seemed frustrated at the lack of substance in many vague responses in an interview.
And yesterday here Anthony Robins tried to add to the coming out of the new Labour leader, and the lack of support from the strong Labour contingent here was very noticable.
I actually think Shearer is doing pretty good and he has gone up in my estimation since his announced support for MUNZ. It is all good stuff. There ya go.
Should I take your failure to respond to CV’s and my criticisms of the follicled ones as an act of treachery? Planning a coup d’etat Petey?
To be fair it seems New Zealand isn’t helping itself much either.
Was it his typo muzza? There’s a very big difference between a couple of minor mistakes that have been picked up and intentionally fucking New Zealand over like what John Keys party is up to.
National are selling off our future at a loss to foreign owners that will be stripping our country bare. They’re gutting our public sector workforce, increasing unemployment, reducing wages and people’s rights… but all that is A OK because John Key can have a little scoff at the opposition leader and it becomes news.
I wonder if the NZ Herald gave PoAL a discount on those full-paged adverts they’ve been running?
An extended interview of David Shearer by Gordon Campbell. Pretty sure there will be a post about it later on, but for the delectation of impatient political junkies….
edit: I see Pete Squirrel has linked to this above. But I’ll leave the link because I find linking via the linker’s website/blog is the worst kind of link-whoring, and always pisses me off.
That interview could be titled: “Dude, where’s the Labour Party?”
Right now, Labour would have a better chance of re-election if they switched David for Darien, without so much as a thank you bye, and let her rant free-reign over the airways. Hell, make it a co-leadership between her and Twyford – the only two Labour MPs who have either consistently publicly voiced representation for Labour’s roots over the past year or behaved in a manner that supported it.
I don’t know who Labour are any more, especially when the leader shy’s away from stock standard industrial disputes with a Len Brown-esque explanation and by saying that they will respond with the standard opposition model to National’s debate agendas.
“A moderate response”? “The “struggling middle classes”?
David Shearer knows this is rubbish and his personal fire comes out when he’s talking about real life. How can you come from an Iraqi or Somalian refugee camp and seriously look someone in the eye and talk about the idea of the “struggling middle classes”? No wonder he burbles. Having to swallow that shit must be intolerable. If people don’t know NZders live two families to a garage, how the hell can they comprehend the social conditions of a refugee camp, then compare it to their decadent lifestyle, describing themselves as “struggling”. What it describes is a population completely devoid of awareness of life on earth. These people need a wake up, not a to be tucked into bed. Ignorance and denial will cost the disadvantaged, not the gobblers at the table. If Shearer’s upcoming speeches are officially reigned in for the good of the party, they’ll be the dishwater they are described to be.
So, my advice, since he enjoys getting it: Find two co-leaders representing Labour’s roots… maybe Fenton and Twyford. Set to work nationwide filing the airways with no nonsense hard talking, actions and vision, based in those roots and give NZ a spearhead for a united Left that people can see is different – not moderated National Lite. Unite the LEFT David, don’t sell Lite Right. The public perception of the Labour brand is that they are the leaders of the Left. Where they go, the minor partys follow. Use that advantage – even if it is complete bollocks. Because no party will, or ever will, move Left once in power to help the poor and disadvantaged if they spend all their electioneering time imitating a “compassionate” Right. Everyone always moves right.
And just for the record: NZ didn’t “inherit” the more disgusting features of our culture. We built them, one excess at a time. Credit where credit’s due.
Why and how would Labour want to please everyone across the whole spectrum? Are they competing for Young Oxymoroner of the Year? Listen, there are no “compassionate, hard-arsed liberals”. People largely live a sub/cultural norm, regardless of their personal thoughts on a matter. They may know a thing is wrong, but they will act to preserve their cultural identity, even if it means doing the wrong thing, reluctantly, apologetically; explaining they had no choice, that they were under orders; and finally bursting forth with abuse to protect the abberation and reconcile the irreconcilable. There may be rare exceptions, but casually blending a word with an opposing adjective doesn’t make the result possible in real life.
It isn’t a matter of pleasing everyone, it’s a matter of creating a legislative base that does not allow wide cracks to open for people to fall through and restrains those who will not curb their misanthropic tendencies in industrial relations, social relations and in economic arrangements. You can’t do that by being afraid to scare someone – someone who has more than enough to bear it.
@Uturn
You get me wondering – what do Labour people believe in these days? What do lawyers, such a common group for aspiring candidates, think gives them insight into the aspiring upper lower class? It seems that when personal circumstances improve, altruisim and respect for all at whatever their level disappears.
That’s a large and difficult question to answer – I don’t have that kind of specific information. All I have is the history of Labour being a working class socialist party, the transitional Douglas and Clark years, and now finding they are not – even though they still try to associate with it. What does it say about a party that falls apart when its leader resigns? Where was its vision? What did it stand for? Were the beliefs and values grounded in human truths or were they manipulated cynical political expediencies?
The idea that comfort (read, excess) propagates self destruction is recorded throughout history. I would suggest that those who are prone to forgetting the values of their party – of not living their values – never truly held them to begin with. It’s popular for people to be encouraged to wander around full of nice ideas about fairness, social etiquette and manners, but how they arrived at those ideas – through a projection of their own issues, a ticket into social identity, or an understanding of who they really are – makes an large difference. If someone is expressing who they are, they cannot then forget it and trade it in. If someone adopts nice ideas without self awareness, as they are influenced by the responses their actions bring, they will change into something else. Their values were a temporary development. These people are not visionaries or leaders.
For example, how is that John Key can hold up his upbringing as evidence of compassionate insight, turn around and make a career in money off other people’s misery and attack those who were like him?
How can Shearer say he was enlightened on the back of a truck with a handful of orange peels, and then turn around and protect the people who create a system that would have our own children running after a truck for food scraps?
After just 6 years and two examples, NZ’s affair with “look at me I understand life” type candidates has gone stale.
If the lawyers I have met are anything to go by, they are adept and useful administrators, sometimes exceptionally well versed in the way humans behave and when “on stage” excellent communicators. It is a good idea to have sound laws underpinning society, but what those laws are and which direction they proceed should not be decided solely by lawyers. Once again, the appearance of certain useful traits and skills does not mean a person will be a good leader – unless their understanding of people and the law was incidental to their overall arrival as a true leader or visionary. They need something inside them that does not change; if not a genuine charismatic streak, then an archetypal spark, or soul, something that unavoidably constructively connects them to other people, humanity, call it what you like.
Sooner or later, a person has to face what they are, realise the price to be paid and not betray themselves or those who rely on them. Both Key and Shearer can sit on the back of that metaphorical truck and throw stones at the children chasing, and I’ll not condemn them as frauds, if they admit that is what they truly are. If one of them is not like that, then not much good will come of being scared of what you are.
Don’t really care what it’s called. The Huffington Post (which I don’t read) isn’t a commenter at the Standard. If it was, I’d expect it to start or contribute to discussions on sites like this, as a commenter, not as an advertiser for its own wares. I don’t like to be forced to contribute to the visitor numbers at a blog I’m not voluntarily visiting. It’s not just an information way station, it’s your personal blog. If you want to talk about something in discussion fora like this one, link to it directly. I’m sure many like me very seldom follow links to somehwere else via a commenter’s blog, so indirect linking hinders convesration, as well as being bloody annoying.
I don’t think you do yourself, or your blog any favours by indulging in this kind of “marketing” behaviour.
Just, you know, saying…..
edit afterthought. It’s the kind of thing I expect from Pete
Philip, I did read a very interesting article about a possible link between schizophrenia and inflammation in the brain, and a large trial of an antibiotic which seemed to have significant therapeutic effects in some cases, at your site. So the technique does increase visitor traffic in some cases. In that instance it would have likely taken a bit of time to find the article elsewhere.
But if you are talking politics on a political site, linking to political aticles elsewhere in the net, via your site, probably antagonises more potential readers than it procures.
In my opinion.
Listing the internet sites I visit for news and information would be time-consuming and embarrassing. – proving I spend far too much time in front of this screen. For your satisfaction there are “aggregation” sites amongst them, but as far as I know, they don’t link-whore at the Standard.
Senior management at ACC were told three months ago that they had possibly made the biggest privacy breach in New Zealand history, but they have made no effort to investigate or contain the breach with the recipient.
…
The board was given an example of a branch medical adviser who covertly communicated with an ACC assessor providing false information to manipulate a medical report in ACC’s favour.
Well, I guess we should be expecting the senior managers to be getting a big “stress” bonus !
A timely example of why wholesale information sharing between Govt departments should not go ahead – the risk of serious breaches of privacy is just too great.
@burt
I am of the opinion that the “leak” of sensitive personal information from ACC is far from accidental. As of late and showcased in the Herald, ACC have been militant in the manner in which they treat claimants in an effort to cover up the billions of dollars lost in financial transactions in failed investment companies offshore.
ACC have morphed from an institution that was once considerate in it’s approach to claimants, to an organisation that is openly hostile towards claimants.
Walking home yesterday I was listening to National Radio’s The Panel featuring (in a poverty stricken manner) no less a luminary than Stephen Franks (ACT candidate and misanthrope extraordinare). Stephen in his gormless simple minded manner made the assertion (backed by surveys no less carefully filtered by himself) that people on the “right” were generally happier than those on the “left”. Of course he did not get challenged….maybe the experience of being the host of one of these programs leads to the development of a “what the fuck, just let it go” attitude, a form of sanity preservation technique?
So for all those RWNJs who think that I am less happy than them, well yes I am (breifly) every time I realise that short of a well tested totalitarian technique I have to share the planet with you. That thought passes rapidly as I return to my usual cheery liking for my fellow citizens and our joint welfare.
Happily I will now stroll off to work with the joyous thought that I was fortunate enough to be born me and not a Stephen Franks with a blinkered mean nasty little world view. My generosity of spirit flies like a lark, singing……..the “left’s” joy knows no boundaries.
I listened to the same interview .where the hell did Franks get that idea
from. most of the great comics throughout the world have been people of the Left.Chaplin, Elton ,Warris and even Vic Oliver , the list is endles .
Most of the London East End
Jews are know for their wonderfull sense of humour he vast
majority being supporters of the political left many from the far left. Its interesting I have heard Franks often on Mora”s progamme I have never once heard him laugh .
I think he got his talking points from this. I presume he didn’t mention that, in that survey,
(a) more people identified as ‘left’ than ‘right’
(b) the best way to improve happiness was found to be a better work-life balance (i.e., work less)
People with higher incomes in a society tend to score higher on ‘happiness’. But, for ‘developed’ economies, and over time, increments in GDP do not correlate with Subjective Well-Being (SWB – the technical definition of ‘happiness’ in the psychological literature).
Interestingly, SWB is a composite measure that includes measures of positive and negative affect (feelings) and Life Satisfaction. As this study found, economic prosperity seems to affect SWB through ‘Life Satisfaction’ rather than through positive feelings.
That is, wealthier people pat themselves on the back for successfully acquiring life’s luxuries, conveniences and status symbols. Some studies have found that they actually have less positive affect than their less wealthy compatriots – possibly because they work longer hours and it is a consistent finding that people have less positive affect at work than elsewhere in their life.
The same study found that positive affect (what we usually think of as ‘happiness’) was correlated with better quality social relationships and the development and use of skills.
I was listening to The Panel on RNZ yesterday and Stephen Franks was saying how those on the left aren’t any fun because they are only ever ‘against’ things, rather than ‘for’ things. I wrote a post on this remarkably stupid statement and invite people to come and add to the list of things that those on the left are ‘for’. http://afinetale.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/for.html
Why should there be? The left isn’t in government and hasn’t been for some time. Should there be oodles of joy oozing from a community that is watching their country being ruined? Get the left back in government, then we’ll start seeing some good news.
You’re sort of illustrating Frank’s point. You seem to be destined to have no fun for another three or six years.
You may not have noticed, but despite claims of doom the country hasn’t been ruined by past National (or Labour) governments. Not everyone gets the policies they prefer but most people manage to survive our democracy.
Look for the positives in Shearer – you do have hopes for what he can do don’t you? Or are you just an envy shade of Green?
Well I’m not sure that is a fair assessment Pete, the 4th Labour government (not a left govt) did tremendous damage to our society and began a process of widening inequality that is starting to bear fruit today. The further down the road of enriching the wealthy we go, the less our society will resemble ‘egalitarian New Zealand’.
Shearer? I hope he wins back some swing voters in the middle.
An envy shade of green? What a terribly clumsy sentence. Little wonder that your oratory didn’t manage to get you elected.
This is an assertion I have also heard on the Panel from the mouth of David Farrar. As with Franks’s little tirade, nobody challenged him either.
Foolishly, the self-styled “leftist” Chris Trotter said the same thing on one of his Panel appearances. He had gone to watch P.J. O’Rourke speak at a function organised by Farrar, and he was brimful of enthusiasm for the “camaraderie” and “bonhomie” he reckoned he experienced in the room full of right wingers. “I doubt very much,” he intoned with deadly gravitas, “that you’d ever get the same degree of cordiality in a left wing event.”
Perhaps even more objectionable than Franks’s rancorous slur on yesterday’s programme was the pathetic response of Jeremy Elwood. “I have to agree,” he purred, desperate to win the approval of the cadaverous SS member.
I’ve commented for a long time at Kiwiblog, most of that as an outsider, and for quite a while here. The degree of and incessant bitterness of attacks here is a noticable difference. However I don’t know how much of this is weighted by the fact that it’s always been while National are in government and Labour have struggled.
I’d previously been on Aardvark (probably more right than left,) for a few years, and while there was quite a bit of moaning there was far less vitriol and personal attack there too.
Dunne could have an attack of conscience over future generations of NZers and vote against asset sales. But that’s more in the realms of fantasy rather than reality.
You obviously don’t have any idea. For at least the first year I was active there I was very much an outsider and experienced gang attacks and heaps of vitriol and personal abuse. That gradually changed to acceptance of me as a lefty who was prepared to stand up to the crap. I still have strongly contested debates there, much more on the issue than personal attack than it ued to be.
I often prod righty debate there as I prod lefty debate here.
So I’m thinking that after another year or two here I might be grudingly accepted as an alternative view, apart from by a few inevitable resident troll attacks (I still get that at KB).
I take to the attack with positive gusto, much strong and positive vitriol and extremely strong positive personal attacks on any negative bastard like Dunne who attempts to negatively rob me and my fellow positive citizens of their positively hard earned belongings like SOEs. Thier negative thinking and nasty negative larceny deserves a positive thrashing.
sSome things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you’re chewing on life’s gristle
Don’t grumble, give a whistle
And this’ll help things turn out for the best
@Pete Georg
Personal attacks and abusive comments are routine on KB, it’s all part of the culture of commenting on blogs and frankly it’s best to ignore it and just carry on as per normal. Don’t take it personally is the motto.
Good one Alex, I happily agree with you, with much pleasure and joy, I stand for all those things, all positive and user friendly to everybody except the usual parasitic RWNJs.
Should appointments to public service appointments like these be more open, more transparent and subject to more public scrutiny?
Should former politicians, especially ex-Cabinet ministers, be subject to a ‘stand-down’ period (3 years, 4 years, or 6 years?) before appointment to senior public servant positions?
Deaker counsels Pownceby: “Just say nothing”.
July 7, 2004
Anybody who has been unfortunate enough, or silly enough, to listen for more than a few minutes to Radio Sport’s Murray Deaker will be well aware of his malicious, occasionally almost deranged, campaign of vilification against New Zealand football administrators, players, coaches and teams – in particular the Otago Highlanders and the All Blacks. For some four years now, he has never missed an opportunity to express just how “sick and tired” he is of the “boofheads” who refuse to “communicate” with “the fans”. That means, of course, that they refuse to talk to Murray Deaker.
The reason for that of course is easy to pinpoint: Deaker’s arrogant and ignorant behaviour before, and especially after, the All Blacks’ 1999 World Cup semifinal loss to France. Fans were dismayed and disgusted by the moronic antics of Deaker and his acolytes like Martin Devlin—but the players were utterly outraged. (Just read Jeff Wilson’s or Josh Kronfeld’s or Norm Hewitt’s autobiographies to see this.)
Deaker’s anti-All Black crusade took a remarkably loathsome turn in 2002, when he decided to back John O’Neill and Vernon Pugh’s conspiracy to rob the World Cup sub-hosting from New Zealand, treacherously turning on the NZRFU chiefs, repeatedly calling them “dumb”, blaming them alone for the betrayal and sycophantically “interviewing” Pugh (“a man of integrity”, “loves the game”) and O’Neill (“incredibly smart Aussie”, “a man of integrity”).
Deaker’s campaign reached its nadir on Sunday 16 November, the day after the All Blacks had lost to Australia in the World Cup semifinal. Having promised just the day before that he would “not be leading the death squad” if New Zealand lost, Deaker interviewed the new NZRFU chief Chris Moller. Actually, he didn’t interview Moller, he shouted at him for an hour: “They’re saying the All Blacks are ARROGANT, they’re IGNORANT…. Chris, DAMN you! Why should we be so PLEASANT?”
Deaker became almost apopleptic as the determinedly pleasant and unflappable Moller remained calm in the face of this blizzard of self-righteous indignation. Lately, of course, it’s been all sunshine and smiles; Deaker’s old Auckland Grammar teaching colleague and mate Graham Henry is in charge of the All Blacks, and Deaker now has unfettered access. The grizzling has stopped, at least until they lose a match.
But no doubt many radio listeners gasped tonight, when they heard the great broadcaster say this: “How should Soulan Pownceby handle the media? He should just say nothing. Mark Todd had the right idea about how to handle the media: JUST SAY NOTHING.” Perhaps Christopher Hitchens (also a notorious drunkard) is the most infamous flip-flopper in media history, but surely Murray Deaker’s advice to anyone, even the beleaguered Pownceby, to “just say nothing” to the media is about the most hypocritical about-turn that we’ve seen in this country for some time.
I challenge anyone else to provide a more craven example of humbug by a New Zealand media personality.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DEAKER-WATCH is a series dedicated to highlighting the contributions of Murray Deaker to New Zealand public life.
Nah given the mentality of the media they will soon be writing about how its making us all wealthier by the fact the billionaires are even sawnning around our airspace…
“That is about the only thing that will get [young people] out of bed before 7 o’clock at night to vote, but it’s not politically sustainable to put interest back on student loans. It may not be great economics, but it’s great politics.
So when Labour removed student loan interest it was the mother of all bribes, but not putting it back is just “great politics”?
I’m all for interest-free loans, hell, I think the courses should be free, but is this not hypocritical? This story has also been watered down since I first read it, I’m sure it explicitly said “lose the election” or something similar.
The low-level nasty that fucks me off this year about loans is that, as a part time student, I’m not eligible for course related costs. I’ve got a job, fair enough, but this week I have to drop $200 on a textbook that is only moderately useful since my home pc committed suicide. It’ll take weeks to actually get together all the stuff I need for course, as opposed to sorting it all at the beginning of semester. I pity those who aren’t in a good job like mine.
I can’t see the reasoning – it’s just a petty, bullshit way of making people’s lives a bit more difficult for little change in the govt purse.
Key will be voted out for numerous reasons and he should stop making it a virtue of losing the next election by pinning it on student interest-free loans.
Yep, create a problem/crisis and then criticise anyone who won’t consider asset sales as ‘part of’ the ‘solution’. Councils are not in debt just because of spending money on fripperies. Increased costs and unfunded extra responsibilities from central government are part of the issue.
The aim here goes beyond local body asset sales. As was ACT policy, Smith is aiming to restrict the kinds of things councils can spend money on. He’s calling for them to stick to ‘core business’ – which he assumes is a non-political, uncontestable notion.
In a democracy, a citizenry should be able to spend money on what it wishes – Smith’s proposals are a case (as DTB points out) of central government saying it knows better than local citizens what they should be spending their money (i.e., rates levied by elected representatives) on.
It’s clearly anti-democratic, paternalistic and interfering with the collective choices of citizens.
The rationale for Auckland borrowing is in hansard.
Hon David Parker: Is he reinforced in the concern that lay behind his statement given the reality that in New Zealand’s largest city council, Auckland City Council, rates were held at falsely low levels by increasing council debt by the greatest amount ever in New Zealand’s history, from $322 million at 30 June 2008, to $1,149 million at 30 June 2010—an increase of over a billion dollars in 2 years under John Banks?
Hon RODNEY HIDE: No, funnily enough, and the reason is that ahead of the reforms, Treasury functions across the various councils in Auckland were amalgamated, and Auckland City Council took on that role. So it borrowed $416 million, which it then on-lent to other councils, saving them considerable money because we had just one council. The Auckland City Council also borrowed another $215 million on behalf of Metro Water, which the council then on-lent. If that is netted out, we will find that the trend for debt in the Auckland City Council is exactly as predicted. In fact, Auckland City Council, in taking on that function ahead of the amalgamation, saved Auckland ratepayers some considerable money.
Auckland City Council debt more than trebled in his last 3 years as Mayor!
2007 2008 2009 31/10/2010
$135m $322m $499m $738 million !!!!!!!!
The Act spin that debt increased because the old Auckland City was borrowing for the new City is untrue. (That extra $416m of borrowing in the 2010 year took Auckland City Council debt to $1,155m at the time of amalgamation, but is excluded from the above figures.)
To be fair the whole system needs an overhaul, there are to many courses floating round which offer little benefit for the money spent.
For example,
I am in the horticulture industry post trade certs the qualification which recognises someone as qualified in their particular field is a National certificate level 4.
Now you can take out a loan of @ $2-3000 dollars and obtain this certificate in 6-9 months at various polytechs.
Recently I interviewed to fill a position and interviewed only candidates that had this certificate as the role need someone with a reasonable base behind them,
One of the candidates knowledge fell far below what should and used to be required to obtain the certificate especially in regard to botanical knowledge and pest identification etc. Otherwise he was keen with good references.
I actually felt sorry for him in that he had taken out a loan on the basis that the the course would enable him to start work as a qualified gardener when due to the fact that it is so rushed, brief and open book it does nothing of the sort.
So in other words a waste of money.
The ridiculous thing about it is that on paper he has the same qualification as someone that has completed a 3-4 year apprenticeship but without the depth of knowledge or skill.
These courses need to be canned and proper apprenticeships need to begin again and labours policy on this was a good one.
Also I have been extremely concerned in the manner in which applied handlers certificates have been given out in recent years on 1 day courses tied up with growsafe.
An applied handlers cert allows you to access some quite dangerous chemicals in large quantities and shouldn’t be issued lightly and certainly not to people who have obtained a basic growsafe for the first time on the same day.
Another computer scam alert! Phone call. Broken reception -distant female caller- accent.
“You have a problem with your computer sir and I want to help you fix it,” she says having to repeat it several times.
“What is wrong with my computer?”
“If you turn it on I will talk you through and fix it.”
“But what is wrong with it?”
“Just turn on your computer etc etc….”
” No I won’t. Nothing wrong with it. You madam, are a scammer, a cheat, and a liar,” I bravely offer.
“Oh….” Beep beep beep. Gone.
I led them down the path of allowing them to assist and appearing stupid when their instructions would not work, after a lengthy fault diagnosis with a gullible user they ascertained I was using one of those new fangled iPhones for internet access, they promptly hung up.
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Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Performance Review King Luxon sat behind His massive polished oak desk. It is Performance Review time. There is a knock on the door. “Enter!” says the King. In steps Minister of Disabilities and Carer Pedicures, Penny Simmonds. “I can explain everything …” she begins. “Fine,” says King Luxon, pressing the ...
The pair opened their first fully collaborative exhibition, Nina for Flowers, last Saturday. Gabi Lardies visited their studio to find out who Nina is and what working together was like.‘It didn’t start out like, ‘This is a show about Nina,’” says Josephine Jelicich, gripping a thermos of peppermint tea. ...
Thank you, Dr Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner, for your brilliant invention. I’m another mid-20s Kiwi who had an OE last year. I hopped on my bicycle where France meets the Atlantic and cycled east. I pedalled through the Loire Valley, down rivers lined with willows and ancient wisteria-draped chateaus. I relished ...
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
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Two recent posts on David Shearer are not very illuminating.
Gordom Campbell seemed frustrated at the lack of substance in many vague responses in an interview.
And yesterday here Anthony Robins tried to add to the coming out of the new Labour leader, and the lack of support from the strong Labour contingent here was very noticable.
This week there’s an attempt to show David Shearer emerging? But is he shunned too much by his own?
A successful leader needs to have followers who believe in him.
Hence Peter Dunne is by definition a “successful leader” because you “believe in him” lol Hey is that kool-aid in the fridge?
Standard diversion – anything but Shearer? Where’s his support? Doesn’t seem to be here.
Standard diversion – who is Peter Dunne? Where’s his support? Doesn’t seem to be anywhere.
Where’s Shearer’s support?
Answer:
Red Alert
http://www.labour.org.nz
Where’s Dunne’s support?
Answer:
in his hairstyle
A successful leader needs to have followers who believe in him.
It is actually more important for a successful leader to at least have followers. How is United Follicle’s polling Petey?
EDIT: Bet me to it CV!
Morning troll duty Greg? Will you pledge enthusiastic support for Shearer? Or avoid that one?
Ha Petey you are such a laugh!
I actually think Shearer is doing pretty good and he has gone up in my estimation since his announced support for MUNZ. It is all good stuff. There ya go.
Should I take your failure to respond to CV’s and my criticisms of the follicled ones as an act of treachery? Planning a coup d’etat Petey?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10791657
To be fair its seems Shearer is not helping himself much!
To be fair it seems New Zealand isn’t helping itself much either.
Was it his typo muzza? There’s a very big difference between a couple of minor mistakes that have been picked up and intentionally fucking New Zealand over like what John Keys party is up to.
National are selling off our future at a loss to foreign owners that will be stripping our country bare. They’re gutting our public sector workforce, increasing unemployment, reducing wages and people’s rights… but all that is A OK because John Key can have a little scoff at the opposition leader and it becomes news.
I wonder if the NZ Herald gave PoAL a discount on those full-paged adverts they’ve been running?
http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/03/waiting-for-the-man/
An extended interview of David Shearer by Gordon Campbell. Pretty sure there will be a post about it later on, but for the delectation of impatient political junkies….
edit: I see Pete Squirrel has linked to this above. But I’ll leave the link because I find linking via the linker’s website/blog is the worst kind of link-whoring, and always pisses me off.
Thanks JS, that was the first real insight I’ve had into Shearer’s ideas. I thought it rather interesting and on the whole, positive.
That interview could be titled: “Dude, where’s the Labour Party?”
Right now, Labour would have a better chance of re-election if they switched David for Darien, without so much as a thank you bye, and let her rant free-reign over the airways. Hell, make it a co-leadership between her and Twyford – the only two Labour MPs who have either consistently publicly voiced representation for Labour’s roots over the past year or behaved in a manner that supported it.
I don’t know who Labour are any more, especially when the leader shy’s away from stock standard industrial disputes with a Len Brown-esque explanation and by saying that they will respond with the standard opposition model to National’s debate agendas.
“A moderate response”? “The “struggling middle classes”?
David Shearer knows this is rubbish and his personal fire comes out when he’s talking about real life. How can you come from an Iraqi or Somalian refugee camp and seriously look someone in the eye and talk about the idea of the “struggling middle classes”? No wonder he burbles. Having to swallow that shit must be intolerable. If people don’t know NZders live two families to a garage, how the hell can they comprehend the social conditions of a refugee camp, then compare it to their decadent lifestyle, describing themselves as “struggling”. What it describes is a population completely devoid of awareness of life on earth. These people need a wake up, not a to be tucked into bed. Ignorance and denial will cost the disadvantaged, not the gobblers at the table. If Shearer’s upcoming speeches are officially reigned in for the good of the party, they’ll be the dishwater they are described to be.
So, my advice, since he enjoys getting it: Find two co-leaders representing Labour’s roots… maybe Fenton and Twyford. Set to work nationwide filing the airways with no nonsense hard talking, actions and vision, based in those roots and give NZ a spearhead for a united Left that people can see is different – not moderated National Lite. Unite the LEFT David, don’t sell Lite Right. The public perception of the Labour brand is that they are the leaders of the Left. Where they go, the minor partys follow. Use that advantage – even if it is complete bollocks. Because no party will, or ever will, move Left once in power to help the poor and disadvantaged if they spend all their electioneering time imitating a “compassionate” Right. Everyone always moves right.
And just for the record: NZ didn’t “inherit” the more disgusting features of our culture. We built them, one excess at a time. Credit where credit’s due.
Why and how would Labour want to please everyone across the whole spectrum? Are they competing for Young Oxymoroner of the Year? Listen, there are no “compassionate, hard-arsed liberals”. People largely live a sub/cultural norm, regardless of their personal thoughts on a matter. They may know a thing is wrong, but they will act to preserve their cultural identity, even if it means doing the wrong thing, reluctantly, apologetically; explaining they had no choice, that they were under orders; and finally bursting forth with abuse to protect the abberation and reconcile the irreconcilable. There may be rare exceptions, but casually blending a word with an opposing adjective doesn’t make the result possible in real life.
It isn’t a matter of pleasing everyone, it’s a matter of creating a legislative base that does not allow wide cracks to open for people to fall through and restrains those who will not curb their misanthropic tendencies in industrial relations, social relations and in economic arrangements. You can’t do that by being afraid to scare someone – someone who has more than enough to bear it.
@Uturn
You get me wondering – what do Labour people believe in these days? What do lawyers, such a common group for aspiring candidates, think gives them insight into the aspiring upper lower class? It seems that when personal circumstances improve, altruisim and respect for all at whatever their level disappears.
That’s a large and difficult question to answer – I don’t have that kind of specific information. All I have is the history of Labour being a working class socialist party, the transitional Douglas and Clark years, and now finding they are not – even though they still try to associate with it. What does it say about a party that falls apart when its leader resigns? Where was its vision? What did it stand for? Were the beliefs and values grounded in human truths or were they manipulated cynical political expediencies?
The idea that comfort (read, excess) propagates self destruction is recorded throughout history. I would suggest that those who are prone to forgetting the values of their party – of not living their values – never truly held them to begin with. It’s popular for people to be encouraged to wander around full of nice ideas about fairness, social etiquette and manners, but how they arrived at those ideas – through a projection of their own issues, a ticket into social identity, or an understanding of who they really are – makes an large difference. If someone is expressing who they are, they cannot then forget it and trade it in. If someone adopts nice ideas without self awareness, as they are influenced by the responses their actions bring, they will change into something else. Their values were a temporary development. These people are not visionaries or leaders.
For example, how is that John Key can hold up his upbringing as evidence of compassionate insight, turn around and make a career in money off other people’s misery and attack those who were like him?
How can Shearer say he was enlightened on the back of a truck with a handful of orange peels, and then turn around and protect the people who create a system that would have our own children running after a truck for food scraps?
After just 6 years and two examples, NZ’s affair with “look at me I understand life” type candidates has gone stale.
If the lawyers I have met are anything to go by, they are adept and useful administrators, sometimes exceptionally well versed in the way humans behave and when “on stage” excellent communicators. It is a good idea to have sound laws underpinning society, but what those laws are and which direction they proceed should not be decided solely by lawyers. Once again, the appearance of certain useful traits and skills does not mean a person will be a good leader – unless their understanding of people and the law was incidental to their overall arrival as a true leader or visionary. They need something inside them that does not change; if not a genuine charismatic streak, then an archetypal spark, or soul, something that unavoidably constructively connects them to other people, humanity, call it what you like.
Sooner or later, a person has to face what they are, realise the price to be paid and not betray themselves or those who rely on them. Both Key and Shearer can sit on the back of that metaphorical truck and throw stones at the children chasing, and I’ll not condemn them as frauds, if they admit that is what they truly are. If one of them is not like that, then not much good will come of being scared of what you are.
(reply to ‘just saying’..)
do you use any mainstream news-aggregation websites..like..i dunno..huffington post..?
..where a lot of their material is links to other material from other sites..?
..it’s called ‘news-aggregation’…just saying..a new media-model..and is what i also do at whoar..
..but hey..!..you just stick with yr te kuiti bugle..eh..?
..and a question for you…
..dosen’t the quality of the information outweigh some delivery ‘piss-off’ in yr mind..?
..one that is just ‘in yr mind’..?
phil-at-whoar.
...it’s called ‘news-aggregation…
Don’t really care what it’s called. The Huffington Post (which I don’t read) isn’t a commenter at the Standard. If it was, I’d expect it to start or contribute to discussions on sites like this, as a commenter, not as an advertiser for its own wares. I don’t like to be forced to contribute to the visitor numbers at a blog I’m not voluntarily visiting. It’s not just an information way station, it’s your personal blog. If you want to talk about something in discussion fora like this one, link to it directly. I’m sure many like me very seldom follow links to somehwere else via a commenter’s blog, so indirect linking hinders convesration, as well as being bloody annoying.
I don’t think you do yourself, or your blog any favours by indulging in this kind of “marketing” behaviour.
Just, you know, saying…..
edit afterthought. It’s the kind of thing I expect from Pete
so what was the headline in the te kuiti bugle today..?
where do you get yr ‘news/information’ from..?
..the herald..?
phil-at-whoar.
Herald and information in the same sentence without the words ‘false’ or ‘misleading’ -lol.
seriously..where do you get yr news/information/new ideas from..?
indulge me..
phil-at-whoar.
Philip, I did read a very interesting article about a possible link between schizophrenia and inflammation in the brain, and a large trial of an antibiotic which seemed to have significant therapeutic effects in some cases, at your site. So the technique does increase visitor traffic in some cases. In that instance it would have likely taken a bit of time to find the article elsewhere.
But if you are talking politics on a political site, linking to political aticles elsewhere in the net, via your site, probably antagonises more potential readers than it procures.
In my opinion.
Listing the internet sites I visit for news and information would be time-consuming and embarrassing. – proving I spend far too much time in front of this screen. For your satisfaction there are “aggregation” sites amongst them, but as far as I know, they don’t link-whore at the Standard.
Only in a monopoly;
Stuff: Privacy breach on 9000 ACC claims
Well, I guess we should be expecting the senior managers to be getting a big “stress” bonus !
What’s that got to do with a monopoly?
Meanwhile as usual the relevant Minister (Judith Collins in this case) has refused to front.
Here’s yet another congratulation to be offered to the lady and John Key for the new ministerial standard of not fronting up.
A timely example of why wholesale information sharing between Govt departments should not go ahead – the risk of serious breaches of privacy is just too great.
@burt
I am of the opinion that the “leak” of sensitive personal information from ACC is far from accidental. As of late and showcased in the Herald, ACC have been militant in the manner in which they treat claimants in an effort to cover up the billions of dollars lost in financial transactions in failed investment companies offshore.
ACC have morphed from an institution that was once considerate in it’s approach to claimants, to an organisation that is openly hostile towards claimants.
Walking home yesterday I was listening to National Radio’s The Panel featuring (in a poverty stricken manner) no less a luminary than Stephen Franks (ACT candidate and misanthrope extraordinare). Stephen in his gormless simple minded manner made the assertion (backed by surveys no less carefully filtered by himself) that people on the “right” were generally happier than those on the “left”. Of course he did not get challenged….maybe the experience of being the host of one of these programs leads to the development of a “what the fuck, just let it go” attitude, a form of sanity preservation technique?
So for all those RWNJs who think that I am less happy than them, well yes I am (breifly) every time I realise that short of a well tested totalitarian technique I have to share the planet with you. That thought passes rapidly as I return to my usual cheery liking for my fellow citizens and our joint welfare.
Happily I will now stroll off to work with the joyous thought that I was fortunate enough to be born me and not a Stephen Franks with a blinkered mean nasty little world view. My generosity of spirit flies like a lark, singing……..the “left’s” joy knows no boundaries.
stephen franks was also talking actual factual-crap..
..conservatives are by their very nature very scared..afraid of a lot…
..but most of all..of change…
phil-at-whoar.
I listened to the same interview .where the hell did Franks get that idea
from. most of the great comics throughout the world have been people of the Left.Chaplin, Elton ,Warris and even Vic Oliver , the list is endles .
Most of the London East End
Jews are know for their wonderfull sense of humour he vast
majority being supporters of the political left many from the far left. Its interesting I have heard Franks often on Mora”s progamme I have never once heard him laugh .
I think he got his talking points from this. I presume he didn’t mention that, in that survey,
(a) more people identified as ‘left’ than ‘right’
(b) the best way to improve happiness was found to be a better work-life balance (i.e., work less)
People with higher incomes in a society tend to score higher on ‘happiness’. But, for ‘developed’ economies, and over time, increments in GDP do not correlate with Subjective Well-Being (SWB – the technical definition of ‘happiness’ in the psychological literature).
Interestingly, SWB is a composite measure that includes measures of positive and negative affect (feelings) and Life Satisfaction. As this study found, economic prosperity seems to affect SWB through ‘Life Satisfaction’ rather than through positive feelings.
That is, wealthier people pat themselves on the back for successfully acquiring life’s luxuries, conveniences and status symbols. Some studies have found that they actually have less positive affect than their less wealthy compatriots – possibly because they work longer hours and it is a consistent finding that people have less positive affect at work than elsewhere in their life.
The same study found that positive affect (what we usually think of as ‘happiness’) was correlated with better quality social relationships and the development and use of skills.
yeah..yr right..
..he gives every impression of being a miserable bastard..
..but if you want sad looking bugger..
..you can’t go past banks as he fights the urge to nana-nap during questiontime…
..i sometimes wonder if he is wondering w.t.f. is he doing there..
(..as are many others…)
..he is rich..he is getting on in years….
..he dosen’t have to do this any more..
phil-at-whoar.
Sorry. Somehow I managed to delete my content as I posted.
Can’t be bothered retyping it.
I was listening to The Panel on RNZ yesterday and Stephen Franks was saying how those on the left aren’t any fun because they are only ever ‘against’ things, rather than ‘for’ things. I wrote a post on this remarkably stupid statement and invite people to come and add to the list of things that those on the left are ‘for’.
http://afinetale.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/for.html
You must admit there isn’t oodles of joy oozing from a leftish place like this.
There are three certainties in life; Death, Taxes and Pete George talking shite.
Why should there be? The left isn’t in government and hasn’t been for some time. Should there be oodles of joy oozing from a community that is watching their country being ruined? Get the left back in government, then we’ll start seeing some good news.
You’re sort of illustrating Frank’s point. You seem to be destined to have no fun for another three or six years.
You may not have noticed, but despite claims of doom the country hasn’t been ruined by past National (or Labour) governments. Not everyone gets the policies they prefer but most people manage to survive our democracy.
Look for the positives in Shearer – you do have hopes for what he can do don’t you? Or are you just an envy shade of Green?
Well I’m not sure that is a fair assessment Pete, the 4th Labour government (not a left govt) did tremendous damage to our society and began a process of widening inequality that is starting to bear fruit today. The further down the road of enriching the wealthy we go, the less our society will resemble ‘egalitarian New Zealand’.
Shearer? I hope he wins back some swing voters in the middle.
An envy shade of green? What a terribly clumsy sentence. Little wonder that your oratory didn’t manage to get you elected.
and of course the tories were a bundle of joy under Lab5 – not bitching about gay conspiracies or social engineering at all, were they…
And yet leftist humour is inherently funnier than that of the right.
as opposed to say mr oils’ place..?…at the penguins..?
..do point out a ‘fun’ rightwing site for us all there..p.g..
..and it also feeds into the given..that ..with very few exceptions..
..rightwingers usually come with their requisite sense-of-humour-byepass at birth..
..i guess it must be difficult to be permanently scared..and funny…
phil-at-whoar.
This is an assertion I have also heard on the Panel from the mouth of David Farrar. As with Franks’s little tirade, nobody challenged him either.
Foolishly, the self-styled “leftist” Chris Trotter said the same thing on one of his Panel appearances. He had gone to watch P.J. O’Rourke speak at a function organised by Farrar, and he was brimful of enthusiasm for the “camaraderie” and “bonhomie” he reckoned he experienced in the room full of right wingers. “I doubt very much,” he intoned with deadly gravitas, “that you’d ever get the same degree of cordiality in a left wing event.”
Perhaps even more objectionable than Franks’s rancorous slur on yesterday’s programme was the pathetic response of Jeremy Elwood. “I have to agree,” he purred, desperate to win the approval of the cadaverous SS member.
There could be some validity to the argument.
I’ve commented for a long time at Kiwiblog, most of that as an outsider, and for quite a while here. The degree of and incessant bitterness of attacks here is a noticable difference. However I don’t know how much of this is weighted by the fact that it’s always been while National are in government and Labour have struggled.
I’d previously been on Aardvark (probably more right than left,) for a few years, and while there was quite a bit of moaning there was far less vitriol and personal attack there too.
Try looking for and working on positives more.
Dunne could have an attack of conscience over future generations of NZers and vote against asset sales. But that’s more in the realms of fantasy rather than reality.
You’ve never been an outsider on the RWNJ sites.
You obviously don’t have any idea. For at least the first year I was active there I was very much an outsider and experienced gang attacks and heaps of vitriol and personal abuse. That gradually changed to acceptance of me as a lefty who was prepared to stand up to the crap. I still have strongly contested debates there, much more on the issue than personal attack than it ued to be.
I often prod righty debate there as I prod lefty debate here.
So I’m thinking that after another year or two here I might be grudingly accepted as an alternative view, apart from by a few inevitable resident troll attacks (I still get that at KB).
I take to the attack with positive gusto, much strong and positive vitriol and extremely strong positive personal attacks on any negative bastard like Dunne who attempts to negatively rob me and my fellow positive citizens of their positively hard earned belongings like SOEs. Thier negative thinking and nasty negative larceny deserves a positive thrashing.
you talk utter shit p.g…
..the trolls/bottom-dwellers at both oils’ and penguins are beyond virulent…
..and all they have is shouted cliches/slogans and ad homs…
..and the level/degree of both is far far worse than i have ever seen at any lefty-blog…
..you know that..
..this is yet another of yr many faces is it…?
..i have this mental image of you ..p.g…as this jelly-like chameleon….
..constantly changing/morphing into something different..dependant on where you are..
..and your words utterly meaningless..
..as they also change with each morphing..
phil-at-whoar.
why am i in moderation..?
phil-at-whoar.
sSome things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you’re chewing on life’s gristle
Don’t grumble, give a whistle
And this’ll help things turn out for the best
ok Pete?
You sing, I’ll whistle. And always look on the bright siide of life, dum dum dee dee
@Pete Georg
Personal attacks and abusive comments are routine on KB, it’s all part of the culture of commenting on blogs and frankly it’s best to ignore it and just carry on as per normal. Don’t take it personally is the motto.
Kevin – I learnt not to take it personally long ago. And not just there.
Good one Alex, I happily agree with you, with much pleasure and joy, I stand for all those things, all positive and user friendly to everybody except the usual parasitic RWNJs.
Thanks, feel free to add some of your own, the left is a broad church and we don’t all necessarily stand for exactly the same things.
No jobs for you,
but jobs for my cronies …?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10791656
Should appointments to public service appointments like these be more open, more transparent and subject to more public scrutiny?
Should former politicians, especially ex-Cabinet ministers, be subject to a ‘stand-down’ period (3 years, 4 years, or 6 years?) before appointment to senior public servant positions?
DEAKER-WATCH No. 1
Deaker counsels Pownceby: “Just say nothing”.
July 7, 2004
Anybody who has been unfortunate enough, or silly enough, to listen for more than a few minutes to Radio Sport’s Murray Deaker will be well aware of his malicious, occasionally almost deranged, campaign of vilification against New Zealand football administrators, players, coaches and teams – in particular the Otago Highlanders and the All Blacks. For some four years now, he has never missed an opportunity to express just how “sick and tired” he is of the “boofheads” who refuse to “communicate” with “the fans”. That means, of course, that they refuse to talk to Murray Deaker.
The reason for that of course is easy to pinpoint: Deaker’s arrogant and ignorant behaviour before, and especially after, the All Blacks’ 1999 World Cup semifinal loss to France. Fans were dismayed and disgusted by the moronic antics of Deaker and his acolytes like Martin Devlin—but the players were utterly outraged. (Just read Jeff Wilson’s or Josh Kronfeld’s or Norm Hewitt’s autobiographies to see this.)
Deaker’s anti-All Black crusade took a remarkably loathsome turn in 2002, when he decided to back John O’Neill and Vernon Pugh’s conspiracy to rob the World Cup sub-hosting from New Zealand, treacherously turning on the NZRFU chiefs, repeatedly calling them “dumb”, blaming them alone for the betrayal and sycophantically “interviewing” Pugh (“a man of integrity”, “loves the game”) and O’Neill (“incredibly smart Aussie”, “a man of integrity”).
Deaker’s campaign reached its nadir on Sunday 16 November, the day after the All Blacks had lost to Australia in the World Cup semifinal. Having promised just the day before that he would “not be leading the death squad” if New Zealand lost, Deaker interviewed the new NZRFU chief Chris Moller. Actually, he didn’t interview Moller, he shouted at him for an hour: “They’re saying the All Blacks are ARROGANT, they’re IGNORANT…. Chris, DAMN you! Why should we be so PLEASANT?”
Deaker became almost apopleptic as the determinedly pleasant and unflappable Moller remained calm in the face of this blizzard of self-righteous indignation. Lately, of course, it’s been all sunshine and smiles; Deaker’s old Auckland Grammar teaching colleague and mate Graham Henry is in charge of the All Blacks, and Deaker now has unfettered access. The grizzling has stopped, at least until they lose a match.
But no doubt many radio listeners gasped tonight, when they heard the great broadcaster say this: “How should Soulan Pownceby handle the media? He should just say nothing. Mark Todd had the right idea about how to handle the media: JUST SAY NOTHING.” Perhaps Christopher Hitchens (also a notorious drunkard) is the most infamous flip-flopper in media history, but surely Murray Deaker’s advice to anyone, even the beleaguered Pownceby, to “just say nothing” to the media is about the most hypocritical about-turn that we’ve seen in this country for some time.
I challenge anyone else to provide a more craven example of humbug by a New Zealand media personality.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
DEAKER-WATCH is a series dedicated to highlighting the contributions of Murray Deaker to New Zealand public life.
NZ: The Billionaires’ Playground
Gee I feel better already. By playground do they mean “circus”?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10791406
Nah given the mentality of the media they will soon be writing about how its making us all wealthier by the fact the billionaires are even sawnning around our airspace…
Super rich people (swoon)
Key rules out interest on student loans, says it’ll cost him the next election
So when Labour removed student loan interest it was the mother of all bribes, but not putting it back is just “great politics”?
I’m all for interest-free loans, hell, I think the courses should be free, but is this not hypocritical? This story has also been watered down since I first read it, I’m sure it explicitly said “lose the election” or something similar.
The low-level nasty that fucks me off this year about loans is that, as a part time student, I’m not eligible for course related costs. I’ve got a job, fair enough, but this week I have to drop $200 on a textbook that is only moderately useful since my home pc committed suicide. It’ll take weeks to actually get together all the stuff I need for course, as opposed to sorting it all at the beginning of semester. I pity those who aren’t in a good job like mine.
I can’t see the reasoning – it’s just a petty, bullshit way of making people’s lives a bit more difficult for little change in the govt purse.
Key will be voted out for numerous reasons and he should stop making it a virtue of losing the next election by pinning it on student interest-free loans.
Act is really getting into the Nanny State meme.
hmmmm… wasn’t John Banks the guy who kept Auckland City rates increasing at par with inflation by increasing borrowing by 500%?
He is a vile little man, that much is without question.
Notice the repetition of the Nick Smith comments http://www.interest.co.nz/news/58131/local-govt-minister-nick-smith-warns-councils-increasing-debt-levels-hits-back-figures-lo
This is setting the table for the local asset sell offs, if I had to speculate…
Yep, create a problem/crisis and then criticise anyone who won’t consider asset sales as ‘part of’ the ‘solution’. Councils are not in debt just because of spending money on fripperies. Increased costs and unfunded extra responsibilities from central government are part of the issue.
The aim here goes beyond local body asset sales. As was ACT policy, Smith is aiming to restrict the kinds of things councils can spend money on. He’s calling for them to stick to ‘core business’ – which he assumes is a non-political, uncontestable notion.
In a democracy, a citizenry should be able to spend money on what it wishes – Smith’s proposals are a case (as DTB points out) of central government saying it knows better than local citizens what they should be spending their money (i.e., rates levied by elected representatives) on.
It’s clearly anti-democratic, paternalistic and interfering with the collective choices of citizens.
yep..banks blew council debt right out the door..
..i dunno how rightwingers that do this/that then declare po-faced that they are economic-rationalists…
..’a safe pair of hands’..
..phil-at-whoar.
The rationale for Auckland borrowing is in hansard.
Hon David Parker: Is he reinforced in the concern that lay behind his statement given the reality that in New Zealand’s largest city council, Auckland City Council, rates were held at falsely low levels by increasing council debt by the greatest amount ever in New Zealand’s history, from $322 million at 30 June 2008, to $1,149 million at 30 June 2010—an increase of over a billion dollars in 2 years under John Banks?
Hon RODNEY HIDE: No, funnily enough, and the reason is that ahead of the reforms, Treasury functions across the various councils in Auckland were amalgamated, and Auckland City Council took on that role. So it borrowed $416 million, which it then on-lent to other councils, saving them considerable money because we had just one council. The Auckland City Council also borrowed another $215 million on behalf of Metro Water, which the council then on-lent. If that is netted out, we will find that the trend for debt in the Auckland City Council is exactly as predicted. In fact, Auckland City Council, in taking on that function ahead of the amalgamation, saved Auckland ratepayers some considerable money.
and here
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/auckland-city-council/news/article.cfm?o_id=13&objectid=10633684
All very nice but a load of bollocks none the less.
http://pc.blogspot.co.nz/2011/10/poor-old-banksie.html
To be fair the whole system needs an overhaul, there are to many courses floating round which offer little benefit for the money spent.
For example,
I am in the horticulture industry post trade certs the qualification which recognises someone as qualified in their particular field is a National certificate level 4.
Now you can take out a loan of @ $2-3000 dollars and obtain this certificate in 6-9 months at various polytechs.
Recently I interviewed to fill a position and interviewed only candidates that had this certificate as the role need someone with a reasonable base behind them,
One of the candidates knowledge fell far below what should and used to be required to obtain the certificate especially in regard to botanical knowledge and pest identification etc. Otherwise he was keen with good references.
I actually felt sorry for him in that he had taken out a loan on the basis that the the course would enable him to start work as a qualified gardener when due to the fact that it is so rushed, brief and open book it does nothing of the sort.
So in other words a waste of money.
The ridiculous thing about it is that on paper he has the same qualification as someone that has completed a 3-4 year apprenticeship but without the depth of knowledge or skill.
These courses need to be canned and proper apprenticeships need to begin again and labours policy on this was a good one.
Also I have been extremely concerned in the manner in which applied handlers certificates have been given out in recent years on 1 day courses tied up with growsafe.
An applied handlers cert allows you to access some quite dangerous chemicals in large quantities and shouldn’t be issued lightly and certainly not to people who have obtained a basic growsafe for the first time on the same day.
Reporters without Borders annual Enemies of the Internet –
Libya’s off the list, but who’s on? Bahrain, China, Myanmar, North Korea, Australia…
Rest in peace Jock.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10790841
Another computer scam alert! Phone call. Broken reception -distant female caller- accent.
“You have a problem with your computer sir and I want to help you fix it,” she says having to repeat it several times.
“What is wrong with my computer?”
“If you turn it on I will talk you through and fix it.”
“But what is wrong with it?”
“Just turn on your computer etc etc….”
” No I won’t. Nothing wrong with it. You madam, are a scammer, a cheat, and a liar,” I bravely offer.
“Oh….” Beep beep beep. Gone.
They are lying to you, so tell a lie back.
Try telling them you don’t have a computer. Insist on it – they give up very quickly.
I led them down the path of allowing them to assist and appearing stupid when their instructions would not work, after a lengthy fault diagnosis with a gullible user they ascertained I was using one of those new fangled iPhones for internet access, they promptly hung up.