Would be interesting to know the cost of Crosby Textor PR and tactical advice to the National Party over the years and by whom it has been paid.
Advanced instruction in “trickiness” which of course includes how to accuse everyone else of being ‘tricky’, would not come cheap I imagine.
There was a time in the 30s when post-abdication the Duke and Duchess of Windsor would demand appearance money for attending the fabulous dinner parties of American East Coast high society matrons.
Does the National Party have an ‘Edward & Wallis Fund’ ?
PS – I well recall Patrick Gower in a semi-apoplexy about the more-or-less exculpatory findings of the investigation into Shane Jones’ ministerial actions re the wealthy Asian businessman.
“I AM ANGRY !” boomed Monsieur ‘And-Som with a ferocity that had me scrambling for the remote.
Settle in for white rage from Patrick Gower on TV 3 News tonight………ya reckon ?
That’s why Nat’s propaganda sheets keep publishing rogue polls.
Control the media, control the people.
Solution….find independent sources of media and DNFTT.
Here, my fine feathered Tory, is some analysis I’ve recently completed (and partly posted elsewhere).
What I’ve done is to calculate National’s monthly poll average for the 08 and 11 Election years and then compared it (in parentheses) with National’s actual Party-Vote result at the Election later that year: (so, for example, the Nats averaged 52% in the opinion polls of March 2011 and that was 5 percentage points higher than the proportion they in fact received at the 2011 election):
National 2011
March 52% (+5), April 54% (+7), May 52% (+5), June 53% (+6), July 53% (+6), August 54% (+7), September 55% (+8), October 54% (+7), Early November 52% (+5), Late November 51% (+4), 2011 Election: 47%
National 2008
March 49% (+4), April 51% (+6), May 52% (+7), June 54% (+9), July 51% (+6), August 49% (+4), September 49% (+4), Early/Mid October 48% (+3), Late October/Early November 46% (+1), 2008 Election: 45%
So, all things being equal, I suspect you can probably subtract 4-7 points off National’s current polling (averaging roughly 49% at the moment). Then again, if their current spike in support is only temporary (and they revert to, say, the 44% they were averaging until just a few weeks ago), then perhaps the 4-7 points should come off this lower level of support ?
But, in any case, it’s also important not to assume that these 4-7 points can simply be added on to the Left Bloc vote. Some of it goes to National’s minor support parties on the Right (they tend to receive a little boost after Key’s teacup luncheons) and to NZ First. It does, however, mean that the Left and Right Blocs are a little closer than you might assume from recent polling.
I might add, there are one or two rumours that National’s internal polling is picking up a sharp dip in support for both National and Key. Just rumours at the moment, but very interesting.
Excellent work there Swordy. Thanks for putting in the effort. Illuminating.
The effect of the appearance (note – “appearance”) of ‘Smile & Wave & Invoice’ ?
Age old readily digestible concept that one.
God forbid that the masses get well above their station and latch onto it.
Urgent memo ShonKey Python to Crosby Fester – ” How the hell does one issue a ‘final warning’ to an entire population while maintaining ‘Smile & Wave’ ? “
“The average power bill for a family of four will rise by 2.4 per cent this year, Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges said yesterday as he faced questions from political opponents intent on making electricity increases an election-year issue.”
My lines company has raised the daily line cost from $1 t A DAY to $2 A DAY
$365 increase a year
That is about 12% per year!!!!
And UP goes the Official Cash Rate, that which is the indicator of future bank mortgage rates, Reserve Bank Governor is expected to announce the rise to 2.75 at 9 o’clock this morning,
Speeding train hits brick wall,???, You bet, future interest rates on mortgages with the expected 25 point rise are going to go up weekly by 20 bucks for every hundred thousand borrowed,
Those in the bigger cities with a mortgage at the low end of the spectrum, $300,000, will be paying an extra $60 a week, to work out the cost you only need add $20 for every $100,000 of mortgage,
Knee-capping an economy that has just struggled out of the after effects of the Global Financial Crisis aint smart and is more easily explained by pointing out that across the mortgage belt each household will have to shrink their spending into the economy by 60–$100 a week,
Renters will not escape the interest rates rises to follow as it is unlikely that landlords will be willing to shoulder all of the expected cost increases so at least part of this will pass into the economy via higher rents being paid,
Banksters strike again???, You bet, the inflation rate??? a lowly 1.6%, unemployment??? raging along at 6.1%, 150,000 of our fellow Kiwi’s jobless,destitute, and, kicked around for sport by Paula Bennett and WINZ,
The Kiwi$$$, nearly on a par with the Aussie one, expect this to creep up another couple of cents as the interest rates rise,=more unemployment
BERL economist Ganish Nana???, raising the cash rate now with the economic indicators where they are, Stupid!!!,
WestPac bankster economist Dominic Stevens, the cash rate and interest rates has to go up because we should remember the 1970’s, what we should remember is it will be the Banksters and only the Banksters who will profit from this,
Boom, blow another hole in the Government books, more unemployment equals less tax payers, higher benefit costs, along with less spending in the economy from those paying 60 to a $100 dollars more a week in mortgage payments, estimated hole in the Government accounts +half a billion to a billion dollars on top of the already unsustainable 2 billion gap between government spending and revenue,
Ganish Nana? is not stupid I think. He seemed to be saying that it was unnecessary and likely to be depressing on the economy to raise the interest rate. The first
2.75% quarter of a percentage point,first since 2010.
Institute of Economic Research spokesperson Yakob is going to speak to Kathryn Ryan. I think he will be dry, and is probably part of our drought problem here over the country. Thought it would be up by .50 instead of .25 to send strong signals to fix home interest rates to the banks. That’s how you handle the country’s economy folks. I love that bit I heard earlier where that would be so good in keeping the country stable, from an economist of course. That’s while under their ministrations of the financial field they send our exchange rate through the roof and firms teeter on being insolvent as a result. So steady.
Don Brash’s little voice still piping on. Wish someone would eipe him off this sinking ship.
Greywarbler, exactly what He was saying, Stupid Stupid Stupid, perhaps i should have put that in quotation marks as it could be read that i am insinuating He is stupid, which i aint…
Perhaps warbler, you should either wear specs or read a little slower, anyone with a fully functioning nut can see that i am not dissing Nana, and my apologies to the economist i believe His name is Danish…
Got your calculators ready, crunch these numbers, the Reserve Bank governor as expected, has just raised the Official cash rate to 2.75,
For anyone with a 300 grand mortgage that equates to the Banksters sucking 60 bucks a week outta your pockets and that is just the Governors ”teaser”,
The Governor in this mornings statement has indicated that by years end, that’s this year, the OCR will be up to 3.75 and at the end of 2015 a crushing 4.75,
So, for mortgage holders at the low end of the spectrum, $300,000 Kaching, Kaching, the Banksters are going to delve into your pockets by up to 260 dollars a week on top of what your now paying,
Above i consider that the initial interest rates rises will cost an extra 20,000 jobs,
Given what the Reserve Bank Governor ‘plans’ for the economy i would suggest that unemployment by the end of 2015 is likely to be 200,000 and rising,
The internal polling for the Nacts must be truely dreadful – the increase in the cash rate will help them offhsore their money before everything turns to custard…..
I’ve seen in the MSM that power prices are going up between 7% and 24% across the nation. Still, the canvassing wouldn’t be that hard – there’s not that many retailers after all.
It’s weird, because Powershop effectively have pre-paid power, and they don’t charge anything extra. In fact, pre-paid power from Powershop is likely to be slightly cheaper than any post-paid power you might buy from them.
Dunno how it works now but in a flat long ago we had one of the early versions of prepaid power with the swipe card, The machine was fairly unreliable to the point we had a direct dial to the technician who had to come out at all hours and reset it. I have a vague memory of letters indicating higher pre pay prices due to increased servicing costs and providing 24 hour access to top ups….
Slippery the Prime Minister publicly rebuking Judith Collins over the fact that She has been less than open with the ‘truth’ surrounding Her Ministerial visit to China???,
Smacks of the big fish telling the little fish ”stop stealing the lime-light, it is my role to make fools of the press and public and anyway my Lies are better than yours”…
“UNLESS SOMETHING HUGELY DRAMATIC HAPPENS between now and polling day, 20 September, the General Election of 2014 is all but over. The National-led government of Prime Minister, John Key, looks set to be returned for a third term by a margin that may surprise many of those currently insisting that the result will be very close. What may also surprise is the sheer scale and comprehensiveness of the Left’s (especially Labour’s) electoral humiliation.”
A little early, Chris, but your analysis is sound. Unless something major happens, the left, particularly Labour, will be decimated.
oops here you go. you get what you wish for i guess ha ha ha
How it unfolded
• 2010: Businessman Donghua Liu granted NZ citizenship by Nathan Guy, the then-Minister of Internal Affairs, against official advice after being lobbied by Maurice Williamson, Minister of Building and Construction, and John Banks, the Auckland Mayor at the time.
• 2011: Mr Williamson and Prime Minister John Key attend the opening of the first stage of Mr Liu’s $70 million redevelopment in Newmarket, Auckland.
• 2012: Roncon Pacific Hotel Management Holdings Ltd — of which Mr Liu is a director — makes a $22,000 donation to the National Party.
Judith Collins humiliated after being less than forthcoming with the truth, Slippery the Prime Minister humiliated on TV3’s ‘the Nation’ and then again on the 6 o’clock news exposed as a hypocrite over secret 5 grand donations as the ‘price’ of a dinner,
3 days later again the PM is humiliated caught out telling the press ‘less than the truth’ while He tried in vain to defend Collins,
..and/but he is really only strengthening the case that labour have to produce policies that will make that disengaged one million voters want to urge those all around them to go out and vote for labour..
..and as tiger woods confirmed..
..that has to be a poverty-busting/’back-pocket’ package of policies..
..only that will guarantee victory..
..(don’t forget how key came to power..
..he promised big back-pocket policies/tax-cuts..
..learn from that..
..and offer to the middle-class/workers/poor..
..what key promised the rich/middle-class..
..to put a significant more into their ‘back-pockets’..)
Yes, elections are won on back-pocket factors…like mortgages and power bills being more expensive. I think JustLikeTigerWoods optimism about National’s chances is unfounded.
Hi phillip ure. I’ve been trying to ignore politics, mainly because of the current bunch of idiots in power. National simply cannot be reasoned with, mainly because they’re removed from reality and so caught up in their own bullshit that they wouldn’t now the truth to save themselves.
Would pay to keep in mind that it was Trotter on election night television in 2005 I think, who in highly animated and excited style, 45 minutes after the polls closed, proclaimed the demise of Helen Clark’s government. Hang on…… government highly animated
“big picture stuff ”
if the public were actually being shown or told or even winked at about the big picture National would never get near the ninth floor ever again
Yeah well you go with that but would be unwise to overlook that Trotter’s analysis was concluded before the emergence today of the quintessential “back-pocket” issue, the cash rate.
Indeed for many it’s more than a “back-pocket” issue. It’s a backyard-issue, viz. an issue touching the very retention of said backyard by those seduced by Smile and Wave into believing in Cargo Cult and Brighter Future.
What’s the public mood going to be like when those who think they’ve lived the Brighter Future courtesy of the best and nicest PM in our history find they simply can’t meet the cost of it ? And they lose it. What will their relatives say ?
While at the same time there’s a powerful reflection that the high end of town continues to advance its wealth and power. Clay feet are still clay no matter they’re increasingly well shod.
Forget the bullshit that National absolutely and historically triumphed in the last election. That’s theistic fantasy. Defections in the mere thousands will see them done for. The increasing appearance of Smile & Wave & Invoice with increased wealth and power in the hands of many fewer will lead to reprisal.
Perhaps you live your life surrounded by the disenfranchised, which distorts your view.
The polls tell you the truth about what most New Zealanders think. Most are happy with the direction of the country, and most like Key. Labour are down to base levels and Cunliffe’s not even popular amongst Labour voters.
I can sure see “most” who can’t fathom how to meet for a start an extra $60-$80 per week on their mortgage when they’re bloody hard pressed already, being mostly happy. Yeah…….so mostly happy that they’re just gonna chuckle admiringly and say – “Gee, I’d love to have a beer with that great guy…….”
Get real. As the worry and the fear sets in and then the pain hits and mortgagee sales take on a roll, ShonKey Python’s repute will really start to reflect his first name. The heist conceived by the movers and shakers of the National Party and their foreign advisers almost immediately Labour was elected in 1999 is about to be exposed.
There is vast electoral power out there Woods. You know it. Your ‘ace’ is that Cunliffe’s just not up to the challenge. In fact as of today it’s your only argument. That “back-pocket” is ready to bite many bums and ShonKey’s as a consequence.
We’ll see. To me it’s simple science. Leaking vaccums always get filled. ShonKey Python is an increasingly empty vessel personally who is a visibly nasty piece of work under pressure. Couple that with Smile & Wave taking on the appearance of Smile & Wave & Invoice – it just gets worse. Whom, leaving me in the shit with my Brighter Future dreams in tatters, will profit from buying the house I lose for example ? Speculators, the high end of town. ShonKey Python people.
Yes, I live not far from and work in a town where the average annual income is round $17,000. I work in a job where daily I see the gross reflections of that vicious deprivation. Of course it affects, I say informs, my view. Push the fact of it, even the subjective perception of it further and further up the ladder – ShonKey Python has real problems. The arrogant, entitled, suspect crew accompanying him, and for that matter even the fabulousness of a royal tour (the effete obseqious royal courtier fiddling with vast wealth and privilege while Rome burns) will not help.
I don’t know the figure off the top of my head so please you or someone else tell me. How many thousands of votes cast for the Left bloc rather than the Right bloc in 2011 would have seen ShonKey Python back in the US a very unremarkable one term PM. ?
Many many people will ditch ridiculous theism about ShonKey Python. The man was a massive fraud from the start.
Official Cash Rate at 3.75 by the end of the year, that’s something in the order of an extra 160 bucks a week on a 300 grand mortgage by the end of this year across the vast mortgage belt in the bigger cities,
If that aint dramatically ‘back-pocket’ enough for you, how bout the proposed OCR rate at the end of 2015 of 4.75 which adds yet another hundy to a 300,000 dollar mortgage,
Should we be so terribly unlucky and have a National Government still occupying the Treasury Benches i would suggest that interest rates biting those ‘back pockets’ in such a manner will have that Party polling at 20% again….
The Tory formula for countering this is very well known, just set up another speculative expansionary property bubble.
Yes your mortgage is $500 more a month, but when your house is “worth” $2500 more a month, what’s the problem? Sounds like a ‘good deal’ for the homeowner…
Those I know are happy with their lot. They’re fine paying for welfare and the rest, but know there will always be the piss-takers, over-breeders, and cretins bleating about their self-imposed lot. Yawn. They’ll always be with us. Best ignored.
The bolly is flowing, The lolly is increasing. Seize the days, chaps.
“the LabGreen have no credible alternative.” – Just Like Tiger Woods
You are quite right Tiger – the Labour/Greens have no credible alternative – National/Act are not a credible alternative to what the Labour/Greens are offering.
If the election result were a certainty, you wouldn’t need to try so hard.
Key’s problem is that while they could throw the “don’t you know who I am” nobody under the bus, the apparently-corrupt ministers are too big for him to do that. So they’ll hang around and fester.
But we’ll all know for sure at the end of September.
the simple fact of the matter is that nationals one and only plank was that it was their turn. well the’ve had their turn and stolen as much as they could from the treasury and now they are about to be booted out.
If Dave can come up with a few policies that lift the well-being of the lower classes whilst not robbing the middle and upper classes to do it, he might turn things around.
The middle and upper aren’t going to vote for any more tax gouging. Labour need to go away and come up with some new ideas, not a re-run of Muldoonism.
You’ve been lent it for a few years, and soon the true owners will be reconsidering their choice. And you have no friends to help you borrow the gaff for another three years.
30 years of Rogernomics. Life is mighty fine. Join in. It’s pretty easy once you get the hang of it. Helen and Michael at least got that….
Or stick with failed ideology in the dead hope that people will vote for a return to Muldoonism, Unionism and a crumbling South Pacific version of Venezuela.
Tiger, If this was so, National would not be spending so much time focussing on ripping him to shreds. The only way they can do so, however, is on shallow and made up points.
National do not fight on policy because they know Cunliffe and Labour are stronger than National in that area.
National Party’s 3D election strategy: Distract and Deflect so that noone notices what Drongos we are.
“a re-run of Muldoonism……….” What a joke. I’ll bet that in the day you were just as much a blowhard protagonist for Muldoon as you are today for ShonKey Python.
The message I have recieived thus far summarised:
The left put people before profit and consider social effects as well as monetary issues. In the medium-to-long run this ends up creating less problems and the country becomes wealthier than when a singular focus on profit for a few (National & Act) is pursued.
As well as this:
Labour are noting that the wealth gap issue, social mobility and job conditions are being adversely affected by this National government and intend to rectify the situation
The Greens include a focus on ensuring the health of the environment with the understanding this positively affects our well-being and economy.
Mana includes a focus on Maori issues, realising there is a shortfall in addressing such. They also have a strong focus on prioritising poverty issues and also have a strong anti-corporate stance.
The problems with the OCR response to inflationary house cost (read AK ),is two parts
a) The absence of rigorous fiscal policy to constrain external interference (read speculators)
b) The OCR response increases the external interference ie higher interest rates and an appreciating NZ dollar a positive feedback.
The RBNZ inflationary response mechanism model a DSGE model (which have been around for 30yrs) are both questionable and have not passed the smell test eg Solow
The protagonists of this idea make a claim to respectability by asserting that it is
founded on what we know about microeconomic behavior,but I think that this claim is generally phony. The advocates no doubt believe what they say, but they seem to have stopped sniffing or to have lost their sense of smell altogether
Reality itself is a major constraint on the theoretically bankrupt DGSE model, but it doesn’t stop the bloody economists and governments from using it to make macro-economic decisions.
“It’ll be different this time! We’ll tax the cr*p out of everything and hand money to poor people, and it will all be great!”
No. No it won’t. It will be a Venezuela-level disaster, minus the oil. Left-wing ideology destroys the very incentives needed to generate the wealth to pay for the state services. Even Marx got that….
You need new ideas. The left needs an economic rebirth. Your old ideas are failed, rejected and will never return from the deep 70’s pit in which they are long buried.
Forget the rich pr*cks and redundant class war. Your real enemy is lack of productivity. Solve that problem and you’ll really be onto something, because I’m not sure the right know the answer to that question, either.
You don’t understand how substantial income inequality effects the economy and you don’t understand how progressive tax systems work to ameliorate those negative effects.
You don’t understand how the relationship between human capital and technological capital has forever changed the landscape of industrial relations.
You avoid the well documented effects of multinational corporations playing the system in a way which is impossible for regular citizens.
You cling to bogus arguments like low productivity which I find particularly amusing because the rightwing industrial relations and low tax policy which you champion are precisely the causes of a weak economy.
An economy can only be strong if the vast majority of people engage in it and benefit from the surpluses generated within it. Low/flat tax rates and no rights for workers has created a system with a few super wealthy people and a decimated middle class which actually isn’t very good for aggregate demand.
Did you even realise that?
The central irony is that rightwing muppets always advocate for ‘growing the pie’ but their short sighted greed for short term profits means they end up implementing policies which shrink the pie.
If you were honest then your true motto would be ‘I believe in fucking the economy so that I can have an ever increasing slice of an ever diminishing pie’
You claim your opponents are stuck in the 70’s but you appear to be stuck in the 20’s. Perhaps you should study up on what happened to the world economy the last time Laissez Faire economic theory was followed through with…
The middle class has been decimated, but not by “the wealthy”. It’s due to a) technology and b) tax structures destroying savings and investment
We have low capital allocation per worker. Why? Partly poor management and partly because it doesn’t pay to invest in them (tax structures).
Technology has replaced a lot of jobs. It’s now eating into the middle class. To counter this, we need to use that very technology to increase productivity. This generates the surplus necessary for a high wage society.
We don’t get that way by endless redistributing and fighting a phoney class war. That is last century’s battle. This century’s battle is firstly understand that technology replaces labour, then understand the way to leverage that technology is to invest in workers.
The right doesn’t have the answer either, but at least they understand the incentives. The left would redistribute and shrink away to nothing. Why? They take capital and force it into consumption. Consumption is not what we need. Savings and investment, and allocation of capital into labour productivity is what we need.
And in this New Zealand, right now, you think the best way to deliver this is what exactly?
Please give examples of countries that have adopted your prescriptions, as well as examples of countries that you think we should emulate, so we can check how they did it.
One publication had a regular column called Felicity Ferret where little titbits were published of an interesting nature.
What about us having a Willy the Weta? I think I heard a whisper that someone in government is going to produce a glossy booklet on where to dine in Beijing and New York.
The quiet places where you don’t get spotted having dinner with your friends in useful places.
A terrible and sad story that one – I hope she gets the help she wants and needs. If we cannot (and I don’t think we can) look after the most vulnerable in society we fail them and ourselves.
Every one wants the latest billion dollar vaccine…no one wants to provide potable water and build toilets for the poor…big profits in one but miniscule in the other…typical and predictable.
McFlock
Why couldn’t it be CV talking about his own opinion rather than a quote? He didn’t say it was a quote. He appears to be saying that improvements in provision of good facilities like clean water and toilet systems would go a long way to preventing disease, but there is more interest in giving money to Big Pharma for providing vaccines
.
Colonial Viper might enlarge on his comment and clarify. I am reading my expected interpretation into it. But that’s my guess.
It is not that he is smarter. McFlock has a fervent belief the Big Pharma model is inherently superior, therefore he dismisses those who challenge it as lacking evidence, without bothering to provide any evidence himself.
No it wasn’t. It was hyperbole for sure, but the implied message is true. Or are you suggesting that pharmaceutical companies aren’t driven by profit and greed, and are really just in business for the good of the world?
Oh I’m sorry, what was the “implied message”? That pharmacy companies aren’t water infrastructure companies? Or that measles is a waterborne disease like cholera?
Because many of the same agencies that fund vac programs in the developing world also fund water programs.
The implied message is really a lament over the fact we allow governments to funnel billions to pharmaceutical companies, rather than into top-notch infrastructure.
Ultimately it is our choice how we allocate resources, but the excessive influence of pharmaceutical companies garners them a disproportionate amount of that resource, and that is why people are concerned.
So now you’re widening “potable water and build toilets” to general infrastructure?
I mean, that “implied message” is untrue too (e.g. road building projects in developing nations), but I just want to see if you’re shifting the goalposts.
Thing is, we’re talking past each other, because you see pharmaceutical companies as altruistic organisations seeking to improve public health, whereas in my view they are corporations that have a place, but their influence is hugely disproportionate.
Just to remind you all the first comment in this thread was.
“Anyone else wondering why so many cases of measles amongst the already vaccinated for measles?….”
CV then attempted to threadjack with
“Every one wants the latest billion dollar vaccine…no one wants to provide potable water and build toilets for the poor…big profits in one but miniscule in the other…typical and predictable.”
As he is fairly vehemently anti vaccination and didn’t want to address the original question which was fallacious.
Vaccines such as MMR are not big money spinners for pharma companions as they are usually only one or two vaccinations over a persons entire lifetime.
You need to get better sources Chooky. Naturalnews is not a reliable source of information. Scheibner doesn’t look that useful either, although ironically, the wikipedia article that northshore links to is also very poor.
Maybe she is, but you just did exactly what Chooky did, which was pull some shit off the internet to support your own view, and present it as evidence, when it’s actually a poor source of information. Like I said, ironic.
Also when your links claim “evidence” but don’t actually link through to any form of data or peer-reviewed research, what they are actually doing is claiming anecdata
The link you just provided doesn’t link through to any form of data or peer-reviewed research. Are you suggesting that that blogpost was written from anecdata?
Not trying to be smart here, and as I said I think Chooky’s links aren’t useful, but let’s hold all sides of the argument to a certain standard.
Avicenna, I don’t have a problem with the idea that Scheibner is all the things you say she is. I’m simply pointing out that in this conversation, and others here on ts, there is an irony to the ‘science is the one true way’ argument not meeting its own standards.
“Actually, I am quoting the papers mentioned on her blog.”
I wasn’t talking about her papers. I was talking about your refutations and statements. Zorr said that claims of evidence need to be backed up (I agree), and I was pointing out that the link Zorr gave didn’t meet their own standard.
(am sure your blogpost makes more sense to people that are following your blog generally, and the Scheibner issues, but Zorr dropping it in to this conversation didn’t help clarify in the way implied).
I’m all for that. Let’s use the standard of “which argument has the overwhelmingly gargantuan majority of qualified adherents and evidence to support it?”
“I’m all for that. Let’s use the standard of “which argument has the overwhelmingly gargantuan majority of qualified adherents and evidence to support it?”
I don’t have too much of a problem with that, although it seems prudent, given how many mistakes get made in science, to allow discussions of dissent where there is a good argument made.
Vaccination isn’t just a science issue, it’s also about ethics. There are very good reasons why we don’t leave ethics solely to scientists.
Ok stirred up a hornets nest there…lol..as expected
sorry weka to let the academic side down ….however it still doesnt answer my question….why are so many people who have been vaccinated against measles still getting them?….would seem simpler to just let kids get measles when they are young and then be imunised for life
also the older i get the more skeptical i become about some aspects of traditional Western medicine..(.this excludes surgery and intensive hospital care) ….it seems that primary health care is not holistically based and is in the grips of multinational big business and its rigid acolytes…..many traditional childhood viruses can be weathered with appropriate living conditions, as CV says , and careful parental care
…if I had my time again i dont think i would get the kids immunised
It’s not just about academics though. It’s about basing beliefs on evidence, or at least putting up a good theoretical argument for the belief. That’s the not owned by academics, all of us can do that. Using bad sources of information both makes the situation worse, and doesn’t answer the questions being raised.
” ….however it still doesnt answer my question….why are so many people who have been vaccinated against measles still getting them?”
I don’t know because I haven’t looked at what is happening, but vaccinations aren’t all 100% effective, so that would explain some of it.
“….would seem simpler to just let kids get measles when they are young and then be imunised for life”
The issues here are that some kids die from complications; there is a public health issue because so many people believe that getting ill is inherently bad so if you can prevent it that’s good; now that many people are being vaccinated for measles, most people aren’t getting natural immunity pre-school, so there will be issues of how that affects people in later life (am guessing someone will have done an economic assessment of this); there’s also the issue of both parents working so what happens when the kids get sick (more economics)… etc
Myself, I think parents that decide the natural immunity route are entitled to do that, and find the extremity of the everyone should vaccinate argument a pretty interesting dynamic in our society.
@ Weka …i feel it is a case of the Emperors Clothes…there is a hierarchy of medical acolytes and statisticians supporting blanket vaccination for all children regardless of the fact that they themselves are financially embedded in a system of support for a multi-billion dollar industry.
……and any parent who dares question blanket vaccination for all childhood viruses is made out to be a “Dunce” or a “Kook”…..someone who is too stupid to know anything about it….when actually parents have observations at the grassroots level of their own children and other children and their families…their empirical and anecdotal evidence is either not admissible or is down graded
…..totally ignored also is the fact that there are a number doctors and virologists who have down right reservations, if they are not actually opposed to blanket vaccinations of all children for common childhood viruses
….cases of adverse reactions to vaccination are swept under the carpet , ignored, not counted ..So how valid are the statistics really ?!
( …sorry about your kid but they were sacrificed for the greater good of the herd…No!…sorry this is not good enough!)
…there have been a number of medical interventions/drugs which have ‘impeccable’ statistics and were later found to have harmful if not fatal side effects or long term effects
..when considerable pressure is applied to parents to have their children vaccinated there should be some accountablity for vaccination mishaps and compensation paid for medical misadventure….but this would require REAL statistics
My suggestion is that if you want to address the issues with people here, and you want to use science to do that, then use good science not bad science. If you can’t tell the difference yet, then take some time to learn.
The big thing missing from the conversations lately on ts is the non-science stuff that you refer to… where parents make conscious decisions based on a myriad of knowledges, not just hard cold science (or emotive science)… it’s not part of the culture here. I’m not sure it’s possible to have that conversation here, because the people arguing are pretty much dogmatic in their views, and are really only going to respond to science arguments. That’s why I’m more interested in talking about the meta issues – who gets to decide what are useful ways of knowing. Until that gets looked at I think you are banging your head against a brick wall (unless you want to get good at the science).
“why are so many people who have been vaccinated against measles still getting them?”
Well they’re not, those who have been vaccinated as per MoH guidelines (2 jabs in early childhood) have a 99% chance of being covered should they come into contact with measles. the 1% who have been vaccinated but who aren’t immune have a very high (>90%) chance of developing measles as of course do those who have not been immunised.
We immunise against measles because statistics tell us that about one out of 10 children with measles also gets an ear infection, and up to one out of 20 gets pneumonia. About one out of 1,000 gets encephalitis, and one or two out of 1,000 die. These morbidity and mortality data will be worse in 2nd and 3rd world countries.
Furthermore in immunocompromised children and adults (those who have been undergoing treatment for cancer for example or transplant recipients) measles is most often very severe, prolonged and often fatal.
The recent outbreak at mainly centred on Auckland schools was 100% confined to non vaccinated persons, further more all non vaccinated persons were excluded from school for 3 weeks for their own safety.
“We immunise against measles because statistics tell us that about one out of 10 children with measles also gets an ear infection, and up to one out of 20 gets pneumonia. About one out of 1,000 gets encephalitis, and one or two out of 1,000 die. These morbidity and mortality data will be worse in 2nd and 3rd world countries.”
Looking at the first world countries, when are those stats for? Post introduction of MMR or before? Is there a difference between unimmunised and immunised complication rates?
“Is there a difference between unimmunised and immunised complication rates”
Well yes there is as with only approx 1% of those being immunised being able to develop measles simple mathematics will tell you that there is a significantly decreased risk of complications in the immunised group and before you ask yes even taking into account potential side effects from vaccination itself.
Rather than me doing all the work Weka why don’t you do some desktop research yourself.
I’m actually more interested in the meta debate here, which is around validity of argument. Your previous comment would make more sense to me if it was in context. Chooky gets slammed, rightly so, for linking to useless information. But I also see a lot of justification in medical sciences where figures are used out of context, so for me there are problems on that side too (albeit different ones).
eg
“Is there a difference between unimmunised and immunised complication rates”
Well yes there is as with only approx 1% of those being immunised being able to develop measles simple mathematics will tell you that there is a significantly decreased risk of complications in the immunised group and before you ask yes even taking into account potential side effects from vaccination itself.
I’m sure that seems quite a reasonable response to you, but for me it’s just obfuscation and I’m unclear why it’s not obvious that I would be wanting comparisons of % not overall rates. So, yes, obviously the numbers of immunised kids who get complications would be way less than non-immunised, because there are less immunised kids getting measles, but that’s not what I was asking. Or are you suggesting that the %s are less too?
(what I am asking is what percentage of immunised kids who get measles get complications compared to what percentage of non-immunised kids who get measles get complications).
Where you say decreased risk, you are talking about population, which is fine from a public health perspective. What most parents who don’t immunise are interested in is the risk for the individual.
Risks of vaccination affect one in fifty thousand. Risks of non-immunisation as listed by the good doctor above, are several orders of magnitude greater.
“what I am asking is what percentage of immunised kids who get measles get complications compared to what percentage of non-immunised kids who get measles get complications”
Weka as far as I know there is no large cohort study that has investigated that question, however this small retrospective study may point us in the direction of an answer that there may be a benefit for those who were vaccinated even if they were not fully immune.
Chooky gets slammed, rightly so, for linking to useless information. But I also see a lot of justification in medical sciences where figures are used out of context, so for me there are problems on that side too (albeit different ones).
Personally, I think that those who make more extraordinary claims require the more exhaustive evidence.
Otherwise I’d have to deliver a logical proof as to why “2+2=4” every time I tried to query a bill.
The claim “x is a kook” is not half as extraordinary as “vaccination causes autism and is bad for kids”. So I require pretty good reasons to not get vaccinated regularly, but not a huge amount of evidence to decide that X is a kook.
Yes, I can understand that. My problem is that I see lots of shortcuts on the medical science side when people are defending their beliefs, or criticising others, and sometimes mistaktes get made. Bad ones. Leaving vaccination aside for a minute, I see this alot with alternative health care. The point was made above that we should trust the experts, so it’s always weird when scienceheads start denigrating thigns like TCM or herbalism when they have no training or experience in those things. Honest to god, I’ve heard stuff equally as idiotic coming form scienceheads as I have from the alternative crowd.
All I’m saying here, is that we could improve the situation by applying standards across the board. Otherwise all that happens is a bitter polarity with each side saying I’m right and you people are a bunch of stupidity. Nothing good comes from that, and things are probably getting worse. The general public has very good reasons to not trust science, and science has good reasons to be concerned about scientific illiteracy. But polarising the issues doesn’t offer a solution.
As an aside, re scientific illiteracy, I’ve been noticing in the last while that many wikipedia science articles are far too dense for the general lay reader. Makes me wonder who they are written for, and where people should go to get the basics on any science they are presented with.
“So I require pretty good reasons to not get vaccinated regularly, but not a huge amount of evidence to decide that X is a kook.”
also, while I appreciate your general point, the problem there is that it’s easy to call someone a kook as part of marginalising what they are saying. I think Schreibner most likely is a kook, but all that’s been offered today is opinion, so how would I really know? I’m guessing that the reason that others here were willing to go with the wiki link and the blog link was because (a) they perceived the articles as trustworthy and (b) the links supported their already formed ideas. That’s understandable and human, and it’s also dangerous.
There is a realy failing with many online science writers, who blog about people or issues to critique them but can’t help but getting lost in their own antipathy, or littering the blogpost with their own person invective. Peopel can write what they liek on their own blog, but if what we want here is clear communication that helps build trust and knowledge, then we need better analyses of what are perceived as problems.
Frankly, whenever I end up on a wikipedia article that’s waaaaaaaaaaayyy beyond me (quantum springs to mind), I take it as a hint that maybe I should just take the word of the bulk of people who have spent decades in formalised, structured research in the area. Unless they ping my nutbar meter, of course.
Some stuff cannot be explained with any degree of accuracy in a way that somebody just flipping through an encyclopaedia will be able to find useful. I have no real idea of why blood types match or clot, for example. Some stuff just takes years of research to even come close to figuring out, not just data gathering but also actually tryong to learn about it.
That’s why we still need universities, rather than giving everyone an internet connection and a wikipedia link.
That might all well be true McFlock, but it’s not what I was talking about. I’m talking about someone going to wiki to find out what a salt is. Or how chemicals bond. Or how x physiology works. I’m not talking quantum mechanics. If lay people in conversations about vaccination or whatever are going to be criticised for scientific illiteracy, then my point stands about wikipedia and finding sources of information that are accessible. The argument that I’m a scientist therefore I know and you don’t therefore you should take my word for… that just fails fucking epically now, given all the mistakes that science has made and the damage that has been done using science. It’s just not going to wash.
The scientific illiteracy in the vaccination debate is the belief that because someone said “a vaccine gave my kid autism” it’s plausible enough to be worried about. It’s not that they don’t have perfect knowledge of how to develop a vaccine or the exact diagnostic criteria of disorders on the autism spectrum.
Just because “science has made mistakes” doesn’t mean that Jenny McCarthy or Scheibner deserve the time of day.
Anyone notice that Winston has questioned Collins about the border man at her dinner and was he there to expedite the importation of the milk at a time when imports were held up at the wharf.
A little bottom of the page anonymous update to my current employment situation.
It’s been a tough few weeks this side of orbit.
5 days after my 20/2 post I was assaulted by my boss at work, twice. I was jabbed in the hand with a pitch fork, fortunately only leaving a small scratch, and a few minutes later, dumped on to my back in the middle of the car park and when I complained about my bad back (recovering very slowly from a prolapsed nerve) lifted and dropped on to it again. I called 111 and left work, went to make a complaint, only to be told my 100% perfect record would also be compromised if I submitted it formally, so I left it at that.
My brief was on holiday for the week, but I went to his office to seek assistance any way, only to be told my bosses people had already been on threatening me with suspension, which I was already told by my boss was going to happen before he assaulted me. After returning home to email my guy with my account, I went to the doctors on an emergency appointment, where he noted my injuries and placed me on medication – Citalopram, Zopiclone and Diazepam, which I have been taking since. He also, kindly, hooked me up with counselling, of which I have had one session so far.
My suspension email came through the next day, luckily on pay, and when my lawyer returned, he notified them that the only contract signed by both parties has no provision for suspension, but I would voluntarily remain ‘suspended’ until emergency mediation could be arranged. Between then and now, my boss has rung my daughters school, speaking to the principal, stating he had laid me off and that he had concerns about my parenting that my ex wife should know about. She rang my ex who clearly bothered, returned his call, only to hear no concerns raised, just badgered for information regarding me, our break up and my previous era incidents. My ex saw through him, and despite no love lost between us, kindly noted the conversation, adding I’m a good father, which was passed to my legal team.
At mediation today, which resolved nothing, his lawyer presented statements from an eye witness which my boss couldn’t have written better himself. The witness is a sub tenant at the place of work and is ridiculous as it is made up, containing statements such as “*** threw himself on the floor and called out ***** had hurt his back” and how she’d heard parts of our conversation when she wasn’t present. I’m hoping cctv footage still exists to prove me right, but under oath I wouldn’t guarantee the witness to hold to the story. He has two other statements from another tenant and one of their staff, and they are mostly right, though sadly not witnesses to the assault.
Much has been made by his brief of my past era visits and how they will go against me, as they are painting me as a gold digger, but if I were, I would have taken him to the cleaners in 2013 (I think) when he tried to get me to sign a clause in a new contract saying I wouldn’t weed spray his stock if I were sacked, which I was supposed to have said to another staff member at the time. I rang the D.O.L and visited the local Labour party office, before returning on a Thursday morning (a day off) and telling him how my three month fixed term, trial period, rolled over for a year and a half contract was bull, that I have him bang to rights, and he’d best get busy writing a much better contract. Next day he called me and apologised, saying he’d got it wrong, he’d sort it on Monday and not to worry over the weekend, to which I replied I wasn’t. I never got a new contract, or took his money, settling on being treated with respect and a pair of new $40 warehouse works boots. I think I made a post here about it, but bugger it if I’ll search for it today.
I will not return to work for fears to my safety and mental health, so I have a disciplinary hearing set for next Wednesday when I will be dismissed, losing my 20 hour $15 per hour and WFF tax credits and top up, for gross misconduct.
I’m beat up and a bit of a mess right now, but I’m strong. I will get a covenant put on my house and get legal aid to fight this perve at full hearing. Odds not stacked in my favour it must be said, but right is right, right?
@ Allen…sounds like your ex boss is a psychopath…it is always a shock when you come up against such people …and sometimes you have to walk away
….sounds like you are doing everything correctly by taking it to the authorities…try and get as much outside support as possible from individuals, friends , professionals and organisations and unions that deal with such issues and try not to take it personally …accept any help where it is offered …the more help you get the less personal stress on yourself.
lol @ ex boss a week before the fact, though like I didn’t know that was happening after I pulled him up for being a dirty old man, took two weeks off and returned to the four page legal letter with eight hours notice to get representation before a planned hearing the next day.
Best thing is it won’t be kept secret at the hearing, so win, lose or draw you’ll be able to read it in the papers. It won’t be my refusal to follow (un)reasonable demands and trumped up floor flinging and self hand stabbing (yes, really accused of that as his defence), but all about his sexual harassment.
I don’t have a large support group, what with being the only al1en in the village, but I’ll make use of what I have closest and what’s on offer from the quacks. A nasty(er) lawyer wouldn’t go amiss, but I’ll settle for a good nights kip for starters. 🙂
Marzipans and zohans free, with no pharm script repeats available, a bit of a clearer head this morning 🙂
I think I will take the risk to my record and formalise my assault complaint with the police today. I had a clean police check when I was granted residency back in 2000, and I’ve had no dealings with them here since, not even a parking ticket.
If after being stabbed in the hand, I, a couple of minutes later, when told again that he’d say I did it myself, took a note book from my bosses shirt, before being bundled to the ground and dominated, gets me arrested and charged, then so be it. Worth it if the ‘eye witness’ has to be interviewed by a uniform. Lying in a statement to era is one thing, to a rozzer, another altogether. They can check for cctv footage while they’re at it, as my lawyer seems incapable of making the request for it.
Takes it out of my hands, my bosses control and shares the stress about a bit.
Next time I report in, I might be an official note book pinching villain – Oh the shame of it. What will mother say? 🙂
Good luck with that Allen. Just remember never say too much, just enough to make your point, and don’t get chatty, don’t talk about anything that isn’t completely relevant, not about your feelings if not relevant, not look at someone contemptuously or arrogantly. Just be self-contained and stick to your point firmly, answering appropriate questions. You don’t want to say the wrong word or term that plugs into whatever incipient prejudice that waits to pop up in the minds of the authority or powerful one you are dealing with.
Thanks for that, all good advice duly noted, though not always easy under some circumstances and conditions, but I’ll do me best.
I work on telling the truth, and if you lie once, you’re out. One slip up by his ‘witnesses’ and it’s all over. Don’t lie and you can’t be caught out… As all politicians should note 🙂
Not been in to the cops yet as I’m waiting on a conversation with my brief before going in, but he did mail me saying he has requested complete records from commencement of my employment, including for each pay period, holiday/leave taken and sick leave taken and any accruals.
Knowing my boss hasn’t got any records for any of his staff, including me, he has been informed that as we would expect in light of the legal requirements surrounding the keeping of records that this information is readily available and therefore would expect it without delay, if not received by the close of business today, it will be referred to a Labour inspector for further investigation.
A bit of mongrel in my guy after all. More of it, please.
Sound familiar.
Also
Educational research is mostly crap.
Dumbing down education means that kids will learn less.
Universities have gone out of their way to shoot themselves in the foot.
Irish universities used to provide ok education with run-down facilities and poor administration. This has changed now, there are many administrators.
Research has to be competed for.
Administrators earn as much as lecturers.
Austerity has kicked in and the number of academics has fallen by 20%. And that has caused international rankings to fall. They are not worth much but they do seem to matter.
Graduates are not well-trained and therefore it screws up the future to the Irish recovery.
Going to WINZ for help is no longer, well, helpful:
I was incredibly nervous about the appointment. It’s pretty difficult to walk into this place when you have no idea how you’re going to be treated, and when their role is not to help you, as it would appear, but actually do all they possibly can to get you back into work – even if that’s to your detriment.
Did you know, WINZ has an actual policy to publicly celebrate when people get work? I witnessed this today. A bell was rung, and all the workers stood up and clapped – meanwhile, the poor man who supposedly the happy recipient of this “positive reinforcement” sat still and looked utterly and completely mortified. Apparently WINZ says clients enjoy this.
It was fucking horrifying.
Going to WINZ is now torture which, last time I looked, was against the Geneva Conventions.
It’s the sort of thing someone has read is a good idea. It has the stink of ‘theory’ about it with no common sense to back it up. It might work in some places but not our self effacing nation.
If it was me being applauded I’d just feel embarrassed.
How work and income and times have changed. When I had my last leaving meet with winz back in 2011, they asked me if I wanted to ring the bell. Now they employ someone to ring the bell for you.
All those kids forced into lofts at minimum wage and under houses as part of the old insulation program, should band together with the national cycle way builders and form an orderly queue for the job when the office security guard needs his biscuit dunking at tea time.
And no, I didn’t ding. I threw a look of contempt at the case manager instead. Much more satisfying 😉
“Going to WINZ for help is no longer, well, helpful:”
No longer? That story is bad, but it’s not new unfortunately. Same old shit, new suit. The thing I wish for is support for people in her situation to deal with this. Beneficiaries need a union, and they need support to push back.
It’s been getting worse over the last few years but that’s generally what we should expect from National. Their policies to maintain a high unemployment so as to keep wages down causes them to have to shift the blame onto the unemployed themselves so that they can hope to be re-elected.
Beneficiaries used to have a union – wonder what happened to it.
Really doesn’t show any respect for the person’s own views thought and emotions – not being allowed to make their own decision. An outgrowth of the face book world where everyone has to hang all their fdeelings out in public.
Penny Bright needs to have her water supply and sewerage disconnected by the council. Her rubbish collection should stop also until her debt is paid. How do Jaffa’s like subsidising people like her?
High. And been climbing too. I wouldn’t mind if we were close to a decent integrated transport system rather than paying huge salaries to executives and boards of watercare etc for running monopoly
BUT also high in Malrborough where apiece of land with no council amenities is paying $1400 in rates per year.
Watercare is an Auckland City organisation, a CCO I believe Mr Hide calls them? CCO or arms length company paying large salaries to people to make a monopoly work profitably (insert laughter).
“Who we are owned by
Watercare is a council organisation, wholly owned by the Auckland Council. The council appoints the company’s board of directors who in turn appoint the chief executive.”
So they charge for water into the house and then they charge for water leaving the house. I think 75% of water exiting the house is charged for. I have lived in homes on individual water meters in Auckland for over 15 years.
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Here’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s political economy on politics and in the week to Feb 3:PM Christopher Luxon began 2025’s first day of Parliament last Tuesday by carrying on where left off in 2024, letting National’s junior coalition partner set the political agenda and dragging ...
The PSA have released a survey of 4000 public service workers showing that budget cuts are taking a toll on the wellbeing of public servants and risking the delivery of essential services to New Zealanders. Economists predict that figures released this week will show continued increases in unemployment, potentially reaching ...
The Prime Minister’s speech 10 days or so ago kicked off a flurry of commentary. No one much anywhere near the mainstream (ie excluding Greens supporters) questioned the rhetoric. New Zealand has done woefully poorly on productivity for a long time and we really need better outcomes, and the sorts ...
President Trump on the day he announced tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China, unleashing a shock to supply chains globally that is expected to slow economic growth and increase inflation for most large economies. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate ...
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 9 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 3Politics: New Zealand Government cabinet meeting usually held early afternoon with post-cabinet news conference possible at 4 pm, although they have not been ...
Trump being Trump, it won’t come as a shock to find that he regards a strong US currency (bolstered by high tariffs on everything made by foreigners) as a sign of America’s virility, and its ability to kick sand in the face of the world. Reality is a tad more ...
A listing of 24 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, January 26, 2025 thru Sat, February 1, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
What seems to be the common theme in the US, NZ, Argentina and places like Italy under their respective rightwing governments is what I think of as “the politics of cruelty.” Hate-mongering, callous indifference in social policy-making, corporate toadying, political bullying, intimidation and punching down on the most vulnerable with ...
If you are confused, check with the sunCarry a compass to help you alongYour feet are going to be on the groundYour head is there to move you aroundSo, stand in the place where you liveSongwriters: Bill Berry / Michael Mills / Michael Stipe / Peter Buck.Hot in the CityYesterday, ...
Shane Jones announced today he would be contracting out his thinking to a smarter younger person.Reclining on his chaise longue with a mouth full of oysters and Kina he told reporters:Clearly I have become a has-been, a palimpsest, an epigone, a bloviating fossil. I find myself saying such things as: ...
Warning: This post contains references to sexual assaultOn Saturday, I spent far too long editing a video on Tim Jago, the ACT Party President and criminal, who has given up his fight for name suppression after 2 years. He voluntarily gave up just in time for what will be a ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is global warming ...
Our low-investment, low-wage, migration-led and housing-market-driven political economy has delivered poorer productivity growth than the rest of the OECD, and our performance since Covid has been particularly poor. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty this ...
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.As far as major government announcements go, a Three Ministers Event is Big. It can signify a major policy development or something has gone Very Well, or an absolute Clusterf**k. When Three Ministers assemble ...
One of those blasts from the past. Peter Dunne – originally neoliberal Labour, then leader of various parties that sought to work with both big parties (generally National) – has taken to calling ...
Completed reads for January: I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson The Black Spider, by Jeremias Gotthelf The Spider and the Fly (poem), by Mary Howitt A Noiseless Patient Spider (poem), by Walt Whitman August Heat, by W.F. Harvey Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White The Shrinking Man, by Richard Matheson ...
Do its Property Right Provisions Make Sense?Last week I pointed out that it is uninformed to argue that the New Zealand’s apparently poor economic performance can be traced only to poor regulations. Even were there evidence they had some impact, there are other factors. Of course, we should seek to ...
Richard Wagstaff It was incredibly jarring to hear the hubris from the Prime Minister during his recent state of the nation address. I had just spent close to a week working though the stories and thoughts shared with us by nearly 2000 working people as part of our annual Mood ...
Odd fact about the Broadcasting Standards Authority: for the last few years, they’ve only been upholding about 5% of complaints. Why? I think there’s a range of reasons. Generally responsible broadcasters. Dumb complaints. Complaints brought under the wrong standard. Greater adherence to broadcasters’ rights to freedom of expression in the ...
And I said, "Mama, mama, mama, why am I so alone"'Cause I can't go outside, I'm scared I might not make it homeWell I'm alive, I'm alive, but I'm sinking inIf there's anyone at home at your place, darlingWhy don't you invite me in?Don't try to feed me'Cause I've been ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ star is on the rise, having just added the Energy, Local Government and Revenue portfolios to his responsibilities - but there is nothing ambitious about the Government’s new climate targets. Photo: SuppliedLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate ...
It may have been a short week but there’s been no shortage of things that caught our attention. Here is some of the most interesting. This week in Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt took a look at public transport ridership in 2024 On Thursday Connor asked some questions ...
The East Is Red: Journalists and commentators are referring to the sudden and disruptive arrival of DeepSeek as a second “Sputnik moment”. (Sputnik being the name given by the godless communists of the Soviet Union to the world’s first artificial satellite which, to the consternation and dismay of the Americans, ...
Hi,Back on inauguration day we launched a ridiculous RFK Jr. “brain worms” tee on the Webworm store, and I told you I’d be throwing my profits over to Mutual Aid LA and Rainbow Youth New Zealand. Just to show I am not full of shit, here are the receipts. I ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: on the week in geopolitics, including the latest from Donald Trump over Gaza and Ukraine.Health expert and author David Galler ...
In an uncompromising paper Treasury has basically told the Government that its plan for a third medical school at Waikato University is a waste of money. Furthermore, the country cannot afford it. That advice was released this week by the Treasury under the Official Information Act. And it comes as ...
Back in November, He Pou a Rangi provided the government with formal advice on the domestic contribution to our next Paris target. Not what the target should be, but what we could realistically achieve, by domestic action alone, without resorting to offshore mitigation. Their answer was startling: depending on exactly ...
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guest David Patman and ...
I don't like to spend all my time complaining about our government, so let me complain about the media first.Senior journalistic Herald person Thomas Coughlan reported that Treasury replied yeah nah, wrong bro to Luxon's claim that our benighted little country has been in recession for three years.His excitement rose ...
Back in 2022, when the government was consulting internally about proactive release of cabinet papers, the SIS opposed it. The basis of their opposition was the "mosaic effect" - people being able to piece together individual pieces of innocuous public information in a way which supposedly harms "national security" (effectively: ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s move to increase speed limits substantially on dozens of stretches of rural and often undivided highways will result in more serious harm. ...
In her first announcement as Economic Growth Minister, Nicola Willis chose to loosen restrictions for digital nomads from other countries, rather than focus on everyday Kiwis. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to stand firm and work with allies to progress climate action as Donald Trump signals his intent to pull out of the Paris Climate Accords once again. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF). Mr McClay recently hosted Minister Farrell in Rotorua for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting, where ANZLF presented on ...
A new monthly podiatry clinic has been launched today in Wairoa and will bring a much-needed service closer to home for the Wairoa community, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.“Health New Zealand has been successful in securing a podiatrist until the end of June this year to meet the needs of ...
The Judicial Conduct Commissioner has recommended a Judicial Conduct Panel be established to inquire into and report on the alleged conduct of acting District Court Judge Ema Aitken in an incident last November, Attorney-General Judith Collins said today. “I referred the matter of Judge Aitken’s alleged conduct during an incident ...
Students who need extra help with maths are set to benefit from a targeted acceleration programme that will give them more confidence in the classroom, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Last year, significant numbers of students did not meet the foundational literacy and numeracy level required to gain NCEA. To ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced three new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ...
Ki te kahore he whakakitenga, ka ngaro te Iwi – without a vision, the people will perish. The Government has achieved its target to reduce the number of households in emergency housing motels by 75 per cent five years early, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The number of households ...
The opening of Palmerston North’s biggest social housing development will have a significant impact for whānau in need of safe, warm, dry housing, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The minister visited the development today at North Street where a total of 50 two, three, and four-bedroom homes plus a ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced the new membership of the Public Advisory Committee on Disarmament and Arms Control (PACDAC), who will serve for a three-year term. “The Committee brings together wide-ranging expertise relevant to disarmament. We have made six new appointments to the Committee and reappointed two existing members ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora, good morning, talofa, malo e lelei, bula vinaka, da jia hao, namaste, sat sri akal, assalamu alaikum. It’s so great to be here and I’m ready and pumped for 2025. Can I start by acknowledging: Simon Bridges – CEO of the Auckland ...
The Government has unveiled a bold new initiative to position New Zealand as a premier destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) that will create higher paying jobs and grow the economy. “Invest New Zealand will streamline the investment process and provide tailored support to foreign investors, to increase capital investment ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced the largest reset of the New Zealand science system in more than 30 years with reforms which will boost the economy and benefit the sector. “The reforms will maximise the value of the $1.2 billion in government funding that goes into ...
Turbocharging New Zealand’s economic growth is the key to brighter days ahead for all Kiwis, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. In the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation Speech in Auckland today, Christopher Luxon laid out the path to the prosperity that will affect all aspects of New Zealanders’ lives. ...
The latest set of accounts show the Government has successfully checked the runaway growth of public spending, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “In the previous government’s final five months in office, public spending was almost 10 per cent higher than for the same period the previous year. “That is completely ...
The Government’s welfare reforms are delivering results with the number of people moving off benefits into work increasing year-on-year for six straight months. “There are positive signs that our welfare reset and the return consequences for job seekers who don't fulfil their obligations to prepare for or find a job ...
Jon Kroll and Aimee McCammon have been appointed to the New Zealand Film Commission Board, Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “I am delighted to appoint these two new board members who will bring a wealth of industry, governance, and commercial experience to the Film Commission. “Jon Kroll has been an ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hailed a drop in the domestic component of inflation, saying it increases the prospect of mortgage rate reductions and a lower cost of living for Kiwi households. Stats NZ reported today that inflation was 2.2 per cent in the year to December, the second consecutive ...
Two new appointed members and one reappointed member of the Employment Relations Authority have been announced by Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden today. “I’m pleased to announce the new appointed members Helen van Druten and Matthew Piper to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) and welcome them to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Coates, Program Director, Housing and Economic Security, Grattan Institute Marlinde/Shutterstock Most Australians can look forward to a comfortable retirement. More than three in four retirees own their own home, most report feeling comfortable financially, and few suffer financial stress. But ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The weekend byelection in the outer suburban seat of Werribee saw the widely-anticipated slap-in-the-face to Victorian Labor, which is absolutely on the nose. The question is: to what degree were electors venting against federal Labor ...
Mediawatch -Trump's alarmed the world with trade tariffs, turning off aid and proposing to take over Gaza. But New Zealand's had diplomatic drama in the news too - with the media in the middle of it. ...
By Rachel Helyer Donaldson, RNZ News journalist New Zealand should be robust in its response to the “unacceptable” situation in Gaza but it must also back its allies against threats by the US President, says an international relations academic. Otago University professor of international relations Robert Patman said the rest ...
A Christchurch man who lost 55 relatives in three Israeli airstrikes on Gaza says his remaining family will never leave, despite a US proposal to remove them. ...
Asia Pacific Report A national Palestine advocacy group has hit back at critics of its “genocide hotline” campaign against soldiers involved in Israel’s war against Gaza, saying New Zealand should be actively following international law. The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) dismissed a “predictable lineup of apologists for Israel” for ...
ACT Party leader David Seymour said he wrote to police about the treatment of Philip Polkinghorne because it's an electorate MP's job to pass on the concerns of their constituents. ...
MEDIAWATCH:By Colin Peacock, RNZ Mediawatch presenter By the time US President Donald Trump announced tariffs on China and Canada last Monday which could kickstart a trade war, New Zealand’s diplomats in Washington, DC, had already been deployed on another diplomatic drama. Republican Senator Ted Cruz had said on social ...
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says New Zealand is asking for too much oversight over its deal with China, which is expected to be penned in Beijing next week. Brown told RNZ Pacific the Cook Islands-New Zealand relationship was reciprocal. “They certainly did ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Byelections occurred on Saturday in the Victorian state seats of Prahran and Werribee. The Liberals gained Prahran from the Greens by a ...
A long time ago, Brian Turner wrote a poem in which, among the mountains, as he slept on a river flat … My speechless ancestors played like mice among my dreamsand he woke to the river running over my bed of stone. I have come to know that where a ...
Pacific Media Watch President Donald Trump has frozen billions of dollars around the world in aid projects, including more than $268 million allocated by Congress to support independent media and the free flow of information. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has denounced this decision, which has plunged NGOs, media outlets, and ...
Otago University professor of international relations Robert Patman says New Zealand should provide a robust response to Donald Trump's Gaza plan, and also "should stop tip-toeing" around Trump. ...
The new minister of transport has opened the door for public consultation on at least some of the speed limit changes the government said would be automatic. ...
Officially, they’re called ‘memecoins,’ but Kōura Wealth founder Rupert Carlyon says the crypto world has another name for them: ‘shitcoins’.In digital finance, that phrase is used for tokens that have no true value – in essence, a money-grab.A few days before his inauguration, US President Donald Trump launched his own ...
Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was. Guy Williams has made a whole show off the joke that he is a “volunteer” journalist. So getting publicly owned by David Seymour while trying to act as a journalist is a good and timely reminder not to underestimate the nuance and ...
Many of Sāmoa’s beloved dishes are the result of cultural collaboration, writes Madeleine Chapman. All photos by Jin FelletIf you ever find yourself at a barbecue in a Sāmoan home, there’s 99% chance that sapasui (chop suey) will be on the table. For the past century, sapasui has ...
The funnyman takes us through his life in television, including Jono and Ben mayhem, live Telethon flubs, and funnelling all those experiences into his new comedy Vince. There’s an inciting incident in Three’s new comedy Vince where morning television presenter Vince Walters (Jono Pryor) is visiting sick kids in hospital ...
People often claim they just want Waitangi Day to be a celebration. At Waitangi, away from the headlined political acrimony and the marae ātea, celebrating is what most people are doing. The Spinoff Essay showcases the best essayists in Aotearoa, on topics big and small. Made possible by the generous ...
Is there anything more fashionable than a Māori get together? One of the best things about Northland is that nobody cares what they look like — probably because they’re all naturally more stylish than the rest of us, famously. Māori from the Far North, especially. In 27 degree heat, wearing ...
I’ve been in love with him since last July, but it’s only now in this tepid hotel room that I find myself wondering why. The first thing he does when we arrive is smoke a cone in the bathroom – he emerges, hacking up a lung, fists thrust into his ...
MONDAY“Name,” barked a representative of the lower orders.I regarded him with a look of stern disapproval, and told him from up high, “May I remind you that I have name suppression. I shall also thank you to ask with more respect as befits a former president of the Act Party, ...
Books of Mana: 180 Māori-Authored Books of Significance, edited by Jacinta Ruru, Angela Wanhalla and Jeanette Wikaira has just been released by Otago University Press. In this essay, Books are Taonga, Jeanette Wikaira explores her personal relationship to books and their value.For me, books are taonga. The knowledge ...
Get to know Tara, our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Tara’s human for their support! Dog name: Tara Age: Two Breed: Mostly Border Collie and a little bit Catahoula Leopard dog If dog ...
Health NZ's CEO has resigned, but frontline healthworkers are sceptical that installing new leadership will make any difference to a system grappling with problems. ...
Health NZ's CEO has resigned, but frontline healthworkers are sceptical that installing new leadership will make any difference to a system grappling with problems. ...
Gail Duncan, Chairperson of the St Peter’s on Willis Social Justice Group, one of the organisations invited to submit on the Bill, says the Government’s actions are unprecedented. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amani Kasherwa, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Queensland In late January, a rebel group that has long caused mayhem in the sprawling African nation of Democratic Republic of Congo took control of Goma, a major city of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yee-Fui Ng, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Monash University An ad falsely depicting independent candidate Alex Dyson as a Greens member.ABC News/Supplied The highly pertinent case of a little-known independent candidate in the Victorian seat of Wannon has exposed a gaping ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lauren Ball, Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, The University of Queensland Nik/Unsplash You might have heard that eating too many eggs will cause high cholesterol levels, leading to poor health. Researchers have examined the science behind this myth again, and ...
Everything you missed from the third day of the Treaty principles bill hearings, when the Justice Committee heard four hours of oral submission. Read our recaps of day one of the hearings here, and day two here. Parliament was quiet on Friday for the third day of hearings on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Jeffries, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, Western Sydney University Tijana Simic/Shutterstock The news last week that three people in Sydney were hospitalised with botulism after receiving botox injections has raised questions about the regulation of the cosmetic injectables industry. The ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jens Blotevogel, Principal Research Scientist and Team Leader for Remediation Technologies, CSIRO Mino Surkala, Shutterstock Lithium-ion batteries are part of everyday life. They power small rechargeable devices such as mobile phones and laptops. They enable electric vehicles. And larger versions store ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edith Jennifer Hill, Associate Lecturer, Learning & Teaching Innovation, Flinders University Netflix Netflix’s new limited series, Apple Cider Vinegar, tells the story of the elaborate cancer con orchestrated by Australian blogger Annabelle (Belle) Gibson. The first episode opens with Gibson’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dee Ninis, Earthquake Scientist, Monash University Greece’s government has just declared a state of emergency on the island of Santorini, as earthquakes shake the island multiple times a day and sometimes only minutes apart. The “earthquake swarm” is also affecting other ...
this has lifted my morning..
http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/mar/12/johnny-cash-she-used-to-love-me-a-lot-exclusive-video
“..Acclaimed director John Hillcoat has made a video for a song from Johnny Cash’s forthcoming ‘lost’ album..”
phillip ure..
And the Nats business as usual. And here comes yet another shit storm for the Nats.(With any Luck)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11218598
Theyhad a go at Shane Jones about this, and he was cleared. But now it seems a case of pot calling Kettle black yet again..
3 scandals in a week. Well done National.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11218598
This has the look of ‘appearance money’.
Would be interesting to know the cost of Crosby Textor PR and tactical advice to the National Party over the years and by whom it has been paid.
Advanced instruction in “trickiness” which of course includes how to accuse everyone else of being ‘tricky’, would not come cheap I imagine.
There was a time in the 30s when post-abdication the Duke and Duchess of Windsor would demand appearance money for attending the fabulous dinner parties of American East Coast high society matrons.
Does the National Party have an ‘Edward & Wallis Fund’ ?
PS – I well recall Patrick Gower in a semi-apoplexy about the more-or-less exculpatory findings of the investigation into Shane Jones’ ministerial actions re the wealthy Asian businessman.
“I AM ANGRY !” boomed Monsieur ‘And-Som with a ferocity that had me scrambling for the remote.
Settle in for white rage from Patrick Gower on TV 3 News tonight………ya reckon ?
More National sleaze
How the NSA plans to infect millions of computers with malware:
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/article/2014/03/12/nsa-plans-infect-millions-computers-malware/
Hmmmm they already did that, it’s called Windows (and OS X is no better).
d’ya know any libertarians..?
..confused wee souls..aren’t they..
“..3 Things That Make Libertarian Heads Explode..
..Libertarians tend to ride on theoretical unicorns –
(cont..)
http://www.alternet.org/economy/3-things-make-libertarian-heads-explode
phillip ure..
I’m all for unregulated business, as long as workers are armed, and the state leaves us to sort it out 🙂
Sounds like unions and business in the good old days in the USA. Sigh – nostalgia!
It must hurt.
http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2014/03/all-over-bar-counting.html
That’s why Nat’s propaganda sheets keep publishing rogue polls.
Control the media, control the people.
Solution….find independent sources of media and DNFTT.
@ The aptly named drongo:
Here, my fine feathered Tory, is some analysis I’ve recently completed (and partly posted elsewhere).
What I’ve done is to calculate National’s monthly poll average for the 08 and 11 Election years and then compared it (in parentheses) with National’s actual Party-Vote result at the Election later that year: (so, for example, the Nats averaged 52% in the opinion polls of March 2011 and that was 5 percentage points higher than the proportion they in fact received at the 2011 election):
National 2011
March 52% (+5), April 54% (+7), May 52% (+5), June 53% (+6), July 53% (+6), August 54% (+7), September 55% (+8), October 54% (+7), Early November 52% (+5), Late November 51% (+4), 2011 Election: 47%
National 2008
March 49% (+4), April 51% (+6), May 52% (+7), June 54% (+9), July 51% (+6), August 49% (+4), September 49% (+4), Early/Mid October 48% (+3), Late October/Early November 46% (+1), 2008 Election: 45%
So, all things being equal, I suspect you can probably subtract 4-7 points off National’s current polling (averaging roughly 49% at the moment). Then again, if their current spike in support is only temporary (and they revert to, say, the 44% they were averaging until just a few weeks ago), then perhaps the 4-7 points should come off this lower level of support ?
But, in any case, it’s also important not to assume that these 4-7 points can simply be added on to the Left Bloc vote. Some of it goes to National’s minor support parties on the Right (they tend to receive a little boost after Key’s teacup luncheons) and to NZ First. It does, however, mean that the Left and Right Blocs are a little closer than you might assume from recent polling.
I might add, there are one or two rumours that National’s internal polling is picking up a sharp dip in support for both National and Key. Just rumours at the moment, but very interesting.
chrs 4 that swordfish..
phillip ure..
Excellent work there Swordy. Thanks for putting in the effort. Illuminating.
The effect of the appearance (note – “appearance”) of ‘Smile & Wave & Invoice’ ?
Age old readily digestible concept that one.
God forbid that the masses get well above their station and latch onto it.
Urgent memo ShonKey Python to Crosby Fester – ” How the hell does one issue a ‘final warning’ to an entire population while maintaining ‘Smile & Wave’ ? “
Dont use facts. Drongos head will explode… oh wait
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11218505
“The average power bill for a family of four will rise by 2.4 per cent this year, Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges said yesterday as he faced questions from political opponents intent on making electricity increases an election-year issue.”
My lines company has raised the daily line cost from $1 t A DAY to $2 A DAY
$365 increase a year
That is about 12% per year!!!!
And UP goes the Official Cash Rate, that which is the indicator of future bank mortgage rates, Reserve Bank Governor is expected to announce the rise to 2.75 at 9 o’clock this morning,
Speeding train hits brick wall,???, You bet, future interest rates on mortgages with the expected 25 point rise are going to go up weekly by 20 bucks for every hundred thousand borrowed,
Those in the bigger cities with a mortgage at the low end of the spectrum, $300,000, will be paying an extra $60 a week, to work out the cost you only need add $20 for every $100,000 of mortgage,
Knee-capping an economy that has just struggled out of the after effects of the Global Financial Crisis aint smart and is more easily explained by pointing out that across the mortgage belt each household will have to shrink their spending into the economy by 60–$100 a week,
Renters will not escape the interest rates rises to follow as it is unlikely that landlords will be willing to shoulder all of the expected cost increases so at least part of this will pass into the economy via higher rents being paid,
Expect 20,000 more unemployed in a years time…
Banksters strike again???, You bet, the inflation rate??? a lowly 1.6%, unemployment??? raging along at 6.1%, 150,000 of our fellow Kiwi’s jobless,destitute, and, kicked around for sport by Paula Bennett and WINZ,
The Kiwi$$$, nearly on a par with the Aussie one, expect this to creep up another couple of cents as the interest rates rise,=more unemployment
BERL economist Ganish Nana???, raising the cash rate now with the economic indicators where they are, Stupid!!!,
WestPac bankster economist Dominic Stevens, the cash rate and interest rates has to go up because we should remember the 1970’s, what we should remember is it will be the Banksters and only the Banksters who will profit from this,
Boom, blow another hole in the Government books, more unemployment equals less tax payers, higher benefit costs, along with less spending in the economy from those paying 60 to a $100 dollars more a week in mortgage payments, estimated hole in the Government accounts +half a billion to a billion dollars on top of the already unsustainable 2 billion gap between government spending and revenue,
Outlook for next 3 years= ROCK-BOTTOM ECONOMY…
Ganish Nana? is not stupid I think. He seemed to be saying that it was unnecessary and likely to be depressing on the economy to raise the interest rate. The first
2.75% quarter of a percentage point,first since 2010.
Institute of Economic Research spokesperson Yakob is going to speak to Kathryn Ryan. I think he will be dry, and is probably part of our drought problem here over the country. Thought it would be up by .50 instead of .25 to send strong signals to fix home interest rates to the banks. That’s how you handle the country’s economy folks. I love that bit I heard earlier where that would be so good in keeping the country stable, from an economist of course. That’s while under their ministrations of the financial field they send our exchange rate through the roof and firms teeter on being insolvent as a result. So steady.
Don Brash’s little voice still piping on. Wish someone would eipe him off this sinking ship.
Greywarbler, exactly what He was saying, Stupid Stupid Stupid, perhaps i should have put that in quotation marks as it could be read that i am insinuating He is stupid, which i aint…
Yes you should have put quotes! Don’t want to appear to be dissing any of the informed seekers of facts and truth we are lucky enough to have.
Perhaps warbler, you should either wear specs or read a little slower, anyone with a fully functioning nut can see that i am not dissing Nana, and my apologies to the economist i believe His name is Danish…
No that’s a crunchy sweet pastry.
Third time lucky, Danesh…
Got your calculators ready, crunch these numbers, the Reserve Bank governor as expected, has just raised the Official cash rate to 2.75,
For anyone with a 300 grand mortgage that equates to the Banksters sucking 60 bucks a week outta your pockets and that is just the Governors ”teaser”,
The Governor in this mornings statement has indicated that by years end, that’s this year, the OCR will be up to 3.75 and at the end of 2015 a crushing 4.75,
So, for mortgage holders at the low end of the spectrum, $300,000 Kaching, Kaching, the Banksters are going to delve into your pockets by up to 260 dollars a week on top of what your now paying,
Above i consider that the initial interest rates rises will cost an extra 20,000 jobs,
Given what the Reserve Bank Governor ‘plans’ for the economy i would suggest that unemployment by the end of 2015 is likely to be 200,000 and rising,
Rock-Bottom economy here we come…
The internal polling for the Nacts must be truely dreadful – the increase in the cash rate will help them offhsore their money before everything turns to custard…..
Same here what a fucking liar The minister for funny talking is.
If that was in Question Time, as seems to be the case, then there must be a case to have him up on misleading the House.
Not on a single anecdote. You’d have to canvass the averages.
I’ve seen in the MSM that power prices are going up between 7% and 24% across the nation. Still, the canvassing wouldn’t be that hard – there’s not that many retailers after all.
if you want exclamation marks..
..how about the extra $700 a year the poorest forced onto pre-paid power by their supplier have to pay the power company run by jenny shipley..
..(she really has made a life-long career of screwing over the poorest as much as she can..
..that shipley..eh..?.)
http://whoar.co.nz/2014/former-prime-minister-jenny-shipley-heads-power-company-that-rips-offprofiteers-from-the-poorest-new-zealanders/
phillip ure..
It’s weird, because Powershop effectively have pre-paid power, and they don’t charge anything extra. In fact, pre-paid power from Powershop is likely to be slightly cheaper than any post-paid power you might buy from them.
Dunno how it works now but in a flat long ago we had one of the early versions of prepaid power with the swipe card, The machine was fairly unreliable to the point we had a direct dial to the technician who had to come out at all hours and reset it. I have a vague memory of letters indicating higher pre pay prices due to increased servicing costs and providing 24 hour access to top ups….
I’m with Powershop and am very satisfied with the service I receive
Steven Joyce will receive a lot of focus when Collins resigns/gets fired shortly.
As the only heir apparent the National Party succession will become clearer to the general public.
It is an opportunity for Labour to portray uncertainty and to contract popular/suave Key with four o’clock shadow/boring Joyce.
Slippery the Prime Minister publicly rebuking Judith Collins over the fact that She has been less than open with the ‘truth’ surrounding Her Ministerial visit to China???,
Smacks of the big fish telling the little fish ”stop stealing the lime-light, it is my role to make fools of the press and public and anyway my Lies are better than yours”…
“One friend in a lifetime is much; two are many; three are hardly possible”.
Henry Brooks Adams.
He never met Judith.
@ arthur..
..heh..!
phillip ure..
every problem has a solution
http://i.imgur.com/opMconr.jpg
“UNLESS SOMETHING HUGELY DRAMATIC HAPPENS between now and polling day, 20 September, the General Election of 2014 is all but over. The National-led government of Prime Minister, John Key, looks set to be returned for a third term by a margin that may surprise many of those currently insisting that the result will be very close. What may also surprise is the sheer scale and comprehensiveness of the Left’s (especially Labour’s) electoral humiliation.”
A little early, Chris, but your analysis is sound. Unless something major happens, the left, particularly Labour, will be decimated.
Jones looking good, tho…
oops here you go. you get what you wish for i guess ha ha ha
How it unfolded
• 2010: Businessman Donghua Liu granted NZ citizenship by Nathan Guy, the then-Minister of Internal Affairs, against official advice after being lobbied by Maurice Williamson, Minister of Building and Construction, and John Banks, the Auckland Mayor at the time.
• 2011: Mr Williamson and Prime Minister John Key attend the opening of the first stage of Mr Liu’s $70 million redevelopment in Newmarket, Auckland.
• 2012: Roncon Pacific Hotel Management Holdings Ltd — of which Mr Liu is a director — makes a $22,000 donation to the National Party.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11218598
Labour had already granted him P.R. though, which kind of blunts that attack. Did they receive any donations?
“UNLESS SOMETHING HUGELY DRAMATIC HAPPENS”
Like journalists doing their job ?
Like interviewers listening to the answers ?
Like the Media telling the truth ?
yeah that would be hugely dramatic
but the left is grabbing those reigns back anyway, don’t worry about that
Judith Collins humiliated after being less than forthcoming with the truth, Slippery the Prime Minister humiliated on TV3’s ‘the Nation’ and then again on the 6 o’clock news exposed as a hypocrite over secret 5 grand donations as the ‘price’ of a dinner,
3 days later again the PM is humiliated caught out telling the press ‘less than the truth’ while He tried in vain to defend Collins,
Dramatic enough for you???…
Not really.
Collins has been stupid, certainly. Granting of citizenship never affected Labour. So, beltway issues.
Elections are won on back-pocket factors, and whether people like the party leader. Everything else is chattering classes politi-geek fluff.
Something Trotter understands.
grr..!!..i have to agree with tiger woods..
..and/but he is really only strengthening the case that labour have to produce policies that will make that disengaged one million voters want to urge those all around them to go out and vote for labour..
..and as tiger woods confirmed..
..that has to be a poverty-busting/’back-pocket’ package of policies..
..only that will guarantee victory..
..(don’t forget how key came to power..
..he promised big back-pocket policies/tax-cuts..
..learn from that..
..and offer to the middle-class/workers/poor..
..what key promised the rich/middle-class..
..to put a significant more into their ‘back-pockets’..)
..phillip ure..
Yes, elections are won on back-pocket factors…like mortgages and power bills being more expensive. I think JustLikeTigerWoods optimism about National’s chances is unfounded.
hello jackal..where have u been..?
..and i agree tiger is getting a tad carried away..
..and labour/left could well scrape in..
..if the sleaze/hubris continues to build for/from national…
..this will help this happen..
..but i would contend that winning an election with a serious mandate to get on with it..
.means labour/with the support of the greens..
..must promise those poverty-busting ‘back pocket’ policies to get that one million out and voting..
..to ensure that mandate..
phillip ure..
Hi phillip ure. I’ve been trying to ignore politics, mainly because of the current bunch of idiots in power. National simply cannot be reasoned with, mainly because they’re removed from reality and so caught up in their own bullshit that they wouldn’t now the truth to save themselves.
Thank you for your hopeful (s)p(l)utter @ 12.3.1 just…woods.
Are you so sure ?
Check out Disraeli Galdstone @ 1 on “Scandals” – link below.
http://thestandard.org.nz/scandals/#comment-785328
Would pay to keep in mind that it was Trotter on election night television in 2005 I think, who in highly animated and excited style, 45 minutes after the polls closed, proclaimed the demise of Helen Clark’s government. Hang on…… government highly animated
2005? That’s your example?
I think Trotter is premature, but his reasoning is correct. It’s the basic, big picture stuff that wins elections.
Labour aren’t proposing anything better for most, and their leader doesn’t resonate.
“big picture stuff ”
if the public were actually being shown or told or even winked at about the big picture National would never get near the ninth floor ever again
Yeah well you go with that but would be unwise to overlook that Trotter’s analysis was concluded before the emergence today of the quintessential “back-pocket” issue, the cash rate.
Indeed for many it’s more than a “back-pocket” issue. It’s a backyard-issue, viz. an issue touching the very retention of said backyard by those seduced by Smile and Wave into believing in Cargo Cult and Brighter Future.
What’s the public mood going to be like when those who think they’ve lived the Brighter Future courtesy of the best and nicest PM in our history find they simply can’t meet the cost of it ? And they lose it. What will their relatives say ?
While at the same time there’s a powerful reflection that the high end of town continues to advance its wealth and power. Clay feet are still clay no matter they’re increasingly well shod.
Forget the bullshit that National absolutely and historically triumphed in the last election. That’s theistic fantasy. Defections in the mere thousands will see them done for. The increasing appearance of Smile & Wave & Invoice with increased wealth and power in the hands of many fewer will lead to reprisal.
Perhaps you live your life surrounded by the disenfranchised, which distorts your view.
The polls tell you the truth about what most New Zealanders think. Most are happy with the direction of the country, and most like Key. Labour are down to base levels and Cunliffe’s not even popular amongst Labour voters.
“Most” wins elections.
Surrounding yourself with the top 5% is what fucks a person’s view IMO.
I can sure see “most” who can’t fathom how to meet for a start an extra $60-$80 per week on their mortgage when they’re bloody hard pressed already, being mostly happy. Yeah…….so mostly happy that they’re just gonna chuckle admiringly and say – “Gee, I’d love to have a beer with that great guy…….”
Get real. As the worry and the fear sets in and then the pain hits and mortgagee sales take on a roll, ShonKey Python’s repute will really start to reflect his first name. The heist conceived by the movers and shakers of the National Party and their foreign advisers almost immediately Labour was elected in 1999 is about to be exposed.
There is vast electoral power out there Woods. You know it. Your ‘ace’ is that Cunliffe’s just not up to the challenge. In fact as of today it’s your only argument. That “back-pocket” is ready to bite many bums and ShonKey’s as a consequence.
We’ll see. To me it’s simple science. Leaking vaccums always get filled. ShonKey Python is an increasingly empty vessel personally who is a visibly nasty piece of work under pressure. Couple that with Smile & Wave taking on the appearance of Smile & Wave & Invoice – it just gets worse. Whom, leaving me in the shit with my Brighter Future dreams in tatters, will profit from buying the house I lose for example ? Speculators, the high end of town. ShonKey Python people.
Yes, I live not far from and work in a town where the average annual income is round $17,000. I work in a job where daily I see the gross reflections of that vicious deprivation. Of course it affects, I say informs, my view. Push the fact of it, even the subjective perception of it further and further up the ladder – ShonKey Python has real problems. The arrogant, entitled, suspect crew accompanying him, and for that matter even the fabulousness of a royal tour (the effete obseqious royal courtier fiddling with vast wealth and privilege while Rome burns) will not help.
I don’t know the figure off the top of my head so please you or someone else tell me. How many thousands of votes cast for the Left bloc rather than the Right bloc in 2011 would have seen ShonKey Python back in the US a very unremarkable one term PM. ?
Many many people will ditch ridiculous theism about ShonKey Python. The man was a massive fraud from the start.
+100,000,000 North!
Official Cash Rate at 3.75 by the end of the year, that’s something in the order of an extra 160 bucks a week on a 300 grand mortgage by the end of this year across the vast mortgage belt in the bigger cities,
If that aint dramatically ‘back-pocket’ enough for you, how bout the proposed OCR rate at the end of 2015 of 4.75 which adds yet another hundy to a 300,000 dollar mortgage,
Should we be so terribly unlucky and have a National Government still occupying the Treasury Benches i would suggest that interest rates biting those ‘back pockets’ in such a manner will have that Party polling at 20% again….
The Tory formula for countering this is very well known, just set up another speculative expansionary property bubble.
Yes your mortgage is $500 more a month, but when your house is “worth” $2500 more a month, what’s the problem? Sounds like a ‘good deal’ for the homeowner…
Those I know are happy with their lot. They’re fine paying for welfare and the rest, but know there will always be the piss-takers, over-breeders, and cretins bleating about their self-imposed lot. Yawn. They’ll always be with us. Best ignored.
The bolly is flowing, The lolly is increasing. Seize the days, chaps.
We need an electorate ready to guarantee full time work to everyone who wants it, not just pay for welfare.
Woods proving my point with an ugly “Fuck You” caraciture. Ironically, as of today it will catch on even faster. Watch your hubris there mate.
LabGreen have no credible alternative. They’re promising to spend more, and the Australian is promising to print more.
That’s not going to do the OCR much good, is it.
“the LabGreen have no credible alternative.” – Just Like Tiger Woods
You are quite right Tiger – the Labour/Greens have no credible alternative – National/Act are not a credible alternative to what the Labour/Greens are offering.
heh
The nation thinks otherwise. LabGreen are just not as popular, and their leader is not well liked.
If the election result were a certainty, you wouldn’t need to try so hard.
Key’s problem is that while they could throw the “don’t you know who I am” nobody under the bus, the apparently-corrupt ministers are too big for him to do that. So they’ll hang around and fester.
But we’ll all know for sure at the end of September.
Not trying hard at all. That’s National’s problem – complacency in the face of a deeply unpopular opposition.
Ah, so you suffer from a lack of effort rather than gross incompetence. You must be one of the more highly-skilled tory spinmerchants, then.
National’s problem is also that they can’t fire Adams, Guy and Collins all in one week, even if they had replacements.
Oh Tiger, how disappointing- I thought for once you’d got something correct 😀
Blue
Good comment but am still waiting to hear a concise declaration of the Labour/Greens Election policies – please do you know them ? – then please tell.
All appears is to remember to hate the NACTS – Key particularly – entirely negative – let go positive.
the simple fact of the matter is that nationals one and only plank was that it was their turn. well the’ve had their turn and stolen as much as they could from the treasury and now they are about to be booted out.
Their policy appears to be “hate on Key”
If Dave can come up with a few policies that lift the well-being of the lower classes whilst not robbing the middle and upper classes to do it, he might turn things around.
The middle and upper aren’t going to vote for any more tax gouging. Labour need to go away and come up with some new ideas, not a re-run of Muldoonism.
Who said anything about raising the tax rate for middle income earners?
I doubt you can manage substantive criticism, which explains your pathological need to make up strawmen.
Whatever. We own the gaff.
No you don’t.
You’ve been lent it for a few years, and soon the true owners will be reconsidering their choice. And you have no friends to help you borrow the gaff for another three years.
You dont own it but you are selling it, in a myriad of ways, to the highest bidder… your lot are stealing the future of young and as yet unborn kiwis.
@tracey..
plus 1
phillip ure..
Yeah, we do.
30 years of Rogernomics. Life is mighty fine. Join in. It’s pretty easy once you get the hang of it. Helen and Michael at least got that….
Or stick with failed ideology in the dead hope that people will vote for a return to Muldoonism, Unionism and a crumbling South Pacific version of Venezuela.
and all we have to do to “join in” is not care when children die.
…and not listen to the IMF and their meddling reality check.
“Won’t anyone think of the children!”
No who’s being a caricature….
Children aren’t dying. Some suffer the moral and intellectual poverty of their “parent”, of course.
JLTW, it’s time for your reality check.
Figure 2.1a
“hate on key”, what about the rights “hate on cunliffe” ? more pot calling the kettle black.
More “feel a bit sorry for” than “hate”
Cunliffe is not even a contender. Jones is, but you didn’t pick him.
That was a bit silly, wasn’t it.
‘Cunliffe isn’t even a contender’
Tiger, If this was so, National would not be spending so much time focussing on ripping him to shreds. The only way they can do so, however, is on shallow and made up points.
National do not fight on policy because they know Cunliffe and Labour are stronger than National in that area.
National Party’s 3D election strategy: Distract and Deflect so that noone notices what Drongos we are.
“a re-run of Muldoonism……….” What a joke. I’ll bet that in the day you were just as much a blowhard protagonist for Muldoon as you are today for ShonKey Python.
@ PapaMike
Labour party principles
Issues Labour supports
Green party values
Green party policy
Mana’s principles
Mana policies
The message I have recieived thus far summarised:
The left put people before profit and consider social effects as well as monetary issues. In the medium-to-long run this ends up creating less problems and the country becomes wealthier than when a singular focus on profit for a few (National & Act) is pursued.
As well as this:
Labour are noting that the wealth gap issue, social mobility and job conditions are being adversely affected by this National government and intend to rectify the situation
The Greens include a focus on ensuring the health of the environment with the understanding this positively affects our well-being and economy.
Mana includes a focus on Maori issues, realising there is a shortfall in addressing such. They also have a strong focus on prioritising poverty issues and also have a strong anti-corporate stance.
The problems with the OCR response to inflationary house cost (read AK ),is two parts
a) The absence of rigorous fiscal policy to constrain external interference (read speculators)
b) The OCR response increases the external interference ie higher interest rates and an appreciating NZ dollar a positive feedback.
The RBNZ inflationary response mechanism model a DSGE model (which have been around for 30yrs) are both questionable and have not passed the smell test eg Solow
The protagonists of this idea make a claim to respectability by asserting that it is
founded on what we know about microeconomic behavior,but I think that this claim is generally phony. The advocates no doubt believe what they say, but they seem to have stopped sniffing or to have lost their sense of smell altogether
http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/research_and_publications/research_programme/additional_research/kitt/
https://web.archive.org/web/20110204034313/http://democrats.science.house.gov/Media/file/Commdocs/hearings/2010/Oversight/20july/Solow_Testimony.pdf
The major constraint on the DGSE model is its inablity to forecast anything.
Reality itself is a major constraint on the theoretically bankrupt DGSE model, but it doesn’t stop the bloody economists and governments from using it to make macro-economic decisions.
Always the same with the left.
“It’ll be different this time! We’ll tax the cr*p out of everything and hand money to poor people, and it will all be great!”
No. No it won’t. It will be a Venezuela-level disaster, minus the oil. Left-wing ideology destroys the very incentives needed to generate the wealth to pay for the state services. Even Marx got that….
You need new ideas. The left needs an economic rebirth. Your old ideas are failed, rejected and will never return from the deep 70’s pit in which they are long buried.
Forget the rich pr*cks and redundant class war. Your real enemy is lack of productivity. Solve that problem and you’ll really be onto something, because I’m not sure the right know the answer to that question, either.
@Tiger
You don’t understand how substantial income inequality effects the economy and you don’t understand how progressive tax systems work to ameliorate those negative effects.
You don’t understand how the relationship between human capital and technological capital has forever changed the landscape of industrial relations.
You avoid the well documented effects of multinational corporations playing the system in a way which is impossible for regular citizens.
You cling to bogus arguments like low productivity which I find particularly amusing because the rightwing industrial relations and low tax policy which you champion are precisely the causes of a weak economy.
An economy can only be strong if the vast majority of people engage in it and benefit from the surpluses generated within it. Low/flat tax rates and no rights for workers has created a system with a few super wealthy people and a decimated middle class which actually isn’t very good for aggregate demand.
Did you even realise that?
The central irony is that rightwing muppets always advocate for ‘growing the pie’ but their short sighted greed for short term profits means they end up implementing policies which shrink the pie.
If you were honest then your true motto would be ‘I believe in fucking the economy so that I can have an ever increasing slice of an ever diminishing pie’
You claim your opponents are stuck in the 70’s but you appear to be stuck in the 20’s. Perhaps you should study up on what happened to the world economy the last time Laissez Faire economic theory was followed through with…
+1. Very good. David Cunliffe please note. This is how to say it (maybe without the “f” word). 🙂
The middle class has been decimated, but not by “the wealthy”. It’s due to a) technology and b) tax structures destroying savings and investment
We have low capital allocation per worker. Why? Partly poor management and partly because it doesn’t pay to invest in them (tax structures).
Technology has replaced a lot of jobs. It’s now eating into the middle class. To counter this, we need to use that very technology to increase productivity. This generates the surplus necessary for a high wage society.
We don’t get that way by endless redistributing and fighting a phoney class war. That is last century’s battle. This century’s battle is firstly understand that technology replaces labour, then understand the way to leverage that technology is to invest in workers.
The right doesn’t have the answer either, but at least they understand the incentives. The left would redistribute and shrink away to nothing. Why? They take capital and force it into consumption. Consumption is not what we need. Savings and investment, and allocation of capital into labour productivity is what we need.
And in this New Zealand, right now, you think the best way to deliver this is what exactly?
Please give examples of countries that have adopted your prescriptions, as well as examples of countries that you think we should emulate, so we can check how they did it.
One publication had a regular column called Felicity Ferret where little titbits were published of an interesting nature.
What about us having a Willy the Weta? I think I heard a whisper that someone in government is going to produce a glossy booklet on where to dine in Beijing and New York.
The quiet places where you don’t get spotted having dinner with your friends in useful places.
Our mental health system has been run so far into the ground that people needing help must resort to crime in order to get the support needed:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9823109/Woman-desperate-to-be-jailed
A terrible and sad story that one – I hope she gets the help she wants and needs. If we cannot (and I don’t think we can) look after the most vulnerable in society we fail them and ourselves.
This government has no idea on how to manage an economy.
Here come the rate rises. Everyone is going to start feeling the pinch now as mortgage rates sky rocket over the next 12 months.
You have National to thank for that.
Lost his mojo just like tiger woods.
Chris trotter is dog whistling the left into action .
Well, that’s what he’ll claim if labgrn win.
Yup totally agree with both of ya
“..10 famous geniuses and their drugs of choice..
..Is intelligence related to an increased likelihood of recreational drug use?..”
http://www.salon.com/2013/08/16/10_famous_geniuses_who_used_drugs_and_were_better_off_for_it_partner/
phillip ure..
spare a thought for the stay at home voter.
his empty eyes gaze at strange beauty shows.
A parade of gray suited grafters.
Lung cancer or polio….
Added “Clarke” to the auto-moderation especially for the fools who mean Helen Clark
This subtle technique worked for Hooton and the morons with a silent T fetish 😈
http://www.3news.co.nz/Russel-Norman-target-of-Shane-Jones-anti-Aussie-rant/tabid/1607/articleID/335636/Default.aspx
Any chance of getting Shane Jones to defect to National? I’m liking the fire in his belly.
PR – sure you’re not talking about the ‘wire’ in his ‘felly’ ?
He’d be the least embarrassing member of the current cabinet, that’s for sure.
🙂
nah..!..peters/nz first is his natural home..
..why doesn’t he go there..?
..and succeed peters..?
..he’s got a snowballs’ chance in hell of ever leading labour..
..most wouldn’t trust him to lead a lolly-scramble..
..off ya go..!..shane..!
..you’ll find more of yr kind there..!
..go on..!
..run free..!..
phillip ure..
Anyone else wondering why so many cases of measles amongst the already vaccinated for measles?….
http://www.vaccinationcouncil.org/2013/01/18/the-ineffectiveness-of-measles-vaccines-and-other-unintended-consequences-by-dr-viera-scheibner-phd
http://www.naturalnews.com/033399_vaccines_measles.html
Every one wants the latest billion dollar vaccine…no one wants to provide potable water and build toilets for the poor…big profits in one but miniscule in the other…typical and predictable.
I suppose that’s the sort of lie you have to make up to maintain the delusion.
mcflock what are you on about?
meh. What was the quote, how true was it, and what was it supposed to justify.
McFlock
Why couldn’t it be CV talking about his own opinion rather than a quote? He didn’t say it was a quote. He appears to be saying that improvements in provision of good facilities like clean water and toilet systems would go a long way to preventing disease, but there is more interest in giving money to Big Pharma for providing vaccines
.
Colonial Viper might enlarge on his comment and clarify. I am reading my expected interpretation into it. But that’s my guess.
CV didn’t quote a thing.
I did.
His comment was untrue.
You’re too smart for me. Adieu.
It is not that he is smarter. McFlock has a fervent belief the Big Pharma model is inherently superior, therefore he dismisses those who challenge it as lacking evidence, without bothering to provide any evidence himself.
not big pharma.
Vaccines are superior to leaving diseases to sread normally, hygiene or no.
Evidence: small pox rates. Polio rates. MMR rates. And so on.
“His comment was untrue.”
No it wasn’t. It was hyperbole for sure, but the implied message is true. Or are you suggesting that pharmaceutical companies aren’t driven by profit and greed, and are really just in business for the good of the world?
Oh I’m sorry, what was the “implied message”? That pharmacy companies aren’t water infrastructure companies? Or that measles is a waterborne disease like cholera?
Because many of the same agencies that fund vac programs in the developing world also fund water programs.
The implied message is really a lament over the fact we allow governments to funnel billions to pharmaceutical companies, rather than into top-notch infrastructure.
Ultimately it is our choice how we allocate resources, but the excessive influence of pharmaceutical companies garners them a disproportionate amount of that resource, and that is why people are concerned.
So now you’re widening “potable water and build toilets” to general infrastructure?
I mean, that “implied message” is untrue too (e.g. road building projects in developing nations), but I just want to see if you’re shifting the goalposts.
Thing is, we’re talking past each other, because you see pharmaceutical companies as altruistic organisations seeking to improve public health, whereas in my view they are corporations that have a place, but their influence is hugely disproportionate.
You think I give a damn about companies.
I don’t.
I just like the vaccines. They save lives.
Just to remind you all the first comment in this thread was.
“Anyone else wondering why so many cases of measles amongst the already vaccinated for measles?….”
CV then attempted to threadjack with
“Every one wants the latest billion dollar vaccine…no one wants to provide potable water and build toilets for the poor…big profits in one but miniscule in the other…typical and predictable.”
As he is fairly vehemently anti vaccination and didn’t want to address the original question which was fallacious.
Vaccines such as MMR are not big money spinners for pharma companions as they are usually only one or two vaccinations over a persons entire lifetime.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viera_Scheibner
‘nuf said……..
Sounds cretinaceous to me.
Indeed, a real Moronosaurus Rex.
You need to get better sources Chooky. Naturalnews is not a reliable source of information. Scheibner doesn’t look that useful either, although ironically, the wikipedia article that northshore links to is also very poor.
Really ? I thought for a 5 second google search it was a pretty good summary of how enormous a nut Viera Scheibner is, she’s really barking mad.
Maybe she is, but you just did exactly what Chooky did, which was pull some shit off the internet to support your own view, and present it as evidence, when it’s actually a poor source of information. Like I said, ironic.
This will be much more useful:
http://freethoughtblogs.com/amilliongods/2013/05/01/viera-scheibners-quick-points-a-rebuttal/
Also when your links claim “evidence” but don’t actually link through to any form of data or peer-reviewed research, what they are actually doing is claiming anecdata
The link you just provided doesn’t link through to any form of data or peer-reviewed research. Are you suggesting that that blogpost was written from anecdata?
Not trying to be smart here, and as I said I think Chooky’s links aren’t useful, but let’s hold all sides of the argument to a certain standard.
Actually, I am quoting the papers mentioned on her blog.
It’s simple. Vaccination works. The discussion is over. We have proven it works. We have eliminated a lot of childhood killers with them.
She pretends to be a “real Doctor” of medicine (She’s a doctor of Paleontology) and flogs fake physiology.
She and her followers could not even explain the basics of human immunity. She is a quack and a quack whose beliefs have killed children.
Avicenna, I don’t have a problem with the idea that Scheibner is all the things you say she is. I’m simply pointing out that in this conversation, and others here on ts, there is an irony to the ‘science is the one true way’ argument not meeting its own standards.
“Actually, I am quoting the papers mentioned on her blog.”
I wasn’t talking about her papers. I was talking about your refutations and statements. Zorr said that claims of evidence need to be backed up (I agree), and I was pointing out that the link Zorr gave didn’t meet their own standard.
(am sure your blogpost makes more sense to people that are following your blog generally, and the Scheibner issues, but Zorr dropping it in to this conversation didn’t help clarify in the way implied).
I’m all for that. Let’s use the standard of “which argument has the overwhelmingly gargantuan majority of qualified adherents and evidence to support it?”
“I’m all for that. Let’s use the standard of “which argument has the overwhelmingly gargantuan majority of qualified adherents and evidence to support it?”
I don’t have too much of a problem with that, although it seems prudent, given how many mistakes get made in science, to allow discussions of dissent where there is a good argument made.
Vaccination isn’t just a science issue, it’s also about ethics. There are very good reasons why we don’t leave ethics solely to scientists.
Ok stirred up a hornets nest there…lol..as expected
sorry weka to let the academic side down ….however it still doesnt answer my question….why are so many people who have been vaccinated against measles still getting them?….would seem simpler to just let kids get measles when they are young and then be imunised for life
also the older i get the more skeptical i become about some aspects of traditional Western medicine..(.this excludes surgery and intensive hospital care) ….it seems that primary health care is not holistically based and is in the grips of multinational big business and its rigid acolytes…..many traditional childhood viruses can be weathered with appropriate living conditions, as CV says , and careful parental care
…if I had my time again i dont think i would get the kids immunised
“sorry weka to let the academic side down”
It’s not just about academics though. It’s about basing beliefs on evidence, or at least putting up a good theoretical argument for the belief. That’s the not owned by academics, all of us can do that. Using bad sources of information both makes the situation worse, and doesn’t answer the questions being raised.
” ….however it still doesnt answer my question….why are so many people who have been vaccinated against measles still getting them?”
I don’t know because I haven’t looked at what is happening, but vaccinations aren’t all 100% effective, so that would explain some of it.
“….would seem simpler to just let kids get measles when they are young and then be imunised for life”
The issues here are that some kids die from complications; there is a public health issue because so many people believe that getting ill is inherently bad so if you can prevent it that’s good; now that many people are being vaccinated for measles, most people aren’t getting natural immunity pre-school, so there will be issues of how that affects people in later life (am guessing someone will have done an economic assessment of this); there’s also the issue of both parents working so what happens when the kids get sick (more economics)… etc
Myself, I think parents that decide the natural immunity route are entitled to do that, and find the extremity of the everyone should vaccinate argument a pretty interesting dynamic in our society.
@ Weka …i feel it is a case of the Emperors Clothes…there is a hierarchy of medical acolytes and statisticians supporting blanket vaccination for all children regardless of the fact that they themselves are financially embedded in a system of support for a multi-billion dollar industry.
……and any parent who dares question blanket vaccination for all childhood viruses is made out to be a “Dunce” or a “Kook”…..someone who is too stupid to know anything about it….when actually parents have observations at the grassroots level of their own children and other children and their families…their empirical and anecdotal evidence is either not admissible or is down graded
…..totally ignored also is the fact that there are a number doctors and virologists who have down right reservations, if they are not actually opposed to blanket vaccinations of all children for common childhood viruses
….cases of adverse reactions to vaccination are swept under the carpet , ignored, not counted ..So how valid are the statistics really ?!
( …sorry about your kid but they were sacrificed for the greater good of the herd…No!…sorry this is not good enough!)
…there have been a number of medical interventions/drugs which have ‘impeccable’ statistics and were later found to have harmful if not fatal side effects or long term effects
..when considerable pressure is applied to parents to have their children vaccinated there should be some accountablity for vaccination mishaps and compensation paid for medical misadventure….but this would require REAL statistics
“….cases of adverse reactions to vaccination are swept under the carpet , ignored, not counted ..So how valid are the statistics really ?!”
Links please or stop making unfounded and continual disparaging assertions about my profession.
I largely agree with that Chooky 🙂
My suggestion is that if you want to address the issues with people here, and you want to use science to do that, then use good science not bad science. If you can’t tell the difference yet, then take some time to learn.
The big thing missing from the conversations lately on ts is the non-science stuff that you refer to… where parents make conscious decisions based on a myriad of knowledges, not just hard cold science (or emotive science)… it’s not part of the culture here. I’m not sure it’s possible to have that conversation here, because the people arguing are pretty much dogmatic in their views, and are really only going to respond to science arguments. That’s why I’m more interested in talking about the meta issues – who gets to decide what are useful ways of knowing. Until that gets looked at I think you are banging your head against a brick wall (unless you want to get good at the science).
FFS !!!
“why are so many people who have been vaccinated against measles still getting them?”
Well they’re not, those who have been vaccinated as per MoH guidelines (2 jabs in early childhood) have a 99% chance of being covered should they come into contact with measles. the 1% who have been vaccinated but who aren’t immune have a very high (>90%) chance of developing measles as of course do those who have not been immunised.
We immunise against measles because statistics tell us that about one out of 10 children with measles also gets an ear infection, and up to one out of 20 gets pneumonia. About one out of 1,000 gets encephalitis, and one or two out of 1,000 die. These morbidity and mortality data will be worse in 2nd and 3rd world countries.
Furthermore in immunocompromised children and adults (those who have been undergoing treatment for cancer for example or transplant recipients) measles is most often very severe, prolonged and often fatal.
The recent outbreak at mainly centred on Auckland schools was 100% confined to non vaccinated persons, further more all non vaccinated persons were excluded from school for 3 weeks for their own safety.
“We immunise against measles because statistics tell us that about one out of 10 children with measles also gets an ear infection, and up to one out of 20 gets pneumonia. About one out of 1,000 gets encephalitis, and one or two out of 1,000 die. These morbidity and mortality data will be worse in 2nd and 3rd world countries.”
Looking at the first world countries, when are those stats for? Post introduction of MMR or before? Is there a difference between unimmunised and immunised complication rates?
oh, and what’s the rate in NZ currently of kids getting measles?
“Is there a difference between unimmunised and immunised complication rates”
Well yes there is as with only approx 1% of those being immunised being able to develop measles simple mathematics will tell you that there is a significantly decreased risk of complications in the immunised group and before you ask yes even taking into account potential side effects from vaccination itself.
Rather than me doing all the work Weka why don’t you do some desktop research yourself.
I’ll start you off with the links below.
http://www.arphs.govt.nz/health-information/communicable-disease/measles
http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/diseases-and-illnesses/measles
http://www.cdc.gov/measles/
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/measles/Pages/Introduction.aspx
http://www.who.int/topics/measles/en/
http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/datasheet/m/MMRIIinj.pdf
http://scholar.google.co.nz/scholar?hl=en&q=measles&btnG=&as_sdt=1%2C5
Ok, I thought you might just have already known.
I’m actually more interested in the meta debate here, which is around validity of argument. Your previous comment would make more sense to me if it was in context. Chooky gets slammed, rightly so, for linking to useless information. But I also see a lot of justification in medical sciences where figures are used out of context, so for me there are problems on that side too (albeit different ones).
eg
“Is there a difference between unimmunised and immunised complication rates”
Well yes there is as with only approx 1% of those being immunised being able to develop measles simple mathematics will tell you that there is a significantly decreased risk of complications in the immunised group and before you ask yes even taking into account potential side effects from vaccination itself.
I’m sure that seems quite a reasonable response to you, but for me it’s just obfuscation and I’m unclear why it’s not obvious that I would be wanting comparisons of % not overall rates. So, yes, obviously the numbers of immunised kids who get complications would be way less than non-immunised, because there are less immunised kids getting measles, but that’s not what I was asking. Or are you suggesting that the %s are less too?
(what I am asking is what percentage of immunised kids who get measles get complications compared to what percentage of non-immunised kids who get measles get complications).
Where you say decreased risk, you are talking about population, which is fine from a public health perspective. What most parents who don’t immunise are interested in is the risk for the individual.
Risks of vaccination affect one in fifty thousand. Risks of non-immunisation as listed by the good doctor above, are several orders of magnitude greater.
“what I am asking is what percentage of immunised kids who get measles get complications compared to what percentage of non-immunised kids who get measles get complications”
Weka as far as I know there is no large cohort study that has investigated that question, however this small retrospective study may point us in the direction of an answer that there may be a benefit for those who were vaccinated even if they were not fully immune.
https://www.rnzcgp.org.nz/assets/documents/Publications/JPHC/June-2013/JPHCOSPMitchellJune2013.pdf
Thanks doc, much appreciated, will have a look when I get the chance.
OAB, not sure if that was a reply to me, but if it was, it misses the point.
Personally, I think that those who make more extraordinary claims require the more exhaustive evidence.
Otherwise I’d have to deliver a logical proof as to why “2+2=4” every time I tried to query a bill.
The claim “x is a kook” is not half as extraordinary as “vaccination causes autism and is bad for kids”. So I require pretty good reasons to not get vaccinated regularly, but not a huge amount of evidence to decide that X is a kook.
Yes, I can understand that. My problem is that I see lots of shortcuts on the medical science side when people are defending their beliefs, or criticising others, and sometimes mistaktes get made. Bad ones. Leaving vaccination aside for a minute, I see this alot with alternative health care. The point was made above that we should trust the experts, so it’s always weird when scienceheads start denigrating thigns like TCM or herbalism when they have no training or experience in those things. Honest to god, I’ve heard stuff equally as idiotic coming form scienceheads as I have from the alternative crowd.
All I’m saying here, is that we could improve the situation by applying standards across the board. Otherwise all that happens is a bitter polarity with each side saying I’m right and you people are a bunch of stupidity. Nothing good comes from that, and things are probably getting worse. The general public has very good reasons to not trust science, and science has good reasons to be concerned about scientific illiteracy. But polarising the issues doesn’t offer a solution.
As an aside, re scientific illiteracy, I’ve been noticing in the last while that many wikipedia science articles are far too dense for the general lay reader. Makes me wonder who they are written for, and where people should go to get the basics on any science they are presented with.
“So I require pretty good reasons to not get vaccinated regularly, but not a huge amount of evidence to decide that X is a kook.”
also, while I appreciate your general point, the problem there is that it’s easy to call someone a kook as part of marginalising what they are saying. I think Schreibner most likely is a kook, but all that’s been offered today is opinion, so how would I really know? I’m guessing that the reason that others here were willing to go with the wiki link and the blog link was because (a) they perceived the articles as trustworthy and (b) the links supported their already formed ideas. That’s understandable and human, and it’s also dangerous.
There is a realy failing with many online science writers, who blog about people or issues to critique them but can’t help but getting lost in their own antipathy, or littering the blogpost with their own person invective. Peopel can write what they liek on their own blog, but if what we want here is clear communication that helps build trust and knowledge, then we need better analyses of what are perceived as problems.
Frankly, whenever I end up on a wikipedia article that’s waaaaaaaaaaayyy beyond me (quantum springs to mind), I take it as a hint that maybe I should just take the word of the bulk of people who have spent decades in formalised, structured research in the area. Unless they ping my nutbar meter, of course.
Some stuff cannot be explained with any degree of accuracy in a way that somebody just flipping through an encyclopaedia will be able to find useful. I have no real idea of why blood types match or clot, for example. Some stuff just takes years of research to even come close to figuring out, not just data gathering but also actually tryong to learn about it.
That’s why we still need universities, rather than giving everyone an internet connection and a wikipedia link.
That might all well be true McFlock, but it’s not what I was talking about. I’m talking about someone going to wiki to find out what a salt is. Or how chemicals bond. Or how x physiology works. I’m not talking quantum mechanics. If lay people in conversations about vaccination or whatever are going to be criticised for scientific illiteracy, then my point stands about wikipedia and finding sources of information that are accessible. The argument that I’m a scientist therefore I know and you don’t therefore you should take my word for… that just fails fucking epically now, given all the mistakes that science has made and the damage that has been done using science. It’s just not going to wash.
The scientific illiteracy in the vaccination debate is the belief that because someone said “a vaccine gave my kid autism” it’s plausible enough to be worried about. It’s not that they don’t have perfect knowledge of how to develop a vaccine or the exact diagnostic criteria of disorders on the autism spectrum.
Just because “science has made mistakes” doesn’t mean that Jenny McCarthy or Scheibner deserve the time of day.
+100 CV……Yes you are correct as usual…the answer is very simple
Anyone notice that Winston has questioned Collins about the border man at her dinner and was he there to expedite the importation of the milk at a time when imports were held up at the wharf.
Yes, ianmac. I alsoo noticed that but have not had time to focus on it …
A little bottom of the page anonymous update to my current employment situation.
It’s been a tough few weeks this side of orbit.
5 days after my 20/2 post I was assaulted by my boss at work, twice. I was jabbed in the hand with a pitch fork, fortunately only leaving a small scratch, and a few minutes later, dumped on to my back in the middle of the car park and when I complained about my bad back (recovering very slowly from a prolapsed nerve) lifted and dropped on to it again. I called 111 and left work, went to make a complaint, only to be told my 100% perfect record would also be compromised if I submitted it formally, so I left it at that.
My brief was on holiday for the week, but I went to his office to seek assistance any way, only to be told my bosses people had already been on threatening me with suspension, which I was already told by my boss was going to happen before he assaulted me. After returning home to email my guy with my account, I went to the doctors on an emergency appointment, where he noted my injuries and placed me on medication – Citalopram, Zopiclone and Diazepam, which I have been taking since. He also, kindly, hooked me up with counselling, of which I have had one session so far.
My suspension email came through the next day, luckily on pay, and when my lawyer returned, he notified them that the only contract signed by both parties has no provision for suspension, but I would voluntarily remain ‘suspended’ until emergency mediation could be arranged. Between then and now, my boss has rung my daughters school, speaking to the principal, stating he had laid me off and that he had concerns about my parenting that my ex wife should know about. She rang my ex who clearly bothered, returned his call, only to hear no concerns raised, just badgered for information regarding me, our break up and my previous era incidents. My ex saw through him, and despite no love lost between us, kindly noted the conversation, adding I’m a good father, which was passed to my legal team.
At mediation today, which resolved nothing, his lawyer presented statements from an eye witness which my boss couldn’t have written better himself. The witness is a sub tenant at the place of work and is ridiculous as it is made up, containing statements such as “*** threw himself on the floor and called out ***** had hurt his back” and how she’d heard parts of our conversation when she wasn’t present. I’m hoping cctv footage still exists to prove me right, but under oath I wouldn’t guarantee the witness to hold to the story. He has two other statements from another tenant and one of their staff, and they are mostly right, though sadly not witnesses to the assault.
Much has been made by his brief of my past era visits and how they will go against me, as they are painting me as a gold digger, but if I were, I would have taken him to the cleaners in 2013 (I think) when he tried to get me to sign a clause in a new contract saying I wouldn’t weed spray his stock if I were sacked, which I was supposed to have said to another staff member at the time. I rang the D.O.L and visited the local Labour party office, before returning on a Thursday morning (a day off) and telling him how my three month fixed term, trial period, rolled over for a year and a half contract was bull, that I have him bang to rights, and he’d best get busy writing a much better contract. Next day he called me and apologised, saying he’d got it wrong, he’d sort it on Monday and not to worry over the weekend, to which I replied I wasn’t. I never got a new contract, or took his money, settling on being treated with respect and a pair of new $40 warehouse works boots. I think I made a post here about it, but bugger it if I’ll search for it today.
I will not return to work for fears to my safety and mental health, so I have a disciplinary hearing set for next Wednesday when I will be dismissed, losing my 20 hour $15 per hour and WFF tax credits and top up, for gross misconduct.
I’m beat up and a bit of a mess right now, but I’m strong. I will get a covenant put on my house and get legal aid to fight this perve at full hearing. Odds not stacked in my favour it must be said, but right is right, right?
good luck.
Thanks
@ Allen…sounds like your ex boss is a psychopath…it is always a shock when you come up against such people …and sometimes you have to walk away
….sounds like you are doing everything correctly by taking it to the authorities…try and get as much outside support as possible from individuals, friends , professionals and organisations and unions that deal with such issues and try not to take it personally …accept any help where it is offered …the more help you get the less personal stress on yourself.
lol @ ex boss a week before the fact, though like I didn’t know that was happening after I pulled him up for being a dirty old man, took two weeks off and returned to the four page legal letter with eight hours notice to get representation before a planned hearing the next day.
Best thing is it won’t be kept secret at the hearing, so win, lose or draw you’ll be able to read it in the papers. It won’t be my refusal to follow (un)reasonable demands and trumped up floor flinging and self hand stabbing (yes, really accused of that as his defence), but all about his sexual harassment.
I don’t have a large support group, what with being the only al1en in the village, but I’ll make use of what I have closest and what’s on offer from the quacks. A nasty(er) lawyer wouldn’t go amiss, but I’ll settle for a good nights kip for starters. 🙂
Marzipans and zohans free, with no pharm script repeats available, a bit of a clearer head this morning 🙂
I think I will take the risk to my record and formalise my assault complaint with the police today. I had a clean police check when I was granted residency back in 2000, and I’ve had no dealings with them here since, not even a parking ticket.
If after being stabbed in the hand, I, a couple of minutes later, when told again that he’d say I did it myself, took a note book from my bosses shirt, before being bundled to the ground and dominated, gets me arrested and charged, then so be it. Worth it if the ‘eye witness’ has to be interviewed by a uniform. Lying in a statement to era is one thing, to a rozzer, another altogether. They can check for cctv footage while they’re at it, as my lawyer seems incapable of making the request for it.
Takes it out of my hands, my bosses control and shares the stress about a bit.
Next time I report in, I might be an official note book pinching villain – Oh the shame of it. What will mother say? 🙂
Good luck with that Allen. Just remember never say too much, just enough to make your point, and don’t get chatty, don’t talk about anything that isn’t completely relevant, not about your feelings if not relevant, not look at someone contemptuously or arrogantly. Just be self-contained and stick to your point firmly, answering appropriate questions. You don’t want to say the wrong word or term that plugs into whatever incipient prejudice that waits to pop up in the minds of the authority or powerful one you are dealing with.
Thanks for that, all good advice duly noted, though not always easy under some circumstances and conditions, but I’ll do me best.
I work on telling the truth, and if you lie once, you’re out. One slip up by his ‘witnesses’ and it’s all over. Don’t lie and you can’t be caught out… As all politicians should note 🙂
Not been in to the cops yet as I’m waiting on a conversation with my brief before going in, but he did mail me saying he has requested complete records from commencement of my employment, including for each pay period, holiday/leave taken and sick leave taken and any accruals.
Knowing my boss hasn’t got any records for any of his staff, including me, he has been informed that as we would expect in light of the legal requirements surrounding the keeping of records that this information is readily available and therefore would expect it without delay, if not received by the close of business today, it will be referred to a Labour inspector for further investigation.
A bit of mongrel in my guy after all. More of it, please.
Morgan Kelly Economist in Ireland
Good quote –
The Irish Government boasts about its lack of policy.
They have raised purposelessness to a high art.
http://www.thejournal.ie/morgan-kelly-joan-burton-smes-1352622-Mar2014/
Sound familiar.
Also
Educational research is mostly crap.
Dumbing down education means that kids will learn less.
Universities have gone out of their way to shoot themselves in the foot.
Irish universities used to provide ok education with run-down facilities and poor administration. This has changed now, there are many administrators.
Research has to be competed for.
Administrators earn as much as lecturers.
Austerity has kicked in and the number of academics has fallen by 20%. And that has caused international rankings to fall. They are not worth much but they do seem to matter.
Graduates are not well-trained and therefore it screws up the future to the Irish recovery.
Going to WINZ for help is no longer, well, helpful:
Going to WINZ is now torture which, last time I looked, was against the Geneva Conventions.
It’s the sort of thing someone has read is a good idea. It has the stink of ‘theory’ about it with no common sense to back it up. It might work in some places but not our self effacing nation.
If it was me being applauded I’d just feel embarrassed.
How work and income and times have changed. When I had my last leaving meet with winz back in 2011, they asked me if I wanted to ring the bell. Now they employ someone to ring the bell for you.
All those kids forced into lofts at minimum wage and under houses as part of the old insulation program, should band together with the national cycle way builders and form an orderly queue for the job when the office security guard needs his biscuit dunking at tea time.
And no, I didn’t ding. I threw a look of contempt at the case manager instead. Much more satisfying 😉
Really, read the whole article.
Don’t know if that’s to me, but yerp, I read it, shameful stuff.
That bell ringing and applause sounds sooooo Paula Bennett.
“Going to WINZ for help is no longer, well, helpful:”
No longer? That story is bad, but it’s not new unfortunately. Same old shit, new suit. The thing I wish for is support for people in her situation to deal with this. Beneficiaries need a union, and they need support to push back.
It’s been getting worse over the last few years but that’s generally what we should expect from National. Their policies to maintain a high unemployment so as to keep wages down causes them to have to shift the blame onto the unemployed themselves so that they can hope to be re-elected.
Beneficiaries used to have a union – wonder what happened to it.
Really doesn’t show any respect for the person’s own views thought and emotions – not being allowed to make their own decision. An outgrowth of the face book world where everyone has to hang all their fdeelings out in public.
Penny Bright in the news about being threatened with eviction and her house being sold, for her protest of not paying her rates.
Penny Bright needs to have her water supply and sewerage disconnected by the council. Her rubbish collection should stop also until her debt is paid. How do Jaffa’s like subsidising people like her?
Better than we feel about subsidising Rio Tinto, Warner Bros, and SkyCity.
Water and sewerage aren’t run by the council.
goddamn facts…
“Water and sewerage aren’t run by the council.”
Why not? They are in lots of other places.
$29,000 seems like a lot. She’s not paid for 6 years, what’s the average yearly rate bill for Auckland?
It’s effectively an SoE and, yes, the council use it as a cash cow.
“Auckland Council wrote to activist Penny Bright this month to demand $29,000 to cover overdue rates, penalties and legal costs.”
“Auckland Council wrote to activist Penny Bright this month to demand $29,000 to cover overdue rates, penalties and legal costs.”
Yes, so it looks like the rates is the smaller part of that. I don’t know what Auckland rates are like though.
High. And been climbing too. I wouldn’t mind if we were close to a decent integrated transport system rather than paying huge salaries to executives and boards of watercare etc for running monopoly
BUT also high in Malrborough where apiece of land with no council amenities is paying $1400 in rates per year.
Watercare is an Auckland City organisation, a CCO I believe Mr Hide calls them? CCO or arms length company paying large salaries to people to make a monopoly work profitably (insert laughter).
“Who we are owned by
Watercare is a council organisation, wholly owned by the Auckland Council. The council appoints the company’s board of directors who in turn appoint the chief executive.”
So they charge for water into the house and then they charge for water leaving the house. I think 75% of water exiting the house is charged for. I have lived in homes on individual water meters in Auckland for over 15 years.
Beats me. My rates are about $900pa for a single bedroom apartment.
The 3 bedroom Grey Lynn town house we were in from 2009-2012 has rates of $1,624.28 pa
The 3 bedroom Grey Lynn villa we were in before that has rates of $2,965.24 pa
I gather that 3 bedroom houses around Ponsonby & Grey Lynn are expensive. But have a look at http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/RATESBUILDINGPROPERTY/RATESVALUATIONS/RATESPROPERTYSEARCH/Pages/RatesSearch.aspx
Ladies and Gents, the authoritarian right wing.
Eagerly supporting big govt exerting power over the individual since ages ago,
Oh how it hates the individual who rails against big business, unless they are doing so with a tax lawyer.
Judith Collins close to tears………sensitive wee sausage she.