After reading pre-budget advice on Red Alert and The Standard the National party have announced late changes to the budget.
* No spending cuts, so they can’t be accused of “gutting the public service”.
* Removing GST on Double Downs as the poor like them more than fruit and veg. This will trickle down into the cheese, poultry and private health industries.
* To balance right wing bias in media anyone who posts on left wing blogs will get an internet use tax credit and will get priority connections to superfast internet so the truth spreads more quickly.
* A CV tax will be introduced – anyone earning more than $50k will pay 50% tax. This will encourage people not to earn too much. Rich pricks will move to Australia but we don’t want any of those bastards here anyway.
* Zero tax for anyone who can arrange their financial affairs so they look poor. Tax handouts for WFF and KiwiSaver will still apply. Leader of the Opposition Phil Goff has agreed to do a “Stop Tax” tour of the country by bus explaining how to invest in property and set up trusts.
… tried to read this, presumably, attempt at humour or sarcasm. It’s garbage and a waste of space. I guess the only positive in “PeteG” commenting is that ups the viewing and posting numbers for the Standard.
Not even funny PeteG. You should go out and get yourself a sense of humour. And while you are at it you should get a book on economics and have a read. You could use the upskilling.
You’re “guessing” wrong again. I have a 2.5 hectare garden, and have planted 25 fruit and nut trees, numerous berries, 75 firewood trees, 150 rhododendrons and numerous other trees and shrubs. I maintain about half a hectare of regenerating native bush. We enjoy many birds, including kererū, tui, bellbirds, fantails (there’s a black one or something similar hanging around) plus occasional visits by ducks and herons. We grow our own mutton and free range eggs. Our aim is to produce as much as possible ourselves.
It’s the opposite of a wasteland, especially this year as it’s been quite wet and we have more grass growth than ever.
You know if this was actually clever or insightful, it would be funny. I don’t care that it’s poking fun at the Labour party – if it was done well, it would be laugh-worthy.
But it really is very lame and pedestrian, not clever, and not funny.
By the same token, there have been multiple attempts at “satire” about the Nats, both as posted articles and in the comments which I haven’t found funny either.
Young dickhead Tory lout occasions the Law School to can Harawira’s address at Auckland University last evening. The Maori National Party, and the National and Labour parties thrash themselves into “Harawira The Anti-Christ” frenzy.
People in Tai Tokerau standing back going “What………..?”.
Support for Harawira muscles up. And it’s more and more visceral because of your bullshit. Quite simply you’re pissing people off. Kia Ora. Keep at it !
Just in case you’ve missed it you frightened wahanui, this is not “your” election. I know it’s a rum deal that “these Maoris” are in control in this instance but you just gotta man-up and face it !
Disempowerment ain’t a great feeling is it my bro’ ?
The media seem to have taken an unusually sympathetic slant on it.
Anyone who thinks that Harawira is a reactionary jerk should watch that video and listen to his considered, thoughtful responses on racism and what’s required to change it. I really hope the media shows more of this kind of thing.
Electricity, Water, Broadcasting, Mining, Tourism, Farms, Education et cetera is already ours.
“Whatever you sell Joky Hen, you should tell your buyers to beware. Those assets will be taken back at cost less all conveyancing. The message needs to be made very clear. And the Rich MumsandDads masquerading as folksy mums and dads get the message. It includes you.”
Why are we not hearing this simple message from the left?
“the following four issues were rated as the most pressing for Maori in Te Tai Tokerau:
access to quality education for their children (92 per cent – very important)
positive future for their children (89 per cent)
a sense that people can feel safe in their homes or out on the street (87 per cent)
access to affordable quality health services (84 per cent).
Of secondary importance are the issues of:
good jobs in my area (77 per cent)
access to affordable quality housing in my area (68 per cent)
and fair settlement of Treaty of Waitangi claims (64 per cent).”
I think the secondary issues have risen up for this election.
A poll had about 70% of voters wanted Maori Party to go with Labour in the electorate.
Remember NZ First Maori Seats when he defied the electorate and went with National.
The Maori Party are yet to be punished for this – Maori in the North are not dumb.
“…voters interviewed in Te Tai Tokerau were less convinced that the Labour Party would be best placed to deliver on these important issues facing them. While 42 per cent of this electorate’s sample regarded Labour as being best placed to deliver on quality education for their children, only 32 per cent believed that Labour could ensure a positive future for their children.”
Hone Kelvin
% %
Can be trusted 48.4 20.6
Will deliver on promises 49.4 21.2
Knows the needs of the local people 67.8 16.2
Is experienced in politics 60.0 16.6
Is a capable leader 59.4 19.2
Would be good in a crisis 56.6 19.6
Has lots of personality 71.4 11.2
“Horizon Research poll finding that the Mana Party could 15.1 of party votes cast by Maori voters shows the Maori Party risks losing all its remaining seats”
“Only 30 percent of people who voted for the Maori Party last election will remain loyal, less than one third. Forty two percent say they will move to Man and the rest will move to Labour. It’s pretty clear what’s going to happen. They Maori Party is going to lose all their seats,” Mr McCarten says. http://waatea.blogspot.com/2011/05/poll-shows-maori-party-losing-repeat.html
These numbers dont seem to support a great victory for Labour or the Maori Party in the by election.
This is interesting looking back but the Horizon poll is too soon to take much from it – Harawira has had a lot of media exposure, Davis hardly any and we don’t know who the Maori Party candidate is yet. Six weeks could be a long time in the TTT by-election.
PeteG……….thought you weren’t gonna engage that quick, cheap practice ’til round 2 o’clock this afternoon ? Never mind, if needs be…….
Anyway, yeah, I agree. Harawira’s had lots of exposure of late. But how sure are you that when the National Maori Party announce their candidate Harawira’s gonna suddenly fall from peoples’ minds ?
I’ll wager that the “comparison factor” (FYI – a well known Crosby Textor identified political dynamic) will have Harawira looking even more credible to the voters of TTT. Certainly no tipped name doing the rounds up here has anything like Harawira’s punch. In fact several of them are drawing belly laughs. The others get no reaction. Not actually likely to push Harawira out of sight I reckon.
And don’t forget that even while you and yours insist on Harawira as a dolt/demon/dog/dastardly, Harawira’s still telling it straight-up and actually, looking quite the leader in the broader sense. Did you see his response when little Tory vandal boy from Auckland University had his 22 seconds of telly fame as “the wrecker” re the university address. You see him on Te Karere few days ago, or were you vomiting ?
Couldn’t call them Churchillian performances (Praise The Lord for that) but definitely striking in the terms employed by you wise-“acher” fullas.
Seems like you’re burdened with pakeha perspective wishful thinking re TTT. Pompous, know-it-all tone in delivery don’t mask that. Come to think of it this fantasy stuff is not actually unrelated to “that practice” mentioned above. You’re getting into it much more than is good for you my bro’.
Get a hold of yourself man !…….oh nah bro’……..wait……that’s not what I meant………
But how sure are you that when the National Maori Party announce their candidate Harawira’s gonna suddenly fall from peoples’ minds ?
He won’t, but the other candidates will become known and will be able to compete.
while you and yours insist on Harawira as a dolt/demon/dog/dastardly
I don’t say anything like that. I do think he will be even more ineffective in parliament than he was in the Maori Party (if he gets back in). He probably won’t have as much time to spend looking after his electorate if he is trying to lead a new party and is seeking the party vote in November.
Seems like you’re burdened with pakeha perspective wishful thinking re TTT.
Why do you think that? I don’t really care what the result of the by-election is, I’m interested in it, that’s all. I agree that whoever ends up standing for the Maori Party will struggle to impress, but I think Kelvin Davis will at least help the electorate examine Harawira’s suitability and give him a good nudge.
You’re getting into it much more than is good for you my bro’.
Do you think the rest of the country should butt out and ignore the by-election and the development of a new party?
If Harawira is returned and the Mana Party gets established and seeks party votes that will involve the interests of the whole country. Won’t it?
Kelvin Davis will have to toe the general seat labour party line in the by election.
Kelvin will be hurt each time his leaders commitment to not working with Hone or Mana are brought up.
Dont forget 70% of maori in TTT wanted the maori party work with labour, Phil is saying to at least 60% of electorate Fu..K You.
It may end up Phil may have to go as leader to from a minority left labour government after the general elections when Mana is elected and is a King Maker.
Phils message of not working with Hone or Mana is for the mainstream white voters that caused helen to introduce the F&S Legislation, gee wis i think thats how the maori party started.
Sorry, but Mana will never be King Maker because Hone has said he will never ever work with Act, and somewhat less vehemently that he cannot work with National.
That puts him firmly on the left, therefore not a swing party that either side needs to court – Labour can just take him for granted and not pay any attention to anything he does, because if he starts voting alongside National he’ll piss off his supporters. All Labour needs is for Mana to abstain from bringing the government down – and I don’t think Hone would be stupid enough to attempting forcing a general election because he didn’t win enough seats to have a big influence on policy direction.
Similarly NZF is unlikely to be a true king-maker because it seems unlikely Winston could ever work with Brash or John Key. He could possibly end up sitting on the cross benches, as he’s indicated could be an outcome.
Peter Dunne, if he gets back in, isn’t likely to be kingmaker because he won’t bring in any other votes. He’s also burned his bridges with Labour recently.
The Maori Party could be kingmaker, but again they might only end up with 2-3 seats after this election, therefore much weaker.
My view was national was going to be a two term government, however the way things are panning out there is a slim chance National may not be able to form a government come the general election.
I thought people wouldnt be hurting to much yet, but they are starting too.
The right never wins, elections are decided by the left voting or not voting.
If the economy doesnt improve and we lose the World Cup can be blame KEY?
Get real PeteG………you constantly engage the pejorative re Hone Harawira. And then when checked you hide in the faux reasonable pose of the right-wing political analyst caught out. You’re not kidding anyone. It’s crystal clear where you’re at. And ‘onya of course, that’s your right, but less disingenuousness…….please.
Moreover, when apposite comment is made about your worrying proclivity to engage “that practise” in relation to TTT you come over all like the parson who didn’t hear the thunderous fart in the middle of his righteous sermon.
Fact is you lot anticipate that Hone Harawira WILL put an end to the dependable impotence of “our good maori folk” which the Maori Party contributes to the National Maori Party and the aspirational, non-existent, “One Nation”.
I grant you’re not the worst reflection of it but that’s what all the Hone hatred is really about.
North to PeteG, “Seems like you’re burdened with pakeha perspective wishful thinking re TTT.”
Well I freely admit that as a British descendant I wouldn’t have a clue what the voters in TTT are thinking, so when I have some free time in the car I’ve been switching onto Radio Waatea now and again.
And I have to say, it’s interesting listening (to the bits I can understand, not speaking Maori …:))
Let’s just say, it’s not only us non-Maori that consider what you call “telling it straight-up” to be nothing more than arrogant rudeness on the part of Hone.
Ashcroft, John Key’s chum. Wonder whether he’ll fly into NZ in his private jet before the election to have a secret meeting with Key, like last time. Ashcroft is the UK’s equivalent of Douglas Myers, lives out of the country, pays no income tax but wants to have major political influence. Scum!
The influence is not just confined to politics Mman with libertarian billionaire Charles Koch buying himself the hiring and firing rights in the economics department of a state university.
I like my tax cut, $70/wk. However, I think interest free student loans should be hauled in and WFF reduced as this is giving hard working tax payers like myself extra burden to pay. At least my tax cut is my own money I have grafted for unlike the un affordable WFF & IFSL.
[lprent: This would all have somewhat more validity if the comment actually came from a IP that pings inside of NZ and isn’t a external proxy server. I’ll let this through, but I will be watching this handle for possibly being a astro-turfer or troll (just as I do with a few others). Your choice of method to access the site along with the spinner logic makes me rather suspicious. ]
I’ve really never understood this constant bitching about interest free student loans by the right-wing. If you’re so concerned about migration to Australia (Key used to be when it was Labour who was in power – now, not so much) and the ‘brain drain’, then putting interest back on student loans is one of the last things you’d want to do.
Also it’s not just students and the young who are in favour of interest free student loans – many in the older generations who got free education think that it’s only fair that we accommodate the current generation as best as we possibly can when it comes to education. They also don’t want to see their children and grandchildren move overseas and never return.
Tightening up on eligibility on interest free student loans, I am all for. I think giving out full-funding for all sorts of useless certificates and qualifications that are not actually useful in the real world would be a good place to start (I’m not talking accredited universities here – but private training institutes offering courses that are realistically on-par with secondary education). Generally raising university entry requirements and putting conditions on 2nd and 3rd year student loans requiring passing grades for the 1st year is another thing that we desperately need. It’s damaging to the country, and to individuals, if they go to university and drop out after 1 or 2 years and achieve nothing and removing things that enable this behaviour is a good and easy place to start.
Also it’s not just students and the young who are in favour of interest free student loans – many in the older generations who got free education think that it’s only fair that we accommodate the current generation as best as we possibly can when it comes to education. They also don’t want to see their children and grandchildren move overseas and never return.
It’s not only the young with student loans. In hopes of getting a job, I did the Cert. TESOL in 2009, having ammost paid of the student loan I incurred in 1999 through doing the special needs qually. The Cert TESOL has got me a few months of casual work over the last 2 years (next to useless in other words) and at 50-mumble (over 55, is all I’ll say) I have a new student loan, plus the fag-end of the old one. Whether I will ever pay it off in my lifetime, I don’t know, and if I can’t get work, well can’t pay it, interest free or not (though obviously if it’s interest free then there is a hope!)
Vicky32 I feel cynical when I remember the way that we were told that life was going to be interesting and challenging with new directions and careers within a lifetime for each individual. All you had to do was keep retraining and update your education. Then the state made this necessity a charge on future earnings, which were supposed to be plentiful. Rhetoric is what our pollies are good at, and that word is just around the corner from ‘lies’.
My daughter is down to her last 2 payments after 14 years. She’s worked full-time for all but one of those 14 years but couldn’t keep up with the interest payments until the interest was dropped. Thank goodness, or else she’d would have been paying all her working life.
Hi LPrent, I am a fairly new reader (and very occasional comment-provider) of the Standard, and of blogs in general. Wonder if you could please define the terms “troll” and “astro-turfer”. I see these terms come up from time to time. Other new readers may also appreciate some definition.
logie97 said this on yesterday’s open mike: “Kerr and his mates in the Round Table…have said that it is not the responsibility of business to be involved in socially responsible issues. It is their business to be as efficient and as profitable as possible.”
This being the case, you would suppose that they should be regulated and controlled from the outside, as is the case with other gangs who do not count social responsibility among their concerns. But no, we can’t have that either since it would bring a “distortion” to bear on the market, though bailouts etc, do not seem to be met with the same complaint. What a load of nonsense: if you are going to insist that business functions more or less like weather, you must surely allow that people take steps to guard against weather – umbrellas “distort” the fall of raindrops, but they do help to save people from getting soaked. The above is not a philosophy – it is a rationalisation that one might expect from a schoolyard bully!
I take it you are talking to me, so I have copied out the quote from which the two sentences were taken. I have not altered the punctuation but have removed a “however” – my interest was in how ludicrous the BR line of thought is when looked at unadorned, and thought that you expressed it well.
“Employers and employees are going to have to shoulder more of the burden.”
and Phil O’Reilly agrees.
Kerr and his mates in the Round Table, however, have said that it is not
the responsibility of business to be involved in socially responsible issues.
It is their business to be as efficient and as profitable as possible.
Seems they would assert that the employee should be providing for himself, work harder, get more money and find his/her own retirement scheme.
if you are like me you will have noticed a large number of puns (or whatever the correct term is) on John Key’s name – shonkey being a good example – I wonder if a list may be helpful so that rather than spray multiples all over the place, we could concentrate on the really good ones and get a bit of cut-through – like smile and wave. My contribution is Kingkey, which may have limited uses 🙂
Here is Joke that I found on the net.. or is it the real future
John Key goes to a science exhibition and is shown a time machine which can see a 100 years into the future. The man in charge invites him to ask any question he likes.
John Key asks “How will Australia be in a 100 years?”. The machine wh…irrs and pops out a printout, which the man reads.
“The country is in good hands under the new P.M, crime is non existent, there is no conflict, the economy is healthy, there are no worries”.
He has another go “How will China be in a 100 years?”.
Another printout, “The country will be the worlds leading economy, and everyone there will enjoy the highest standards of living in the world”.
John Key then asks, “What will N.Z be like in a 100years?”
The machine whirrs and beeps and goes into action. The man gets a printout, but just stares at it.
“Come on” says John Key “What does it say?”
The man replies, “I don’t know! It’s all in Maori!”
No being Maori is to be celebrated not brought down, like any other culture.
It was a joke pulled form MANAs facebook
I had a good chuckle, then thought what will NZ be like in 100 years, with the population growth stats Maori shall become the backbone of any future economy.
Lets work together for a better future than maori bashing which this country does all the time.
joe90 – Read Canadian piece. Makes good points which might explain a shift to right-wing pollies. But it does sound right-wing biased. It angers low-income voters to see secure middle-class bureaucrats getting pay hikes. Those trapped in entry-level service jobs seethe when public employees who earn far more than they ever will are rewarded simply for showing up. Those living on public assistance — employment insurance, welfare, old age security — dislike being treated with contempt by government officials. In both cases, cutting the public payroll has a lot of appeal.
Having a go at bureaucrats is always easy targeting – but when needed, being able to see one quickly without lingering waiting for appointments is appreciated. This comment seems to be quoting the particularly red-necked with a permanent slant of being hard-done-by.
But it can’t be ignored- there is a shift from the left here as Jim Anderton found when he spoke about his new party years ago to meetings of older guys in ‘cardigans’.
The Republican strategy is to split the vast middle and working class — pitting unionized workers against non-unionized, public-sector workers against non-public, older workers within sight of Medicare and Social Security against younger workers who don’t believe these programs will be there for them, and the poor against the working middle class.
By splitting working America along these lines, Republicans want Americans to believe that we can no longer afford to do what we need to do as a nation. They hope to deflect attention from the increasing share of total income and wealth going to the richest 1 percent while the jobs and wages of everyone else languish.
Interesting to see the predictable thinking of some bloggers here. Pete G starts them off like a rabbit at a racetrack and all the whippets and greyhounds bound after him with but a single ‘thought’ in their head. Pete G has fun, never gets caught, and ends up knowing he is superior in his ability to manipulate most reciprocators. No good arguments will persuade him, he is not only firmly rightist, but enjoys being contrary. Do good points arise in the detailing of the arguments though? Merely gainsaying Pete G would seem a waste of time.
Hear hear prism. The only value of Pete’s suspiciously well-informed commentary is that it gives an insight about how the “enemy” thinks. A bit like planting a microphone into Steven Joyce’s office.
Mr Smith – Yes I will stop it. There has to be room for some amusement amongst the daily political chaff. It really doesn’t adulterate the fare, and he enjoys it and so do others, so I shall say no more and as I wondered before perhaps his remarks force clarity in opposing views. He’s a bit like a cocnout shy at a fair and everyone chucks things at him, but he bounces up each time. I guarantee we’ll never win that coconut.
“RSA Animate – Changing Education Paradigms.” A very watchable analysis of the changes that are failing to cope with the changing needs of society. The view that Academics are the best and those who are not academic are failures. But what about Lateral Divergent thinking? The intriguing graphics make this rather fun to watch. If you care about education for your kids or your grandkids watch it.
This is an English chap, Ken Robinson, talking about USA trends but surprise surprise, it sounds like current NZ National Standards. Where did Key get his “ideas” from? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U
Hat tip Millhouse.
News – PM savaged by own aged demented dog, muses regretfully “It’s hard to predict what animals may do, even one from within the family. The killer instinct is always lurking”.
Gosh MS – the NBR article on it has comments starting from 10:53, the article will have been posted before that. TVNZ have theirs timed at 10:28am. CT are everywhere.
By the way, it looks like you are spaced out again.
HOUSING NZ ADVERTISES FOR ‘PROPERTY DIVESTMENT MANAGER’
” This crown owned entity owns a vast amount of property assets and they currently require the services of an experienced Divestment Officer to join their Assets team.
…..role’s key purpose includes developing plans and strategies in relation to the disposal of assets, including engagement with other social housing partners, Iwi organisations and commercial residential property developers as well as with internal stakeholders.”
Listing #: 374822613
Location: Auckland City, Auckland
Type: Full time, Permanent
Listed: Sun, 08 May
Your reference #: WG18046
This crown owned entity owns a vast amount of property assets and they currently require the services of an experienced Divestment Officer to join their Assets team.
Reporting into the Redevelopment and Upgrade Manager this role’s key purpose includes developing plans and strategies in relation to the disposal of assets, including engagement with other social housing partners, Iwi organisations and commercial residential property developers as well as with internal stakeholders.
The successful candidate will need to have a good balance of both public and private sector property disposals experience. The ability to relate to a wide variety of people and stakeholders will allow you to flourish in this specialised role.
Your property skills will include a mixture of valuations, rental agreements, disposals, financial analysis and general property negotiations.
Your ideal background would include a mixture of property expertise gained from a local or regional council, government department, power/utility company or property consultancy.
A relevant tertiary qualification in business, property or legal combined with an understanding of the social housing sector will give you the grounding to work across multiple projects.
For further information please contact Mike Westbury on 04 4941523 or apply through the link below.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
(I rang Mike Westbury, who confirmed that this ‘crown owned entity’ was Housing New Zealand.)
This is setting up for massive privatisation of publicly-owned State housing assets.
Whether housing is devolved to unaccountable NGOs, corporate charities, or corporate iwi – this is STILL privatisation.
Privatisation of public assets/services starts by ‘devolution’ to these supposedly ‘not-for-profit’ private sector ‘trojan horses’ – then they get flicked off to the ‘for-profit’ private sector.
Wonder how many big, slobbering snouts are lining up behind the scenes for THIS development – at a time of housing crisis?
Wonder what Mr Popular smiley, wavy ‘shonky’ John Key has to say about THIS sneaky development – happening on HIS watch?
I talked about this issue on Radio Waatea last night, and Sue Henry (advocate for years for State Housing tenants from the Housing Lobby) talked about it the night before on Titewhai Harawira’s Radio Waatea show.
This is a VERY big deal – especially when you combine it with the unelected Auckland ($upercity) Council’s Property CCO selling property assets behind the public’s back.
(Have blogged a press release on this matter, co-signed by Lisa Prager – fellow Community Activist and ‘Public Watchdog’.
STEPEHN JOYCE STEPHYEN JOYCE STEPHEN JOYCE.
are you deaf. I watched you go on and on on teevee last night about speed cameras and boy racers and a whole lot of fiddle faddle ad hoc garbage about speed cameras and at the end of the item a boy racer car sped off with the exhaust going flat out. I’m beginning to think you are simple minded. the way to get rid of these vermin is to concentrate on their noise emissions and take demerits off of that instead of the other tortuous rigmaroles the nitwits at the minsitry are dreaming up. these kids have got you buffaloed and you cant even work them out. the police are are styimied too because they have beocme infantilised by too much teevee, motorbikes, speedboats and leaf blowers so they cant hear noise any more. get to the root of the problem and get the top cops to sharpen up the attitudes of the guys on the beat and stop them being impressed by hunks of metal and weird hairdos. there has been a car parked on the footpath in high street masterton for the last week but no one has done anything about that either. every body just does what they like nowadays and nobody does anything till there is a fatality and then they start wringing their hands and blaming when the solution is quite easy..
it seems like nobody can do anything properly anymore. unfotunately there is no rewind button on reality.
…it seems like nobody can do anything properly anymore. unfotunately there is no rewind button on reality.
You are assuming that you have an adequate grasp of reality.
So much vitriol and so little punctuation. Perhaps there is an age gap of huge proportions between you and ‘boy racers’ but why call them vermin. They belong to parents and too many of them are dying on our roads. That is the reality.
The authorities, in fact, should try alternatives to waving a big stick and imposing more fines, more demerits, and criminalisisng their behaviours. Perhaps they should be made to knit ear muffs for the noise challenged.
Kia ora Adele. Vitriol is dangerous acid, Randal’s having a rant and rather a despairing one it seems. He is entitled to some sympathy as not only boy racers have parents, and perhaps some parents dislike their children who are boy racers too.
What is needed in NZ is parent education from the time before children are born and definitely before they start to walk A plan designed by informed parents to bring up their kids would mean happy parents enjoying and guiding their kids right through to driving age with less problems all around.
I notice that the BMW smear hasnt gone anywhere. Probably because Mallard and Hipkins are filthy liars and even the one eyed authors at the standard can see it.
It’s all right… just imagine that everyone looking at that is now associating new helicopters with free rides to photo-ops and totting up the $$ in their heads….. feel better??
There is a great piece on weatherwatch.co.nz about global warming. I guess some people will just say ‘it’s from friends of science so it’s trash’ and some will say ‘it’s from friends of science so it’s totally accurate’.
Either way it’s a concise road map for the debate.
“The Land and Water Forum’s recommendations on the management of New Zealand’s most precious natural resource – water – are a model for dealing with contentious issues.
Regrettably, the Government has snapped the model over its knee. ”
Had to check.Yes It is a Dom Editorial. What? Yes!
The Govt brought together 58 Organisations who agreed that a set of National Standards on water quality was the role of Government. ……
But it ends:” Speculation among forum members is that Dr Smith, a minister with a history of championing the environment, has been rolled by Cabinet colleagues philosophically opposed to any restrictions being placed on the ability of farmers or industrialists to maximise their profits.” http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/4997589/Editorial-Water-water-everywhere-but
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Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 25 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
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Late changes to budget.
After reading pre-budget advice on Red Alert and The Standard the National party have announced late changes to the budget.
… tried to read this, presumably, attempt at humour or sarcasm. It’s garbage and a waste of space. I guess the only positive in “PeteG” commenting is that ups the viewing and posting numbers for the Standard.
Oh well PeteG – guess you’ve answered ya urges til round 2 o’clock this afternoon.
Algud !
Not even funny PeteG. You should go out and get yourself a sense of humour. And while you are at it you should get a book on economics and have a read. You could use the upskilling.
It’s hard to have a sense of humour when contemplating Labour policies, isn’t it.
Tax rich people more
Tax poor people less
Then grizzle at Key
when he can’t clean up the mess.
I think the mess is because national borrowed for Tax cuts!!!
Not labour policy
Love the way parasites like Pete George try to imply that there’s something wrong with taxing rich people more and poor people less.
His garden must be a wasteland.
You’re “guessing” wrong again. I have a 2.5 hectare garden, and have planted 25 fruit and nut trees, numerous berries, 75 firewood trees, 150 rhododendrons and numerous other trees and shrubs. I maintain about half a hectare of regenerating native bush. We enjoy many birds, including kererū, tui, bellbirds, fantails (there’s a black one or something similar hanging around) plus occasional visits by ducks and herons. We grow our own mutton and free range eggs. Our aim is to produce as much as possible ourselves.
It’s the opposite of a wasteland, especially this year as it’s been quite wet and we have more grass growth than ever.
You know if this was actually clever or insightful, it would be funny. I don’t care that it’s poking fun at the Labour party – if it was done well, it would be laugh-worthy.
But it really is very lame and pedestrian, not clever, and not funny.
By the same token, there have been multiple attempts at “satire” about the Nats, both as posted articles and in the comments which I haven’t found funny either.
What known Labour policies did I miss?
If you were trying to satirise specific policies, you did a pretty poor job.
Ha ha ha…….ain’t life poetic sometimes ?
Young dickhead Tory lout occasions the Law School to can Harawira’s address at Auckland University last evening. The Maori National Party, and the National and Labour parties thrash themselves into “Harawira The Anti-Christ” frenzy.
People in Tai Tokerau standing back going “What………..?”.
Support for Harawira muscles up. And it’s more and more visceral because of your bullshit. Quite simply you’re pissing people off. Kia Ora. Keep at it !
Just in case you’ve missed it you frightened wahanui, this is not “your” election. I know it’s a rum deal that “these Maoris” are in control in this instance but you just gotta man-up and face it !
Disempowerment ain’t a great feeling is it my bro’ ?
This is bad and I’m surprised it hasn’t been picked up on. Glad to hear it’s backfiring within TTT though 😀
I’m not on FB, does anyone know what the NACT crowd were planning to do protest wise?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4996046/Harawira-lecture-axed-because-of-redneck-racism
The media seem to have taken an unusually sympathetic slant on it.
Anyone who thinks that Harawira is a reactionary jerk should watch that video and listen to his considered, thoughtful responses on racism and what’s required to change it. I really hope the media shows more of this kind of thing.
Electricity, Water, Broadcasting, Mining, Tourism, Farms, Education et cetera is already ours.
“Whatever you sell Joky Hen, you should tell your buyers to beware. Those assets will be taken back at cost less all conveyancing. The message needs to be made very clear. And the Rich MumsandDads masquerading as folksy mums and dads get the message. It includes you.”
Why are we not hearing this simple message from the left?
What like Kiwi rail was taken back at cost less conveyancing ?
… too many years were allowed to pass between sale and renationalising.
This time should be clear cut – moment government changes, asset comes back.
This was a poll from Maori Television for 2008 election
http://media.maoritelevision.com/default.aspx?tabid=207&pid=477
I think the secondary issues have risen up for this election.
A poll had about 70% of voters wanted Maori Party to go with Labour in the electorate.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/670511
Remember NZ First Maori Seats when he defied the electorate and went with National.
The Maori Party are yet to be punished for this – Maori in the North are not dumb.
Hone Kelvin
% %
Can be trusted 48.4 20.6
Will deliver on promises 49.4 21.2
Knows the needs of the local people 67.8 16.2
Is experienced in politics 60.0 16.6
Is a capable leader 59.4 19.2
Would be good in a crisis 56.6 19.6
Has lots of personality 71.4 11.2
These numbers dont seem to support a great victory for Labour or the Maori Party in the by election.
This is interesting looking back but the Horizon poll is too soon to take much from it – Harawira has had a lot of media exposure, Davis hardly any and we don’t know who the Maori Party candidate is yet. Six weeks could be a long time in the TTT by-election.
Maori Party Candidates maybe?
David Rankin 202 votes in 2008 TTT election
Mere Mangu 1250 votes in 2005 TTT election
Naida Glavish is chairwoman of Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua. Not sure if that would sit well in TTT
Pita Tipene Nagti Hine – not sure if he would up to the national stage – ex teacher
Harmi Piripi – turned them down
The Maori Party has lost before even it selects its candidate.
PeteG……….thought you weren’t gonna engage that quick, cheap practice ’til round 2 o’clock this afternoon ? Never mind, if needs be…….
Anyway, yeah, I agree. Harawira’s had lots of exposure of late. But how sure are you that when the National Maori Party announce their candidate Harawira’s gonna suddenly fall from peoples’ minds ?
I’ll wager that the “comparison factor” (FYI – a well known Crosby Textor identified political dynamic) will have Harawira looking even more credible to the voters of TTT. Certainly no tipped name doing the rounds up here has anything like Harawira’s punch. In fact several of them are drawing belly laughs. The others get no reaction. Not actually likely to push Harawira out of sight I reckon.
And don’t forget that even while you and yours insist on Harawira as a dolt/demon/dog/dastardly, Harawira’s still telling it straight-up and actually, looking quite the leader in the broader sense. Did you see his response when little Tory vandal boy from Auckland University had his 22 seconds of telly fame as “the wrecker” re the university address. You see him on Te Karere few days ago, or were you vomiting ?
Couldn’t call them Churchillian performances (Praise The Lord for that) but definitely striking in the terms employed by you wise-“acher” fullas.
Seems like you’re burdened with pakeha perspective wishful thinking re TTT. Pompous, know-it-all tone in delivery don’t mask that. Come to think of it this fantasy stuff is not actually unrelated to “that practice” mentioned above. You’re getting into it much more than is good for you my bro’.
Get a hold of yourself man !…….oh nah bro’……..wait……that’s not what I meant………
But how sure are you that when the National Maori Party announce their candidate Harawira’s gonna suddenly fall from peoples’ minds ?
He won’t, but the other candidates will become known and will be able to compete.
while you and yours insist on Harawira as a dolt/demon/dog/dastardly
I don’t say anything like that. I do think he will be even more ineffective in parliament than he was in the Maori Party (if he gets back in). He probably won’t have as much time to spend looking after his electorate if he is trying to lead a new party and is seeking the party vote in November.
Seems like you’re burdened with pakeha perspective wishful thinking re TTT.
Why do you think that? I don’t really care what the result of the by-election is, I’m interested in it, that’s all. I agree that whoever ends up standing for the Maori Party will struggle to impress, but I think Kelvin Davis will at least help the electorate examine Harawira’s suitability and give him a good nudge.
You’re getting into it much more than is good for you my bro’.
Do you think the rest of the country should butt out and ignore the by-election and the development of a new party?
If Harawira is returned and the Mana Party gets established and seeks party votes that will involve the interests of the whole country. Won’t it?
Kelvin Davis will have to toe the general seat labour party line in the by election.
Kelvin will be hurt each time his leaders commitment to not working with Hone or Mana are brought up.
Dont forget 70% of maori in TTT wanted the maori party work with labour, Phil is saying to at least 60% of electorate Fu..K You.
It may end up Phil may have to go as leader to from a minority left labour government after the general elections when Mana is elected and is a King Maker.
Phils message of not working with Hone or Mana is for the mainstream white voters that caused helen to introduce the F&S Legislation, gee wis i think thats how the maori party started.
Sorry, but Mana will never be King Maker because Hone has said he will never ever work with Act, and somewhat less vehemently that he cannot work with National.
That puts him firmly on the left, therefore not a swing party that either side needs to court – Labour can just take him for granted and not pay any attention to anything he does, because if he starts voting alongside National he’ll piss off his supporters. All Labour needs is for Mana to abstain from bringing the government down – and I don’t think Hone would be stupid enough to attempting forcing a general election because he didn’t win enough seats to have a big influence on policy direction.
Similarly NZF is unlikely to be a true king-maker because it seems unlikely Winston could ever work with Brash or John Key. He could possibly end up sitting on the cross benches, as he’s indicated could be an outcome.
Peter Dunne, if he gets back in, isn’t likely to be kingmaker because he won’t bring in any other votes. He’s also burned his bridges with Labour recently.
The Maori Party could be kingmaker, but again they might only end up with 2-3 seats after this election, therefore much weaker.
My view was national was going to be a two term government, however the way things are panning out there is a slim chance National may not be able to form a government come the general election.
I thought people wouldnt be hurting to much yet, but they are starting too.
The right never wins, elections are decided by the left voting or not voting.
If the economy doesnt improve and we lose the World Cup can be blame KEY?
Get real PeteG………you constantly engage the pejorative re Hone Harawira. And then when checked you hide in the faux reasonable pose of the right-wing political analyst caught out. You’re not kidding anyone. It’s crystal clear where you’re at. And ‘onya of course, that’s your right, but less disingenuousness…….please.
Moreover, when apposite comment is made about your worrying proclivity to engage “that practise” in relation to TTT you come over all like the parson who didn’t hear the thunderous fart in the middle of his righteous sermon.
Fact is you lot anticipate that Hone Harawira WILL put an end to the dependable impotence of “our good maori folk” which the Maori Party contributes to the National Maori Party and the aspirational, non-existent, “One Nation”.
I grant you’re not the worst reflection of it but that’s what all the Hone hatred is really about.
Kia Ora.
North to PeteG, “Seems like you’re burdened with pakeha perspective wishful thinking re TTT.”
Well I freely admit that as a British descendant I wouldn’t have a clue what the voters in TTT are thinking, so when I have some free time in the car I’ve been switching onto Radio Waatea now and again.
And I have to say, it’s interesting listening (to the bits I can understand, not speaking Maori …:))
Let’s just say, it’s not only us non-Maori that consider what you call “telling it straight-up” to be nothing more than arrogant rudeness on the part of Hone.
Not all Maori see things in the same way, who knew?
I know, I was just … shocked
Ashcroft and co are at it again with UK workers rights and unions under attack..
Ashcroft, John Key’s chum. Wonder whether he’ll fly into NZ in his private jet before the election to have a secret meeting with Key, like last time. Ashcroft is the UK’s equivalent of Douglas Myers, lives out of the country, pays no income tax but wants to have major political influence. Scum!
The influence is not just confined to politics Mman with libertarian billionaire Charles Koch buying himself the hiring and firing rights in the economics department of a state university.
I like my tax cut, $70/wk. However, I think interest free student loans should be hauled in and WFF reduced as this is giving hard working tax payers like myself extra burden to pay. At least my tax cut is my own money I have grafted for unlike the un affordable WFF & IFSL.
[lprent: This would all have somewhat more validity if the comment actually came from a IP that pings inside of NZ and isn’t a external proxy server. I’ll let this through, but I will be watching this handle for possibly being a astro-turfer or troll (just as I do with a few others). Your choice of method to access the site along with the spinner logic makes me rather suspicious. ]
I’ve really never understood this constant bitching about interest free student loans by the right-wing. If you’re so concerned about migration to Australia (Key used to be when it was Labour who was in power – now, not so much) and the ‘brain drain’, then putting interest back on student loans is one of the last things you’d want to do.
Also it’s not just students and the young who are in favour of interest free student loans – many in the older generations who got free education think that it’s only fair that we accommodate the current generation as best as we possibly can when it comes to education. They also don’t want to see their children and grandchildren move overseas and never return.
Tightening up on eligibility on interest free student loans, I am all for. I think giving out full-funding for all sorts of useless certificates and qualifications that are not actually useful in the real world would be a good place to start (I’m not talking accredited universities here – but private training institutes offering courses that are realistically on-par with secondary education). Generally raising university entry requirements and putting conditions on 2nd and 3rd year student loans requiring passing grades for the 1st year is another thing that we desperately need. It’s damaging to the country, and to individuals, if they go to university and drop out after 1 or 2 years and achieve nothing and removing things that enable this behaviour is a good and easy place to start.
It’s not only the young with student loans. In hopes of getting a job, I did the Cert. TESOL in 2009, having ammost paid of the student loan I incurred in 1999 through doing the special needs qually. The Cert TESOL has got me a few months of casual work over the last 2 years (next to useless in other words) and at 50-mumble (over 55, is all I’ll say) I have a new student loan, plus the fag-end of the old one. Whether I will ever pay it off in my lifetime, I don’t know, and if I can’t get work, well can’t pay it, interest free or not (though obviously if it’s interest free then there is a hope!)
Vicky32 I feel cynical when I remember the way that we were told that life was going to be interesting and challenging with new directions and careers within a lifetime for each individual. All you had to do was keep retraining and update your education. Then the state made this necessity a charge on future earnings, which were supposed to be plentiful. Rhetoric is what our pollies are good at, and that word is just around the corner from ‘lies’.
My daughter is down to her last 2 payments after 14 years. She’s worked full-time for all but one of those 14 years but couldn’t keep up with the interest payments until the interest was dropped. Thank goodness, or else she’d would have been paying all her working life.
Hi LPrent, I am a fairly new reader (and very occasional comment-provider) of the Standard, and of blogs in general. Wonder if you could please define the terms “troll” and “astro-turfer”. I see these terms come up from time to time. Other new readers may also appreciate some definition.
logie97 said this on yesterday’s open mike: “Kerr and his mates in the Round Table…have said that it is not the responsibility of business to be involved in socially responsible issues. It is their business to be as efficient and as profitable as possible.”
This being the case, you would suppose that they should be regulated and controlled from the outside, as is the case with other gangs who do not count social responsibility among their concerns. But no, we can’t have that either since it would bring a “distortion” to bear on the market, though bailouts etc, do not seem to be met with the same complaint. What a load of nonsense: if you are going to insist that business functions more or less like weather, you must surely allow that people take steps to guard against weather – umbrellas “distort” the fall of raindrops, but they do help to save people from getting soaked. The above is not a philosophy – it is a rationalisation that one might expect from a schoolyard bully!
Sorry, can you check the punctuation in that…?
I take it you are talking to me, so I have copied out the quote from which the two sentences were taken. I have not altered the punctuation but have removed a “however” – my interest was in how ludicrous the BR line of thought is when looked at unadorned, and thought that you expressed it well.
“Employers and employees are going to have to shoulder more of the burden.”
and Phil O’Reilly agrees.
Kerr and his mates in the Round Table, however, have said that it is not
the responsibility of business to be involved in socially responsible issues.
It is their business to be as efficient and as profitable as possible.
Seems they would assert that the employee should be providing for himself, work harder, get more money and find his/her own retirement scheme.
if you are like me you will have noticed a large number of puns (or whatever the correct term is) on John Key’s name – shonkey being a good example – I wonder if a list may be helpful so that rather than spray multiples all over the place, we could concentrate on the really good ones and get a bit of cut-through – like smile and wave. My contribution is Kingkey, which may have limited uses 🙂
Joky Hen is an anagram …
And a clever one. 😀
Here is Joke that I found on the net.. or is it the real future
John Key goes to a science exhibition and is shown a time machine which can see a 100 years into the future. The man in charge invites him to ask any question he likes.
John Key asks “How will Australia be in a 100 years?”. The machine wh…irrs and pops out a printout, which the man reads.
“The country is in good hands under the new P.M, crime is non existent, there is no conflict, the economy is healthy, there are no worries”.
He has another go “How will China be in a 100 years?”.
Another printout, “The country will be the worlds leading economy, and everyone there will enjoy the highest standards of living in the world”.
John Key then asks, “What will N.Z be like in a 100years?”
The machine whirrs and beeps and goes into action. The man gets a printout, but just stares at it.
“Come on” says John Key “What does it say?”
The man replies, “I don’t know! It’s all in Maori!”
ugh… can’t help but feel that joke is in poor taste…
Why? Please Explain.
Population statistics might back the joke up in the real world
Sounds like the typical racist BS from some ignorant RWNJ.
Draco T Bastard 9.2
Sounds like the typical racist BS from some ignorant RWNJ.
What would be wrong if in 100 years the Language was Maori and not English here?
It would make it difficult for everyone who moves to Australia.
The Maori language may be used more by then, but I don’t see English being dropped as a language, even by people who identify as Maori.
How many english will be in NZ in 100 years time?
I think they will be a very small minority.
“English” is quite different to English speakers. Those who don’t speak English are likely to be in a very small minority.
How many “Maori” will be in New Zealand in 100 years?
We’ll be mostly a Polynesian country in a 100 years. I don’t get the joke though, is being most Polynesian or Maori meant to be a bad thing?
No being Maori is to be celebrated not brought down, like any other culture.
It was a joke pulled form MANAs facebook
I had a good chuckle, then thought what will NZ be like in 100 years, with the population growth stats Maori shall become the backbone of any future economy.
Lets work together for a better future than maori bashing which this country does all the time.
The jokes punchline may become reality?
Ah, ok, so the joke is on Key.
I didn’t say anything would be wrong – the attempt at humour you posted did.
So why isn’t the Chinese printout in Mandarin?
Newshoggers links to a couple of good log form posts from inside Egypt:
http://www.newshoggers.com/blog/2011/05/egypt-two-imbaba-retrospectives.html
well worth reading.
Thanks for that PB. And it reminds me again that behind any half decent sectarian conflict there’s blokes in frocks inciting dirty deeds.
An opinion piece from Canada.
Why the poor cast votes for Conservatives.
joe90 – Read Canadian piece. Makes good points which might explain a shift to right-wing pollies. But it does sound right-wing biased.
It angers low-income voters to see secure middle-class bureaucrats getting pay hikes. Those trapped in entry-level service jobs seethe when public employees who earn far more than they ever will are rewarded simply for showing up. Those living on public assistance — employment insurance, welfare, old age security — dislike being treated with contempt by government officials. In both cases, cutting the public payroll has a lot of appeal.
Having a go at bureaucrats is always easy targeting – but when needed, being able to see one quickly without lingering waiting for appointments is appreciated. This comment seems to be quoting the particularly red-necked with a permanent slant of being hard-done-by.
But it can’t be ignored- there is a shift from the left here as Jim Anderton found when he spoke about his new party years ago to meetings of older guys in ‘cardigans’.
All part of Nactional and the right’s strategy Prism, blame the haves for the plight of the have nots.
Robert Reich: The Republican Strategy
The Republican strategy is to split the vast middle and working class — pitting unionized workers against non-unionized, public-sector workers against non-public, older workers within sight of Medicare and Social Security against younger workers who don’t believe these programs will be there for them, and the poor against the working middle class.
By splitting working America along these lines, Republicans want Americans to believe that we can no longer afford to do what we need to do as a nation. They hope to deflect attention from the increasing share of total income and wealth going to the richest 1 percent while the jobs and wages of everyone else languish.
Interesting to see the predictable thinking of some bloggers here. Pete G starts them off like a rabbit at a racetrack and all the whippets and greyhounds bound after him with but a single ‘thought’ in their head. Pete G has fun, never gets caught, and ends up knowing he is superior in his ability to manipulate most reciprocators. No good arguments will persuade him, he is not only firmly rightist, but enjoys being contrary. Do good points arise in the detailing of the arguments though? Merely gainsaying Pete G would seem a waste of time.
Hear hear prism. The only value of Pete’s suspiciously well-informed commentary is that it gives an insight about how the “enemy” thinks. A bit like planting a microphone into Steven Joyce’s office.
Yeah so i generally just take the piss out of him nowadays, for amusement you know.
Stop it prism, I thought he was working for the Labour party.
Mr Smith – Yes I will stop it. There has to be room for some amusement amongst the daily political chaff. It really doesn’t adulterate the fare, and he enjoys it and so do others, so I shall say no more and as I wondered before perhaps his remarks force clarity in opposing views. He’s a bit like a cocnout shy at a fair and everyone chucks things at him, but he bounces up each time. I guarantee we’ll never win that coconut.
“RSA Animate – Changing Education Paradigms.” A very watchable analysis of the changes that are failing to cope with the changing needs of society. The view that Academics are the best and those who are not academic are failures. But what about Lateral Divergent thinking? The intriguing graphics make this rather fun to watch. If you care about education for your kids or your grandkids watch it.
This is an English chap, Ken Robinson, talking about USA trends but surprise surprise, it sounds like current NZ National Standards. Where did Key get his “ideas” from?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U
Hat tip Millhouse.
News – PM savaged by own aged demented dog, muses regretfully “It’s hard to predict what animals may do, even one from within the family. The killer instinct is always lurking”.
Interestingly Farrar blogged about it at 10:54 am but ACT did not release it on their site until 11:13 am.
Do I sense the dark hand of Crosby Textor here or am I being too cynical?
The language is somewhat extreme and suggests an attempt to try and blur the very clear fact that a National takeover of ACT has occurred.
Gosh MS – the NBR article on it has comments starting from 10:53, the article will have been posted before that. TVNZ have theirs timed at 10:28am. CT are everywhere.
By the way, it looks like you are spaced out again.
No need to be like that PeteG. I did leave open the possibility that I was being overly cynical.
Interestingly the author of the document was someone called “John” and the document was produced at 9:49 this morning.
WHISTLE-BLOWER ALERT!!
HOUSING NZ ADVERTISES FOR ‘PROPERTY DIVESTMENT MANAGER’
” This crown owned entity owns a vast amount of property assets and they currently require the services of an experienced Divestment Officer to join their Assets team.
…..role’s key purpose includes developing plans and strategies in relation to the disposal of assets, including engagement with other social housing partners, Iwi organisations and commercial residential property developers as well as with internal stakeholders.”
_______________________________________________________________________________
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=374822613
Property Divestment Expert
Listing #: 374822613
Location: Auckland City, Auckland
Type: Full time, Permanent
Listed: Sun, 08 May
Your reference #: WG18046
This crown owned entity owns a vast amount of property assets and they currently require the services of an experienced Divestment Officer to join their Assets team.
Reporting into the Redevelopment and Upgrade Manager this role’s key purpose includes developing plans and strategies in relation to the disposal of assets, including engagement with other social housing partners, Iwi organisations and commercial residential property developers as well as with internal stakeholders.
The successful candidate will need to have a good balance of both public and private sector property disposals experience. The ability to relate to a wide variety of people and stakeholders will allow you to flourish in this specialised role.
Your property skills will include a mixture of valuations, rental agreements, disposals, financial analysis and general property negotiations.
Your ideal background would include a mixture of property expertise gained from a local or regional council, government department, power/utility company or property consultancy.
A relevant tertiary qualification in business, property or legal combined with an understanding of the social housing sector will give you the grounding to work across multiple projects.
For further information please contact Mike Westbury on 04 4941523 or apply through the link below.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
(I rang Mike Westbury, who confirmed that this ‘crown owned entity’ was Housing New Zealand.)
This is setting up for massive privatisation of publicly-owned State housing assets.
Whether housing is devolved to unaccountable NGOs, corporate charities, or corporate iwi – this is STILL privatisation.
Privatisation of public assets/services starts by ‘devolution’ to these supposedly ‘not-for-profit’ private sector ‘trojan horses’ – then they get flicked off to the ‘for-profit’ private sector.
Wonder how many big, slobbering snouts are lining up behind the scenes for THIS development – at a time of housing crisis?
Wonder what Mr Popular smiley, wavy ‘shonky’ John Key has to say about THIS sneaky development – happening on HIS watch?
Penny Bright
http://waterpressure.wordpress.com
I heard somebody talking about this on Radio Waatea last night – was that you Penny?
Didn’t HNZ go through a program of buying a bunch of housing some years back? Can’t remember.
I talked about this issue on Radio Waatea last night, and Sue Henry (advocate for years for State Housing tenants from the Housing Lobby) talked about it the night before on Titewhai Harawira’s Radio Waatea show.
This is a VERY big deal – especially when you combine it with the unelected Auckland ($upercity) Council’s Property CCO selling property assets behind the public’s back.
(Have blogged a press release on this matter, co-signed by Lisa Prager – fellow Community Activist and ‘Public Watchdog’.
Penny Bright
http://waterpressure.wordpress.com
STEPEHN JOYCE STEPHYEN JOYCE STEPHEN JOYCE.
are you deaf. I watched you go on and on on teevee last night about speed cameras and boy racers and a whole lot of fiddle faddle ad hoc garbage about speed cameras and at the end of the item a boy racer car sped off with the exhaust going flat out. I’m beginning to think you are simple minded. the way to get rid of these vermin is to concentrate on their noise emissions and take demerits off of that instead of the other tortuous rigmaroles the nitwits at the minsitry are dreaming up. these kids have got you buffaloed and you cant even work them out. the police are are styimied too because they have beocme infantilised by too much teevee, motorbikes, speedboats and leaf blowers so they cant hear noise any more. get to the root of the problem and get the top cops to sharpen up the attitudes of the guys on the beat and stop them being impressed by hunks of metal and weird hairdos. there has been a car parked on the footpath in high street masterton for the last week but no one has done anything about that either. every body just does what they like nowadays and nobody does anything till there is a fatality and then they start wringing their hands and blaming when the solution is quite easy..
it seems like nobody can do anything properly anymore. unfotunately there is no rewind button on reality.
Teenaa koe, randal
…it seems like nobody can do anything properly anymore. unfotunately there is no rewind button on reality.
You are assuming that you have an adequate grasp of reality.
So much vitriol and so little punctuation. Perhaps there is an age gap of huge proportions between you and ‘boy racers’ but why call them vermin. They belong to parents and too many of them are dying on our roads. That is the reality.
The authorities, in fact, should try alternatives to waving a big stick and imposing more fines, more demerits, and criminalisisng their behaviours. Perhaps they should be made to knit ear muffs for the noise challenged.
Kia ora Adele. Vitriol is dangerous acid, Randal’s having a rant and rather a despairing one it seems. He is entitled to some sympathy as not only boy racers have parents, and perhaps some parents dislike their children who are boy racers too.
What is needed in NZ is parent education from the time before children are born and definitely before they start to walk A plan designed by informed parents to bring up their kids would mean happy parents enjoying and guiding their kids right through to driving age with less problems all around.
I notice that the BMW smear hasnt gone anywhere. Probably because Mallard and Hipkins are filthy liars and even the one eyed authors at the standard can see it.
Gosh, that gives me an idea for a post tomorrow.
There will be something new early next week to try and find a way of scoring some points over the budget.
So the difference between Mallard/Hipkins and John Key is that Key showers regularly and the other two (supposedly) don’t?
The wankey photo-ops are back. Now with chopper.
Nausea just developed.
Shouldn’t have checked the news while dinner is cooking.
It’s all right… just imagine that everyone looking at that is now associating new helicopters with free rides to photo-ops and totting up the $$ in their heads….. feel better??
Converted to his own personal fleet
Yes, I saw that big Chopper Key pic & decided not to stay on the Stuff site. Headed to google NZ news instead.
There is a great piece on weatherwatch.co.nz about global warming. I guess some people will just say ‘it’s from friends of science so it’s trash’ and some will say ‘it’s from friends of science so it’s totally accurate’.
Either way it’s a concise road map for the debate.
Oh, look at that, burt is linking to BS again.
This one is much more fun and actually references to climatologists.
Anne Tolley shows her complete lack of competence once again.
Most telling comment when commenting on increased ECE costs.
“it’s not valued unless there’s a cost to it.”
“The Land and Water Forum’s recommendations on the management of New Zealand’s most precious natural resource – water – are a model for dealing with contentious issues.
Regrettably, the Government has snapped the model over its knee. ”
Had to check.Yes It is a Dom Editorial. What? Yes!
The Govt brought together 58 Organisations who agreed that a set of National Standards on water quality was the role of Government. ……
But it ends:” Speculation among forum members is that Dr Smith, a minister with a history of championing the environment, has been rolled by Cabinet colleagues philosophically opposed to any restrictions being placed on the ability of farmers or industrialists to maximise their profits.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/4997589/Editorial-Water-water-everywhere-but
Am I surprised? ECan demolition was a warning.