“We support oil drilling [and] we have done in the past, there’s no major change there,” he said.
“What we want to see is a regime very much like in Norway where there is good processes of approval, there’s tight regulations … a regime for making sure that money is used well, and at the same time making sure our transition to renewable [energy] goes [ahead].”
Ultimately, fossil fuels were “out” and not sustainable for the future, but New Zealand could use them to transition to renewables, he said.
Mr Shearer said a Labour Government would make improvements to safety measures and increase local involvement.
“[Currently] we do not have New Zealanders overseeing the exploratory rigs doing the drilling. We should have our own people on the ground.”
Equipment to respond to an oil spill had to be on site and ready to go in case of an accident, he said.
However, Anadarko’s current oil clean-up plan would take at least a month to plug a leak, and 115 days for a rig to arrive.
Asked whether drilling was acceptable under those circumstances, Mr Shearer dodged the question, instead drawing parallels with the airline industry.
“It’s very very safe, but when it goes wrong, it goes very very wrong. And what we want to have is an Air New Zealand rather than an Air Togo.”
Following a fruitless summer of oil exploration, Mr Shearer was asked whether the $12 billion oil drilling industry touted by National was “a mirage”.
“It’s anybody’s guess,” he said.
“Putting all our cards on the table and say ‘our economic development is going to depend on the discovery of oil’ is nonsense. It’s like walking into a casino and hoping the ball lands on number 36.”
Royalties could be raised when more oil was discovered, but hiking them now would “kill the industry”, he said.
Mr Shearer said the policy wouldn’t affect a potential coalition with the Green Party.
As always, David Shearer just as he did all throughout his leadership of the Labour Party steadfastly ignores any mention of climate change. It’s a scandal that this climate change ignorer has been given the energy portfolio.
“Mango skins”, “Beneficiaries on the roof”, and now, the “Air Togo” racist comparison with our current off shore oil industry. And yet, contradictory support for that industry????
What David Shearer can’t hide with his incoherent confused and frankly embarrassing responses is that, as Bryan Walker at Hot Topic NZ says, ”
Being hell-bent on further fossil fuel discovery and exploitation is hardly compatible with action to rein in climate change….”
Hot Topic, “The collapse of Western Civilisation” JULY 3, 2014
“…in full contradiction to what was known, a “fossil fuel frenzy” developed just when the urgency of a transition to renewable energy was becoming undeniable.”
It is clear from the context that David Shearer is trying to cast a negative aspersion of our offshore oil industry by comparing it to “Togo Air” the inference that we (white New Zealanders) are expected to automatically take, is that anything run by black Africans is unsafe, incompetent, and slipshod.
I have googled “Togo Air” and found no negative reports of Togo Air that would confirm David Shearer’s prejudice.
It’s hard to find much positive about Togo Air, Jenny. It collapsed after two years of operation, which is actually the comparison Shearer was making. If there is any racism, I suspect it might be fromsomeone who jumped to an unwarranted conclusion. Lazy thinking, indeed.
It’s hard to find much positive about Togo Air, Jenny. It collapsed after two years of operation, which is actually the comparison Shearer was making.
Te Reo Putake
So how does this compare unfavorably with Air New Zealand which went Bankrupt in 1989, and had to bailed out by the New Zealand taxpayers?
Or responsible for sight seeing flight 901 which slammed into the side of Mt Erebus.
Other than Air New Zealand is owned and operated by white people, and so can’t be used as a racist dog whistle for corruption and incompetence by lazy and ignorant politician trying to make a point.
Does, “orchestrated litany of lies” ring any bells?
What? That doesn’t even make any sense.
TRP your petty hair splitting and blamestorming in trying to divert attention away from David Shearer’s contradictory and confused justification for deep sea oil drilling is now getting ridiculous. Every time David Shearer opens his mouth, with some thoughtless fatuous comment like mango skins, or beneficiaries on the roof, or Air Togo, thousands of Left voters flock to the Greens. (or worse, stay at home).
I suppose running a defensive back line for Shearer’s comments by attacking the messenger prevents you from having to admit that David Shearer’s confused fawning before the fossil fuel lobby is almost as cringeworthy and damaging to the Labour Party as previously Shane Jones’ were.
I bet all the employees of Air NZ who aren’t “white people” would be thrilled to read your racist analysis, Jenny. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Te Reo Putake
You mean the Air New Zealand employees who have been at the sharp end of more than a decade of Air New Zealand’s outsourcing, contracting out and vicious deunionisation program?
My guess is most would say, Yeah, tell it like it is sister.
Charming. Our readers will be assured that the defence of the our children’s future and the fate of the planet will be safe from the polluters in such hands.
I also saw a little racism in Shearer’s lazy comment. Most listeners will know that Togo is in Africa, but nothing about Togo Air. They would then expect it to be run by Africans. At the very least, it shows that Shearer is intellectually lazy and doesn’t think through what he’s saying. From roof painting to Air Togo, there’s plenty of evidence of this. He shouldn’t be spokesperson for anything.
Lazy thinking, yourself, Murray. Some viewers might be racist, therefore any mention of Africa makes the speaker a little racist? Really? Any other continents you want patronised?
Funnily enough, I find it very hard to take anything you say seriously. Your eagerness to defend Shearer at all costs comes across as an obsession. You’re happy to call others racists, but tie yourself in knots to defend Shearer’s stupid statement.
Sorry lads, but the problem here isn’t Shearer, but Murray’s patronising views on Africans and their businesses. I’ve got a better understanding of what concerns him about foreign control now.
Shearer is the spokesperson and the best labour have in this area. transition – what a joke and the roulette is a good analogy – betting everything without picking anything.
….he’s got a knack for coming across as being genuine and reasonable.
Liam Hehir
Only Liam to the people to the Right of the political spectrum.
Which I think you would define yourself as. (Am I wrong?)
I think an endorsement of David Shearer coming from you Liam would be more like a kiss of death. Unless of course you are being sarcastic but I don’t really think you are.
No I mean it. I agree he’s got his shortcomings. Maybe he wouldn’t have been a great debater but if he was really that bad tend to think he could have avoided that by simply not agreeing to any direct debates. That would hardly be unprecedented.
But you know the other day I was driving home and I turned the radio on and came midway into an interview about the Malaysian diplomat farrago. This guy was firmly criticising the government and demanding answers, but in a very measured way – like it was more in sorrow than anger. It turned out to be David Shearer.
That’s just the impression of somebody who tends to the other side of things, of course. You can take it or leave it but there’s not much margin for me making it up.
If David Shearer keeps this up, and with your endorsement Liam, he just might be able to follow Shane Jones into getting the National government to grant him a sinecure in reward for his loyal services to the fossil fuel industry.
Yeah, I mean the last thing you want in your political team is somebody with a bit of crossover appeal, right? Far better to have a smaller, purer political party.
A TV3 Brunton poll showed that 80% of the population are opposed to Deep Sea Oil Drilling. The only ones that David Shearer is appealing to are the members of a conservative minority, probably people such as yourself Liam, oh, and I almost forgot the oil companies.
“Yeah, I mean the last thing you want in your political team is somebody with a bit of crossover appeal, right? Far better to have a smaller, purer political party.”
What’s the value of picking up one from “the other side” if you drop two from your own? That way lies Peter Dunne.
Agree though about Shearer’s handling of the McCully coverup/debacle. I was pleasantly surprised when I realised who was on the radio.
To be fair he did briefly mention climate change when he spoke about transition from fossil fuels. But otherwise this was an infuriating display of business friendly conservatism. He has a peculiar ability to make you want to shake him awake. Thank goodness he is not debating Key in the final weeks of the election campaign. Moana Mackey however, does have great ideas on climate change and should have been interviewed instead or as well as Shearer. Labour need to release their environmental policy immediately. Shearer makes them unappealing to voters even if Phil O Reilly was delighted. The Greens can’t govern alone, come in Labour get your act together, we can’t afford three more years of National!!They have been tweaking crime stats for political purposes (Herald ths morning), what else are they lying about and manipulating?
If Shearer is prepared to say “transition” so clearly, then he should be consequential, hike the royalty rates substantially, and generate a Crown “transport transition” fund that might assist weaning off our oil addiction somewhat.
The Crown’s excise tax is running down as vehicle efficiency and gradually increasing litre price bites.
There is good common ground to be negotiated with the Greens here if Labour really have the will to negotiate it. It involves a common plan.
While lazy thinkers like David Shearer simply chooses to just ignore climate change, avowedly open and proud traitors to the people and planet, the party of the polluters and plutocrats ACT make no bones about wanting do nothing.
Introducing New Zealand’s own Lord Haw haw of climate change.
Question: Are you worried about climate change?
Jamie Whyte ACT Party Leader: “If we were to rank all the things that I am worried about I don’t think climate change would get into my top hundred.”
Question: So what would you change?
Jamie Whyte ACT Party Leader: “We should do absolutely nothing about this”
Thanks Te Reo Putake.
I did have my doubt as the real deal would have been a high profile candidate and higher up on their greedy gravy train list, the train that is getting ready to destroy and derail our world renowned fair public education system into privately profiting Charter school rort and other crap.
Madame Triple F – facile, fatuous flibbertigibbet, – semi-retired tippler McIvor nee Woodham speeds the race to the bottom via ordure ‘Opinion’.
“I would rather my child be taught alongside 35 other kids by a brilliant, inspirational teacher than have her in a class of 15 with a boring dullard who is marking time until retirement.”
Guard your strawman Madame. He may combust in the heat of friction between your truly ridiculous constructs.
“Their parents have failed them, and so have their teachers”
Mmmm…..fittingly no mention of poverty and inequality – it’s well known that inside the gates of school – wherein the cruel winds of society do not blow – these factors are inoperative.
“Teachers have a powerful union and they can make a strong case for more teachers aides and specialist assistance for those children being let down by the system.”
Like ‘militant’ teacher unions soooo have the accommodating ear of the minister…..never the dog-whistling sneer.
“If teachers can ‘promise’ me that smaller class sizes will ensure no child is left behind, I’m all for it.” – Promise ? Promise ? Madame, how terribly high you set the bar…..diminutive dumpies will never get a drink.
“But National is telling us that rewarding quality teachers and sharing them around schools will be more effective in lifting those children langushing at the bottom o the class.”
What, no promises demanded ? Oh well, I guess one ‘rockstar’ Grey Lynn journo’ must take as gospel the untested word of the ‘rockstar’ minister.
“Two different ideologies, two different ways of running schools. And our children are the lab rats.”
Well done Madame ! Another fabulously false construct…..with the denouement enriched by some excellent fear framing. Reflecting empirical profundity. Nothing facile or shabby here Madame.
North.Yes an interesting article by McIvor but superficial and with little depth or data.
The issue is I think, more chiefs (read CEOs) in the education waka ?…. or more people to row the boat?
Many of the current chiefs agree with the former and the rowers agree with the latter.
Fortunately the parents of the children have the decisive vote. I hope they use it.
You mean all power, status and enrichment to a gratuitously decreed managerial ‘elite’ for whom, their unfitness for purpose compounding, personal accountabiliy is deflected by the licence to heap blame on arbitrarily decreed ‘incompetents’ down the chain ?
HekYeah Parrota being the head of the fish where the rot commences.
And what about the title. Labrats? Madam McIvor nee Woodham has hit the subliminal jackpot. The Labour Party is rats. She infers without saying so directly that Labour is using the kiddie-winkies as laboratory fodder in its desire to experiment with education. Yep. We’re the rats – unlike National with their Nat. Standards and Charter Schools. They’re the goodies here cos they don’t experiment.
Garth “The Knife” McVicar to appear on Radio NZ this morning
Next week: Kyle Chapman?
The week after: Clayton Weatherston?
For whatever reason, Radio NZ National’s Sunday producers have seen fit to invite the S.S. Imperial Wizard Garth “The Knife” McVicar on to the programme to “debate” justice issues with Kim Workman.
By any standards, this seems to be an indefensible decision. I dropped a line to the hapless Wallace Chapman, who has been obliged to sit in a studio with this moral imbecile….
Please ask Garth McVicar to apologise for his brutal comments about a stabbing victim
Dear Wallace,
When 15-year-old Pihema Cameron was chased down on a Manurewa street and stabbed to death in 2008, McVicar and his selective vigilante organization led a public campaign of defamation of the dead boy and heaped abuse and scorn on his parents and his wider family.
To compound this, he championed the man who had killed the boy as an “upstanding New Zealander.” Far from moderating these views, McVicar amplified them in his book, entitled with brazen cynicism Justice: Speaking up for Crime’s Silent Victims.
McVicar has not yet seen fit to apologise to the mother of Pihema Cameron. Perhaps you could ask him to do so on your show this morning.
Garth “The Knife” McVicar to appear on Radio NZ this morning
Next week: Kyle Chapman?
The week after: Clayton Weatherston?
For whatever reason, Radio NZ National’s Sunday producers have seen fit to invite the S.S. Imperial Wizard Garth “The Knife” McVicar on to the programme to “debate” justice issues with Kim Workman.
By any standards, this seems to be an indefensible decision. I dropped a line to the hapless Wallace Chapman, who has been obliged to sit in a studio with this moral imbecile….
Please ask Garth McVicar to apologise for his brutal comments about a stabbing victim
Dear Wallace,
When 15-year-old Pihema Cameron was chased down on a Manurewa street and stabbed to death in 2008, McVicar and his selective vigilante organization led a public campaign of defamation of the dead boy and heaped abuse and scorn on his parents and his wider family.
To compound this, he championed the man who had killed the boy as an “upstanding New Zealander.” Far from moderating these views, McVicar amplified them in his book, entitled with brazen cynicism Justice: Speaking up for Crime’s Silent Victims.
McVicar has not yet seen fit to apologise to the mother of Pihema Cameron. Perhaps you could ask him to do so on your show this morning.
Just listened to mcvicar and I must say the arrogant vocal delivery puts me off for starters but the real issue is that he believes that opinions count for more than facts.
he is a man that cannot see causes only outcomes.
if he had any real insight then he would understand why and how things happen in society and do something about that.
At 3am Gaza time, July 9, in the midst of Israel’s latest exercise in savagery, I received a phone call from a young Palestinian journalist in Gaza. In the background, I could hear his infant child wailing, amidst the sounds of explosions and jet planes, targeting any civilian who moves, and homes as well. He just saw a friend of his in a car clearly marked “press” blown away. And he heard shrieks next door after an explosion but can’t go outside or he’ll be a likely target. This is a quiet neighborhood, no military targets – except Palestinians who are fair game for Israel’s high tech US-supplied military machine. He said that 70% of the ambulances have been destroyed, and that by then over 70 had been killed, and of the 300 or so wounded, about 2/3 women and children. Few Hamas activists have been hit – or rocket launching sites. Just the usual victims.
It is important to understand what life is like in Gaza when Israel’s behavior is “restrained,” in between the regular manufactured crises like this one. A good sense is given in a report to UNRWA by Mads Gilbert, the courageous and expert Norwegian physician who has worked extensively in Gaza, also throughout the vicious and murderous Cast Lead operation. In every respect, the situation is disastrous. Just keeping to children, Gilbert reports: “Palestinian children in Gaza are suffering immensely. A large proportion are affected by the man-made malnourishment regime caused by the Israeli imposed blockage. Prevalence of anaemia in children <2yrs in Gaza is at 72.8%, while prevalence of wasting, stunting, underweight have been documented at 34.3%, 31.4%, 31.45% respectively.” And it gets worse as the report proceeds.
When Israel is on “good behavior,” more than two Palestinian children are killed every week, a pattern that goes back over 14 years. The underlying cause is the criminal occupation and the programs to reduce Palestinian life to bare survival in Gaza, while Palestinians are restricted to unviable cantons in the West Bank and Israel takes over what it wants, all in gross violation of international law and explicit Security Council resolutions, not to speak of minimal decency. And it will continue as long as it is supported by Washington and tolerated by Europe – to our everlasting shame.
The Internet Party wants a moratorium on fracking, the dumping of oil wastes, deep-sea and undersea extraction and other risky energy and mining industry practices.
In its final environment policy released today – its first full, digitally-driven democratic policy – the Internet Party also vows to restore the absolute right of Kiwis to protest at sea against deep-sea oil exploration.
The full Internet Party environment policy takes a strong line on all environmental issues in New Zealand. Its climate change position backs the Greens’ proposed carbon tax as the starting point for policy negotiations post-election. However, the Internet Party is not convinced that all revenue raised should be spread across all households.
“Compensating low income households for the average $2 a week extra cost of a carbon tax should be the priority, but a tax bonus for high income households would be a much lower priority for us than investing in renewables and environmental enhancements.”
…yep, Labour’s passive aggressive blanking out of bennies children and me too ‘super at 67’ might be gone by lunchtime…but the Torys hang ’em high brigade could go full monty on death penalty and kid whacking…
Internet Party style consultation from all political parties would be a good test of the enduring relatively even ratio of ‘dark’ to ‘light’ kiwis (aka reactionary conservative swine vs progressive, open to the new). And yes am aware of bright young entrepreneurs ‘open to the new’–while keeping a foot firmly on workers throats.
Internet Party approach is refreshing, mere weeks from consultation to policy. There is a lot of material around these days to help make informed decisions too.
“You never grab a knife and stab someone.”
Garth (The Knife) McVicar interviewed by Wallace Chapman
Radio NZ National, Sunday 13 July 2014
This was, as I feared it would be, almost entirely a softball interview, but one particularly interesting fact emerged—McVicar was once caned 36 times in one day by the headmaster at Napier Boys’ High School. Even by the prevailing standards of the 1950s, that was exceptionally brutal treatment of a child. It possibly was an important factor in turning McVicar into the kind of person he became.
The following are a few snatches from a mostly intolerable listening experience. We join the Grand Dragon in the midst of his opening talk….
GARTH McVICAR: ….politically correct nonsense…. I believe in ABCD—Accountability, Boundaries, Consequences and Discipline. … Sir Russell Pettigrew was one of our first supporters….
WALLACE CHAPMAN: You formed the Sensible Trust in 2001, after Mark Middleton was prosecuted for threatening to kill Paul Dalley.
GARTH McVICAR: I had this sense that something had gone wrong in society. … I’m a farmer…I’m just a dad who cares…. The values my parents taught me, you know, you never hurt other people. You know, YOU NEVER GRAB A KNIFE AND STAB SOMEONE, you never KICK someone….
Now if ever there was a moment when a sharp interviewer would have jumped on this brutal hypocrite and held him to account, this was it. Unfortunately however, the interviewer was the lightweight Wallace Chapman, who chose to let it pass without even mentioning McVicar’s outspoken and merciless SUPPORT for the knife-killing of a 15 year old boy in 2008. It’s not that Chapman supported McVicar’s rabid and ignorant views, it’s just that he lacked the courage to confront him. Instead of challenging him, he continued with the schmoozing….
CHAPMAN: You come across as a very caring person, with a huge heart. But a lot of people see you as a vigilante. GARTH McVICAR: Yes, I’m not a politically correct person. I’m a farmer. CHAPMAN: Rudy Giuliani is an influence, isn’t he. GARTH McVICAR: New York had deteriorated, then along came Rudy Giuliani and Bill Bratton and cleaned it up. I had dinner with Rudy when he came to New Zealand. CHAPMAN: It was the Zero Tolerance Policy he was famous for wasn’t he? GARTH McVICAR: Yep, the compulsory DNA tests for minor crimes. CHAPMAN: The “broken windows” theory. GARTH McVICAR: Yeah, I’ve spoken out a number of times on graffiti. It’s mainly just exuberant kids who are pushing the boundaries. But once they go to prison they become bolshie, and emerge as hardened criminals. CHAPMAN: Now you claimed that legalizing gay marriage could increase crime. Do you still believe that? GARTH McVICAR: More so. In that type of lifestyle….[a long, unhinged rant against homosexuals follows, during which he outs his own brother as gay, and claims he has many gay friends]…. CHAPMAN: There were more than 20,000 submissions on that bill, and yours was the only one to link it to crime. GARTH McVICAR: I’m gathering research now. Twenty years down the track you’ll see that I’m right. I’m not a Christian. CHAPMAN: You’re not? GARTH McVICAR: No I’m not. I used to go to church when I was younger, but not now. I still believe in the basic moral teachings of Christianity, of course. I’m a good value man. I’m a big fan of Steve Jobs and technology. Some of the things we grew up with, we shouldn’t be tampering with. That’s all I’m saying. ….. [extended rambling thoughts about the dangers of the gay lifestyle]…. I think the Green Party has lost its way. CHAPMAN: Who do you support? GARTH McVICAR: Whoever’s supporting the Sensible Sentencing Trust. CHAPMAN: Rodney Hide wanted you to be an ACT candidate, didn’t he. GARTH McVICAR: Yes he did. …. And that’s when I met David Garrett. CHAPMAN: The fateful meeting! GARTH McVICAR: Yes. ACT, in their wisdom, failed to stand by him after his conviction, but we didn’t….[Launches into extended encomium of disgraced ACT MP and convicted grave-robber David Garrett….] CHAPMAN: What do you think of rehabilitation like they do in countries like Norway? GARTH McVICAR: From what I can see, it’s more of what I call the liberal lunacy. Norway’s got a totally different culture. I’m a big fan of what they are doing in Arizona and California….. [continues drearily raving about the exciting penal policies of his hero, the notorious Sheriff Joe Arpaio]…
Eventually, mercifully, the blowjob masquerading as an interview comes to a halt. Encouragingly, listeners seem to have been appalled by his performance. Chapman reads out a text from Tim: “McVicar is clearly a homophobic old crank.” A little later, he reads one from another listener: “What a narrow-minded man.” He reads out several more, almost every one of which is contemptous of McVicar.
Great to hear Radio New Zealand’s “Media Watch” programme is keeping an eye on the increasingly obvious media bias. The New Zealand Fox News Herald gets a prod in the on-line only version from last week while today Mike Hoskins, Janet Wilson and the Dumbinion gets highlighted. The bias is discussed around about 20 minutes in, but, as always, the whole show is worth a listen.
BLiP
Yes. Good to hear Media Watch and their somewhat too gentle rebuke of prejudiced media commentators.
The following programme, Wayne Brittenden’s Counterpoint,on Indonesian elections was also as usual insightful and informative.
BLiP
Yes. Good to hear Media Watch and their somewhat too gentle rebuke of prejudiced media commentators.
The following programme, Wayne Brittenden’s Counterpoint,on Indonesian elections was also as usual insightful and informative.
It’s not generally known that the Ralston/Wilson residence houses a magnificently garish flashing neon shrine at which daily is offered up obligatory worship in the nicely remunerative faith of TheGodKey. The excesses of which worship are putatively balanced by their moonlightings as senior and witheringly impartial political commentators. With that, he of studied mini-majesty and a preen gland to shame Hosking, she an engaging sort whom presents less ponderously serious than the other takes himself.
Oh well, I guess in the sophistication and chic of the near-west he who pays the piper commands the prayer….
Ex New Zealand Warrior hard man and Maori television media personality Wairangi Koopu has joined the MANA strategy team as the new MANA Youth Ambassador in another game changer move for the MANA party.
“When we say we want more change for rangatahi, by rangatahi, we mean it”, says Hone Harawira, MANA Party Leader and MP for Te Tai Tokerau.
“The great thing about Wairangi is he is known by almost everyone in Aotearoa because not only is he a former Warriors League player but as a presenter on one of the coolest shows on Maori TV, CODE, so his public appeal is really up there”, said Harawira.
“He brings a fresh look for MANA which is supported by the pride he has in his culture and the accomplishments he’s had as a 10 year professional athlete. A fluent Maori speaker with Iwi affiliations to Te Whanau Apanui and Whakatohea, gives MANA the opportunity to reach out to more of our Rangatahi and their whanau across Aotearoa”.
Wairangi will kick start off his official MANA youth ambassador role with Hone Harawira on the Road Trip starting on Tuesday in Kaitaia.
Laugh out Loud moment as i slipped outta the door into the darkness of a Wellington winter this morning to do the weekly veg shop at the market,
Tariana Turia quoted on my wireless saying the electoral problem the Maori Party has is that most of ‘their people’ just don’t know of the great gains the Party has made for them in six years of resting nga tiro on the heated leather of the Ministerial limo’s,
i have to ask here if being part of the Parliamentary process for long periods results in a subject becoming delusional because ‘Auntie Tari’, if She really believes such rubbish must be, at the least, suffering delusions,
After six years ‘in Government’ the Maori Party have presided over a gain for Maori being lifted from the negative statistics across all of the economic and societal indicators of exactly Zero,
In fact, in one of its first attacks on it’s own voter base, the Maori Party without a thought for the income status of ‘their people’ vocally supported the ‘rack-raising’ of tobacco excise tax which along with the ‘tax switch’ directly attacked the income of all those in the lower income demographics where Maori are most like to feature in the statistics,
No matter what anyone ‘thinks’ about tobacco, and, apart from ‘tobacco bad’, most don’t, a seriously depleted income leads to an extremely poor sugar and fat laden diet and i would suggest right now that such a diet will kill those restricted to it a damn sight faster than tobacco ever will,
The tobacco industry itself agreed that tobacco is a health risk, so all that was needed from the Parliament was a declaration that tobacco would be a prescription only registered poison, only able to be accessed by doctors prescription and its use among the young would have been severely curtailed forever, a sunset clause in other words,
The Maori Party has been in a position for six years to address what is killing ‘their people’ in droves year in year out, such things as ‘budget brands’ of mince laden with 20% FAT, (when the agreed industry standard is 6%), that the economically deprived have little choice except to buy,
SUGAR, piled into ALL manufactured goods by the bucketful, leading to the current Diabetes epidemic, which isn’t an epidemic of people losing the ability to produce enough insulin, it is an epidemic of people overpowering the bodies insulin production, mostly unknowingly doing so unarmed with the knowledge of just how much sugar the body can tolerate and how much sugar is in the foods sold cheaply to us all,
The Maori Party has abjectly failed by any measurement applied by ‘their people’, this election its time to drop this Party into histories footnotes of bad ideas…
14-18 NOW is a project commissioning contemporary artists to commemorate the centennial of the First World War and explore its resonance and effects today. For three summers (2014, 2016, and 2018), the organization is presenting a summer season of events. This summer’s
Opening act, part of the 14-18 NOW project, curated by Billy Bragg .
I’ve been finding TS a bit glitchy the last couple of days. Today I often need to load a post or comment more than once to access it. I’ve had a problem when trying to edit my post – the box with the visual text often shows up empty.
What will it cost to migrate to new software? Where would the funds come from? I’m new to The Standard but I see it as an important for NZ’s sake. Seems a bit creaky at the moment.
The glitchiness is a pretty recent thing. Probably after Lynn made some necessary changes. He sorts such things out pretty quickly, but also has a full time job.
Ministers ‘very angry’ over handling of Malaysian diplomat
Justice Minister Judith Collins told TV One’s Q+A programme that Prime Minister John Key and Foreign Minister Murray McCully are ‘very angry’ over the handling of the Malaysian diplomat and allegations of sexual assault.
“I don’t think there’s a New Zealander who is proud of the way in which this matter was handled, and certainly the Minister and the Prime Minister are ropeable about what has occurred to the victim and they are also extremely concerned that this has not been dealt with in the way that it should have been.”
Ms Collins says an inquiry will include Mr McCully’s actions as well.
“Of course it’s going to, he’ll be interviewed, he’s expecting to be interviewed, and also any communications through to his office will be obviously shown.”
When asked by Rachel Smalley if the penalties for domestic violence are tough enough, Minister Collins says she is looking at another law around ‘attempted strangulation.’
“So when we’ve got people who are being strangled, and partly strangled in their home that is an indicator that the person who’s doing it is actually going to go on and kill them, and we need to treat that much more seriously than we do.”
Classic #TeamKey. Lump McCully and Key in with “all New Zealanders” as if they too were just innocent bystanders to the evils of MFAT middle management, rather than the architects of MFAT protocol itself. Also, neatly Making McCully, Key, you, me, the cleaner at parliament all equally responsible for what happened. Nice deflection from the trout.
So who is going to interview McCully? Allen, the head of his own ministry? His subordinate? That’s going to tell us an awful lot, isn’t it?
I momentarily saw the trout on Q+A this morning but couldn’t watch. Just as well – a question is asked of a minister about the penalty framework of domestic violence and she dives for a very graphic specific answering with a short piece about strangulation. Must have been an awkward pause after that one.
xox
I noted that Wallace Chapman pre framed his interview with Laila Harre as the Internet party for the ‘young non voter’. The cheek of Wallace to be so dismissive and presumptuous. He is beginning to confirm my fears about falling standards of RNZ.
Winston Peters launched NZ First’s RONI policy today: Railways of National Importance. Going Green? Seems opposition parties are all wanting to follow the Green Party!
A $300 million cash swap from roads to railways is at the heart of New Zealand First’s transport policy for the election, including restoring the Gisborne-Napier line, and looking at extending the Wellington line to Levin and into Wairarapa.
Auckland would also be a priority, with electrification of the rail network south to Pukekohe, and supporting the construction of the City Rail Link, starting at the earliest appropriate time – but no later than 2016.
It’s good but I think that proper charging of trucks is needed to help to show the benefits of rail and sea transportation. At the moment trucks are massively subsidised by private vehicles.
You get the rail infrastructure and capacity in place first. Then you hit the trucks by taking away their subsidies. In the mean time you make it clear that any truck driver using their vehicle to cause a public nuisance blocking the roads will get a major fine with major demerit points.
On the carrot side you create demand for a whole lot of well paid short haul vehicle based freight work, which complements the rail network.
If they block the roads, crush their trucks. Why should they get better treatment than young guys who do the odd burnout?
If they had to pay proper road user charges, we would almost never see trucks outside the cities. If a small car has to pay around $400 per year, the fee for trucks should start at around $400k. It’s obscene how much they’re subsidised.
I think it is time to go back to sea transport especially around our isles. Sure it is not perfect and the weather and storms are issues but it works and wind power is awesome. This country was built via the sea – from tangata whenua to early settlers and onwards – let’s go back long before we are forced to.
At the moment trucks are massively subsidised by private vehicles
Rate payers are subsidising more than just roads.
But it may mean that sealed roads are left to go back to gravel and not be reinstated until the forestry harvesting has finished,” Mr Hughes said.
The impact of the heavy traffic is expected to peak in three years’ time but the problem facing council is funding.
“We just don’t have the money,” he said.
According to the latest estimates there are almost 30,000ha of forest in the Wanganui region due for harvest by 2040. A council study into the effects of forestry on the district’s rural roads showed it would cost an extra $20 million over 30 years to provide the present level of roading “service”.
Looks like the next coalition Government just got a little easier to put together. Policies like this can be at the heart of a post election deal. Good work NZF!
Has The Conservative Party signal the death of ACT? If so, should we be worried about a shift even further to the kooky right?
Leader “Dr” Jamie Whyte signalled that the party’s future rest upon David Seymour’s result in Epsom. Duh, if it was that important, why didn’t “Dr” Whyte run in Epsom himself instead of leaving it to spotty 20 something?
What is often called the decline of trust is really an evaporation of deference. Where once there was a reflexive respect for authority and a willingness to give it the benefit of the doubt, there is now a default to distrust.
Which is why the Oravida Affair was so damaging to parliamentary system – people now see politicians as in it only for themselves. This started a long time ago in NZ when the 4th Labour government first started cutting taxes on the rich and loading them on the poor.
Interesting read thanks Draco.
I think it is a wee bit more nuanced than what Rawnsley acknowledges. There was reason to trust some institutions once, notably banks, whereas trust in the church, medical profession, and various celebrities was illusory.
Re the 4th Labour Govt, I agree, although tax is an abstract for most people. It is why I’m tempted to vote for the Civilian Party, as one of its policies is to tax the poor for being poor. Since that is what we do now, it might open up some debate on this with a bit of humour.
13th July 2014 | Gaza Civil Society, originally published here | Gaza, Occupied Palestine
We, Palestinians trapped inside the bloodied and besieged Gaza Strip, call on conscientious people all over the world, to act, protest, and intensify the boycotts, divestments and sanctions against Israel until it ends this murderous attack on our people and is held to account.
With the world turning their backs on us once again, for the last four days we have in Gaza been left to face massacre after massacre.
As you read these words over 120 Palestinians are dead now, including 25 children.
Over 1000 have been injured including countless horrifying injuries that will limit lives forever – more than two thirds of the injured are women and children.
We know for a fact that many more will not make it through the next day. Which of us will be next, as we lie awake from the sound of the carnage in our beds tonight?
Will we be the next photo left in an unrecognizable state from Israel’s state of the art flesh tearing, limb stripping machinery of destruction?
We call for a final end to the crimes and oppression against us. We call for:
Arms embargos on Israel, sanctions that would cut off the supply of weapons and military aid from Europe and the United States on which Israel depends to commit such war crimes;
Suspension of all free trade and bilateral agreements with Israel such as the EU-Israel Association agreement;
Boycott, divestment and sanctions, as called for by the overwhelming majority of Palestinian Civil Society in 2005
Without pressure and isolation, the Israeli regime has proven time and time again that it will continue such massacres as we see around us now, and continue the decades of systematic ethnic cleansing, military occupation and apartheid policies.
We are writing this on Saturday night, again paralyzed in our homes as the bombs fall on us in Gaza. Who knows when the current attacks will end? For anyone over seven years old, permanently etched on our minds are the rivers of blood that ran through the Gaza streets when for over 3 weeks in 2009 over 1400 Palestinians were killed including over 330 children. White phosphorous and other chemical weapons were used in civilian areas and contaminating our land with a rise in cancers as a result. More recently 180 more were killed in the week-long attacks in late November 2012.
This time what? 200, 500, 5000? We ask: how many of our lives are dispensable enough until the world takes action?
How much of our blood is sufficient?
Before the Israeli bombings, a member of the Israeli Knesset Ayelet Shaked of the far-right Jewish Home party called for genocide of the Palestinian people.
“They should go, as should the physical homes in which they raised the snakes.” she said.
“Otherwise, more little snakes will be raised there.”
Right now nothing is beyond the murderous nature of the Israeli State, for we, a population that is mostly children, are all mere snakes to them
As said Omar Ghraib in Gaza, “It was heart shattering to see the pictures of little boys and girls viciously killed.
Also how an elderly woman was killed while she was having her iftar at Maghreb prayer by bombing her house. She died holding the spoon in her hand, an image that will need a lot of time to leave my head.”
Entire houses are being targeted and entire families are being murdered.
Early Thursday morning the entire Al-Hajj family was wiped out – the father Mahmoud, mother Bassema and five children.
No warning, a family targeted and removed from life. Thursday night, the same again, no warning, 5 more dead including four from the Ghannam family, a woman and a seven year old child amongst them.
On Tuesday morning the Kaware family did get a phone call telling them their 3 storey house would be bombed.
The family began to leave when a water tank was struck, but then returned with members of the community, who all came to the house to stand with them, people from all over the neighbourhood.
The Israeli jets bombed the building with a roof full of people, knowing full well it was full of civilians. 7 people died immediately including 5 children under 13 years old. 25 more were injured, and 8 year old Seraj Abed al-Aal, succumbed to his injuries later that evening.
Perhaps the family was trying to appeal to the Israeli regime’s humanity, surely they wouldn’t bomb the roof full of people.
But as we watch families being torn apart around us, it’s clear that Israel’s actions have nothing to do with humanity.
Other places hit include a clearly marked media vehicle killing the independent journalist Hamed Shehab, injuring 8 others, a hit on a Red Crescent rescue vehicle and attacks on hospitals which caused evacuations and more injuries.
This latest session of Israeli barbarity is placed firmly in the context of Israel’s inhuman seven-year blockade that has cut off the main life-line of goods and people coming in and out of Gaza, resulting in the severe medical and food shortages being reported by all our hospitals and clinics right now.
Cement to rebuild the thousands of homes destroyed by Israeli attacks had been banned and many injured and ill people are still not being allowed to travel abroad to receive urgent medical treatment which has caused the deaths of over 600 sick patients.
As more news comes in, as Israeli leaders’ give promises of moving onto a next stage in brutality, we know there are more horrors yet to come. For this we call on you to not turn your backs on us.
We call on you to stand up for justice and humanity and demonstrate and support the courageous men, women and children rooted in the Gaza Strip facing the darkest of times ahead.
We insist on international action:
Severance of diplomatic ties with Israel
Trials for war crimes
Immediate International protection of the civilians of Gaza
We call on you to join the growing international boycott, divestment and sanction campaign to hold this rogue state to account that is proving once again to be so violent and yet so unchallenged. Join the growing critical mass around the world with a commitment to the day when Palestinians do not have to grow up amidst this relentless murder and destruction by the Israeli regime. When we can move freely, when the siege is lifted, the occupation is over and the world’s Palestinian refugees are finally granted justice.
ACT NOW, before it is too late!
Signed by
Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions
University Teachers’ Association in Palestine
Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (Umbrella for 133 orgs)
General Union of Palestinian Women
Medical Democratic Assembly
General Union of Palestine Workers
General Union for Health Services Workers
General Union for Public Services Workers
General Union for Petrochemical and Gas Workers
General Union for Agricultural Workers
Union of Women’s Work Committees
Pal-Cinema (Palestine Cinema Forum)
Youth Herak Movement
Union of Women’s Struggle Committees
Union of Synergies—Women Unit
Union of Palestinian Women Committees
Women’s Studies Society
Working Woman’s Society
Press House
Palestinian Students’ Campaign for the Academic Boycott of Israel
Gaza BDS Working Group
One Democratic State Group
Oliver Hartwich writes – New Zealanders recently learned about a new feature film. It will be about former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern – and taxpayers will subsidise it to the tune of NZ$800,000. Ardern had nothing personally to do with either the film or the subsidy. But her government’s ...
TL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above that was recorded yesterday afternoon above between and The Kākā’s climate correspondent : An independent review panel into the emergency response to Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawkes Bayconcluded “that ...
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Buzz from the Beehive Waves of rain are set to lash much of the North Island during Easter Weekend as a low-pressure system forms east of New Zealand, according to a weather forecast published in the past day or so. Niwa was warning of a “moisture-laden” long weekend, with rain expected ...
Look around us…Nicola Willis’ promises of balancing the books, of cutting spending without reducing services, and of delivering game changing tax cuts are disappearing before her eyes.Everyday we see stories of violent crime ending in horrific injuries, or worse. The cost of living worsens, whereas the PM claimed renters would ...
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This story by Naveena Sadasivam and Kate Yoder was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The long-awaited jobs board for the American Climate Corps, promised early in the Biden administration, will open next month, according to details shared exclusively ...
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Treasury’s first report on the economy since the change of government presents a damning indictment of Labour’s economic management. The problem for National is that it is so damning that logically, coupled with a rapidly slowing economy, Finance Minister Nicola Willis should respond to it by postponing or even cancelling ...
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Buzz from the Beehive The media – sure enough – have been binging on Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ release of the Budget Policy Statement and a statement headed Government announces Budget priorities This assures us – or rather, this parrots the Luxon team mantra – that the Budget “will deliver ...
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News that the Chinese ATP 40 cyber-hacking unit penetrated parliamentary internet networks in 2021 has renewed concerns about the PRC’s malign intentions in Aotearoa. But is the hack that significant given the length of time that has passed since its … Continue reading → ...
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The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
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COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
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Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
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The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
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This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. My earlier article – Can ‘Good’ be the Greater Evil? – looked at the issue of how wars should end, and how Good versus Evil ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 AMMA by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press, $38)A stunning debut novel reviewed by Brannavan ...
From Steve Martin to Ricky Stanicky, a pick’n’mix of things worth watching and listening to this long weekend. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If you’re at a loss for something to occupy yourself with this Easter, don’t panic: The Spinoff’s got ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Miller-Jones, Professor, Curtin University Nuclear explosions on a neutron star feed its jets. Danielle Futselaar and Nathalie Degenaar, Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, CC BY-SA How fast can a neutron star drive powerful jets into space? The answer, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Shutterstock The federal government has bowed to pressure from the car industry, announcing it will relax proposed emissions rules for utes and vans and delay enforcement of the new standards ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Rutland, Professor Emerita, University of Sydney In his latest book, Jewish Life in Medieval Spain, Jonathan Ray focuses on the tumult of the 14th century in Spain – a time of the plague, civil strife and war between the two largest ...
While creating a slate of world-class shows, Whakaata Māori also developed a generation of world-class creatives. Television is an odd word. It mixes the Ancient Greek and Latin languages, and its most literal meaning is “far-off sight”. In the contemporary and living language of te reo Māori, “whakaata” as a ...
Yesterday the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. This significant step and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza prompted an urgent debate in the New Zealand Parliament. Leader ...
The Government’s decision to reduce access to continuous glucose monitors (CGM) not only threatens the lives of children with type 1 diabetes and increases the potential for ‘Dead in Bed’ syndrome, but also threatens the health of their parents an ...
Apples are available year-round, but the wide variety on offer involves intensive scientific research – and large-scale commercialisation. What’s beautiful, red, sweet and crunchy? Tony Martin’s favourite kind of apple: Sassy. The CEO of apple and pear breeding organisation Prevar, Martin’s fondness for Sassy represents professional success as well as ...
Family violence specialist service Shine is calling on employers to stop asking for proof of domestic violence in order for employees to access domestic violence leave. The call comes five years after the introduction of the Domestic Violence ...
The Deputy Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for public submissions on the Budget Policy Statement 2024. The Budget Policy Statement 2024 (BPS) sets out the Government's priorities for the 2024 Budget. It explains the approach ...
Brutal government spending cuts that will see the size of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples slashed by 40% will hit Pasifika communities hard, the PSA says. The Ministry has told staff that it is seeking voluntary redundancies, and to redeploy and reassign ...
I live with five people I mostly love, but our different ideas about generosity are starting to really irk me.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,This is a bit of a random one but here goes. I’m 22 and work an OK job (OK meaning I get paid ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria Nicholas, Senior Lecturer in Language and Literacy Education, Deakin University Earlier this month, the New South Wales government announced it would roll out programs for gifted students in every public school in the state. This comes amid concerns gifted school ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Rudge, Law lecturer, University of Sydney Massachusetts General Hospital In a world first, we heard last week that US surgeons had transplanted a kidney from a gene-edited pig into a living human. News reports said the procedure was a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Tombs, Howard Paterson Chair of Theology and Public Issues, University of Otago The 5th-century Maskell panel showing Jesus in a loincloth.British Museum, CC BY-NC-SA When Jesus is shown on the cross, he is almost always depicted wearing a loincloth around ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University Shutterstock When you think about a red object, you might picture a red carpet, or the massive ruby in the Queen’s crown. Indeed, Western monarchies and marketing from brands such ...
COMMENTARY:Jewish Voice for Peace The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Monday — and for the first time since the beginning of the Israeli military’s genocide of Palestinians, the United States abstained rather than vetoing it. Security Council resolutions are legally binding, ...
Asia Pacific Report A New Zealand investigative journalist and author says the US spy system hosted by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) appears to be a controversial intelligence system used in global capture-kill operations. Writing a commentary for RNZ News today, Nicky Hager, author of Secret Power, a 1996 ...
While Nicola Willis wouldn’t give any details on its size, she said a package of tax cuts is definitely still coming in this year’s budget, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the investigation into the Department of Internal Affairs after it was revealed that the Department’s Chief Executive personally reached out to expedite a DJs passport application. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns ...
Finance minister Nicola Willis delivers her first budget statement, and unwittingly helps Joel MacManus save his relationship. Nicola Willis strode into the Beehive Theatrette. Around me, on the green foldout seats, were the country’s top business and political journalists. They were all here to see her announce the Budget Policy ...
Twenty years ago today, Māori Television launched after much controversy. Jamie Tahana looks back on its survival and impact across two decades. Chad Chambers stepped onto the stage, the brim of his cap casting a shadow across his face. His smile beamed as bright as his white freezing works gumboots, ...
Tauranga, Rotorua, Wellsford, Onehunga, Westhaven marina – Gavin Strawhan walks the meanish streets of New Zealand in his entertaining debut novel The Call, almost sure to roar into the number 1 position on the Nielsen bestseller chart, its front cover bearing a rave from somebody: “A really good and genuinely ...
On a Thursday in February, at Wellington’s Conservation House, the Conservation Authority, a statutory body advising the eponymous department and minister, Tama Potaka, opened its 195th meeting. Under consideration that afternoon was an agenda item written by Tim Bamford, chief advisor in the Department of Conservation’s biodiversity, heritage and visitors ...
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A lengthy response to the recently released draft Government policy statement on transport will soon be delivered from Auckland Council to Minister of Transport Simeon Brown. A submission raising concerns about funding distribution and the plan’s treatment of Auckland passed through the council’s transport committee on Wednesday, despite some councillors ...
The unidentified foreign intelligence operation discussed in a scathing report by New Zealand’s Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) last week appears to be a controversial United States intelligence system. The IGIS report said the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) decision to host a foreign system from 2012-2020 was “improper” ...
‘
Air Togo?
As ever with David Shearer a confused and contradictory rambling delivery, but a reactionary message.
As Chris Trotter has asked in the past is David Shearer really this incoherent, or is it just an act?
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11292455
As always, David Shearer just as he did all throughout his leadership of the Labour Party steadfastly ignores any mention of climate change. It’s a scandal that this climate change ignorer has been given the energy portfolio.
“Mango skins”, “Beneficiaries on the roof”, and now, the “Air Togo” racist comparison with our current off shore oil industry. And yet, contradictory support for that industry????
What David Shearer can’t hide with his incoherent confused and frankly embarrassing responses is that, as Bryan Walker at Hot Topic NZ says, ”
Being hell-bent on further fossil fuel discovery and exploitation is hardly compatible with action to rein in climate change….”
Hot Topic, “The collapse of Western Civilisation” JULY 3, 2014
“…in full contradiction to what was known, a “fossil fuel frenzy” developed just when the urgency of a transition to renewable energy was becoming undeniable.”
Undeniable, but not if you ignore it completely.
Where’s the racism, Jenny?
It is clear from the context that David Shearer is trying to cast a negative aspersion of our offshore oil industry by comparing it to “Togo Air” the inference that we (white New Zealanders) are expected to automatically take, is that anything run by black Africans is unsafe, incompetent, and slipshod.
I have googled “Togo Air” and found no negative reports of Togo Air that would confirm David Shearer’s prejudice.
It’s hard to find much positive about Togo Air, Jenny. It collapsed after two years of operation, which is actually the comparison Shearer was making. If there is any racism, I suspect it might be fromsomeone who jumped to an unwarranted conclusion. Lazy thinking, indeed.
So how does this compare unfavorably with Air New Zealand which went Bankrupt in 1989, and had to bailed out by the New Zealand taxpayers?
Or responsible for sight seeing flight 901 which slammed into the side of Mt Erebus.
Other than Air New Zealand is owned and operated by white people, and so can’t be used as a racist dog whistle for corruption and incompetence by lazy and ignorant politician trying to make a point.
Does, “orchestrated litany of lies” ring any bells?
I thought not.
I bet all the employees of Air NZ who aren’t “white people” would be thrilled to read your racist analysis, Jenny. You should be ashamed of yourself.
What? That doesn’t even make any sense.
TRP your petty hair splitting and blamestorming in trying to divert attention away from David Shearer’s contradictory and confused justification for deep sea oil drilling is now getting ridiculous. Every time David Shearer opens his mouth, with some thoughtless fatuous comment like mango skins, or beneficiaries on the roof, or Air Togo, thousands of Left voters flock to the Greens. (or worse, stay at home).
I suppose running a defensive back line for Shearer’s comments by attacking the messenger prevents you from having to admit that David Shearer’s confused fawning before the fossil fuel lobby is almost as cringeworthy and damaging to the Labour Party as previously Shane Jones’ were.
You mean the Air New Zealand employees who have been at the sharp end of more than a decade of Air New Zealand’s outsourcing, contracting out and vicious deunionisation program?
My guess is most would say, Yeah, tell it like it is sister.
Fuck off, racist.
Charming. Our readers will be assured that the defence of the our children’s future and the fate of the planet will be safe from the polluters in such hands.
I also saw a little racism in Shearer’s lazy comment. Most listeners will know that Togo is in Africa, but nothing about Togo Air. They would then expect it to be run by Africans. At the very least, it shows that Shearer is intellectually lazy and doesn’t think through what he’s saying. From roof painting to Air Togo, there’s plenty of evidence of this. He shouldn’t be spokesperson for anything.
+1
Lazy thinking, yourself, Murray. Some viewers might be racist, therefore any mention of Africa makes the speaker a little racist? Really? Any other continents you want patronised?
Funnily enough, I find it very hard to take anything you say seriously. Your eagerness to defend Shearer at all costs comes across as an obsession. You’re happy to call others racists, but tie yourself in knots to defend Shearer’s stupid statement.
TRP is a long time Shearer supporter, usually saying just enough to paint Shearer in the best possible light without coming across as a fanboy.
http://thestandard.org.nz/keystone-coups-mark-2/#comment-552138
Sorry lads, but the problem here isn’t Shearer, but Murray’s patronising views on Africans and their businesses. I’ve got a better understanding of what concerns him about foreign control now.
Shearer is the spokesperson and the best labour have in this area. transition – what a joke and the roulette is a good analogy – betting everything without picking anything.
I quite like David Shearer – you have to admit that he’s got a knack for coming across as being genuine and reasonable.
Only Liam to the people to the Right of the political spectrum.
Which I think you would define yourself as. (Am I wrong?)
I think an endorsement of David Shearer coming from you Liam would be more like a kiss of death. Unless of course you are being sarcastic but I don’t really think you are.
No I mean it. I agree he’s got his shortcomings. Maybe he wouldn’t have been a great debater but if he was really that bad tend to think he could have avoided that by simply not agreeing to any direct debates. That would hardly be unprecedented.
But you know the other day I was driving home and I turned the radio on and came midway into an interview about the Malaysian diplomat farrago. This guy was firmly criticising the government and demanding answers, but in a very measured way – like it was more in sorrow than anger. It turned out to be David Shearer.
That’s just the impression of somebody who tends to the other side of things, of course. You can take it or leave it but there’s not much margin for me making it up.
Sounds like true love.
Whatever.
If David Shearer keeps this up, and with your endorsement Liam, he just might be able to follow Shane Jones into getting the National government to grant him a sinecure in reward for his loyal services to the fossil fuel industry.
Yeah, I mean the last thing you want in your political team is somebody with a bit of crossover appeal, right? Far better to have a smaller, purer political party.
A TV3 Brunton poll showed that 80% of the population are opposed to Deep Sea Oil Drilling. The only ones that David Shearer is appealing to are the members of a conservative minority, probably people such as yourself Liam, oh, and I almost forgot the oil companies.
It is no wonder you find his politics appealing.
“Yeah, I mean the last thing you want in your political team is somebody with a bit of crossover appeal, right? Far better to have a smaller, purer political party.”
What’s the value of picking up one from “the other side” if you drop two from your own? That way lies Peter Dunne.
Agree though about Shearer’s handling of the McCully coverup/debacle. I was pleasantly surprised when I realised who was on the radio.
To be fair he did briefly mention climate change when he spoke about transition from fossil fuels. But otherwise this was an infuriating display of business friendly conservatism. He has a peculiar ability to make you want to shake him awake. Thank goodness he is not debating Key in the final weeks of the election campaign. Moana Mackey however, does have great ideas on climate change and should have been interviewed instead or as well as Shearer. Labour need to release their environmental policy immediately. Shearer makes them unappealing to voters even if Phil O Reilly was delighted. The Greens can’t govern alone, come in Labour get your act together, we can’t afford three more years of National!!They have been tweaking crime stats for political purposes (Herald ths morning), what else are they lying about and manipulating?
It’s all good JR.
Labour made the right decision to ditch Shearer. Meanwhile people can choose to vote Green and by this push Labour’s climate change buttons.
The beauty of this election is that the Left has 3 viable choices and so will win.
If Shearer is prepared to say “transition” so clearly, then he should be consequential, hike the royalty rates substantially, and generate a Crown “transport transition” fund that might assist weaning off our oil addiction somewhat.
The Crown’s excise tax is running down as vehicle efficiency and gradually increasing litre price bites.
There is good common ground to be negotiated with the Greens here if Labour really have the will to negotiate it. It involves a common plan.
While lazy thinkers like David Shearer simply chooses to just ignore climate change, avowedly open and proud traitors to the people and planet, the party of the polluters and plutocrats ACT make no bones about wanting do nothing.
Introducing New Zealand’s own Lord Haw haw of climate change.
Question: Are you worried about climate change?
Jamie Whyte ACT Party Leader: “If we were to rank all the things that I am worried about I don’t think climate change would get into my top hundred.”
Question: So what would you change?
Jamie Whyte ACT Party Leader: “We should do absolutely nothing about this”
ACT 2014
ACT 1944
Lord Hee Haw
In the ACT party list, is the #17, Sean Fitzpatrick, the ex All Blacks or someone else?
Someone else. Probably hoping the confusion will help, though.
Thanks Te Reo Putake.
I did have my doubt as the real deal would have been a high profile candidate and higher up on their greedy gravy train list, the train that is getting ready to destroy and derail our world renowned fair public education system into privately profiting Charter school rort and other crap.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11292533
Madame Triple F – facile, fatuous flibbertigibbet, – semi-retired tippler McIvor nee Woodham speeds the race to the bottom via ordure ‘Opinion’.
“I would rather my child be taught alongside 35 other kids by a brilliant, inspirational teacher than have her in a class of 15 with a boring dullard who is marking time until retirement.”
Guard your strawman Madame. He may combust in the heat of friction between your truly ridiculous constructs.
“Their parents have failed them, and so have their teachers”
Mmmm…..fittingly no mention of poverty and inequality – it’s well known that inside the gates of school – wherein the cruel winds of society do not blow – these factors are inoperative.
“Teachers have a powerful union and they can make a strong case for more teachers aides and specialist assistance for those children being let down by the system.”
Like ‘militant’ teacher unions soooo have the accommodating ear of the minister…..never the dog-whistling sneer.
“If teachers can ‘promise’ me that smaller class sizes will ensure no child is left behind, I’m all for it.” – Promise ? Promise ? Madame, how terribly high you set the bar…..diminutive dumpies will never get a drink.
“But National is telling us that rewarding quality teachers and sharing them around schools will be more effective in lifting those children langushing at the bottom o the class.”
What, no promises demanded ? Oh well, I guess one ‘rockstar’ Grey Lynn journo’ must take as gospel the untested word of the ‘rockstar’ minister.
“Two different ideologies, two different ways of running schools. And our children are the lab rats.”
Well done Madame ! Another fabulously false construct…..with the denouement enriched by some excellent fear framing. Reflecting empirical profundity. Nothing facile or shabby here Madame.
Your super-view indebts us.
North.Yes an interesting article by McIvor but superficial and with little depth or data.
The issue is I think, more chiefs (read CEOs) in the education waka ?…. or more people to row the boat?
Many of the current chiefs agree with the former and the rowers agree with the latter.
Fortunately the parents of the children have the decisive vote. I hope they use it.
You mean all power, status and enrichment to a gratuitously decreed managerial ‘elite’ for whom, their unfitness for purpose compounding, personal accountabiliy is deflected by the licence to heap blame on arbitrarily decreed ‘incompetents’ down the chain ?
HekYeah Parrota being the head of the fish where the rot commences.
I wonder how she feels about Nation Standards then?
That would be national standard serving of ‘bubbles’ in near-west Grey Lynn or nearer-west Herne Bay would it ?
Meant National
But wouldn’t let me edit
North-I just never read her stuff.
And what about the title. Labrats? Madam McIvor nee Woodham has hit the subliminal jackpot. The Labour Party is rats. She infers without saying so directly that Labour is using the kiddie-winkies as laboratory fodder in its desire to experiment with education. Yep. We’re the rats – unlike National with their Nat. Standards and Charter Schools. They’re the goodies here cos they don’t experiment.
Unbelievable!
Garth “The Knife” McVicar to appear on Radio NZ this morning
Next week: Kyle Chapman?
The week after: Clayton Weatherston?
For whatever reason, Radio NZ National’s Sunday producers have seen fit to invite the S.S. Imperial Wizard Garth “The Knife” McVicar on to the programme to “debate” justice issues with Kim Workman.
By any standards, this seems to be an indefensible decision. I dropped a line to the hapless Wallace Chapman, who has been obliged to sit in a studio with this moral imbecile….
Please ask Garth McVicar to apologise for his brutal comments about a stabbing victim
Dear Wallace,
When 15-year-old Pihema Cameron was chased down on a Manurewa street and stabbed to death in 2008, McVicar and his selective vigilante organization led a public campaign of defamation of the dead boy and heaped abuse and scorn on his parents and his wider family.
To compound this, he championed the man who had killed the boy as an “upstanding New Zealander.” Far from moderating these views, McVicar amplified them in his book, entitled with brazen cynicism Justice: Speaking up for Crime’s Silent Victims.
McVicar has not yet seen fit to apologise to the mother of Pihema Cameron. Perhaps you could ask him to do so on your show this morning.
Morrissey Breen
Northcote Point
That RNZ continues to put McVicar on demonstrates how venal it has become in the service of right wing lock’m up memes. Thanks for noting, Morrissey.
Garth “The Knife” McVicar to appear on Radio NZ this morning
Next week: Kyle Chapman?
The week after: Clayton Weatherston?
For whatever reason, Radio NZ National’s Sunday producers have seen fit to invite the S.S. Imperial Wizard Garth “The Knife” McVicar on to the programme to “debate” justice issues with Kim Workman.
By any standards, this seems to be an indefensible decision. I dropped a line to the hapless Wallace Chapman, who has been obliged to sit in a studio with this moral imbecile….
Please ask Garth McVicar to apologise for his brutal comments about a stabbing victim
Dear Wallace,
When 15-year-old Pihema Cameron was chased down on a Manurewa street and stabbed to death in 2008, McVicar and his selective vigilante organization led a public campaign of defamation of the dead boy and heaped abuse and scorn on his parents and his wider family.
To compound this, he championed the man who had killed the boy as an “upstanding New Zealander.” Far from moderating these views, McVicar amplified them in his book, entitled with brazen cynicism Justice: Speaking up for Crime’s Silent Victims.
McVicar has not yet seen fit to apologise to the mother of Pihema Cameron. Perhaps you could ask him to do so on your show this morning.
Morrissey Breen
Northcote Point
Just listened to mcvicar and I must say the arrogant vocal delivery puts me off for starters but the real issue is that he believes that opinions count for more than facts.
he is a man that cannot see causes only outcomes.
if he had any real insight then he would understand why and how things happen in society and do something about that.
Noam Chomsky: Gaza’s Torment, Israel’s Crimes, Our Responsibilities
http://zcomm.org/sendpress/eyJpZCI6NzI5NDA0LCJ2aWV3IjoiZW1haWwifQ/
At 3am Gaza time, July 9, in the midst of Israel’s latest exercise in savagery, I received a phone call from a young Palestinian journalist in Gaza. In the background, I could hear his infant child wailing, amidst the sounds of explosions and jet planes, targeting any civilian who moves, and homes as well. He just saw a friend of his in a car clearly marked “press” blown away. And he heard shrieks next door after an explosion but can’t go outside or he’ll be a likely target. This is a quiet neighborhood, no military targets – except Palestinians who are fair game for Israel’s high tech US-supplied military machine. He said that 70% of the ambulances have been destroyed, and that by then over 70 had been killed, and of the 300 or so wounded, about 2/3 women and children. Few Hamas activists have been hit – or rocket launching sites. Just the usual victims.
It is important to understand what life is like in Gaza when Israel’s behavior is “restrained,” in between the regular manufactured crises like this one. A good sense is given in a report to UNRWA by Mads Gilbert, the courageous and expert Norwegian physician who has worked extensively in Gaza, also throughout the vicious and murderous Cast Lead operation. In every respect, the situation is disastrous. Just keeping to children, Gilbert reports: “Palestinian children in Gaza are suffering immensely. A large proportion are affected by the man-made malnourishment regime caused by the Israeli imposed blockage. Prevalence of anaemia in children <2yrs in Gaza is at 72.8%, while prevalence of wasting, stunting, underweight have been documented at 34.3%, 31.4%, 31.45% respectively.” And it gets worse as the report proceeds.
When Israel is on “good behavior,” more than two Palestinian children are killed every week, a pattern that goes back over 14 years. The underlying cause is the criminal occupation and the programs to reduce Palestinian life to bare survival in Gaza, while Palestinians are restricted to unviable cantons in the West Bank and Israel takes over what it wants, all in gross violation of international law and explicit Security Council resolutions, not to speak of minimal decency. And it will continue as long as it is supported by Washington and tolerated by Europe – to our everlasting shame.
http://zcomm.org/sendpress/eyJpZCI6NzI5NDA0LCJ2aWV3IjoiZW1haWwifQ/
But. But. But. It’s intolerable……these pre-pubescent terrorists……they throw stones !
That’s it ! – bring on the F-16 Cavalry !
Life in occupied Palestine.
http://vimeo.com/6977999
Interesting from The Internet Party
https://internet.org.nz/news/60
Full https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hJ5pl4psPllKFfmBvpQDOdKBZWTJllemfHxWjmo-Thg/preview?pli=1&sle=true
I like this bit
that’s good policy from the internet-party..
..i particularly like how their policy-formation is such a democratic-process..
..all other parties cd learn from that..
…yep, Labour’s passive aggressive blanking out of bennies children and me too ‘super at 67’ might be gone by lunchtime…but the Torys hang ’em high brigade could go full monty on death penalty and kid whacking…
Internet Party style consultation from all political parties would be a good test of the enduring relatively even ratio of ‘dark’ to ‘light’ kiwis (aka reactionary conservative swine vs progressive, open to the new). And yes am aware of bright young entrepreneurs ‘open to the new’–while keeping a foot firmly on workers throats.
Internet Party approach is refreshing, mere weeks from consultation to policy. There is a lot of material around these days to help make informed decisions too.
the most interesting part of q & a..is the historical flashback..
..wood is beyond hopeless..
..just not equipped for the job…
..and franks continues to be a one-line joke..
..pull his string..he babbles act..
..and i was gagging for him to reprise his ‘what’s it got to do with bush?’ comedy-routine on iraq..
“You never grab a knife and stab someone.”
Garth (The Knife) McVicar interviewed by Wallace Chapman
Radio NZ National, Sunday 13 July 2014
This was, as I feared it would be, almost entirely a softball interview, but one particularly interesting fact emerged—McVicar was once caned 36 times in one day by the headmaster at Napier Boys’ High School. Even by the prevailing standards of the 1950s, that was exceptionally brutal treatment of a child. It possibly was an important factor in turning McVicar into the kind of person he became.
The following are a few snatches from a mostly intolerable listening experience. We join the Grand Dragon in the midst of his opening talk….
GARTH McVICAR: ….politically correct nonsense…. I believe in ABCD—Accountability, Boundaries, Consequences and Discipline. … Sir Russell Pettigrew was one of our first supporters….
WALLACE CHAPMAN: You formed the Sensible Trust in 2001, after Mark Middleton was prosecuted for threatening to kill Paul Dalley.
GARTH McVICAR: I had this sense that something had gone wrong in society. … I’m a farmer…I’m just a dad who cares…. The values my parents taught me, you know, you never hurt other people. You know, YOU NEVER GRAB A KNIFE AND STAB SOMEONE, you never KICK someone….
Now if ever there was a moment when a sharp interviewer would have jumped on this brutal hypocrite and held him to account, this was it. Unfortunately however, the interviewer was the lightweight Wallace Chapman, who chose to let it pass without even mentioning McVicar’s outspoken and merciless SUPPORT for the knife-killing of a 15 year old boy in 2008. It’s not that Chapman supported McVicar’s rabid and ignorant views, it’s just that he lacked the courage to confront him. Instead of challenging him, he continued with the schmoozing….
CHAPMAN: You come across as a very caring person, with a huge heart. But a lot of people see you as a vigilante.
GARTH McVICAR: Yes, I’m not a politically correct person. I’m a farmer.
CHAPMAN: Rudy Giuliani is an influence, isn’t he.
GARTH McVICAR: New York had deteriorated, then along came Rudy Giuliani and Bill Bratton and cleaned it up. I had dinner with Rudy when he came to New Zealand.
CHAPMAN: It was the Zero Tolerance Policy he was famous for wasn’t he?
GARTH McVICAR: Yep, the compulsory DNA tests for minor crimes.
CHAPMAN: The “broken windows” theory.
GARTH McVICAR: Yeah, I’ve spoken out a number of times on graffiti. It’s mainly just exuberant kids who are pushing the boundaries. But once they go to prison they become bolshie, and emerge as hardened criminals.
CHAPMAN: Now you claimed that legalizing gay marriage could increase crime. Do you still believe that?
GARTH McVICAR: More so. In that type of lifestyle….[a long, unhinged rant against homosexuals follows, during which he outs his own brother as gay, and claims he has many gay friends]….
CHAPMAN: There were more than 20,000 submissions on that bill, and yours was the only one to link it to crime.
GARTH McVICAR: I’m gathering research now. Twenty years down the track you’ll see that I’m right. I’m not a Christian.
CHAPMAN: You’re not?
GARTH McVICAR: No I’m not. I used to go to church when I was younger, but not now. I still believe in the basic moral teachings of Christianity, of course. I’m a good value man. I’m a big fan of Steve Jobs and technology. Some of the things we grew up with, we shouldn’t be tampering with. That’s all I’m saying. ….. [extended rambling thoughts about the dangers of the gay lifestyle]…. I think the Green Party has lost its way.
CHAPMAN: Who do you support?
GARTH McVICAR: Whoever’s supporting the Sensible Sentencing Trust.
CHAPMAN: Rodney Hide wanted you to be an ACT candidate, didn’t he.
GARTH McVICAR: Yes he did. …. And that’s when I met David Garrett.
CHAPMAN: The fateful meeting!
GARTH McVICAR: Yes. ACT, in their wisdom, failed to stand by him after his conviction, but we didn’t….[Launches into extended encomium of disgraced ACT MP and convicted grave-robber David Garrett….]
CHAPMAN: What do you think of rehabilitation like they do in countries like Norway?
GARTH McVICAR: From what I can see, it’s more of what I call the liberal lunacy. Norway’s got a totally different culture. I’m a big fan of what they are doing in Arizona and California….. [continues drearily raving about the exciting penal policies of his hero, the notorious Sheriff Joe Arpaio]…
Eventually, mercifully, the blowjob masquerading as an interview comes to a halt. Encouragingly, listeners seem to have been appalled by his performance. Chapman reads out a text from Tim: “McVicar is clearly a homophobic old crank.” A little later, he reads one from another listener: “What a narrow-minded man.” He reads out several more, almost every one of which is contemptous of McVicar.
Thanks Morrissey.
Saved me listening to that rubbish.
Sounds like RNZ is making some very poor editorial choices.
Good stuff Morrissey, only one thing needs correcting: Gaga McVicar said “my brother is a gay…”
‘
Great to hear Radio New Zealand’s “Media Watch” programme is keeping an eye on the increasingly obvious media bias. The New Zealand Fox News Herald gets a prod in the on-line only version from last week while today Mike Hoskins, Janet Wilson and the Dumbinion gets highlighted. The bias is discussed around about 20 minutes in, but, as always, the whole show is worth a listen.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/20141452
BLiP
Yes. Good to hear Media Watch and their somewhat too gentle rebuke of prejudiced media commentators.
The following programme, Wayne Brittenden’s Counterpoint,on Indonesian elections was also as usual insightful and informative.
BLiP
Yes. Good to hear Media Watch and their somewhat too gentle rebuke of prejudiced media commentators.
The following programme, Wayne Brittenden’s Counterpoint,on Indonesian elections was also as usual insightful and informative.
It’s not generally known that the Ralston/Wilson residence houses a magnificently garish flashing neon shrine at which daily is offered up obligatory worship in the nicely remunerative faith of TheGodKey. The excesses of which worship are putatively balanced by their moonlightings as senior and witheringly impartial political commentators. With that, he of studied mini-majesty and a preen gland to shame Hosking, she an engaging sort whom presents less ponderously serious than the other takes himself.
Oh well, I guess in the sophistication and chic of the near-west he who pays the piper commands the prayer….
and it is useful to regard mcvicar as a business man and it is not surprising that he is an advocate for private prisons.
laila harre is interviewed on national radio..
..about the internet/mana roadshow around new zealand…
..which kicks off next tues. in the far nth..
..and which will hit auckland next sunday..
..with a public meeting in kelston..
..and will then wind down the country..
..visiting 30 centres in all..
..be there..!..
http://whoar.co.nz/2014/laila-harre-is-interviewed-on-national-radio/
Mana getting the team sorted
http://www.mana.org.nz/
Likely to bring more rangatahi in and current non-voters imo
Any dates/venues for the InternatMana roadshow in Wellington yet?….
Haven’t seen them yet – hoping they can get to whakatu too.
Haven’t seen them yet – hoping they can get to whakatu too.
Laugh out Loud moment as i slipped outta the door into the darkness of a Wellington winter this morning to do the weekly veg shop at the market,
Tariana Turia quoted on my wireless saying the electoral problem the Maori Party has is that most of ‘their people’ just don’t know of the great gains the Party has made for them in six years of resting nga tiro on the heated leather of the Ministerial limo’s,
i have to ask here if being part of the Parliamentary process for long periods results in a subject becoming delusional because ‘Auntie Tari’, if She really believes such rubbish must be, at the least, suffering delusions,
After six years ‘in Government’ the Maori Party have presided over a gain for Maori being lifted from the negative statistics across all of the economic and societal indicators of exactly Zero,
In fact, in one of its first attacks on it’s own voter base, the Maori Party without a thought for the income status of ‘their people’ vocally supported the ‘rack-raising’ of tobacco excise tax which along with the ‘tax switch’ directly attacked the income of all those in the lower income demographics where Maori are most like to feature in the statistics,
No matter what anyone ‘thinks’ about tobacco, and, apart from ‘tobacco bad’, most don’t, a seriously depleted income leads to an extremely poor sugar and fat laden diet and i would suggest right now that such a diet will kill those restricted to it a damn sight faster than tobacco ever will,
The tobacco industry itself agreed that tobacco is a health risk, so all that was needed from the Parliament was a declaration that tobacco would be a prescription only registered poison, only able to be accessed by doctors prescription and its use among the young would have been severely curtailed forever, a sunset clause in other words,
The Maori Party has been in a position for six years to address what is killing ‘their people’ in droves year in year out, such things as ‘budget brands’ of mince laden with 20% FAT, (when the agreed industry standard is 6%), that the economically deprived have little choice except to buy,
SUGAR, piled into ALL manufactured goods by the bucketful, leading to the current Diabetes epidemic, which isn’t an epidemic of people losing the ability to produce enough insulin, it is an epidemic of people overpowering the bodies insulin production, mostly unknowingly doing so unarmed with the knowledge of just how much sugar the body can tolerate and how much sugar is in the foods sold cheaply to us all,
The Maori Party has abjectly failed by any measurement applied by ‘their people’, this election its time to drop this Party into histories footnotes of bad ideas…
10 global corporations control hundreds of the world’s biggest food brands
Mars, Pepsico, Coca Cola, Unilever, etc
https://twitter.com/Mike_Peake/status/488192551816404992
colin craig.
smacker on the grass.
thank you grant smithies.
14-18 NOW is a project commissioning contemporary artists to commemorate the centennial of the First World War and explore its resonance and effects today. For three summers (2014, 2016, and 2018), the organization is presenting a summer season of events. This summer’s
Opening act, part of the 14-18 NOW project, curated by Billy Bragg .
http://www.1418now.org.uk/whats-on/opening-act/more/
I’ve been finding TS a bit glitchy the last couple of days. Today I often need to load a post or comment more than once to access it. I’ve had a problem when trying to edit my post – the box with the visual text often shows up empty.
What will it cost to migrate to new software? Where would the funds come from? I’m new to The Standard but I see it as an important for NZ’s sake. Seems a bit creaky at the moment.
The glitchiness is a pretty recent thing. Probably after Lynn made some necessary changes. He sorts such things out pretty quickly, but also has a full time job.
Classic #TeamKey. Lump McCully and Key in with “all New Zealanders” as if they too were just innocent bystanders to the evils of MFAT middle management, rather than the architects of MFAT protocol itself. Also, neatly Making McCully, Key, you, me, the cleaner at parliament all equally responsible for what happened. Nice deflection from the trout.
So who is going to interview McCully? Allen, the head of his own ministry? His subordinate? That’s going to tell us an awful lot, isn’t it?
I momentarily saw the trout on Q+A this morning but couldn’t watch. Just as well – a question is asked of a minister about the penalty framework of domestic violence and she dives for a very graphic specific answering with a short piece about strangulation. Must have been an awkward pause after that one.
xox
I noted that Wallace Chapman pre framed his interview with Laila Harre as the Internet party for the ‘young non voter’. The cheek of Wallace to be so dismissive and presumptuous. He is beginning to confirm my fears about falling standards of RNZ.
Winston Peters launched NZ First’s RONI policy today: Railways of National Importance. Going Green? Seems opposition parties are all wanting to follow the Green Party!
It’s good but I think that proper charging of trucks is needed to help to show the benefits of rail and sea transportation. At the moment trucks are massively subsidised by private vehicles.
You get the rail infrastructure and capacity in place first. Then you hit the trucks by taking away their subsidies. In the mean time you make it clear that any truck driver using their vehicle to cause a public nuisance blocking the roads will get a major fine with major demerit points.
On the carrot side you create demand for a whole lot of well paid short haul vehicle based freight work, which complements the rail network.
If they block the roads, crush their trucks. Why should they get better treatment than young guys who do the odd burnout?
If they had to pay proper road user charges, we would almost never see trucks outside the cities. If a small car has to pay around $400 per year, the fee for trucks should start at around $400k. It’s obscene how much they’re subsidised.
I think it is time to go back to sea transport especially around our isles. Sure it is not perfect and the weather and storms are issues but it works and wind power is awesome. This country was built via the sea – from tangata whenua to early settlers and onwards – let’s go back long before we are forced to.
Yes, Labour has got some good coastal shipping policy in its membership-developed policy platform.
Rate payers are subsidising more than just roads.
But it may mean that sealed roads are left to go back to gravel and not be reinstated until the forestry harvesting has finished,” Mr Hughes said.
The impact of the heavy traffic is expected to peak in three years’ time but the problem facing council is funding.
“We just don’t have the money,” he said.
According to the latest estimates there are almost 30,000ha of forest in the Wanganui region due for harvest by 2040. A council study into the effects of forestry on the district’s rural roads showed it would cost an extra $20 million over 30 years to provide the present level of roading “service”.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503426&objectid=11290962
Looks like the next coalition Government just got a little easier to put together. Policies like this can be at the heart of a post election deal. Good work NZF!
Lovely to see NZ First getting along with the Greens.
Has The Conservative Party signal the death of ACT? If so, should we be worried about a shift even further to the kooky right?
Leader “Dr” Jamie Whyte signalled that the party’s future rest upon David Seymour’s result in Epsom. Duh, if it was that important, why didn’t “Dr” Whyte run in Epsom himself instead of leaving it to spotty 20 something?
The allegations of the VIP paedophile plot further shred respect for key institutions
Which is why the Oravida Affair was so damaging to parliamentary system – people now see politicians as in it only for themselves. This started a long time ago in NZ when the 4th Labour government first started cutting taxes on the rich and loading them on the poor.
Interesting read thanks Draco.
I think it is a wee bit more nuanced than what Rawnsley acknowledges. There was reason to trust some institutions once, notably banks, whereas trust in the church, medical profession, and various celebrities was illusory.
Re the 4th Labour Govt, I agree, although tax is an abstract for most people. It is why I’m tempted to vote for the Civilian Party, as one of its policies is to tax the poor for being poor. Since that is what we do now, it might open up some debate on this with a bit of humour.
What is happening in Gaza is a bloody disgrace!
Urgent call from Gaza civil society: act now!
in Action Alerts, Gaza July 13, 2014
13th July 2014 | Gaza Civil Society, originally published here | Gaza, Occupied Palestine
We, Palestinians trapped inside the bloodied and besieged Gaza Strip, call on conscientious people all over the world, to act, protest, and intensify the boycotts, divestments and sanctions against Israel until it ends this murderous attack on our people and is held to account.
With the world turning their backs on us once again, for the last four days we have in Gaza been left to face massacre after massacre.
As you read these words over 120 Palestinians are dead now, including 25 children.
Over 1000 have been injured including countless horrifying injuries that will limit lives forever – more than two thirds of the injured are women and children.
We know for a fact that many more will not make it through the next day. Which of us will be next, as we lie awake from the sound of the carnage in our beds tonight?
Will we be the next photo left in an unrecognizable state from Israel’s state of the art flesh tearing, limb stripping machinery of destruction?
We call for a final end to the crimes and oppression against us. We call for:
Without pressure and isolation, the Israeli regime has proven time and time again that it will continue such massacres as we see around us now, and continue the decades of systematic ethnic cleansing, military occupation and apartheid policies.
We are writing this on Saturday night, again paralyzed in our homes as the bombs fall on us in Gaza. Who knows when the current attacks will end? For anyone over seven years old, permanently etched on our minds are the rivers of blood that ran through the Gaza streets when for over 3 weeks in 2009 over 1400 Palestinians were killed including over 330 children. White phosphorous and other chemical weapons were used in civilian areas and contaminating our land with a rise in cancers as a result. More recently 180 more were killed in the week-long attacks in late November 2012.
This time what? 200, 500, 5000? We ask: how many of our lives are dispensable enough until the world takes action?
How much of our blood is sufficient?
Before the Israeli bombings, a member of the Israeli Knesset Ayelet Shaked of the far-right Jewish Home party called for genocide of the Palestinian people.
“They should go, as should the physical homes in which they raised the snakes.” she said.
“Otherwise, more little snakes will be raised there.”
Right now nothing is beyond the murderous nature of the Israeli State, for we, a population that is mostly children, are all mere snakes to them
As said Omar Ghraib in Gaza, “It was heart shattering to see the pictures of little boys and girls viciously killed.
Also how an elderly woman was killed while she was having her iftar at Maghreb prayer by bombing her house. She died holding the spoon in her hand, an image that will need a lot of time to leave my head.”
Entire houses are being targeted and entire families are being murdered.
Early Thursday morning the entire Al-Hajj family was wiped out – the father Mahmoud, mother Bassema and five children.
No warning, a family targeted and removed from life. Thursday night, the same again, no warning, 5 more dead including four from the Ghannam family, a woman and a seven year old child amongst them.
On Tuesday morning the Kaware family did get a phone call telling them their 3 storey house would be bombed.
The family began to leave when a water tank was struck, but then returned with members of the community, who all came to the house to stand with them, people from all over the neighbourhood.
The Israeli jets bombed the building with a roof full of people, knowing full well it was full of civilians. 7 people died immediately including 5 children under 13 years old. 25 more were injured, and 8 year old Seraj Abed al-Aal, succumbed to his injuries later that evening.
Perhaps the family was trying to appeal to the Israeli regime’s humanity, surely they wouldn’t bomb the roof full of people.
But as we watch families being torn apart around us, it’s clear that Israel’s actions have nothing to do with humanity.
Other places hit include a clearly marked media vehicle killing the independent journalist Hamed Shehab, injuring 8 others, a hit on a Red Crescent rescue vehicle and attacks on hospitals which caused evacuations and more injuries.
This latest session of Israeli barbarity is placed firmly in the context of Israel’s inhuman seven-year blockade that has cut off the main life-line of goods and people coming in and out of Gaza, resulting in the severe medical and food shortages being reported by all our hospitals and clinics right now.
Cement to rebuild the thousands of homes destroyed by Israeli attacks had been banned and many injured and ill people are still not being allowed to travel abroad to receive urgent medical treatment which has caused the deaths of over 600 sick patients.
As more news comes in, as Israeli leaders’ give promises of moving onto a next stage in brutality, we know there are more horrors yet to come. For this we call on you to not turn your backs on us.
We call on you to stand up for justice and humanity and demonstrate and support the courageous men, women and children rooted in the Gaza Strip facing the darkest of times ahead.
We insist on international action:
We call on you to join the growing international boycott, divestment and sanction campaign to hold this rogue state to account that is proving once again to be so violent and yet so unchallenged. Join the growing critical mass around the world with a commitment to the day when Palestinians do not have to grow up amidst this relentless murder and destruction by the Israeli regime. When we can move freely, when the siege is lifted, the occupation is over and the world’s Palestinian refugees are finally granted justice.
ACT NOW, before it is too late!
Signed by
Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions
University Teachers’ Association in Palestine
Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (Umbrella for 133 orgs)
General Union of Palestinian Women
Medical Democratic Assembly
General Union of Palestine Workers
General Union for Health Services Workers
General Union for Public Services Workers
General Union for Petrochemical and Gas Workers
General Union for Agricultural Workers
Union of Women’s Work Committees
Pal-Cinema (Palestine Cinema Forum)
Youth Herak Movement
Union of Women’s Struggle Committees
Union of Synergies—Women Unit
Union of Palestinian Women Committees
Women’s Studies Society
Working Woman’s Society
Press House
Palestinian Students’ Campaign for the Academic Boycott of Israel
Gaza BDS Working Group
One Democratic State Group
Forwarded in the public interest.
Penny Bright