Open mike 14/04/2019

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, April 14th, 2019 - 139 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

139 comments on “Open mike 14/04/2019 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. reason 1
    14 April 2019 at 7:37 am

    I put this viedeo link up for Wild Katipo …. after she called a shitty poster a wolf

    The music starts about 6 mins 48 secs

    The Wolf and bear ….. 11 mins 55 secs

    I would describe the music as …. 2 minutes to midnight rock …… as the end depicts

    • Jenny - How to get there? 1.1
      14 April 2019 at 8:40 am

      A 1930s nazi style propaganda newsreel?

      What the….

      Do you really think this is good?

      Intellectually challenged skin heads and fascists love this stuff.

      Are you putting this stuff up as a parody or what?

      http://www.amateinitiative.com/new_wave_of_neo_nazis_take_inspiration_from_russia_and_assad_not_nazi_germany

      • Psycho Milt 1.1.1
        14 April 2019 at 9:25 am

        Intellectually challenged skin heads and fascists love this stuff.

        As do intellectually-challenged socialists. It’s called horseshoe theory.

        • Morrissey 1.1.1.1
          14 April 2019 at 10:27 am

          I see that one of the impeccably researched references in your horseshit link includes a farrago of abuse aimed at the Jewish intellectual Antony Loewenstein from one Tzvi Fleischer of the extreme right wing AIJAC.

          Keep it up Milt—a talkback hosting spot on NewstalkZB is the natural next step after all your hard work.

          • Psycho Milt 1.1.1.1.1
            14 April 2019 at 10:42 am

            If my assessment of the merits of a particular theory were based on how Morrissey feels about one or other of the people involved, perhaps I’d care about that.

            • Morrissey 1.1.1.1.1.1
              14 April 2019 at 11:16 am

              That’s no defence of your putting up a link to an extreme right wing group to support your horseshit talk.

              Not your best day so far, my friend.

              • Psycho Milt …
                14 April 2019 at 11:37 am

                Removing a duplicate comment

              • Psycho Milt …
                14 April 2019 at 11:37 am

                Wikipedia’s an extreme right-wing group, now?

                • Morrissey …
                  14 April 2019 at 11:44 am

                  No, of course not. But extreme right groups like AIPAC are often unwittingly swept up and quoted by otherwise level-headed and sensible commentators. As has happened, sadly, in comment 1.1.1 on this thread.

                  • Shadrach …
                    14 April 2019 at 12:42 pm

                    Why don’t you actually attempt to refute the theory then, rather than shoot the messenger. For example it would be easy to write a lot of people on the left off as nutters, but that would be the easy option. Much better to actually consider and critique the respective arguments, don’t you think?

                    • reason …
                      14 April 2019 at 1:14 pm

                      Shadrach …… who posts things like …. ‘ most muslims are fundamentalists and incompatible with our society ”

                      and …. ‘ Its radical Islam preachers who are to blame for the rise in attacks on Muslims’

                      And who tried the anti semite smear on Ilhan Omar ….

                      Your an idiot worth ignoring Shadrach …. or do you stand by your views ?????

                      https://twitter.com/MesutOzil1088/status/1110170205748187136

                    • Shadrach …
                      15 April 2019 at 8:57 am

                      ‘ most muslims are fundamentalists and incompatible with our society ”
                      and …. ‘ Its radical Islam preachers who are to blame for the rise in attacks on Muslims’

                      I have never stated I hold those beliefs. Ever. What I have said is that Islam, as practised in countries with Islamic governments, is incompatible with a modern liberal democracy, but then that is self evident (https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/world/iranian-who-removed-headscarf-sentenced-to-year-in-prison/ar-BBVVB6H?ocid=spartanntp).

                      Muslims, on the other hand, are welcome in my country and my neighbourhood, because most that come to NZ are actually trying to escape those tyranny’s.

                      Oh and it’s a bit rich you quoting a mega-rich footballer who probably knows nothing of the consequences of Islamic extremism. I’m sure his personal security apparatus keeps him well away from danger.

      • reason 1.1.2
        14 April 2019 at 1:05 pm

        Jenny_how to be Asshat …. The woman who cried wolf ….. and claimed Asshat was to blame for our christchurch subhuman supremacist murder spree .

        To quote jenny_ how to be MadAss… ” ” The attack in Christchurch was conducted on the anniversary of the beginning of the popular revolt against Assad, by a gunman who self describes as a fascist””

        Talk about some sicko propaganda Jenny_how to be cracked ass … and she did not stop there.

        ” “Jo Cox was assassinated by a fascist gunman because she supported the Syrian people against the regime.”

        Jen Jenny ……..Watch this video that made joe90 start hating on me …. As my main complaint is it conflates the murderer and chemical weapons user ( with help from the usa & Britian ) …. Saddam with Gadaffi …..

        Gadaffi was no Saddam

        https://www.bitchute.com/video/hUaWa8L9YPXL/

        • Jenny - How to get there? 1.1.2.1
          14 April 2019 at 10:11 pm

          https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-11-04-2019/#comment-1606325

          reason 1.4
          11 April 2019 at 12:15 pm

          ….Jenny like Wayne Mapp has some peculiar posting habits which makes me doubt their sincerity or remorse over innocent people being killed…. that they have had a hand in.

          But even Wayne would not touch this garbage …. ” Jo Cox was assassinated by a fascist gunman because she supported the Syrian people against the regime.”

          “The attack in Christchurch was conducted on the anniversary of the beginning of the popular revolt against Assad, by a gunman who self describes as a fascist.”

          “The normalisation and acceptance of fascism in Syria has emboldened and empowered fascists everywhere.” ……

          Reason tries to conflate me with Wayne Mapp as somehow being implicated in Operation Burnham and the killing of innocent Afghan villagers

          Jenny like Wayne Mapp has some peculiar posting habits which makes me doubt their sincerity or remorse over innocent people being killed…. that they have had a hand in.

          In no way can it be imagined that I had a hand in innocent people being killed, this is a smear, not a fact.

          ” Jo Cox was assassinated by a fascist gunman because she supported the Syrian people against the regime.”

          Jo Cox supported the Syrian people’s revolt against the Assad regime, this is a verifiable fact.

          That fascists world wide support Assad’s genocidal war against his own people, is a verifiable fact.

          That the attack in Christchurch was carried out on the internationally recognised anniversary of the start of the Syrian revolt against Assad, is a verifiable fact.

          That the killer of Jo Cox and Heather Heyer and the killer in Christchurch and Norway all self identified as “fascists” is a verifiable fact.

          “The normalisation and acceptance of fascism in Syria has emboldened and empowered fascists everywhere.”

          Possibly this last by me, could be termed a judgment call, but it is more than backed up by a mass of evidence that indicates this.

          http://www.amateinitiative.com/new_wave_of_neo_nazis_take_inspiration_from_russia_and_assad_not_nazi_germany

          New Wave of Neo-Nazis Take Inspiration from Russia and Assad, not Nazi Germany

          The recent wave of neo-Nazism, most prominently evident in North America, has adopted traditional Nazi symbolism such as swastikas and Nazi salutes like “blood and soil.” Yet this movement has less to do with Nazi Germany, and much more to do with current political players such as Russia, Bashar al-Assad, and even ISIS….

          The Facebook page of James Alex Fields, the white nationalist charged with the murder of Heather Hayer after he rammed a car into demonstrators in Charlottesville, is a dystopian microcosm of the kind of propaganda that populates the minds of these neo-Nazis. Among the plethora of images of swastikas, memes of Trump, and Pepe the Frog, Assad had a seemingly out of place presence on the white supremacist’s social media page. In one photo, Assad is depicted in full military uniform with the caption “UNDEFEATED.”

          Yet Fields is not alone in his admiration for Assad in the growing neo-Nazi movement. In a video posted on Buzzfeed reporter Brandon Wall’s Twitter feed, three other men who took part in the Charlottesville hate rally are shown proudly affirming their support for Assad. One of them wears a t-shirt with the slogan “Bashar’s Barrel Delivery Co”, and says “support the Syrian Arab army and [expletive] fight against the globalists”, while the man filming replies with “Assad did nothing wrong” and “barrel bombs, hell yeah!”

          Assad’s rise to popularity among America’s neo-Nazis perhaps began when David Duke tweeted in support of the Syrian president, describing him as an “amazing leader” and “a modern day hero standing up to demonic forces seeking to destroy his people and nation.” The series of tweets was accompanied by an image of Assad, in dark glasses and military apparel, similar to the one shared by Fields….

          • Jenny - How to get there? 1.1.2.1.1
            15 April 2019 at 6:04 am

            The Christchurch shooter was not a lone wolf. He was part of an international fascist movement.

    • cleangreen 1.2
      14 April 2019 at 11:13 am

      reason regarding your post on 1

      “I put this video link up for Wild Katipo …. after she called a shitty poster a wolf”

      After watching the video this is my sentiments;

      I think It is wise to see both sides of every story no matter what uncomfortable it seems to be watching the movie clip.

      History is the founding evidence we need to plan a better way forward.

      “There are none for dumb than those who will see or hear.”

      Or maybe you may prefer; – “ignorance is bliss”

      Or; – “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.”

      For example, She decided not to read the critics’ reviews-ignorance is bliss.

      Although its truth may be dubious at best, this idea has been expressed since ancient times.

      The actual wording, however, comes from Thomas Gray’s poem, “Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College” (1742): “Where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise.”

    • Incognito 1.3
      14 April 2019 at 11:49 am

      I note that you still cannot walk without questionable video clips as your crutches.

      If you have a point to make, make it, and do so without the blatant innuendo.

      Are you fishing for approval or support from other commenters for your crusade?

      This is similar comments in three OMs in a row and it is becoming repetitive and boring.

      • reason 1.3.1
        14 April 2019 at 12:47 pm

        The thing with gummy bear posting … is to put across your / my arguement …. in response to the fish mongers and all their red herrings ….

        I like linking to people who put across my points of view better than myself …. and often with more information.

        Like this video on Assange …. As it was James and julian assange that got incognito talking to me.

        So we talk about Assange or james … or Wayne Mapp… aye incog ?

        • Incognito 1.3.1.1
          14 April 2019 at 1:59 pm

          I like linking to people who put across my points of view better than myself …. and often with more information.

          I find that a feeble excuse for not making an effort to put forward your point in your own words. And talking of “red herrings”, since when are clips of Julian Assange or whatever relevant to your comments dedicated to having a go at other commenters here because they, in your opinion, are “blatantly reprehensible” and “fish mongers” [sic]? Julian Assange has got nothing to do with your behaviour here! Please don’t conflate the people you link to with the commenters that you feel outraged about.

          You’re continuing to act like a stalker with halitosis when you called Shadrach an idiot @ 1:14 pm and also had a go at Jenny @ 1:05 pm.

          Please address the issue at hand without resorting to personal attacks.

        • James 1.3.1.2
          14 April 2019 at 6:31 pm

          You seem to have somewhat of an unhealthy obsession with me.

          You really aren’t my type.

          • Robert Guyton 1.3.1.2.1
            14 April 2019 at 7:01 pm

            It’s really weird, James, how often you reference your supposed attractiveness to commenters here. Is there anybody here who you haven’t implied is obsessed with you/ stalking you??
            Just asking. ’cause I’ve noticed a pattern of behaviour from you…

            • In Vino 1.3.1.2.1.1
              14 April 2019 at 10:28 pm

              Um, maybe Puckish Rogue, whose affections are aimed so exclusively elsewhere?

  2. francesca 2
    14 April 2019 at 8:14 am

    Seems like there’s been a massive Wikileaks dump

    https://nationandstate.com/2019/04/13/new-wikileaks-massive-file-dump/

    Wonder if Assange’s arrest will prompt a new torrent of leaks

    • cleangreen 2.1
      14 April 2019 at 11:24 am

      Well done Francesca with a large dossier of incidents.

      That will begin a torrent of others alright

      Today’s news on BBC;

      Is that claims from Julian Assange’s legal team is warning that they will fight the extradition to Sweden and US.

      “It will be a long protracted fight” they claimed.

      • Wayne 2.1.1
        14 April 2019 at 8:37 pm

        IF the Kim Dotcom fight is anything to go by, yes. I don’t think the KDC legal fight will be over till about 2021 or 2022. Though if the Supreme Court says KDC can’t be extradited, it might be over by late this year. Still that would be 8 years since his arrest in Jan 2012.

        I guess more like five years for Assange in the UK. Their courts have more experience of extradition, so many of the precedents have been well established. It won’t take a decade.

        • Andre 2.1.1.1
          14 April 2019 at 8:59 pm

          I guess more like five years for Assange in the UK

          To send him to the US or to Sweden? Looks to me (with precisely zero legal expertise) sending Assange to Sweden should be a lot more straightforward than to the US. There’s some thorny questions about whether what the US accuses him of is even a crime, and he’s got at least some argument around the political aspects of it.

          • McFlock 2.1.1.1.1
            14 April 2019 at 9:05 pm

            The other thing is that it might count for something that they already went through the Swedish thing once – even if they have to start over, appeals opportunities will be limited because the higher courts probably won’t want to relitigate the same points again – the lower courts have their guidance on the matters of substance.

          • Macro 2.1.1.1.2
            14 April 2019 at 9:27 pm

            Except under the UK – US extradition Treaty ratified by the US in 2006.

            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK%E2%80%93US_extradition_treaty_of_2003

            Among other provisions Part 2 of the Act: Extradition to category 2 territories (non-European Arrest Warrant territories) removed the requirement on the USA to provide prima facie evidence in extraditions from the UK, requiring instead only reasonable suspicion.[5] This was necessary to redress the previous imbalance against the USA under the 1870 Act, as the UK did not have to provide the more onerous prima facie evidence to extradite from the USA. The requirement for the UK is to show probable cause. However, an independent legal review carried out by Sir Scott Baker found that “there is no significant difference between the probable cause test and the reasonable suspicion test. There is no practical difference between the information submitted to and from the United States.”[6]

            And:

            it allows the US to extradite UK citizens and others for offences committed against US law, even though the alleged offence may have been committed in the UK by a person living and working in the UK

            As I have noted elsewhere, the US could have applied for extradition when they charged Manning. This was well before he went to Sweden. The allegation that the rape charges are simply a means to get Assange out of the UK, and off to the US – as some commentators here seem to believe – is just nonsense.

  3. Andre 3
    14 April 2019 at 9:39 am

    Bernie just doesn’t get it.

    He’s earned over a million bucks from his book. He could use that to illustrate an argument for higher taxes on high earners and the wealthy by talking about all the different sectors of society supported by taxes had to come together to make that possible.

    But no, he just gets entitled and defensive about it.

    “If you write a best-selling book, you can be a millionaire, too.”

    “I didn’t know that it was a crime to write a good book which turns out to be a bestseller,”

    https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/13/politics/bernie-sanders-millionaire-book-sales-tax-returns/index.html

    • Tuppence Shrewsbury 3.1
      14 April 2019 at 9:47 am

      What a surplus, a socialist achieves something for themselves and realises the errors of socialism and the benefits of free enterprise

      • KJT 3.1.1
        14 April 2019 at 10:03 am

        Funny..
        I note the “Free enterprisers” especially in the States, are the most expensive beneficiaries, of “socialist” tax dollars.
        And favourable Government regulation.

        Like the “business people” here who go on about “Pretty communists”, “useless people” and the like, as we, “socialists” bail out their failures, with our tax dollars.

        Taxes which they avoid.

      • cleangreen 3.1.2
        14 April 2019 at 11:32 am

        ‘The eminent ‘voice of free enterprise’

        But few really believe the “honesty” of ‘free enterprise’ as the word “free” does send a message of ‘no principals towards the society it wants to exploit’.

        • KJT 3.1.2.1
          14 April 2019 at 11:44 am

          When you have a business.
          An honest one, giving value for money, you realise how much you depend on regulation and state support, to keep you competitive, against the crooks and cowboys.

          Businesspeople who argue for a smaller State, are delusional. Or, they are the crooks and cowboys!

          • Tuppence Shrewsbury 3.1.2.1.1
            14 April 2019 at 1:26 pm

            how many businesses have you had now? If you need regulations to keep yourself competitive, you are a lazy business owner. Regulations are only there to make sure people play fair, if they don’t the market and the regulators find them out.

            Socialists have never bailed out anyone. it’s normally business people getting there own tax dollars back.

            But it’s amusing that a socialist hero like bernie finally sees the error of his ways

            • KJT 3.1.2.1.1.1
              14 April 2019 at 2:32 pm

              The business people getting bailed out, don’t pay taxes, you twit.

              Thanks for confirming my point, about regulations keeping the market fair.

              Which one are you TP? The crook or the cowboy. Or just a wannabee, successful who dreams that they world will one day see your brilliance, and make you rich, like so many right wingers?

              “The only problem with socialism is that it allows the deluded to survive to adulthood, to claim it doesn’t work”.

              The real laugh is that the f wits who don’t like socialism, would be the ones living in a cardboard box on the street, without our welfare state, under a “free market”, that paid them according to their capabilities.

              • Tuppence Shrewsbury …
                14 April 2019 at 6:44 pm

                I’m comfortable. I pay lots of tax. Too much given the attitudes of people who pay none and can’t manage businesses properly. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to pay it, jid rather pay less.

                Anyone who makes out that socialism is the saviour of society is so sadly deluded there is no point talking to them. They won’t believe anything not socjalist no matter how societies fail under its yoke

                • KJT …
                  14 April 2019 at 7:15 pm

                  More socialist societies doing rather well, actually.

                  Just compare blue states with red states in the USA.

                  Where is your successful free market capitalist State again.

                  Somalia, Honduras, San Salvadore, Mexico, Haiti, Appalachia?

                • KJT …
                  14 April 2019 at 7:52 pm

                  Done well out of our “socialist” welfare State, eh?

            • Psycho Milt 3.1.2.1.1.2
              14 April 2019 at 7:55 pm

              Socialists have never bailed out anyone. it’s normally business people getting there own tax dollars back.

              Wtf? Leaving aside the use of accountants to ensure that the business owner appears to have little income and qualifies for all kinds of transfers aimed at people who genuinely do have little income, in the last two weeks we’ve had Simon Bridges telling us that small businesses in NZ are only viable because the taxpayer subsidises low wages via Working for Families, and trucking companies announcing that they can’t stay in business if they have to actually comply with safety regulations.

              • Wayne …
                14 April 2019 at 8:30 pm

                The notion that New Zealand is a uniquely low wage economy simply doesn’t stack up. Wages in NZ are about the same percentage of per capita GDP as Australia. Our per capita GDP is about 30% lower than Aus, and so are our wages and salaries.

                Another way of looking at it, is that the Gini index measuring inequality is about the same in both countries. That means average and mean wages will be roughly the same percentage of GDP per capita.

                New Zealand’s problem is that Australia is significantly more wealthy, and has been for many decades, especially once the mineral boom really took off in the 1970’s. The gap has closed a little in the last ten years, but not a huge amount.

                It is very hard to see how the gap will change much in the next ten years. If the gap closed to 20%, that would be a major gain for New Zealand.

                • Psycho Milt …
                  14 April 2019 at 8:49 pm

                  And yet, Simon Bridges recognises the need for Working for Families (as did the previous Key/English National-led governments) and says there’s no way NZ businesses could cover that in the wages they offer. Perhaps Australia has a similar subsidy for employers, I don’t know.

                  Accommodation costs are probably the main reason that wages need to be subsidised via tax transfers in NZ, but it’s not the people who need two jobs and WfF to make ends meet who are causing those high accommodation costs, it’s the well-off like me who’ve bought multiple properties as a retirement fund, and successive governments that have encouraged runaway immigration in the interest of being able to show positive annual growth figures. For those WfF recipients, the news that their wages aren’t particularly low, it’s just that their accommodation costs are particular high, isn’t a particularly helpful piece of information.

                • KJT …
                  15 April 2019 at 8:16 am

                  You would say that, Wayne.

                  Wages are defined in terms of buying power.

                  In fact, workers share of the economy dropped sharply after your unfortunate experiment, and has never recovered.
                  The wage gap between us, and Australia would be even greater, 36%, if conservative Australian Governments hadn’t adopted aspects of your unfortunate experiment, more recently.

                  https://www.union.org.nz/economicbulletin202/

                  “New Zealand workers now receive among the lowest shares of the nation’s income in the OECD. In Denmark for example, with much stronger collective bargaining and unionisation supporting a high value economy, the share was similar to New Zealand’s in the late 1970s but has stayed there ever since. Yes, New Zealand does have a low wage economy”.

                  Despite all the evidence worldwide that trickle down and austerity doesn’t work, it still has all these supporters. Go figure.
                  Only Jim Bolger has the guts to admit you got it wrong.

                  The lower incomes to Labour, and the higher share to banking and capital depressing the communities wealth, is the reason for New Zealand’s stagnation, compared to Australia.

                  We had a boom in commodity sales and prices roughly equivalent to Australia over the same time period. The increase per capita was greater than theirs. So to attribute Australia’s higher wages to mineral booms, is self serving bullshit.

  4. Morrissey 4
    14 April 2019 at 10:05 am

    Britain’s version of “Sir” Bob Jones is getting caramelised on Twitter

    https://twitter.com/Lord_Sugar/status/1116413655254540290

  5. Morrissey 5
    14 April 2019 at 10:17 am

    Assange’s ‘Conspiracy’ to Expose War Crimes Has Already Been Punished
    by JOE EMERSBERGER, Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting, April 12, 2019

    WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should never have been punished for working with a whistleblower to expose war crimes. Chelsea Manning, the whistleblower, has done more time in prison, under harsher conditions, than William Calley, a key perpetrator of the My Lai massacre. Remarkably, Manning is in jail again, failed by organizations that should unreservedly defend her, as the US tries to coerce her into helping inflict more punishment on Assange.

    As for Assange, he has already been arbitrarily detained for several years, according to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Its 2016 press release on the matter stated: “The expert panel called on the Swedish and British authorities to end Mr. Assange’s deprivation of liberty, respect his physical integrity and freedom of movement, and afford him the right to compensation.”

    Now Assange could be punished even more brutally if the UK extradites him to the US, where he is charged with a “conspiracy” to help Manning crack a password that “would have” allowed her to cover her tracks more effectively. In other words, the alleged help with password-cracking didn’t work, and is not what resulted in the information being disclosed. It has also not been shown that it was Assange who offered the help, according to Kevin Gosztola (Shadowproof, 4/11/19). The government’s lack of proof of its charges might explain why Manning is in jail again.

    The indictment goes even further, criminalizing the use of an electronic “drop box” and other tactics that investigate journalists routinely use in the computer age to work with a confidential source “for the purpose of publicly disclosing” information…..

    Read more….
    https://fair.org/home/assanges-conspiracy-to-expose-war-crimes-has-already-been-punished/

    • Adrian Thornton 5.1
      14 April 2019 at 10:54 am

      Hi Morrissey, to bad you wern’t around a couple of days ago, you would have seen TRP and several other Standard Oil reactionaries roll around in Assanges arrest like dogs in shit, it was quite a sad spectacle to watch, and not at all a good look for what ever remains of the reputation of The Standard…well in opinion anyway.

      Thanks for the FAIR link.

      Ecuadorian President’s Motives for Surrendering Assange: Vengeance & IMF Loan?

      “$4.2 billion IMF loan, submission to the US, and vengeance appear to have been President Moreno’s true motives for revoking Assange’s asylum in Ecuador’s London embassy, says Ecuador’s former foreign minister Guillaume Long”

      • Andre 5.1.1
        14 April 2019 at 11:04 am

        The mozzie’s sockpuppet put in an appearance. An astonishingly low-key appearance, all things considered.

      • Morrissey 5.1.2
        14 April 2019 at 11:26 am

        Thanks, Adrian. In fact I did have a look at the site but I was just too overwhelmed by the horror of that scene—it was like something out of Stalin’s Russia—to be able to formulate any response.

        Your description of the behaviour of many of our Standardisti comrades is depressingly accurate. They’re not the only ones of course. As I type this I’m listening to Jim Mora talking, and sighing empathetically, on the radio. I wonder if the sight of Assange’s humiliation on Friday amused him as much as Assange’s suffering amused him in 2013….

        https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/01/an-unusually-inane-and-depraved-edition.html

        • cleangreen 5.1.2.1
          14 April 2019 at 11:51 am

          Morrissey; about Mora he is a pathetic troll for national.

          Especially when he says this;

          MORA: Is it a human right to get enough sun?

    • aj 5.2
      14 April 2019 at 11:04 am

      A very good point. USA War criminals who participate in the most disgusting crimes get kid gloves treatment, if they even get to the point of being prosecuted. Calley, sentenced to life, then Nixon changed Calley’s sentence to house arrest, and he served three years.
      My Lai was only the tip of the iceberg in Vietnam. The military and government simply didn’t want to know. Whistle blowers exposing criminal acts are hounded to the ends of the earth.

    • joe90 5.3
      14 April 2019 at 11:44 am

      He must be ruing his preference for tRump when he was pretty much off the hook.

      The Justice Department has all but concluded it will not bring charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for publishing classified documents because government lawyers said they could not do so without also prosecuting U.S. news organizations and journalists, according to U.S. officials.

      The officials stressed that a formal decision has not been made, and a grand jury investigating WikiLeaks remains impaneled, but they said there is little possibility of bringing a case against Assange, unless he is implicated in criminal activity other than releasing online top-secret military and diplomatic documents.

      http://archive.li/wHEI0

      • Morrissey 5.3.1
        14 April 2019 at 11:51 am

        Support for Trump? He should have supported Clinton, who called for his trial as a criminal for his exposing of U.S. crimes in Iraq?

        Of course he wanted Clinton to lose.

        That means he “supported Trump”?

        You do realize that the Mueller investigation has discredited the fantasies of the DNC and its hapless media parrots like Rachel Maddow forever? You’re allowed to stop quoting them if you want.

  6. Andre 6
    14 April 2019 at 10:26 am

    Y’know, commentary here has been remarkably muted over the mandarin messiah greenlighting Israel holding on to the Golan Heights.

    Could it be that those who would normally be frothing over outrages like this are reluctant to voice disapproval of their fake-bronzed beelzebub?

    https://www.salon.com/2019/04/13/afraid-of-its-role-in-the-globalized-world-donald-trump-perverted-the-us-role-as-economic-global-cop/

    • francesca 6.1
      14 April 2019 at 11:03 am

      You’ve led a sheltered life if you think breaches of international law started with Trump. They won’t end when he’s gone either.

      • Andre 6.1.1
        14 April 2019 at 11:08 am

        My comment wasn’t about the breach of international law per se, it was about the lack of reaction to it from the usual suspects here that one would expect to be very vocal.

        • Macro 6.1.1.1
          14 April 2019 at 1:31 pm

          But don’t expect them to understand that Andre. They can’t even understand the depths that tRump has now brought his country too. The latest tweeting of a video that included footage of Ilhan Omar* speaking and graphic images of the 9/11 terror attacks has to be one of his most despicable acts ever.
          https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/apr/12/ilhan-omar-democrats-trump-attacks-sanders-warren

          * For those unfamiliar with this amazing young woman; Omar, emigrated to the US from Somalia as a refugee and became one of the first Muslim women in Congress

          • Andre 6.1.1.1.1
            14 April 2019 at 1:40 pm

            As a standalone act that attack on Omar would be despicable. But given the ball of toilet-bowl scrapings’ own history of trying to exploit 911 for his own self-gratification and benefit, the vileness is geometrically compounded.

            • Macro 6.1.1.1.1.1
              14 April 2019 at 1:48 pm

              This past week or so has seen a steep decline. The vileness and posturing of that inhumane being in the WH is getting worse by the day – everyday now it seems he plunges to a new low. I cannot for the life of me see how any self respecting Republican law maker can continue to sit by and watch. The country is in an absolute shambles. We thought Key was bad enough here – tRump is a thousand times worse.

              • marty mars …
                14 April 2019 at 2:47 pm

                yep so true

              • Anne …
                14 April 2019 at 6:10 pm

                I don’t think I can take much more of it. This is what it must have been like for sane folk around the world when Hitler rose to power in the 1930s.

                What horrifies me: it was my father’s prediction 45 years ago that the next country to produce a ‘Hitler’ would be America. Yes I know, he was far from being the only one to do so.

                And yes, Macro. Key was almost a saint in comparison. 😯

          • joe90 6.1.1.1.2
            14 April 2019 at 3:37 pm

            While tRump is busy using 9/11 to incite violence against a Muslim woman his regime is trying to illegally transfer nuclear technology to the country that produced most of the 9/11 hijackers

            https://twitter.com/nprpolitics/status/1097901883107229699

          • KJT 6.1.1.1.3
            14 April 2019 at 4:00 pm

            Notable lack of support and even outright denigration of Omar, and Ocasio Cortez, from old line Democrats.

            Reminds me of the our Labour party, whenever someone making vaguely leftish statements, springs up.

            • Macro 6.1.1.1.3.1
              14 April 2019 at 4:04 pm

              Notable lack of support and even outright denigration of Omar, and Ocasio Cortez, from old line Democrats.

              Such as??

              NB: Pelosi isn’t one of them.

              • KJT …
                14 April 2019 at 4:11 pm

                http://tinyurl.com/y5yj2yz3

                “With the exception of a handful of Omar’s progressive colleagues—including Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)—Democrats have largely been silent as the Minnesota congresswoman has faced vitriolic and racist smears from right-wing outlets, including the New York Post and Fox”

                • Macro …
                  14 April 2019 at 4:28 pm

                  Senator Bernie Sanders called attacks on Omar “disgusting and dangerous” and said Omar would not “back down to Trump’s racism and hate, and neither will we”.

                  Senator Elizabeth Warren said: “The president is inciting violence against a sitting congresswoman – and an entire group of Americans based on their religion. It’s disgusting. It’s shameful. And any elected leader who refuses to condemn it shares responsibility for it.”

                  Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana who has surged in 2020 polls, wrote: “After 9/11 we all said we were changed. That we were stronger and more united. That’s what ‘never forget’ was about. Now, a president uses that dark day to incite his base against a member of Congress, as if for sport. As if we learned nothing that day about the workings of hate.”

                  Buttigieg added: “The threats against the life of [Omar] make clear what is at stake.”

                  Among other candidates, former Hud secretary Julián Castro said he stood with Omar and “others targeted by the president’s anti-Muslim rhetoric”. Former congressman Beto O’Rourke said: “We are stronger than this president’s hatred and Islamophobia. Do not let him drive us apart or make us afraid.”

                  The California senator Kamala Harris wrote: “For two years, this president has used the most powerful platform in the world to sow hate [and] division. Putting the safety of a sitting member of Congress at risk [and] vilifying a whole religion is beyond the pale. I’ll be blunt – we must defeat him.”

                  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/apr/12/ilhan-omar-democrats-trump-attacks-sanders-warren
                  https://www.vox.com/2019/4/13/18309127/democrats-trump-ilhan-omar-tweet-9-11

              • Poission …
                14 April 2019 at 4:37 pm

                “NB: Pelosi isn’t one of them.”

                Got problems of her own,always be careful what you ask for.

                https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1117242926654947328

                • Macro …
                  14 April 2019 at 4:50 pm

                  https://www.latimes.com/opinion/enterthefray/la-ol-trump-migrnats-sanctuary-cities-20190412-story.html

                  President Trump confirmed Friday that he is considering a new policy of “placing Illegal Immigrants in Sanctuary Cities only,” as he wrote in a tweet. “The Radical Left always seems to have an Open Borders, Open Arms policy — so this should make them very happy!”

                  There are three main responses to that. The first is that the president is likely trolling to get a rise out of liberals and to elicit some fist pumps from his base, but it’s fundamentally impractical. How would the president move thousands of migrants from, say, El Paso, to San Francisco? And conservatives would be OK with that kind of spending? Plus, migrants don’t have to remain in the jurisdiction into which the government releases them.

                  The second is that if Trump truly believes the people crossing the U.S.-Mexico border to seek asylum are dangerous threats to American neighborhoods, to concentrate them in areas where his political opponents hold sway is an egregious abuse of power. No president should intentionally undermine the public safety of communities, especially for political reasons.

                  The third is: Bring ’em on.

                • joe90 …
                  14 April 2019 at 4:55 pm

                  Mobster – nice cities you have, pity if anything should happen to them.

                  Mayors – bring it.

                  https://twitter.com/LibbySchaaf/status/1117233768639549440

                  “Here’s a message to President Trump: Seattle is not afraid of immigrants and refugees. In fact, we have always welcomed people who have faced tremendous hardships around the world. Immigrants and refugees are part of Seattle’s heritage, and they will continue to make us the city of the future,” she wrote in a Washington Post op-ed Friday.

                  https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/438731-seattle-mayor-pens-op-ed-saying-his-city-isnt-afraid-of-immigrants-amid

                  • Poission …
                    14 April 2019 at 5:07 pm

                    “in fact, we have always welcomed people who have faced tremendous hardships ”

                    Seattle looks like the kind of place to go to experience hardship.

                    https://www.seattle.gov/homelessness/the-roots-of-the-crisis

                    large indian homeless problem there ugly statistics.

                    • Macro …
                      14 April 2019 at 5:39 pm

                      That criticism could be levelled at almost all American cities.
                      https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/bf02712505

                      Abstract
                      Economic indicators in the United States document the poor economic straits in which Native Americans find themselves. Historically, scholars have explained delayed economic development using Linear Stage, Structural-Change, Dependency and Neoclassical Counter Revolution Models. All of these, however, are unable to fully explain the Native American case. We discuss the deficiencies of these models and point out the effects of constantly changing United States policies on Native American economic well-being. We present data from a survey of tribal government respondents about preferred business arrangements on the reservation to support greater attention to cultural identity in economic development studies. A model that incorporates cultural and sovereignty variables is presented.

                      It does not negate the fact that these cities are open to accepting others who have been forced to flee from their homes and families.

                    • Poission …
                      14 April 2019 at 6:15 pm

                      Alexis De Tocqueville IN Democracy in America suggested

                      “These are great evils; and it must be added that they appear to me to be irremediable. I believe that the Indian nations of North America are doomed to perish; and that whenever the Europeans shall be established on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, that race of men will be no more. *i The Indians had only the two alternatives of war or civilization; in other words, they must either have destroyed the Europeans or become their equals. ”

                      https://www.gutenberg.org/files/815/815-h/815-h.htm#link2HCH0045

                      [I leave this chapter wholly unchanged, for it has always appeared to me to be one of the most eloquent and touching parts of this book. But it has ceased to be prophetic; the destruction of the Indian race in the United States is already consummated. In 1870 there remained but 25,731 Indians in the whole territory of the Union, and of these by far the largest part exist in California, Michigan, Wisconsin, Dakota, and New Mexico and Nevada. In New England, Pennsylvania, and New York the race is extinct; and the predictions of M. de Tocqueville are fulfilled. —Translator’s Note.]

      • cleangreen 6.1.2
        14 April 2019 at 11:44 am

        francesca,

        Perfectly said as the ‘deep state’ is a global control system that keeps all governments under control no matter who they are run by.

    • Ad 6.2
      14 April 2019 at 5:45 pm

      Go on Andre, warm your cockles up and do a post on changing U.S. State Department policy.

      Would do you good to stretch your legs.

  7. Morrissey 7
    14 April 2019 at 10:33 am

    The U.S. is a “global cop”?

    Aren’t the police supposed to uphold law and order? I know they don’t always do that, and in fact often do the opposite, as we saw in London on Friday morning (NZ time).

    But, seriously, the worst purveyor of violence in the world, the global guarantor and protector of terrorists and lawbreakers from Manila Tel Aviv is a “global cop”? Stop kiddin’ around.

  8. Herodotus 8
    14 April 2019 at 10:49 am

    Can anyone please explain to me the difference between administering a drug to end life and withholding a drug to cure/prolong someone’s life ?

    • greywarshark 8.1
      14 April 2019 at 8:43 pm

      That’s why we need a law arout it so that confused people can work out one situation from another and see the difference.

    • Incognito 8.2
      14 April 2019 at 8:54 pm

      The first one is relatively cheap, almost guaranteed to work, aimed at ending intolerable suffering, and not (yet) marketed by Big Pharma. The second one is usually ridiculously expensive, uncertain to be effective, may prolong, cause or aggravate suffering, and aggressively marketed by Big Pharma.

  9. patricia 9
    14 April 2019 at 11:10 am

    Wonder what is going wrong at Jetstar ? At least 3 flights out of Auckland cancelled on Friday because of engineering difficulties. And today a flight ex Wellington cancelled because of crewing issues. On Friday the long queue of frustrated customers at the help desk remarkably well behaved considering that only one person with a screen was able to assist – sadly not enough seats available to accommodate the twice bumped off Wellington bound passengers.

    • cleangreen 9.1
      14 April 2019 at 11:35 am

      Patricia,
      Could be that the load of extra freight was late to be delivered before the scheduled departure?

    • Graeme 9.2
      14 April 2019 at 9:10 pm

      Another possible explanation is they didn’t have enough passengers to make the flight profitable, so canceled it. “Low cost” carriers are great for that. Can add to that not enough passengers paying enough to make it economic, could be a lot of people but they all bought really cheap fares.

      Queenstown has been deathly quiet for the last few weeks and we hear through the trade that international tourists have stopped all around the country from mid / late March.

      And to add to deathstar’s woes, they’ve got an aircraft on the ground in Queenstown tonight and a canceled flight to Melbourne. Same thing happened earlier in the week too, but that one was definitely a breakdown, and they couldn’t work around the ATC staffing issue so lost 2 flights.

  10. patricia 10
    14 April 2019 at 11:51 am

    Hi Cleangreen ; not sure about the freight question but there were certainly some angry passengers waiting 90 minutes for service at the help desk. Others were trying to get flights on Air NZ at amazingly high prices. I missed a special family event in Wellington yesterday because Jetstar couldn’t get me down there in time and now to find my booked return flight today cancelled means I may well have been trapped there.
    Won’t be using Jetstar again ; their help desk at the airport was well under resourced and the on line help desk of no help whatsoever.

    • greywarshark 10.1
      14 April 2019 at 8:52 pm

      Yes that has put me right off Jetstar – I’ve seen their queues before, but 90 minutes and only one on desk. The stress too, what if they had to go to the toilet. Perhaps they keep a wide mouthed bottle behind the desk, a couple of towels?
      Oh Brave New World of choice and private enterprise unfettered by those silly rules and controls.

      I’ve forgotten – there was a recent limitation of flights by one of the airlines wasn’t there? Flights also held up recently because someone was sick in the control tower staffing. Are they running too lean on staff, slimming down till they can do everything by machine? Do I like this thought – no.

      • alwyn 10.1.1
        14 April 2019 at 10:47 pm

        What they have really been doing is to listen to, and adopt, the dictates of the New Zealand Green Party.
        They have accepted the opinion that we must reduce the amount of flying that goes on. Since the Green MPs are far to important to cut back on their taxpayer funded travel it is the General Public who have to miss out.

        Consider yourself privileged that you can sacrifice your own interests so that James Shaw can have another junket to warmer climes.

  12. Skunk Weed 12
    14 April 2019 at 12:16 pm

    DOC predicting a mega mast of seeding in the Native Beech Forests in the South Island hence a need for a big 1080 drop, it would be interesting to see some accurate qualitative science on this ?

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12222071

    I am not privy to DOC scientific reports, and have not been in these Native Beech Forests for 40+ years but is the rodent problem really that bad ?

    • vto 12.1
      14 April 2019 at 3:05 pm

      when there is a mast thing it is pretty difficult to drive along a beech forest highway without the ‘plip plip…. plip…. plip……….’ of rodents popping under your tyres …..

    • WeTheBleeple 12.2
      14 April 2019 at 5:15 pm

      The only thing to stop rodents breeding like mad is limits on food supply. This is not only a mast year it is a mega-mast year. The food supply is huge and the populations will subsequently be huge. When they run out of mast to eat they’ll start on the wildlife.

      There should be more government intervention than there currently is. We need private help too. All hands on deck. Rodents and mustelids, trap em out of your neck of the woods if you can.

      • greywarshark 12.2.1
        14 April 2019 at 8:29 pm

        How long does the mast season last – when does it reach its peak? What can we do? I guess you would need to be fit and I am very not.

          • greywarshark 12.2.1.1.1
            14 April 2019 at 9:10 pm

            There is a lot of information on the above halo site but not much on the best way to go about it. It appears that if you put down some chew cards and check them out daily I suppose, then you will know the best place/s to put traps. The tunnel trap for $35 is the cheapest limited handling one. Have a look at the Schools info. They try to set out some details there.
            https://shop.predatorfreenz.org/

            • joe90 12.2.1.1.1.1
              14 April 2019 at 9:47 pm

              I’ve made a huge dent in the local rat population using a variety of home made bait stations.
              Coincidentally, this morning our tui announced their winter arrival

              We back on to a reserve and there seems to a never ending parade of possums to be exterminated so I’ve bought a Timms possum trap and I’m thinking about upping the ante and buying one of these, too.

              • Andre …
                14 April 2019 at 9:54 pm

                Had a big explosion in rat and possum numbers?

                At my place the usual pattern for possums is 2 or 3, then none for 6 or 8 weeks, then another 2 or 3. But I’ve dealt to 9 in the past 3 weeks (all females too, really weird).

                Also had at least 7 rats ignore the bait stations outside and get up between the ground floor and upstairs. They’ll eat the bait I put there in desperation (and have probably died there too).

                • Macro …
                  14 April 2019 at 10:13 pm

                  You’ll find out soon enough. When living on the farm had a similar solution to the rat problem – one obviously died in the wall. OMG! stunk for days!
                  The best solution was our little miniature long haired dashhound. One day I saw a rat sleeping in the sun in the doorway of the woodshed. Snuck back inside and brought the dog out – crept round so the rat wasn’t aware we were approaching – showed her the rat – 5 seconds later it was dead. Impressive! She was just as good on catching mice the cat brought in to play and let go. One day the cat had brought in a mouse and let it get away. The dog knew it was around – but it had disappeared into a sofa and wasn’t to be found. Next morning getting breakfast the dog was getting under my feet. “For goodness sake HoneyBear (that was her name) Go and find that mouse the cat brought in yesterday!” Next minute she was sniffing around the base of a standard lamp. I lifted the lamp off the floor and sure enuf there was the mouse. It was dead immediately after I lifted the lamp. It didn’t have a chance.

                • joe90 …
                  14 April 2019 at 10:13 pm

                  Whanganui has culverts for Africa, a legacy of child drownings in a city straddling a river, and they’re an extraordinarily good mass transport system for rodents. Consequently, if we don’t poison, we’re plagued by the fuckers.

                  And fronting a coastal reserve, the possums just keep on coming.

                  • Macro …
                    14 April 2019 at 10:29 pm

                    Oh yeah! I Kayaked down the Whanganui River a few years back. At night we would sit around a campfire and you could see dozens of gleaming eyes in the bush. I’ve never seen so many. They were in impressive condition. Obviously well fed. Maybe we could ship them back home – they are dying out in Aussie. Apparently the vegetation over there – gum leaves – has this effect of controlling their fertility so they don’t bred as profusely as they do here. At least that is what I was told by a mate in Queensland who studies these sorts of things.
                    Koalas are asleep most of the day – high on gum leaves apparently.

        • WeTheBleeple 12.2.1.2
          15 April 2019 at 6:19 am

          That’s a good question. It’s also difficult to answer. Most seeds in temperate climates have protective coats and can last a considerable amount of time. Some species are viable after decades, so, as one might imagine, they’ll be ingested long before they decay.

          The ‘length of the mast season’ is approximately one Autumn (harvest season). Any gardener can observe actual harvests vary by species, microclimate, weather and zone for ‘productive’ trees. The same can be said of our natives. The length and extent of rodent and mustelid population booms will coincide with local availability and season of fruit set/drop. There will be a time lag where animal numbers peak after the food source peaks.

          Then, the food source plummets, and we have stupidly large numbers of hungry rodents which in turn boost mustelid populations.

          Ferrets, stoats and weasels might be just over the peak of a population boom as spring hits. They might effectively wipe native species out then.

          Notice your hay fever is a bit worse this year? Mega mast years start with mega doses of pollen.

  13. Rosemary McDonald 13
    14 April 2019 at 1:49 pm

    It will be interesting to see the details…any detail…about this…

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12222200

    and this…https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/112025068/prime-minister-launches-accord-to-repair-broken-building-sector

    ” The Government is partnering with some of New Zealand’s largest construction companies in a bid to tackle the sector’s reputation after company collapses and poor-quality builds.

    Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, along with Fletcher’s Construction chief executive Peter Reidy and other industry players, have unveiled a new plan to tackle the problems that have led to high-profile building company collapses, poor-quality builds and skills shortages.

    The plan would, according to Ardern, improve the construction sector’s culture and reputation, increase its workforce and deliver more houses.

    “The wellbeing of New Zealanders is intrinsically linked to safe, durable and affordable homes, buildings and infrastructure,” she saidat today’s launch.”

    Woefully lacking in any specifics, and peppered with the usual aspirational waffle.

    And nothing on Beehive.govt.nz either.

    We need a government run state housing building programme that excludes business.

    This ‘government partnering with industry’ narrative smacks of SSDD.

    Slightly more information on Natrad…https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/387037/government-announces-construction-industry-agreement

    ….but still no specifics. Yawn. Heard it all before.

    • Skunk Weed 13.1
      14 April 2019 at 3:26 pm

      We did have good tradesmen here in NZ in the past until Dr Nick Smith dissolved the Apprenticeship Schemes and left the training to the Industry and the Free Market Duh ?

      • KJT 13.1.1
        14 April 2019 at 6:01 pm

        Can certainly vouch for that.

        The extensive range of skills, training and experience i gained, from an indentured apprenticeship in the 70’s, has benefited me, and every employer since.

        Now. Apprentices come out of their time with a skill level equivalent to our first year.

        Modern apprenticeships have no incentive for an employer to give good training, or the apprentice to stay with the employer. With apprentices mostly used as cheap unskilled labour, rather than trainees.
        I’ve seen certificated people who have swept the floor for their entire apprenticeship. Not their fault, but, useless without several more years of training,
        Which is why we favour, the ones we have trained, ourselves.
        The rise of, unpaid, internship type training positions, means you have to have pretty flush parents, to complete an apprenticeship.

        The situation is so dire, that only a very few get apprenticeships.

        And. Before anyone says the kids aren’t motivated. All the time i was building i had kids ringing up weekly, begging for a chance. Still have many asking, for the way in, where I am now. I have to tell them it is very unlikely they will get time, let alone a job, as the tech puts through many more kids than can ever get employment.

        • Rosemary McDonald 13.1.1.1
          14 April 2019 at 6:17 pm

          We stuffed up didn’t we???

          What happened to the thousands of tradespeople we were going to train up after the quakes??

          • KJT 13.1.1.1.1
            14 April 2019 at 7:34 pm

            Imported thousands of South Africans and Filipino’s instead.

            So Fletchers could make a profit.

            At least the Filipino’s are nice people, though woefully unskilled in Kiwi housebuilding.

            Which is going to come back and bite us in a decade or so. Just like National’s other great achievement, Leaky homes!

            While dickheads call the Maori kids in Northland without any jobs, “Lazy”.

            • Rosemary McDonald 13.1.1.1.1.1
              14 April 2019 at 7:49 pm

              And look!

              Detail..of sorts…. https://www.constructionaccord.nz/

              …and heading up the list of signatories is… Fletchers!

              And, and, Fletcher boss Reidy heads the Accord development group.

              What could possibly go wrong?

              Sorry Labour supporters…this smells bad.

              • KJT …
                14 April 2019 at 7:57 pm

                Yes.

                Don’t see why Fletchers, a semi monopoly, who have made a fortune off tax payer dollars, should be favoured above the myriad of functional and competent small builders, in New Zealand.

                Don’t they believe in capitalist competition?

        • Pat 13.1.1.2
          14 April 2019 at 7:52 pm

          the problem is deeper than that…there is a dearth of capable tradesmen to pass on the skills even if the real apprenticeships were on offer….but worse still is the lack of ability further up the chain….the inability of those overseeing the entire industry lacks the required knowledge especially in the regulatory fields.

          30 plus years of dumbing down will take at least as long to remedy…if we can at all.

          • KJT 13.1.1.2.1
            14 April 2019 at 8:01 pm

            Good retirement job for the older builders, who can’t build anymore.

            Some schools, including one I was involved with, are teaching hands on trades. Building houses, repairing cars etc.

            Like the metalwork, woodwork etc of old.

            May be the way forward.

            Note. Regulatory agencies are run by taxi drivers, motel owners, accounting graduates and retired policemen, these days. Knowing anything about the industry you are supposed to be regulating is a career stopper. Or so the qualified people in these agencies, tell me.

            No skill in Government to assess and let contracts.

            • Pat 13.1.1.2.1.1
              14 April 2019 at 8:13 pm

              taxi drivers and motel owners is stretching it but the end result is not dissimilar…..the attached is a frightening read that should be compulsory for anyone involved in the future of the industry.

              https://canterbury.royalcommission.govt.nz/documents-by-key/20120813.4973/$file/ENG.SCA.0002.RED.pdf

              • Rosemary McDonald …
                14 April 2019 at 9:11 pm

                Oh my. Mr Scarry was not well pleased.

                “Treasury has long been completely staffed by laissez faire economic loons whose economic theories are detached from all reality, and don’t even work in theory. ”

                ““There were two queen bees in The Beehive – Treasury and the Ministry of Works and Development. One of them was going to be stung to death, and it wasn’t going to be Treasury.”

                52. The MOWD was tasked through legislation with providing independent economic advice to the Government, and with care of the state of the entire public infrastructure of NZ, including local body infrastructure. As a result, it was a rival to the laissez faire loons at Treasury, and their plans.

                53. Between 1984 and 1993, Treasury, aided and abetted by the likes of Douglas, Prebble, Palmer, Moore, Caygill, Richardson and Birch, visited the following devastation on the New Zealand construction industry: The MOWD was dismantled, with the ‘intellectual property’ flogged off to Malaysians,
                The input of the MOWD into maintaining high standards of practice was lost,
                The role of the MOWD in properly training vast numbers of engineers, technicians and especially draftsmen, a role that underpinned the private sector, was lost,
                The similar role that Government departments such as NZED, NZ Railways and the like played was lost,
                Highly competent design departments (which never designed a ‘leaky building’) at bodies like the Ministry of Education were destroyed,
                The often highly competent and very efficient Engineering and Architecture departments of territorial authorities were destroyed. This has severely eroded the ability of the territorial authorities to adequately perform their duties as Building Consent Authorities, and

                In an act of unabashed madness, Bill Birch destroyed the centuries old apprenticeship scheme, that had served this country, and especially the building industry, so well. ”

                Just because I feel it needs an airing.

                Thanks, Pat. That’ll be added to my “You asked for submissions then totally ignored them you stupid government you.” file.

                • Pat …
                  14 April 2019 at 9:27 pm

                  not pleased …and vindicated by recent events…i.e. NZTA, structural steel compliance etc

              • KJT …
                15 April 2019 at 12:20 am

                Not really a stretch.
                MNZ was lead by a taxi driver then a motel owner, or was it the other way around.

                As for the building industry regulators……..

            • WeTheBleeple 13.1.1.2.1.2
              15 April 2019 at 6:38 am

              I can walk into most any trade and find idiots posing as qualified these days. It wasn’t that long ago if I walked on a new job site there was plenty to learn and good people to teach it.

              Now, they need an engineer to work a spirit level… 😀

              Built a shed/greenhouse here using a clear hose and some sticks and string to survey the site. 16 m2 and $800 budget. Dead level, dead square, 20 years standing no issues yet.

              I wouldn’t let our clown builders make me a shed. I have no doubt it would cost multiples of my budget and last up to the first decent storm.

              I built a chicken coop out of bamboo that has been hit by a digger, and later was flattened by a stormfall tree. I replaced two lengths of bamboo, it’s still as functional as the day I made it.

              If weather gets to the point it’s outright dangerous in conventional builds, you’ll find me in a low to the ground shell shaped bamboo house watching all the timber and iron fly past.

    • Ad 13.2
      14 April 2019 at 5:42 pm

      There will be a lot more failures of companies employing hundreds of people each in this year.

      There aren’t any specifics, but anything that brings the whole of the industry leadership together to focus on avoiding failure is better than what we have had before. They would have to get deep into procurement policy across key agencies to solve any of it.

      Kiwibuild together with HNZ and its subsidiaries should be able to go to the Commerce Commission and explain why it needs to manage the housing construction market i.e. deliberately decrease procurement competition.
      But that is too hard at least for this term.

      In the infrastructure and utilities market, we have seen Chorus running the fibre contracts and driving workers to work for near or less than minimum wage. Again a government contract – and clearly the government would prefer to get the job done rather than reopen the Chorus contract it has.

      The governments’ core public agencies such as Kiwirail, NZTA, and HNZ, corral a majority of the market – and with it the fate of massive companies employing tens of thousands of us. The other big players like Auckland Transport and Watercare, Wellington Water and the like drive most of the rest.

      It feels like a really big case of “we hear you”.

  14. One Two 14
    14 April 2019 at 2:17 pm

    Brussels – The site has a secure certificate issue. Link works.

    http://www.brusselstimes.com/brussels/14753/radiation-concerns-halt-brussels-5g-for-now

    In July, the government concluded an agreement with three telecom operators to relax the strict radiation standards in Brussels. But according to the Region, it is now impossible to estimate the radiation from the antennas required for the service.

    “I cannot welcome such technology if the radiation standards, which must protect the citizen, are not respected, 5G or not,” Environment minister Céline Fremault (CDH) told Bruzz.

    “The people of Brussels are not guinea pigs whose health I can sell at a profit. We cannot leave anything to doubt,” she added.

    A pilot project is not feasible with the current radiation standards, and Fremault told Bruzz that she does not intend to make an exception.

    The Brussels region has particularly strict radiation standards for telecom applications. The standard of 6 volts per metre has already led to problems in the past with providing fast mobile internet via 4G in the capital.

  15. One Two 15
    14 April 2019 at 2:29 pm

    Swiss canton blocks 5G mobile rollout

    This week the canton of Vaud announced it would temporarily freeze permits to install new 5G transmitters. The resolution calls for a ban on 5G transmitter installation at least until the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) has finished its study into the effects of the new technology.

    Other Swiss cantons are following the developments in Vaud. A similar parliamentary motion has been put forward in Geneva and the parliament of Valais will discuss the issue when it next sits.

  17. Sabine 17
    14 April 2019 at 7:51 pm

    Capitalism is lot more important then Democracy says one of the white working class male with economic anxiety.

    https://twitter.com/LaurenWern/status/763236840560271360

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 27

    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 27 were:1. The Minister for Ford Rangers strikes againTransport Minister Simeon Brown was again the busiest of the Cabinet ministers this week, announcing an ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    17 mins ago
  • Ticket To Anywhere

    You got a fast carAnd I want a ticket to anywhereMaybe we make a dealMaybe together we can get somewhereAny place is betterYesterday’s newsletter, Trust In Me, on the report of abuse in state care, and by religious organisations, between 1950 and 2019, coupled with the hypocrisy of Christopher Luxon ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    59 mins ago
  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    18 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    24 hours ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-27T00:44:23+00:00