Using bent corrupt courts to lock up the most popular politician in the country stinks to high heaven …. and it makes mad dog Bolsonaro and his right wing thugs the most illegitimate Govt in South America …. I wonder if the Bank of England will steal their gold .
it becomes apparent that his speeches against corruption are nothing but empty words. From the allies arrayed alongside Bolsonaro during his first speech as president-elect to the transition team he assembled and the governmental department heads he’s appointed, Bolsonaro picked at least seven people tangled up in scandals, from lawsuits and official investigations to criminal convictions and even confession of guilt.
Can you limit the opened links to one and just give us the link addresses for the others? You fill up my screen with the way you are putting up blocks of image, it must be hard to read if people are doing so on small handheld devices.
National's solution for shit pay for shit jobs that no one wants – import third world labour. Not put pay up, or anything that might actually raise the wages and living standards of Kiwis, just do what the squatocracy demands.
National, coming up with friendly solutions for the boss class and it cow cocky mates that f**k the working man over since forever.
Yes, they are undermining themselves, the Government and the local potential benefits of the scheme itself. While further adding to housing and other local infrastructure demand.
I guess they could take the approach of one or two orchard owners (or their contractors and sub-contractors – just enough levels of out-sourcing to allow a distancing of responsibility). As far as housing goes anyway. Shove up a tin shack or two onsite with a few bunks, and just enough gaps to let the rats in, and charge like an angry bull in rent. It'd be a win win sitch. The work would get done, and just as long as those natives had their visas tied to the specific employer that's giving them such a great opportunity, there'd be no question of a challenge.
Could even jack up the standard warning alert system when the Labour Inspectors were in town – even the ones like a Casson anxious to get some of that "scum" can't seem to beat it
Many thanks to all the participants of the demonstration in New Zealand, opposing the persecution of Assange and Australian journalists; and the WSWS reporters for this valuable report.
Please note, the US Department of Justice is preparing to file additional charges against the WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange on top of the 18 charges under the Espionage Act already brought against him potentially carrying 175 years imprisonment. The charges will be revealed during the 3rd extradition hearing this Friday 14th of June.
Join the protest organised by JADC in support of Julian Assange at this Hearing outside Westminster Magistrates Court, 181 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5BR from 9am in the morning. The nearest tube station is Edgware Road (on District and Circle Lines) or Marylebone (Bakerloo Line).
The proceedings will take place via video link at Court 3, which only has 10 seats available at the public gallery.
Watch the wonderful interview UN Rapporteur for Torture Nils Melzer gave to Chris Hedges about Julian Assange’s situation. https://www.youtube.com/wat…
Peters said democratic rights, such as freedom of information and free speech, were under attack in every country, because they were “not compatible with endless war and endless attacks on living standards.”
He added that the New Zealand Labour Party-led government of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had remained completely silent on the police raids in Australia, for the same reason it had refused to defend Assange: “That is, the alliance with US imperialism, which has been strengthened under Ardern. New Zealand troops are remaining in Iraq and Afghanistan at least another year and $20 billion is being spent on the military so it can integrate more effectively in US-led operations.”
The New Zealand state-run and corporate media, Peters said, had either remained silent on the persecution of Assange or actively joined in the global campaign to smear his character.
Yeah it's there, we're just covered in bloody cloud again, Interestingly those fronts are always on about a 7+ day cycle which is why it sometimes rains on every weekend.
Whats happening at the moment? Those very cold storms are big and are pushing the big Aussie highs a little further north and as they slide over NZ they pull down warm moist air from the sub tropics on their western side.
And it's weather not climate change, been happening for years. If you have an argument with that spend 70 years outside like I have.
They tell me that the ocean retains some warmth so that delays the coldness of winter especially since we are an island ocean with every spot of land less than 100km from the sea. Hence the winter after the shortest day.
Speaking of Jones, Shane Jones won't say how many full-time, long-term jobs have been created under the $3 billion Provincial Growth Fund.
When recently questioned on this, Jones replied, "I find when these questions come up it reminds me of someone popping pimples."
Answering an important question in this manner undermines the Government's credibility and ultimately, it's leadership.
A credibility (which in this regard) is already on thin ice. Back in February, MBIE revealed it had based the job creation figures on the estimates provided by the applicants (not the actual jobs created) with no work undertaken to assess whether the claims were credible.
Chair, you say that the Government's "credibility (in this regard) is already on thin ice."
Since you are, by your own admission, "more left than most", would you care to comment on the opposition's credibility (in any regard.)
Just hoping for one objective critique of the National party – then you can get back to holding the Government to account in that unique "more left than most" way of yours.
The Chairman @8
Bad week for PM – ‘Budgetgate‘
Winston prematurely announcing…
Jones giving a stupid answer…
undermining PGF, Government’s credibility, leadership
Twyford accused covering up secret meetings.
@MatthewHootonNZ Jun 9
If you call the police & report your house was burgled, and then find out it wasn’t burgled (the kids took the stuff perfectly legally) then you are meant to call the cops immediately & tell them, not say “I can’t say anything about this because it’s a police matter”. #BudgetGate
If you were as left as me you would be more concerned about the damage being done to the lefts credibility rather than attempting to somewhat justify it (or distract from it) by suggesting National's credibility should also be questioned.
If Labour are going to allow the number of new jobs to be counted in such a lax manner in such a major scheme, it won't be long before people start asking what else is the Government allowing to be counted in such a negligent manner? Which will ultimately come back to its leadership. And Labour can't afford to have Jacinda politically damaged. So she needs to get on top of this ASAP.
"National's credibility should also be questioned" – thanks Chair, much appreciated.
Agree that it's legitimate to question the integrity of both the Government and the National-led opposition. Who do you think should be questioning National's credibility? Might you, as one who is "more left than most", have a role to play?
#HoldingNationalToAccount ?
“damage being done to the lefts credibility”
“Government allowing to be counted in such a negligent manner”
“Jacinda politically damaged”
“Jacinda will be called upon to show some (leadership)
While people, the media and the Government are free to question National's credibility, considering the going-ons, the Government's focus should be on getting their own house in order, which we've yet to see.
If the overwhelming number of voters thought National was credible they would potentially be the Government now. If Labour want to maintain being in Government, they need to address their lacking credibility now.
IMHO Labour are currently more credible than National. If your blinkered critiques of the Government accurately reflect your political 'vision', then it's no wonder that you can't see that this credibility gap is widening.
Maybe your increasingly desperate one-eyed critiques are damaging your "more left than most" credibility on this site. Tbh I see no evidence that you are a friend of the left, and zero evidence that you disapprove of National party policies and MP behaviour, either in Government or in opposition, again IMHO.
That’s a fine example of binary thinking to ponder with a rather arbitrary conditional state. Assuming we (still) live in a democracy, the question is or should be whether it functions as well as it can or should. This is an open question IMO because democracy is not a fixed concept but something that can evolve over time.
Not at all. "The Chairman" exists to peddle National Party talking points from a supposedly left-wing perspective, so it's no surprise the account would phrase things the same way Hooton does.
Kevin and Guy were joined by meteorologist Nick Humphrey for this pre-recorded show. We discussed the links between climate change, weather, and crop failures. You can support Nick via his Patreon page.
a matter of fact discussion with some interesting information about impacts particularly in the US….and as noted at the end, not the narrative we will recieve from any government
Along with Budgetgate. She had Winston prematurely announcing the teachers settlement. Jones giving a stupid answer to a serious employment question undermining the Provincial Growth Fund, the Government's credibility and ultimately, its leadership. And Twyford being the latest minister accused of covering up secret meetings.
I've just come in from outside, Macro; my garden’s mist-enshrouded right now, mysterious and moist; I love it like that. Everything sounds and looks happy out there; I know I was.
We had a misty moisty morning the other day but it turned into a good sunny day in the afternoon. We had planned to be doing some tree planting in the William Hall Arboretum (just down the road), but it really was far too inclement the weather for us oldies – always another day.
I didn't express any joy, Robert. Unlike you (that thinks it's all good) I'm disappointed in their performance.
And ultimately, a party's overall performance always comes back to its leadership. And with what has come out in the in the past week, Jacinda will be called upon to show some (leadership).
That'll be the polls. Winston'll have done the math that he needs to make noise if he means to be re-elected. The Jones spendup doesn't seem to have pulled the punters in yet. With the Gnats promising carte blanche to exploit cheap foreign labour you'd think Winston wouldn't be short of things to have a crack at, but of course he chiefly picks up disgruntled voters, so the PMs habit of leaving people gruntled feels like an existential threat.
"undermining the Government he is apart of, isn't the right way to go about it"
I suspect the internal logic goes something like – "sitting here waiting for it to happen ain't going to happen either".
Winston may have to rein Jones in a little – endorsing a serial exploiting employer for the NZTA and conspiring to import even more cheap labour won't play well with contemporary 1st supporters.
The real thing here is whether government sustains the effort until it succeeds. Kiwibuild can be made to work, though it seems that some of those tasked to implement it were not committed. Same goes for the PGF. But that doesn't mean that either will produce the desired results in a timely manner for the next election.
On the other hand, the Gnats are busy cultivating their own personal version of internal withering and thus producing disaffected voters of the kind that traditionally support Winston.
The Government needs to do more than just sustain current efforts on these to main policies, they also need to improve their implementation for them to have a better chance of succeeding.
Moreover, if they want regional communities to genuinely prosper, they need to ensure decent jobs paying a living wage are being created. Ensuring the benefits are widely shared, thus resulting in a larger economic stimulus regionally.
To date, there has been a lot of handouts to the private sector in both schemes and little to show for it. Time for the Government to get a little more hands on.
As for desired results in a timely manner, the clock is ticking.
I think that's probably true – but it flies in the face of neo-liberal public service norms, in which operational matters were surrendered to managers who were supposedly more professional. Changing back is fraught because it requires both much more work, but also the risk of politically dangerous failure. This is why the Key government chiefly did nothing – it avoids conspicuous failures in the short term.
It flies in the face of neo-liberal public service norms
Indeed. Nevertheless, we have witnessed the results of the alternative resulting in Labour's housing reset.
Yes, it will require far more work from the Government's perspective, but it will give them the potential to have far more control in producing the desired results. Generally, there will always be risks in most things Government do, the competence is shown in mitigating them.
Alas, The Chairman's comments were relentlessly soggy (nice) when the Labour & Green parties were in opposition – expecting The Chair to change 'their' tune if National regains the Treasury benches is admirable but hopelessly optimistic.
Each comment by The Chair is in dire need of musical cheer, IMHO.
“I don't think anyone is clocking what you are calling a bad week for the PM, Chairman.”
Really, well here is your chance to show me why you don't think the matters highlighted are resulting in a bad week for the PM.
And no, I'm not paid to post here. Unlike many Kiwis, I partake in democracy, which is more than just voting every three years. Moreover, I'm a strong believer in the public driving change, which is reliant on people speaking up.
If Labour are going to allow the number of new jobs to be counted in such a lax manner in such a major scheme, it won't be long before people start asking what else is the Government allowing to be counted in such a negligent manner? Which will ultimately come back to its leadership. And Labour can't afford to have Jacinda politically damaged. So she needs to get on top of this ASAP.
I don't recall seeing one article calling on Jacinda to show strong leaderenhip over the provincial fund. Saw a clip on the tele with Shane J being slightly defensive about his approach telling him the PM has told him to pull his head in (in a much kinder way than that). Stories of the week are 1. the polls, which look good for Jacinda 2. Simon still making stuff around the budget leak and there was clip in the news showing Ardern making mince meat out of him, 3, teachers resolved with higher pay (public support this). 4. stuff about housing, increase in state houses built, still negative stuff about Kiwibuild but 60% of kiwis support the scheme, Defence spending……..people have different points of views on this.
Your article about no numbers on Provisional Growth fund all hypothetical, trying to manufacture ????? not sure what………I believe you are here to troll. I could be wrong
Do you really need to see an article calling for Jacinda to show strong leadership over the provincial fund to realise she needs too? Are you happy for Jones to continue carrying on showing up the leader and undermining the Governments credibility? From what has been reported, it's clear she needs to show some leadership on this before it further undermines their credibility.
While the polls look good for Jacinda, it's not good for us on the left wanting more. The better Labour poll, the less likely they are to listen. They already believe they have the balance about right, while many on the left disagree.
News that has recently come out in regard to the Budget leak hasn't been good for Labour. Jacinda has now been implicated as knowing.
And despite Winston's assertion, the dispute between teachers and the Government isn't settled yet.
The report on the increase in state housing seems a desperate attempt to look as if something is being done when in reality the number of new state homes is nowhere near enough to address the current and growing demand.
Nevertheless, the matters I highlighted above have all been reported, moreover, you have failed to show me why you don't think the matters highlighted above are resulting in a bad week for the PM.
While the polls look good for Jacinda, it's not good for us on the left wanting more. The better Labour poll, the less likely they are to listen
What a wank job that is. The other week you were banging on about how labour should be doing better and getting higher poll results. Now they have, you're changing the tune to 'if they poll high they won't listen'.
One poll has Labour going down while one has them going up.
And as for my comments re Labour otentially doing better in the polls, you have used them out of context to try and claim a point – weak. I post plenty on here, therefore try pulling me up on something I actually said and keep it in context.
You said what I've posted above, about how labour should be getting higher poll numbers, and in no way is it out of context. I even made a joke about it in the topic before the two polls were released.
What you are doing, I guess, is trying to cause a smokescreen to hide the fact you've been caught out. Not convincing enough, by far.
Both those polls, even the one where they went down, showed the government advancing from national.
Both those polls, even the one where they went down, showed labour improved from election night '17.
The poll that put labour able to govern alone, over 50% they said, how much higher do you think they should be mid term?
Seems like they're doing fine in winning support, apart from as you state, "while disappointing many on the left. Explaining their slip in the other". I'd put money on any genuine lefty not being disappointed at the highly likely fact the prospect of labour not being a one term government is looking really good. The only people not happy with labour are the nats, the nat media, rim clingers and you.
Really, well here is your chance to show me why you don't think the matters highlighted are resulting in a bad week for the PM.
Nobody cares except you and other irredeemable tories. The semantice of "hacking" vs "unauthorised access"? lol
Shane Jones? No harm to the govt, and he's Winston's problem anyway. Lol
Twyford is the only area of mild concern, and even that's offset by the stirling work on state house numbers. KB hasn't gone off well, for whatever reason, but that and anything else has negative has been largely ignored by the tories in favour of their parliamentary obsession with the semantic nature of soimon's legal transgression.
While Shane Jones is largely Winstons problem he is also the public's (due to his position in Government and what he oversees) and Jacinda's (due to also being part of a Government she leads).
He is best at home with his mates over at National.
Twyford is the only area of mild concern, and even that's offset by the stirling work on state house numbers.
Now that was a good laugh. Have you seen the number on the state housing waiting list and compared it to the number of houses being provided? It's far from acceptable. Wellbeing? Yeah right.
Have you seen the state housing stock vs the trend over time of the nats?
Really? The old they did it too excuse.
I'm not defending National's poor performance on this nor am I (unlike you) using them to diminish Labour's shortcomings.
Funny thing about waiting lists: if it starts looking realistic, people apply rather than not even bothering to fill out the form.
And that's a bullshit line out of Labour's spin book. Chances of securing a home isn't looking more realistic when the waiting list is growing so fast. Moreover, and here is the kicker, Labour aren't even providing enough houses to cover the number that were on the waiting list before they even came into power.
Any genuine lefty would be disappointed with Labour's shortcomings and over their spin. Moreover, Labour are failing to meet their own modest housing targets.
Yet here you are apparently defending their shortcomings suggesting I'm not left. If you were genuinely left you would be joining me in putting the pressure on Labour to up their game.
Any genuine ‘righty’ would be delighted to point out “Labour’s shortcomings“, “their spin“, “failing to meet their own targets“, again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again. And many genuine ‘righties’ do just that on this blog, but none are as “relentlessly soggy” as you. You’re not even fooling yourself!
Are you suggesting that because I'm asserting that whoever is behind The Chairman identity is not left, that I cannot be genuinely left?
That's some mighty fine reasoning.
For the record, I would be more than happy to join you in putting pressure on National to up their game (and, let's face it, they've nowhere to go but up), but you are contractually unable togive me that opportunity.
Are you suggesting that because I'm asserting that whoever is behind The Chairman identity is not left, that I cannot be genuinely left?
Far from it. I'm suggesting that if you were genuinely left you would be agreeing with a good number of the issues I've raised. Especially areas where Labour themselves have expressed shortcomings.
I'd be happy for National to take up my recommendations, there was a time when they were Keynesian too.
The Chairman has but one mode of comment: 'criticise the Government' (but only if that government is left-leaning.)
This breaks down to: 'criticise Labour', 'criticise PM Ardern', 'criticise Twyford', etc.;
'criticise the Greens', 'criticise Shaw', 'criticise Davidson' (and Turei before her – that's 'right', The Chairman was also highly critical of the left in opposition), etc.;
'criticise NZ1st', 'criticise deputy PM Peters', 'criticise Jones', etc.
Seems that the only NZ politicians that have escaped The Chairman's critical gaze are National and ACT party politicians – The Chairman can't even bear to criticise Bridges, or Seymour ffs.
The Chairman is currently contractually unable to criticise the National-led opposition. Any genuine friend of the left should be able to do that, at least occasionally, on this blog, yet The Chairman can't, and never has.
The Chairman‘s 'cover' is well and truly blown, but keep digging and we'll keep pointing it out – you lefty you!
The Chairman was also highly critical of the left in opposition
Glad you noticed. And as you would have seen, I was onto Labour's shortfalls back then too. If it wasn't for the turn of events, Jacinda taking leadership, Labour would have been hammered. And despite the recent poll, Labour shouldn't be quick to forget that.
I just told you before that I don't believe National will vastly improve our nation, so clearly your claims are crap.
"clearly your claims are crap" – have I touched a nerve, Chair?
I'll make two more 'claims' – you'll be criticising the PM, and Winston, and the Labour party/MPs, and the Green party/MPs, and NZ1st/MPs (unless they throw their lot in with National – you wish) on this site for every and a day. That's your demonstrable modus operandi – can you prove otherwise?
And your critiques of National party policies/MP behaviour will continue to be 'strangely' lacking – strange at least for one "more left than most".
Oh, what a tangled web we weave
When first we practise to deceive!
No, I wasn't pulling a "they did it too" line. I was pointing out that the waiting list increased despite an increase in state houses. Labour increased state houses when national didn't, and in fact national sold state houses despite the fact that waiting lists were increasing.
So at least Labour are trying to address the problem.
I was pointing out that the waiting list increased despite an increase in state houses.
Clearly, the increase was insufficient. And your point seems moot.
Labour increased state houses when national didn't, and in fact national sold state houses despite the fact that waiting lists were increasing
Now you seem to be contradicting yourself. Are you on the piss?
Yes, Labour have generally done a little of everything, giving them something to spout off for the media soundbites. But just about everything they've done has fallen far too short.
And no. I'm not an extremist expecting them to deliver us everything at once, tomorrow, but me and others do expect them to get their priorities right and deliver more.
Failing to is only going to cost us more in the long run as things further deteriorate due to Labour not even doing enough to stem the decline, admitting they expect things to worsen. And on the ground, the result is society will continue to suffer, illness, poverty, death, hunger, crime.
"National literally did the opposite" is not "national did it, too".
As for your constant criticism, I find it disingenuous. There are several commenters who would like, nay demand, the government do more. And yes, they criticise Labour. But they make what they want, their exact policy requirements, very clear. Whereas you criticise, but keep your actual demands very vague.
And even the most zealous lefties have managed to give credit where credit is due, but you'd crawl over hot glass before doing that without some snide, backhanded criticism.
As for your constant criticism, I find it disingenuous
Then address it without trying to personally tar me.
I often stated what I'd like to see from Government. And just the other day I told you a way Labour could possibility get more support from NZF. So don't resort to talking crap. And I've also given credit to Labour, Greens, and NZF on occasion.
I'm telling it as it is and you know it, hence your need to resort to talking crap.
Oh bullshit. When challenged on yet another vague criticism of Labour, you pulled out of your arse the idea of dramatically increasing the tourist tax as a policy that would be attractive to all three coalition parties (when you have no idea whether that was the case) and then using however much cash that would generate (of which you have no idea) to fund more expenditure.
I have many disagreements with folk like Adam or Bill or Francesca, but at least they are up front and specific about their demands on government and they give the impression that they've considered those ideas for longer than the twenty minutes since the latest reply to their comments.
I didn't just whip it out. I've posted this suggestion before and provided potential figures.
Moreover, as an entry levy has recently been announced, it indicates the three support the notion. Therefore, suggesting the potential for increasing it is in the realm of reality. And that is only one of many suggestions I've made over the years posting here.
Taxing the offshore property investors that Labour's ban failed to capture is another.
I didn't just whip it out. I've posted this suggestion before and provided potential figures.
Really? How did you arrive at those figures? What calculations and assumptions did you incorporate in deriving those figures?
Moreover, as an entry levy has recently been announced, it indicates the three support the notion. Therefore, suggesting the potential for increasing it is in the realm of reality. And that is only one of many suggestions I've made over the years posting here.
Oh bollocks. It indicates that at least one party supports the notion enough to put it forward, and the other two will tolerate it up to a certain point.
Only a goddamned fool of a burger joint owner would assume that just because I bought a $5 burger, I might find a $20 or even a $100 burger to be a serious proposition.
Your "many suggestions" are overwhelmed and diluted by the multitude of pointless beat-ups and criticisms you present on a daily basis. I just decided to double check and reread all your comments on this page. Maybe you should do the same and see how many specific suggestions you actually put forward, and how much despondency you try to sow.
Only a goddamned fool of a burger joint owner would assume that just because I bought a $5 burger, I might find a $20 or even a $100 burger to be a serious proposition.
Well yes, but if on the same night out I'd spent $2000 at the bar and it turns out the 'burgers' actual cost is $100 to provide … then maybe it's a different story. No comparisons are perfect, but NZ's Conservation Estate can't really be valued in the same category as a burger.
It's an issue being grappled with, and it has a few complex aspects. Here is an article on the impact of differential charging on the Great Walks:
For what it’s worth I’d prefer a generic airport fee on all overseas visitors; the vast majority of them are coming here to enjoy some aspect of our outdoors, even if only sitting in a car or bus.
Calculations were based upon the Governments with the entry levy pricing deriving from public consultation I've had with tourists and local operators in the sector.
As tourist numbers are expected to exceed our population in the near future, operators in the sector that I've spoken to aren't that nervous about a fee of that rate ($200 per adult, $100 per child) negatively impacting upon their income stream. In fact, many understand the need and the benefits (better infrastructure etc) to do this.
Many tourists (around 80%) understood this too. Plenty (just over 20%) of them were happy to pay more to enter our little slice of paradise. Understanding it costs money to maintain and manage. With around 40% comfortable with the suggested pricing.
But of course, there was a small number (close to 5%) that totally opposed it, with the rest preferring it to be less.
It indicates that at least one party supports the notion enough to put it forward, and the other two will tolerate it up to a certain point.
The Government's $35 levy comes into effect in October. And the levy rate won't increase for the first 5 years. So not only does it indicate it is supported, in 5 years it is bound to increase.
Where is your evidence it was only supported by one party and merely tolerated by the other two?
lol so let me get this straight, you think a policy necessarily means all three support it, rather than it being a concession for one or two parties making the coalition deal?
As for your "consultation" for the triple figure levy, I don't believe you.
When Labour has Mitchell backing them saying his party would have done the same if it was in power. The left should very well know things are going wrong.
Can you remember Labour's position on the military spend when Little (the elected left representative) was party leader. And how that has now changed with Jacinda now in charge?
Just to refresh your memory. Little said the $20 billion to be spent on the defence upgrade could be better spent on housing and education.
The Chairman is a (concern) troll and should be ignored. He has taken up way too much time on this site today. He claims to be left wing, but is always criticizing the coalition with the usual meme's such as Jacinda = needs to show stronger leadership, implication is she's a weak leader.
I'm not a concern troll. I'm a lefty expressing my valid conerns which you have failed to refute when challenged.
You provided a link to an article promoting Labour's military spend suggesting Labour have done no wrong this week. Showing National's backing
The left don't support massive military spends, especially when when locals are homeless and kids are going hungry. So where do you get off calling me a concern troll?
Along with Budgetgate. She had Winston prematurely announcing the teachers settlement. Jones giving a stupid answer to a serious employment question undermining the Provincial Growth Fund, the Government's credibility and ultimately, its leadership. And Twyford being the latest minister accused of covering up secret meetings.
A set of talking points taken straight from Kiwiblog by the concern-troll account supposedly belonging to a left-winger. I'm not sure you're aware of this, but every week is a bad week for the PM on Kiwiblog. The number of non-Kiwiblog readers who are even aware of the above "issues" would be tiny, let alone the number who find they reflect badly on the PM.
A set of talking points taken straight from Kiwiblog.
Really? Seems you visit there more than me. These are matters recently reported by the media and have concerns for the left.
Jacinda can't afford to have Winston going rogue. It undermines her leadership. And Labour can't afford that to happen to their star player. How you think this valid concern (hence line of talk) aligns with National is bizarre.
The similar applies to Twyford being the latest minister accused of covering up secret meetings. Jones running wild and Jacinda being implicated in Budgetgate. And as for Budgetgate, Labour could have put it to bed before it got to this if they owned it from the onset.
I visit there quite often, yes. That's how I could identify every one of the items in your comment as talking points featured on Kiwiblog. It's also the only place I've seen mention of a supposed Twyford "secret meeting." These are "issues," for want of a less-ridiculous term, that only interest Tories and their concern-troll sock-puppet accounts.
Reminds me of the poster on here during the build up to the '14 election who continually bagged the greens for intruding on labours territory, parroting the nat line, saying they should stick to environmental issues and leave the social stuff out of it.
Can't remember the name, but I'm sure someone will. Eerily similar.
Well, if you also paid attention to the news, you would have seen the Twyford story (as with the others) was reported with comparisons of the infamous Clare Curran clip shown.
And if you paid attention to the news you would have known that the omission of the meeting in the publicly available schedule of ministerial meetings had been an inadvertent mistake on the part of the staffer responsible for putting it together. Given the huge number of ministerial meetings on a weekly basis, it is not surprising it happens now and then.
And if you paid attention you would also have known that this government introduced the publicly available schedule of ministerial meetings in the interest of transparency. Under the last government there was no such schedule available so they could – and did – hold secret meetings without anyone knowing.
And if you paid attention you would also have known that this government introduced the publicly available schedule of ministerial meetings in the interest of transparency.
Yes, they did. However, that didn't stop it from being done, seems you have forgotten (or is that willingly overlooked?) the Clare Curran incident.
As for this one, there is the emails Twyford's office refused to release and the suspect timing (apparently when he was caught) of the correction being made. So even if it is legit, it is all looking rather dodgy. And you know what they say about perception.
Chair, just a friendly observation – if it's easy for me to see that you’re putting the boot into Labour with your comments, then it'll be easy for others to see that too.
"the Clare Curran incident"
"emails Twyford's office refused to release"
"the suspect timing"
"it is all looking rather dodgy"
This news item has gathered some examples of the same breed of dog attacking people. Should there be some more controls on breeding so that bad traits aren't intensified?
A 72-year-old woman was also killed last month when she was attacked by her pet Staffordshire cross breed at her home in Sydney's south-west.
Her husband was bitten while trying to save her, but survived
Three people were critically injured in a "horrific" dog attack involving a Staffordshire cross in Sydney's west this year.
One of those attacked died five weeks later.
On Staffordshire bull terriers. The item below notes they can be good family dogs. But dogs need to be classified as whether they need special puppy training to learn good traits, or not. If it is essential that they be trained properly then that should be started before they are sold, and the new owner have to sign a contract to continue. If they later cause trouble, then there would be a fine and the dog would be put down. I think there needs to be control over owners, who may be lax, too busy, or irresponsible, and they should know there will be consequences to them for failure. No excuses and legal battles.
On the "dog news" website gooddogstory.com, an article about the case said Staffordshire bull terriers, which are a permitted breed in New Zealand, were bred in the 19th century as agile fighting dogs. "Just because they were bred to fight other dogs does not mean they are bad with people; in fact, as nearly any educated enthusiast would agree – these dogs have severely misunderstood reputations, and are in fact some of the absolute best family dogs an owner can find. Anywhere," the site said. https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/79308625/euthanasia-reprieve-for-staffordshire-bull-terrier-found-eating-part-of-its-owner?rm=a
A NZ dog attack story – dog breaks away from walker and attacks a cat on own property. Walker laughs and walks on. Some advice:
"If a dog does have to be dragged off another animal it should be grabbed by the back legs and pulled away while lifting its legs up," van der Merwe said.
"It is also helpful to remember any details about the owner's appearance, and record any other information, such as addresses or vehicle registration numbers. This will assist Animal Management with the investigation in the event that the dog or owner has left the area before the officer's arrival."
Please can I put people straight about the Staffordshire terrior. They are a fabulous breed – loyal, warm-hearted, gentle, full of personality and wonderful family dogs. And they are one of the easiest breeds to train in obedience.
Yes, the complete opposite to what is claimed by many in their ignorance and I particularly blame the media. The key word is "cross-breed". It is not the pure bred staffies who are prone to being dangerous, but the irresponsible, undesirable dog owners who breed them for their sharp teeth with the real fighting breeds.
The media should have long ago been called out on their propensity for naming these dangerous dogs "Staffordshire crosses". It sends entirely the wrong message. Call them by the breeds that are the real culprits like "American Pit Bull crosses" or "Mastiff Bull crosses" but stop attributing the blame to the little pedigree Staffie.
I have known of little Staffies who have been attacked in the street or on beaches by individuals because of this wrong publicity and it left both the dogs and their owners distraught and terrified by the intensity of the hostility.
Older Bull Terriers were OK until American Pit Bull Terriers etc were imported (we were warned at the time but did nothing) and now we have huge cross-breed problems, despite trying far too late to limit the Pit Bulls.
This was emailed to the NZTA (responsible for drivers licencing) and CCd to Phil Twyford (Transport) and Julie Anne Genter (Associate Minister) about 2 weeks ago. According to the instant auto-replies, all 3 offices have recieved it. As anticipated, I've heard nothing. I've posted it here because I'm not the only one whose very real and legitimate concerns over this drug brand switch are being completely ignored, brushed off, blatently lied about and in the case of Ministers of the Crown (especially the Minister of Health,)not even being acknowledged in the first place. The latter is also refusing to speak to a senior reporter on the subject.
For a Government spouting the compassion and well being line they are completely abdicating their responsibility for the well being of the general public. This is bigger than Pharmac wanting to save a bit of money. Knowing there are more than likely people closely connected to Paliament/Government who read this blog maybe they will see it. It's also really important that the public at large know what is going on, because, PUBLIC SAFETY.
This letter is written in pain English to make it simple enough for even a Minister to understand, one would think. Again, PUBLIC SAFETY. This brand switch has already started. If you are concerned about this then make a noise to the suitable Ministers, or in public if you're in a position to do so.
"I am sure you are aware of Pharmacs’ recent decision to enforce a brand switch of the epilepsy drug lamotrigine. And of course you’re very aware of the very real consequences of someone driving when they are at risk of a seizure behind the wheel which is why there’s very reasonable rules/laws in place for the safety of both the individuals and the general public.
So I’m writing to you with extreme concern over your response to the driving status of persons who will be undertaking this lamotrigine brand switch over the next few months. According to Pharmacs notification on their website
“New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) noted a brand change does not constitute a treatment change for purposes of driving and considered that any risks from changing would be extremely low.”
Now, given that NO ONE can guarantee that break through seizures will not occur as a result of this brand change- and trust me, they do- how did you reach the conclusion that any risks would be ‘extremely low’ and why is this not be treated in the same way as a drug change, ie a 6 month stand down? Is one person crashing and killing someone acceptable to you?More to the point, why haven’t you insisted to Pharmac that anyone currently fully controlled and driving continue having their current brand funded and stay on it?
Since we are now in the position of the Medicines Safety Agency strongly disagreeing with the Medicines Funding Agency over the safety of this decision, until something is clarified either way you cannot continue to say there is no risk to individuals- or to the general public- if they carry on driving while changing brands of this medication. This is a PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
While I’m personally not affected in this area (permanently banned from driving due to the nature of my epilepsy), as a member of the public it terrifies me to think there will be people out there driving around not knowing their longstanding fully controlled epilepsy is at risk. Personally, I don’t want to be on the receiving end when they have a seizure behind the wheel and crash into the footpath. Are you really prepared to continue this stance?
Finally, should heaven forbid the worst happen and even one person dies or is seriously injured as a result of your refusal to face reality on this issue, will the NZTA be accepting any responsibility for their role given they are now fully aware? I sincerely hope you have sought legal advice on where you stand with this.
Please get this out there. If the worse case scenario did happen- and hope like hell it doesn't- there will be avoidable blood on the hands of a lot of Government agencies, but none of them will accept any responsibility.
It has, Guyon Espinor has been amazing. There's an even bigger story that's unfolding out of this with major ramifications. It's way more than just defunding a drug brand used for a couple of conditions that most of the public don't care about anyway.
Managing seizures so that you can have a normal life and not have them occurring when you are in a position where you can harm yourself and others – that's a serious thing.
My old car is good but has a 'condition' where in humid conditions water gets into the distributor or something and it will conk out just when I enter an intersection. CRC will fix it, stronger pressure on the accelerator will prevent it, but if it happens the steering goes, the motor dies, and i have to send distress signals to avoid harm. It's alarming but I can prevent it, and handle it if it happens.
So I sympathise. It is particularly important for your ability to have a life to have the right medication. Government should give Pharmac the right and also the responsibility to choose not just the best efficient drug for each disability, but also look at which is most effective. It is no good just being given a good quality drug, if it does not provide the essential help to prevent the momentary seizure that can lead to harm, injury or death.
(This would apply for someone who is not at an old age; there will be a need to limit more expensive drugs to people over say 75, as we are being too demanding in our numbers, living to longer age, and that is a fact.)
This letter is written in pain English to make it simple enough for even a Minister to understand, one would think.
Brilliant! (A young friend, reading one of the 2765 or so such letters/emails I've written to Ministers, CEOs, Managers, Lawyers and the like over the years on matters Disability, proffered the opinion that it was no wonder I was getting nowhere because I was assuming too high a level of comprehension from the addressee.
"One issue per letter, in plain language, and no polysyllables."
Kay, Peter and I are wishing you the very best outcome on this…we pay extra for one of Peter's meds that was disfunded by Pharmac a few years ago…but we're better placed to pay the extra with Peter now off the Supported (Hah!) Living Payment and grazing in the lusher pasture of National Super.
Knowing there are more than likely people closely connected to Parliament/Government who read this blog maybe they will see it.
I have no doubt there are…but do they actually care?
It seems there are far too many Coalition flag-wavers frequenting these pages…those that leap into print at the mere hint of complaint from those who are not feeling the Lovingkindness.
Rosemary, I'm not even fighting for my own situation anymore. Well it's on hold, it has to be. I had no idea just how ill fighting the government could make you, physically and mentally. I have even more admiration for you now- how the hell have you kept this up for so long and not lost the plot completely??? I'm under GPs orders to back off for now the situation got so dangerous.
As that email is referring to, it's the very real dangers facing people who are currently fully controlled and driving, something that's never going to affect me. I guess that's called giving a damn about people other than myself? A foreign concept to Public servants and politicians too…
…how the hell have you kept this up for so long and not lost the plot completely???
I have had the odd moment or nine. So has Peter. We tell each other to buck the fuck up, but sometimes when we both are laid low…it is hard not to be teary. But shit man…(for those close to the Government that lurk around these pages ) we ain't dead yet. We have nothing to lose…well, MOH funding for Peter's care since they still refuse to pay…so we have no fear of speaking out. You just might be shocked how vulnerable MOH DSS clients feel. If they complain publicly, funding could be cut. I'm more than happy to be a goad…
Oranga Tamariki following the letter of the law? They want to keep whanau together and their relationships and culture alive as encouraged for decades, presumably. But also well known is that when children are bonded with loving people, it breaks a child's trust and feeling of security and instinctive acceptance of continual caring relationships when cut-and-dried law results in separation and replacement with other carers.
This is not just a case of pakeha preference, it is following a practice that Maori have wanted.
If you bred any of those nasty little fucking handbag rats much adored by young women and the retired to be as big as a staffy or ridgeback you would have a lethal, filthy tempered killing machine without paralell in the animal world.
Worse than the nasty little rats that often come on to this blog and want to take a rabid bite out of our arms or anywhere, they don't care? They have never been properly trained in how to consider other people in society fairly and considerately, and shouldn't be left alone in a room with a computer, Facebook or twitter.
What was the name of the immense snake in Harry Potter books? N-something. Very reliable in service of Voldemoor, but didn't Harry find that he had some of her genes, and could understand snake language – a bit horrifying for him?
I tend to see analogies; we all have some of the unpleasant side of snake-like people which we have to keep under control. I often hiss when I find something annoying. Sometimes I worry about myself!
Yes PeterCh That's what I am trying to lessen. I have to be in a room with other computer users soon and want to show that my parents brought me up well.
Read "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" by Rudyard Kipling, greywarshark, if you want to get inside a snake's skin; it's a remarkable short story, featuring a mongoose and two cobra snakes; it'll have you curled up on your chair, looking to the corners of the room 🙂
If you have met a 'nasty little fucking handbag rat' Adrian and it was in a situation that leaves you in a foul temper, I feel for you. But the bigger dogs have a bigger bite, and nipped heels, and if accompanied by careless, inconsiderate women are not in the same league as being mauled by mini-tigers.
Chch gunman in court this morning. Pleaded 'not guilty'. What on earth is he thinking? If someone films their crime and broadcasts it live, bit of a problem mounting a defence i would have thought.
His lawyer certainly drew the short straw with this.
Of course he is going to plead Not Guilty – he wants his day/s in Court and to be as big a toe-rag as possible, playing our system of civilian justice for all its worth. If we got as tough as he we would kill him without much ado but we are afraid that we will look into the abyss, and see ourselves if we do that.
Yes not guilty to get his day in court………..that is all he has. The rest of his life is finished. Years and years, day in day out in virtual solitary……………
I hope the judge shuts it down as much as possible within the law.
Yes, I think it does sound horrendous Peter, regardless of what he has done. But then I think of those who have lost love ones and also the survivors and their injuries, one woman who will never walk again, one who is in constant pain due to the damage the bullet did and the little girl with unknown consequences of the effect of the bullet in her brain. My compassion goes to them. they didn't choose it…….He did.
True, but why would anyone actually 'choose' that? My sympathies too go to the victims and their loved ones. But somewhere somehow the shooter is ill or something similar. Hate is easy. Understanding is not.
On this site, I have been called a right wing troll (absolutely not true), yet on this, I am a 'bleeding heart liberal'.
Hanibal Lector was so true. Execute or put to work. But torture (which is his de facto future) is not worthy of the 21st century.
Thing is, he's not ill. He's ideological. There is a difference.
And execution is still worse than imprisonment.
As for his status, if found guilty he needs to be in prison to protect us, and he needs to be in solitary to protect himself. He'd still get to talk to his guards.
Entitled to your point of view about the gunman Peter.
Given he is not pleading Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (which would mean he was psychotic at the time and out of touch with reality) we can assume he was sane. We all have to take responsibility for our actions. If we don't that means we blame someone else. There is no one else to blame here.
The shooter was exposed to extremist views. He continued to engage with them. He developed a hatred for people of the Muslim faith. He took many months/years to plan and execute these horrendous attacks that cost 51 their lives left many injured and disabled and disturbed the peace of mind of many, many others. In pleading not guilty, he shows no remorse or sympathy for his victims. I and many others suspect he has done that to expose his hate filled views and gain notoriety.
His will now be the most hideous existence and likely he will have long periods where he wishes he was dead and regrets what he did, not for his victims, but for himself. I know myself to be a compassionate person and have no problem saving that compassion for those who are deserving of it.
It's so costly to keep them locked up. If they can't be contained where they can grow their own food and not run away or have a go at staff, they would be better off dead. We will have better people to look after, including ourselves.
Not guilty will be to gain a platform to mount a defence in order to promote his philosophy. Be interesting to see how a Judge handles the extent of that.
A barrister acting for someone like the shooter who seems to have no attributes or soul, in giving his defence acts against his own nature but follows the law which says that we should hear what can be said in the accused's defence. I think defending bastards that he thought were guilty led to Greg King's death.
Unbelievably, some idiot was outside court this morning abusing Muslims attending the session for Mosque shooter. Heil Hitler salutes and Nazi music (the Nazis actually actively helped Muslim freedom movements, so he is ignorant as well as bigoted and just plain stupid). And of course nasty anti Muslim speech. He has now appeared in court.
I despair. A crazy like ******* is one thing, but the supporters, in the cool light of day, scare me more.
Teeth brushing programs for primary schools would be excellent preventative care, and have a flow-on effect for other health problems and general wellbeing of children. A caring community being both kindly and practical!
We need to be caring about our young people who may be prevented from gaining employment because of unreasonable and unnecessary drug tests that bear no relation to their readiness and ability to do the work they apply for. Two opinions about drug testing methods:
This week the Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told parliament's health select committee that a register to track patients who have been harmed by mesh implants would be too expensive and take too much time.
FFS! He expects the DHBs to collect the data in their region..too much for the MOH to assign one of their overpaid bureaucrats to simply be the person that receives that data from the DHBs on a regular basis and puts them a file for future reference.
They are deliberately sidestepping here…you can't measure what you don't count.
Really disappointing. Have a friend who was severely damaged by mesh implants, and has been active with select committee hearings.
Part of the difficulty of her return to health was the relationships between surgeons and specialists in this small country of ours. Our ACC was the reason given why some NZ patients were unable to join in on class action lawsuits in the states. However, many in NZ have been unable to get compensation or support from ACC as they won't recognise the injuries caused by the mesh implants.
It may be that the mode of attack points to a state actor – one of the ships claimed to have been torpedoed. A torpedo is a bit more complex than the usual scratchbuilt bombs employed by the likes of ISIS for example. Limpet mines appear to have used, and these are primarily available to states – though of course one could readily supply them to the perpetrators.
I think your source contains wildebeests of dubious provenance Brigid. 2,300 Humvees would be noticed, as would an Abrams tank battalion. Sure they had plenty of Toyota trucks – they're a preferred civilian and civil service vehicle in the region.
IEDs seem to be a preference with ISIS, which might be because they don’t have an Abrams tank battalion.
Explosive violence in Iraq in 2018
There were 2,510 deaths and injuries from explosive violence
60% (1,508) were civilians
This is a 77% decrease in civilian casualties from explosive violence. In 2017, AOAV recorded 6,571 civilian casualties from explosive weapons in Iraq,
Of civilian deaths and injuries, 89% were caused by IEDs
When explosive violence was used in a populated area in Iraq last year 86% of those dead and injured were civilians https://aoav.org.uk/explosiveviolence/iraq/
It's time we mounted a humanitarian project and took all those people off Manus Island, not only for their health and humanity, but for ours and that or the Pacific Island country that is under such strain and warping of their life and culture and ability to plan for their future under CC and CUH (Chinese/Usa hegemony).
For years, the Manus Provincial Police Commander David Yapu has dealt with the impact of hundreds of young, male refugees foisted on his community by Australia.
Conflict and crime are just some of the problems My Yapu has faced, but its only now with refugee suicide attempts reaching epidemic proportions that the police commander has turned to policy makers in Port Moresby.
"There must be some intervention from the government because the trend of attempted suicide is growing," Mr Yapu said.
"Anything drastic can happen, meaning that they can lose their life. This is something that I don't want to see."
Refugees have reported about 40 suicide attempts or incidents of self harm since the Australian election on 18 May, a statistic borne out by Mr Yapu's plea in which he described two attempted hangings and a failed self immolation last week, while admitting the situation was beyond his control.
This will go in our history where we sat back and did nothing but ineffectually wag our hands and tongues. It is hard to bear to think of these poor people inside and outside of the prison complex. And we are being screwed by the Australians as well. Have we any strength of will; do we have any integrity or are we true mercenaries, willing to sell ourselves and our integrity if any, if we are offered the right price?
Can we start a fund-raiser to send a fleet of little boats there, like Dunkirk. This might prompt some nastiness! But would highlight the disaster for the world's attention. Embarrassment at being shown up might do it.
And where would they come to in NZ. Pepin Island say? What about buying that NZ Government and settling them there and giving them the care and mental health services they need and deserve. That would be a good answer, as similar events will continue to happen. And we need to remember that NZ troops have participated in attacks and destruction of home areas that have caused many of these people to flee. We help destabilise the world, and injure and kill and deprive the populations in those places.
Where are our standards, our morals, our higher civilisation, or are we at heart ready to sink below the bottom line as long as we are comfortable? We won't be for long anyway, so let us try to do some good and not misuse our intelligence and cleverness to take us below the beasts as we decline.
That is a great idea Stuart. That would smooth the way in to our paradise, and keep the cockies quiet for a short time. They would all live in a giant housebus and have a medical team alongside. They might be able to cope for 4 hours a day. They would be pretty debilitated mentally if not physically but some therapeutic work not over demanding would be good.l
Hi greywarshark…. I agree fully …. refugees have contributed and benefited to New Zealand throughout our past …..
Recently The Canadians found that refugees payed more tax and contributed to society more than their Millionaire Investor citizens…. The Aussies also found the same sad sack returns from their rich investment citizen schemes
Not to long ago, The Aussie five eyes spies bluffed, bullshitted and punked our prime minister …. when she previously offered NZ to take 100 ( or more? ) refugees off the Ausie Island prison camps.
Shortly after the offer our media carried stories of the aussie navy turning back refugee boats bound for Nz … it was reported as the Aussies stopped these boats from " crossing the ditch " …… To me "The ditch" infers the Tasman sea ….. but according to the Aussie Navy, these boats were turned back into Indonesian waters … So thousands of miles and a sea or two away.
In what seemed a beat up to me ,,,, Aussie 'officials' and herald type media …. were trying to blame jacinda Arden for an upsurge in mythical NZ bound boat people.
In January of this year we were 'warned' that a fishing boat, full of refugees, had left India , NZ bound which is over 11,000 Kms…… never to be heard of again.
John Key fearmongered about refugee boats for most of his DP time as PM …. his proof was … steel boats … and vague reports of the threat ' getting closer'.
It's all bullshit ……….. as the old rooted and often dangerous refugee boats … will always try to make it onto Aussie soil.
The aussie strategy is intercept and prevent this ……. as it allows them to deny a lot of rights refugees who actually make it onto Aussie soil would be entitled to.
Its a cynical stripping of human rights ,, this aussie intercept at sea ,,,, is a nasty creative run around policy…. to avoid acting humane
It is to be noted that the Aussie intelligence agencies have been living in the pockets of the CIA for many decades. So, it is not surprising they have acted from time to time in the same devious and dishonest way.
Interesting report on the Globug electricity pre-payment system (through Mercury I think.) It sounds like a feel-good advertisement but they have anecdotes to say that it works for people who make payments regularly rather than monthly and if they try to do so will get all the discounts that regular monthly account holders would get. They may get behind and get cut off, but if they contact their provider they can get electricity reinstated quickly with no hefty charge for the reinstatement. It sounds Hope it is as good as it sounds.
It doesn't sound good at all. I gather the issue is people who end up on Globug are people who have financial issues already, and are unlikely to be ontop of payments, otherwise they would be okay with the usual system..
A new satisfaction survey shows Globug customers are more likely to say they are getting bad service.
Globug is a prepay power service that is often used as a last resort by people who have poor credit and can't get an account with another retailer.
"Consumers who've experienced financial difficulty paying their bills or had their power disconnected may have no other choice than Globug," Consumer NZ head of research Jessica Wilson said.
That is interesting. It came up as a news item I thought. But my antennae thought it sounded too smooth. So thanks for the feedback. I must look again and see the steps – if Radionz have started advertorials I shall go up and kick them in the bum.
Some people eh – so sad and reduced to nothing inside themselves that they hate on others because of skin pigmentation or religious beliefs – yep the real deal – and the others who refuse to notice this shit even when they live down there – ffs
Shooting survivor Mustafa Boztas was speaking to media on Lichfield Street outside the court shortly before 11am, when the Pākehā man approached them and appeared to make race-related threats.
The man had earlier been sitting on a bicycle on the street, playing music with Nazi lyrics though a set of handheld speakers.
From my reading the increases by increasing the number of pay steps have been loaded to take effect from July 2020. Excluding the $1,500 one off bonus paid only to the union members, those non union will also have to wait another 3 months for their increase to apply – delaying the financial impact to the govts books.
Increasing beginning teachers pay hopefully will make the profession a little more appealing. Still like so many workers of today the difficulty in funding the "Affordable" $650k 2+ bedroom house
So the following govt. will have to deal with the implications as this agreement takes effect a few months before the next election.
It's almost as though a three-party coalition government might struggle to define and implement a cohesive policy programme, or something. If people are concerned about it, they should vote Labour or Green next time so those two can govern without NZ First. You'd see a coherent policy programme then, alright.
During the Key government the huge wind farm project planned for near Huntly named Hauauru Ma Raki, was cancelled when the price of coal dropped. Eric Sykes the head of the Wind Energy Association of New Zealand said at the tim, "the right policy settings" could see the cancelled Hauauru Ma Raki wind farm be restarted.
So why aren’t these policy settings being put in place?
Tanya it is not good the out comes of the tamariki who end up in state care most of those tamariki are Maori & Pacific tamariki they end up in jail or on the streets .
I think that the state abuse should be dragged out into court and sorted OUT so that the state abuse of tamariki will stop .
Eco Maori knows what the state not listening to one concerns as I have tried to use the Official Information act 3 x nothing.
Its sad Tanya that you lost your sister to suerside ultermitly because of state abuse being covered up. .
I agree people should not be put through recalling the trummer 2 or 3 X to get justice that would trummertize you and darn right rude that the person who was listening to you story of abuse while in state care falling asleep is down right rude and disrespectful the state servants are all about protecting them selves and there m8 and the state who care of the carnage that there actions do to the poor common tangata.
I don,t think a state opolergy is going to make any difference to the people whos lives have been harmed I say drag the people at fault for the abuse over the hot coals of a court and COMPONSATION for the people who have been abused that will improve the people whos lives that have been dammaged more than sorry Tova but thanks for this story.
david free speech is diffrent to Hate Speech and white supremacy if we let fools make hate speech and white supremacy common practices we will end up in anarchy A big MESS.
Niki shonky ran NZ like a busness take over he slashed and burned the state agencys budeget and sack heads of agencys use the state police to suppress people that were a threat to him and his goals all targeting a surplase in the state budget denied the housing crisses he was making . One can not run a goverment to cater for one small part of our socity the state need to be run for the better of all people not just the 00.1 %
Kia kaha Extinction Rebellion all the people around the world for championing human caused climate change our grandchildren futures are so special to Eco Maori ka pai.
Extinction Rebellion protesters stop rush-hour traffic in London
Lewisham campaigners block three roads into city centre to highlight ‘air pollution crisis
Environmental protesters stopped traffic on three main roads into central Londonfrom the south-east in protest over the “air pollution crisis” in the area.
The protesters, organised by a local chapter of the Extinction Rebellion group, blocked traffic on the A20 near Lewisham station, A205 South Circular in Catford and the A2 in Deptford during the morning rush-hour.
XR said the action was intended as the first in a series of disruptions in the area as part of a campaign called Let Lewisham Breathe. Protesters handed out leaflets and cake to apologise for the disruption caused on a main route into the centre of London.
Extinction Rebellion protesters in Lewisham. Photograph: Lorna Greenwood/Extinction Rebellion
Lorna Greenwood, who took part in the protest despite being nine months pregnant, said she and about 50 fellow activists – all from the local area – began their action at 7.30am ka kite ano link below.
Eco Maori thanks the Pope for his declaration that Human Caused Climate Change is a World Emergency ka pai.
Pope Francis has declared a global “climate emergency”, warning of the dangers of global heating and that a failure to act urgently to reduce greenhouse gases would be “a brutal act of injustice toward the poor and future generations”.
He also endorsed the 1.5C limit on temperature rises that some countries are now aiming for, referring to warnings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of “catastrophic” effects if we crossed such a threshold. He said a “radical energy transition” would be needed to stay within that limit, and urged young people and businesses to take a leading role.
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“Future generations stand to inherit a greatly spoiled world. Our children and grandchildren should not have to pay the cost of our generation’s irresponsibility,” he said, in his strongest and most direct intervention yet on the climate crisis. “Indeed, as is becoming increasingly clear, young people are calling for a change.”
The Pope’s impassioned plea came as he met the leaders of some of the world’s biggest multinational oil companies in the Vatican on Friday to impress upon them the urgency and scale of the challenge, and their central role in tackling the emissions crisis. It followed a similar meeting last year, but this time the Pope’s stance was tougher as he warned that time was running out and urged them to hear “the increasingly desperate cries of the earth and its poor
Ollie I don't think david cares really he just wants the publicity who cares about the people whom are hurting because of hate speech and people who think that they are superior.
Condolences for the whanau of the plane that crashed and the pilot died in NZ
I think everyone should put those life bars on Quads I have had a close call 6 years ago .
I don't think the Nelson council should leavening that leakey suerage pipe spewing crap into Tangaroa for another minute if farmers do something like that they would get a huge fine .
It is shocking the way Australia treats those refugees asylum seekers on manus island the people are self harming and can't see a better future than death WTF Scottmo gets of your ASS and fix this atrocity.
It is very cool all the buildings and aroha that Sir Edmond Hillary graced Nepal with awesome to give it was the old Maori way to give a the receiver userly tried to out gift the other if they had the resources.
I say that oranga tamariki is going to change its prosess in the way that they assess and up lift Pepe and tamariki I hope that they have Maori whanau involvement and maybe get a credible kaumatua to sign the papers before pepe are up lifted should be same Iwi but not a immediate whanau member ie they should not no each other for a fair CALL.
Aotearoa produces enough food to feed 40 million people worldwide that is one of the reason why I back our farmers for one food is going to become more expensive and harder for the common and the poor people to get with Global warming. We have to do our part to feed the whole Papatuanuku. The other is corporate farming taking over our farms and turning Aotearoa into one big factory farm f that.
Awesome to that Wahine printing te reo on cloving kia kaha I missed her company name Eco Maori mite have to get a few shirts branded with my name.
"Non-union teachers are angry that they will have to wait three months to get the pay rises that the Government has offered to union members…Justin Lindsay, a Hastings Boys' High School music teacher who is philosophically opposed to unions, said the three-month delay in the pay rise for non-union members is unprecedented and unfair.
"We are the teachers who would like to see performance pay and individual contracts," he said.That's a philosophical issue, but I feel like we are being punished for taking that point of view."
Charter school founder Alwyn Poole said even the three-month advance on the pay rise and the $1500 lump sum were less than the fees paid by union members. Union members have paid, on average, well in excess of $500 a year for the last three years and the next three years, i.e. $3000," he said. The percentage increase for three months will only be marginal. Plus the union members have struck for at least three days, [losing] approximately $900. So us non-members are still winning by about $2000 and don't have all of the ridiculous hassle of union membership."
I guess Justin Lindsay will be refusing the pay increases and contacting the Ministry of Education to negotiate an Individual Employment Agreement with performance based pay. If teachers want the pay increases at the same time as every one else, well, they could join the union.
And as for Alwyn Poole, well, if it wasn't for the education unions it's very likely the pay rates for teachers would be quite a bit lower than they are at present and teachers would still be dealing with rubbish like National Standards and Charter Schools.
by the Council of Disobedient Women We call on the Council of Trade Unions to show some fortitude and take a stand with your sisters. Unionists know that there is a material world, otherwise workers could simply identify out of poverty. They could declare themselves Well Paid. Why stop ...
I spent some time reading the Regulatory Impact Statement and Bill of Rights Act advice for the government's odious control order scheme today. I am not impressed with either of them. Starting with the RIS, it is built on some pretty questionable assumptions. For example:Unless individuals have been convicted of ...
#NoFly: Walking the talk on climate change, by Shaun Hendy. BWB Texts, 2019. Reviewed by Robert McLachlan In June 2018, Swede Maja Rosén founded We stay on the ground with a pledge not to fly in 2019, and a goal of persuading 100,000 other Swedes to join her. In August, ...
We all know that NZ First is a party of and for old people who hate the young. But they've topped their previous pedophobia with a proposal that all young people be forced to do 100 hours community work:NZ First wants all young people to do 100 hours of community ...
A couple days ago the NZ Herald published a story with the headline, “Science says Bella Hadid is world’s most beautiful woman“, and followed up with the ridiculous statement that Supermodel Bella Hadid has been declared as the world’s most beautiful woman following a scientific study into what constitutes as ...
A Sustainable Proposition: With as much as 18 percent of the electorate declaring itself “undecided” about who to vote for, there is obviously plenty of space for a party like former Green Party member, Vernon Tava's, about-to-be-launched "Sustainable NZ Party" to move into. The most hospitable political territory for such ...
Keir Starmer has hinted that Labour might vote in favour of the Johnson government's shoddy deal, with the proviso that a second referendum is attached:Speaking to BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show, he said: “We will see what that looks like but it makes sense to say that by whatever ...
In 1994, I was the editor for an issue of Planet magazine focused on cannabis, its culture and the prospects for the end of its prohibition. Part of that issue was an interview with 'Ringo', an experienced cannabis dealer.I recently posted my essay from that issue, and I figured it ...
Dr Helen Waite, sports sociologist and former elite athlete, on the invasion of women’s sport by men and the anti-scientific and misogynist ideology used to rationalise it. ...
As Brexit comes to a grisly conclusion (perhaps) people on all sides are saying intemperate and uwise things. Some, like the Daly Mail, have been doing it for years.People as normally level headed as Jon Lansman are calling for automatic deselection of MPs who vote against a (likely) Labour three ...
I've got one source saying more Labour MPs than expected are mulling whether to vote for the deal - including names who were not on the letter to Juncker and Tusk— Emilio Casalicchio (@e_casalicchio) 17 October 2019 I've compiled a list of possible reasons why Labour ...
On Wednesday, the government was loudly telling us that it needed to legislate to allow it to impose "control orders" - effectively a parole regime, but imposed without charge, prosecution, conviction or real evidence - on suspected terrorists because they couldn't be prosecuted for their supposed crimes. Today, it turns ...
On Monday, the Hit and Run inquiry heard from NZDF's former director of special operations, who claimed that the defence Minister knew everything about the Operation Burnham raid. Today, the inquiry heard from that (former) Minister - and it turns out that he didn't know nearly as much as NZDF ...
Yoga gurus and cult leaders – I’ve seen a few. Two weeks ago, I unknowingly joined an alleged new-age cult at the Kāpiti coast, together with a giant kraken and some neatly dressed pensioners who would make any book club proud.They were among the two hundred people of all ages ...
The last decade has seen a trend of increasing weapons availability to police. Assault rifles. Tasers on every hip. Guns in cars. And following the march 15 massacre, pistols on every hip, all over the country. At the same time, its also seen an increase in the abuse of force: ...
In the last couple of weeks, I’ve been busy preparing for our summer paper on Science Communication. Looking for something amusing about ‘risk’ in science, I came across this neat xkcd.com cartoon about why so many people come knocking on my door (or phoning me, or emailing me) desperately wanting ...
by John Edmundson The International Socialist Organisation (ISO) have recently reposted a February article, by Romany Tasker-Poland, explaining ISO’s position in the “trans rights” debate. It is available on their website and on their Facebook Page. The article sets out to explain why “socialists support trans rights”. It reads more ...
"Auckland City Mission: 10% of Kiwis experiencing food insecurity", RNZ, 16 October 2019:About half a million people are experiencing food insecurity, according to new research from the Auckland City Mission. Food insecurity, or food poverty, is defined as not having enough appropriate food. The City Mission said over the last ...
Media Statement for Immediate Release 16th October 2019 “Fake News” from Auckland City Council CCOs Board Chairs re pay and performance bonuses for top managers Despite comments from Auckland City Council CCOs Board Chairs re pay and performance bonuses for top managers—Herald Newspaper Tuesday Oct 15th–there is very little evidence ...
Would You Buy A Used Propaganda Video From This Man? Bridges and the National Party’s strategists have discovered that the ideas and attitudes considered acceptable by today’s editors and journalists are no longer enforceable. The rise and rise of the Internet and the social media platforms it spawned means that ...
There is plenty of evidence of the way the business mentality has permeated every level of society since the recrudescence of market liberalism 35 years ago. You only need to think of how citizens in need of help from their government, their state, their country, are now routinely described as ...
John MacCormickOver the last 40 years, New Zealanders – and people in other countries – have experienced big changes in the jobs they do and where they live and work. These changes include: a decline in manufacturing jobs an increase in jobs in ‘information-intensive’ industries (which are better paid ...
Nick Wilson, Leah Grout, Mereana Wilson, Anja Mizdrak, Phil Shoemack, Michael BakerProtecting waterways has the benefits of: (1) protecting water from hazardous microbes; (2) minimising cancer risk and other problems from nitrates in water; (3) avoiding algal blooms that are hazardous to health; (4) protecting mahinga kai uses (cultural ...
by The Council of Disobedient Women In a press release today Massey University announced it has decided to rebrand and reorientate after struggling to be a University for grown-ups. For some time the University has wanted to be a safe play space for wee-woke-misogynists who have been really badly triggered ...
After a brief dalliance with 'hard Revoke' it looks like the Lib Dems are changing ground on on Brexit, with leader Jo Swinson reverting to calling for a second referendum on Johnson's deal.The party has tabled an amendment to the Queen’s speech requesting that any deal brought back from Brussels ...
The government has decided that someone has done Something Bad. But despite their belief, there seems to be no evidence that they have actually broken the law. So the government's solution is to pass a retrospective law allowing them to be punished anyway, on a lower standard of proof. If ...
So, Judith Collins has done a Facebook rant about climate change, peddling the same shit National has been shovelling for the past twenty years: the impacts are overstated, there's no need to do anything about it, and its too hard anyway (oh, and its so unfair that people who peddle ...
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nzThere is a lot of discussion on the benefits of ...
I came across this song quite by accident. If it isn't one of Greta Thunberg's favourites - it should be.Video courtesy of YouTube.This post is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
Last month, NZDF's shoddy coverup of what it knew about civilian casualties in Operation Burnham began to fall apart, with the revelation that a report on the matter, which NZDF claimed not to have, had been sitting in an NZDF safe for the past nine years. Yesterday, the man responsible ...
While many imagine that countries like the USA and Europe dominate space activities, in fact India is now a major player on this stage. It launches satellites for its own purposes and also commercially, and has constellations orbiting our planet and returning data of vital importance to that nation in ...
Thanks to a report from the Acting Inspector General of Intelligence and Security following a complaint by Nicky Hager, we have come to find out that the SIS illegally spied on Mr. Hager on behalf of the NZDF after publication of Hager’s 2011 book, Other People’s Wars. The NZDF justified ...
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING MYTH 1: Global temperatures are rising at a rapid, unprecedented rate. FACT: The HadCRUT3 surface temperature index, produced by the Hadley Centre of the UK Met Office and the Climate Research Unit of the University of East Anglia, shows warming to 1878, cooling to 1911, ...
For the past week, Extinction Rebellion has been peacefully protesting in London to demand action on climate change. The British government's response? Ban their protests:Police have banned Extinction Rebellion protests from continuing anywhere in London, as they moved in almost without warning to clear protesters who remained at the movement’s ...
An essay by Judith Collins MP reported on Carbon News yesterday seems to show an alarming shift in attitude within the National Party. Collins argues against the Zero Carbon Bill, the Paris Agreement, and downplays the magnitude of climate impacts. The Paris Agreement was adopted in December 2015 and ratified ...
When they were running for election, Labour promised to overhaul the Employment Relations Act and introduce fair pay agreements to set basic pay and conditions on an industry level, preventing bad employers from undercutting good ones. They followed this up by establishing a working group, which reported back in January ...
A list of indicators of bad science – many of these are found in articles promoted by anti-fluoride activists. Anti-fluoride activists have been pouring money into a scaremongering campaign warning pregnant women not to drink fluoridated water. They claim fluoride will lower the IQ of their future child. Fluoride ...
Nothing Left To Say: Labour's pollster, Stephen Mills, remains swaddled-up in the comforting myths of the 1980s. As if the experience of Roger Douglas’s genuinely radical post-Muldoon policy agenda was literally a once-in-a-lifetime thing – as much as the party could possibly absorb for at least the next 50 years.MEMO ...
The Royal Commission on abuse in care is very significant for the disability community. For many decades last century, thousands of disabled children, and adults who managed to survive, were locked away from families and communities. This was not for anything they had done, but for the perceived threat their ...
With an unfair voting system, uneven electorates and an un-elected upper house, the UK's "democracy" is barely worthy of the name. But now the government wants to make it worse:The government has been accused of suppressing voters’ rights with the potential disenfranchisement of tens of thousands of people after plans ...
Back in the 90's and early 2000's, the building industry was building leaky homes which should never have been granted consent. Now it turns out they've been building dodgy office blocks as well:New imaging technology has revealed hundreds of major buildings nationwide have defective or missing concrete or reinforcing steel. ...
Local body election results were released over the weekend, to joy or despair depending on where you live. In Auckland, Phil Goff trounced John Tamihere, who is muttering darkly about running for Parliament again (but which party would want him?) Wellington is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Weta Workshop, except ...
How could government evolve over the next decades? Reports of democracy’s imminent demise are greatly exaggerated. However, satisfaction with political systems in many countries is low, so there is much to do for governments of all political stripes to improve relevance and trust. Digital technologies are seen as one ...
Two years have now gone by since the Friday afternoon when my university-student son and I headed out of our Barcelona flat to a nearby primary school, designated as a polling station for the vote that was to be held the following Sunday: the referendum on Catalonia’s independence from Spain ...
Overruled: The joint decision of Finance Minister, Grant Robertson (Labour) and his Associate Minister, David Parker (Labour) arguably the two most powerful ministers in Jacinda Ardern’s government, to grant OceanaGold the consents which Land Information Minister, Eugenie Sage (Greens) had earlier denied them, offers bitter proof of how hard fighting ...
More than double the number of people who will vote in this year’s local body elections have tried marijuana or urinated somewhere they shouldn’t have. As local elections look set for the lowest turnout in decades, with many regions falling well short of 40%, the Government is exploring a number ...
A Statement on Abortion Law Reform by the Council of Disobedient Women On the eve of bringing an end to antiquated, anti-women abortion laws Green MP Jan Logie intends to write women out of the Bill. With a stroke of the pen, the woke are aiming for total erasure ...
Musings continue apace about “the experienced businessman!” soon to be taking up a National Party MP position. Or to be more accurate, being parachuted into a seat to shut down their former MP Jamie-Lee Ross, who despite his own shortcomings shed at least some more light on the inner workings ...
The Ugandan government wants to murder gay people:Uganda has announced plans to impose the death penalty on homosexuals. The bill, colloquially known as “Kill the Gays” in Uganda, was nullified five years ago on a technicality, but the government said on Thursday it plans to resurrect it within weeks. The ...
Hassan Vally, La Trobe UniversityWho doesn’t want to know if drinking that second or third cup of coffee a day will improve your memory, or if sleeping too much increases your risk of a heart attack? We’re invested in staying healthy and many of us are interested in reading ...
Freedom Of Speech? The Säuberung (cleansing by fire) was the work of the German Student Union which, on 10 May 1933, under the watchful eye of the Nazi Reichminister for Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, consigned 25,000 books to the flames in a ritual exorcism of “un-German thought”. According to the logic of the ...
“There can be no such thing as kaupapa Māori political parties or politics in Aotearoa” (Willie Jackson, Labour Party (2017). Māori TV, General/List Election Special) I begin with that claim because at the time, I was confounded at first that it fell out of Willie Jackson’s mouth, and then ...
New Zealand has prided itself for decades with regard to its lack of pollution, and all will be aware that the ‘100% Pure New Zealand‘ meme is under threat through land, water and air pollution of various causes. There is another type of contamination that the country also faces: light ...
New Zealand’s media is doing its part in Japan, reassuring those in the path of the storm that they won’t miss any rugby while away from their flooded homes. New Zealand sports reporters stationed in Japan for the Rugby World Cup have had the rare and heartwarming opportunity to inform ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones is the only Cabinet member in favour of putting it all on green. As Finance Minister Grant Robertson finds himself with an enormous $7.5 billion surplus, the Government has begun intense, at times contentious conversations about whether to put the money on red or black at ...
by Susanne Kemp At the start of September close to 100,000 school teachers went on strike in Jordan. They demanded a 50% pay rise. A pay rise actually agreed to by the regime back in 2014. In early October, however, in the face of government repression and threats, the teachers’ ...
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nzWhy do people still think climate change isn’t real?David ...
Back in 2011, journalist Nicky Hager published Other People's Wars, an expose on NZDF's activities over the previous decade of the "war on terror". NZDF didn't like this, and especially didn't like the fact that it was base don leaks from their own. So, they had the SIS investigate him ...
The Zero Carbon Bill is due back from select committee in two weeks, and will likely pass its final stages in November. So naturally, farmers are planning a hate-march against it. But they're not just demanding lower methane targets so they can keep on destroying the planet; they're also demanding ...
Last year, California burned. This year, to stop it happening again (or rather, to stop themselves from being found liable if it happens again), Pacific Gas and Electric is cutting power to half the state for a week:Schools are closed. Traffic lights down. Tunnels dark. Businesses unopened. Hospitals running on ...
The Best Way: Missing from the on-line voting debate is any reference to the voting system that produces turn-out figures ranging from 77 to 93 percent of registered voters. The voting system used to collect and count the votes cast in our parliamentary elections. The system that involves citizens making ...
Among the great new bunch of political friends we have been making recently is the excellent Australian-based Marxist gender-critical site, Freer Lives. So we asked the comrade who set up that blog to write something for Redline on the blog, himself, his analysis of the rise of gender politics and ...
by Don Franks The Auckland City Mission is struggling with a 40 percent increase in demand for food parcels this year. A total of 23,020 were needed by June. Last month Missioner Chris Farrelly told the Herald the “cupboards are bare” and without an emergency food drive, he can’t see ...
by The Council of Disobedient Women Massey Wellington Student Association had a sit-in today. Imagine a sit-in. On a campus. Against a women’s rights meeting. Did the ’60s really happen or did we fucking dream it? They gathered in the student square, an echo chamber. Sitting on soft pillows ...
For some reasons, my post about the mystery message from inside the Downing Street bunker seemed to catch people's attention. Quite a lot of hits from NZ (unsurprisingly) and the USA (a bit more puzzlingly, but hi there, USAians!!) and 76 views from the Ukraine.I've celebrated my Ukrainian readers in ...
First, almost a score of Labour MPs seem to have sent a letter to the EU basically begging them to accept a deal - any deal - just so Britain can get the Heck on with Brexiting instead of being trapped in limbo:
by Phil Duncan In 2016 the National-led government suspended the Parent Visa Category, through which migrants were able to bring their parents into New Zealand. Since then over 5,700 people have been in immigration limbo, stuck on the visa wait list. Labour is now bringing back the scheme. Well, sort ...
The following was released yesterday (Tues, October 8) by the women’s liberation organisation Speak Up for Women. On 23 September Speak Up For Women announced that we would be holding an event at the Massey University Theaterette in Wellington. The event is called Feminism 2020. The intention of the event ...
The government is currently consulting on plans to improve freshwater quality. So naturally, farmers oppose it:South Taranaki farmers are preparing to fight proposed national freshwater changes that some fear will bankrupt them. The Government's proposed National Environment Standard on Freshwater Management, released in September, rated the Waingongoro River as one ...
Yesterday was the last day for (reliably) posting your vote away in local body elections. Turnouts are mostly much lower than the equivalent time last year (Palmerston North is down 2.3%), and so naturally people are pushing their online-voting snake oil again. Because the online census worked so well, lets ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters Leader of New Zealand First The Benefits of having New Zealand First in the Centre: Security, Experience & Balance 2.00pm, 20th October 2019 Ladies and Gentlemen Thank you all for your warm welcome to this, the party’s 26thConvention. Speaking on behalf of caucus colleagues, it’s great to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is predicting a hard Brexit for the United Kingdom, as he believes British Prime Minister Boris Johnson won’t be able to negotiate terms before the October 30 deadline. The Minister, who was one of the first to publicly come out and predict British voters would leave ...
Speaking at the Council of Trade Unions' (CTU) biennial conference, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters told unionists that any future attacks on the Government won't work. "Now, we are being attacked by the union movement in this country. You can have your views but I'm here to say standing ...
We want every New Zealander to be happy, safe, and healthy. To do this, we need to support strong, safe communities, and a robust and efficient health system. ...
Defence Minister Ron Mark has used his powers to overrule a noise complaint ruling against Whenuapai airbase on the grounds of "national security". The Environment Court last month released a ruling in favour of a private developer, declaring the Auckland airbase had to comply with noise restrictions when it performs ...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has opened fire against "unreconstructed morons" after NZ First MP Shane Jones was photographed on holiday holding an AR-15 rifle. Mr Peters is defending Mr Jones, telling Magic Talk host Peter Williams that his MP was just having fun "like most people do". "The ...
New Zealand First Deputy Leader and Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau was in attendance during the morning blessing of the Rotorua Lakefront development project. Around 60 people gathered on the shores of Lake Rotorua, including city mayor Steve Chadwick and deputy Dave Donaldson. The Lakefront development is a ...
Forestry Minister Shane Jones is considering reining in on conversions of farmland to forestry, and also issued a warning to foreign-owned forestry companies that make up nearly 75 per cent of the industry. He said too many foreign companies had not provided enough access for domestic processors to get timber. ...
Speaking to Radio NZ, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said the tightening of the parental category visa is a direct result of the Party’s coalition negotiations with the Labour Party. He said the new changes switch the financial onus from the parent moving to New Zealand to the child ...
The Coalition Government is set to cut red tape in the building and construction sector in an effort to allow more houses to be built, including prefabricated houses. The changes will enable the mass factory production of "high quality" buildings, slash the likely number of building inspections for factory produced ...
Since coming into Government, we’ve worked hard to tackle homelessness and make sure everyone has a warm, dry home. And today, on World Homeless Day, we want to report back and update you on our progress so far. ...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has hit back at National Party leader Simon Bridges who criticized the Coalition Government’s approach to crime, and said that the latter isn't credible in his attack on the Government over gang recruitment. "We've got as massive drug problem in this country. It is ...
New Zealand Mānuka honey exporters have welcomed an initiative by the Coalition Government to help secure the term “mānuka honey” to be used exclusively by Kiwi exporters, ensuring that our multimillion-dollar industry is protected. Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones had recently announced that a Provincial Growth Funding of $5.7 ...
Political commentator Mike Hosking has labelled New Zealand First leader Winston Peters as “the voice of reason in a government soft on drugs”, for the Party’s stance on drug testing at music festivals. “If common sense is worth a vote, Winston Peters is quids in,” Mr Hosking said. The Labour ...
Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau has announced Provincial Growth Funding to ensure work opportunities in Turangi and Whanganui, through its skills and employment programme, Te Ara Mahi. A fund of $500,000 will go to Rafting NZ in Turangi for a 16-week river guide training course to train ...
Treasury has shown that the Coalition Government has a $7.5 billion surplus, which is $4 billion higher than what was expected in the 2019 Budget unveiled last May. It is also $2 billion higher than the actual surplus unveiled this time last year, and at a size that has not ...
Official Information Act figures released to NZME show there were 350 assaults on officers in the year to the end of June, 79 more than the year before. The increase in attacks have sparked calls for more legal protection for first responders to be enacted. The assaults included officers being ...
“Nobody wants to see babies uplifted”, this was the pronouncement of Minister for Children Hon. Tracey Martin as her department, Oranga Tamariki, faces multiple inquiries into the number of babies being taken from their families. “But a baby can die with a single punch, “the Minister continued. “So sometimes, Oranga ...
We're making progress on tackling the long-term challenges: from homelessness, to strengthening border security, to bringing banking back New Zealand's small towns. ...
Associate Transport Minister Shane Jones has backed the ambitious plan to move Auckland’s port to Northport, at Whangarei harbour, which he says will be the “King Kong of infrastructure”. The plan is part of the recommendations of a six-person independent working group, which has recommended the Ports of Auckland be ...
A six-member independent working group selected the option of moving Auckland’s port to Northport, in Whangarei, ahead of other options. In what could be New Zealand’s most ambitious infrastructure project yet, a major expansion of the Marsden Point port could happen within 15 years. The project, officially called the “Upper ...
The final Electricity Price Review recommended prohibiting prompt payment discounts but allowing “reasonable” late fees. The findings of this review was welcomed by the Coalition Government, but they hope companies will follow through with its recommendations without regulations needed to be passed. Meridian Energy had already stopped prompt payment discounts, ...
Fletcher Tabuteau, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF)through its skills and employment programme, Te Ara Mahi,will invest nearly $600,000 to ensure work opportunities for locals in Turangia and Whanganui, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced today. “I’m pleased to announce the PGF ...
An export-led economy is one of New Zealand First’s key principles, and our commitment to achieving this is shown by the continuing skyrocketing demand for our beef and sheep meat exports. Beef + Lamb New Zealand's New Season Outlook 2019-20 report forecasts beef, lamb and mutton prices to lift from ...
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today in Gisborne an investment of $17.27m into bringing “world-leading” food-growing technology and the creation of more than 100 new jobs in the East Coast city. The funding comes from the Provincial Growth Fund, and included a $15 million loan to LeaderBrand, a ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development More than 100 people in Tairāwhiti’s Tolaga Bay will benefit from two employment initiatives supported by the Provincial Growth Fund, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and Employment Minister Willie Jackson announced today. “Tolaga Bay is an incredibly tight-knit community, but one in ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is supporting Gisborne business Leaderbrand to produce salad vegetables year round and create more jobs in the Tairāwhiti region, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. “Our support for Leaderbrand will help them build large greenhouses ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio, heads to Oslo today to represent New Zealand at the sixth Our Ocean Conference, which is being hosted by the Norwegian Government from the 23-24 October. “The Our Ocean Conference mobilises real action on issues like marine plastic pollution and the impacts of ...
Two secondary-school initiatives are being expanded as part of the Government’s plan to see more young New Zealanders take up a trade to help close the skills gap. This includes the largest single increase in Trades Academy places in recent years. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Education Minister Chris ...
The Government today announced its support for a project that could substantially reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions from cattle. The announcement was made as part of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor’s visit to Nelson’s Cawthron Aquaculture Park. The Cawthron Institute will receive $100,000 from the Government’s ...
Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni has welcomed the first reading of the New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension Legislation Amendment Bill. “Every New Zealander has a stake in New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension,” says Carmel Sepuloni. “They are our most common form of social assistance – nearly 800,000 New ...
Babies in Auckland aged six months and over can receive a free vaccination and children will all have access to vaccines, Associate Minister of Health Julie Anne Genter announced today at Papatoetoe High School. The move comes as part of Government efforts to step up the fight against measles. ...
***Check against delivery*** Good morning. It is a pleasure to be here, and to have the honour of opening this important conference on behalf of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. Let us take the opportunity to acknowledge all the people who have helped make today possible, including our special ...
Police Minister Stuart Nash says the safety of frontline officers and members of the public will be the focus of a new trial of specialist Police response teams in three of our largest urban centres. Police have this morning released details of an initiative to be trialled in Counties Manukau, ...
The Minister of Fisheries is calling for entries for a new public award to celebrate innovation in our seafood sector. “I have established the Seafood Sustainability Awards to recognise and celebrate those throughout industry, tangata whenua and communities who demonstrate outstanding dedication and innovation towards the sustainability of New Zealand’s ...
Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter welcomes leaders in the private sector taking action on closing their gender pay gaps to ensure a fairer workplace for all New Zealanders. Ms Genter today launched a new report, Addressing the gender pay gap and driving women’s representation in senior leadership, from the Champions for ...
Government Ministers today welcomed the release of a marine environment report highlighting the four key issues affecting our oceans, estuaries and coastlines. The release underlines the importance of government proposals to combat climate pollution, ensure clean freshwater, protect biodiversity, make land use more sustainable, and reduce waste and plastic. Environment ...
The Government has approved funding for a new acute mental health facility for Waikato which will provide better care and support to people with mental health and addiction issues. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Health Minister Dr David Clark announced the $100 million project to replace the aging Henry Rongomau ...
The Government is making progress on its goal to integrate te reo Māori into education by 2025, with over 500 teachers and support staff already graduating from Te Ahu o te Reo Māori, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis announced today. Kelvin Davis made the announcement at an awards ceremony in Waikanae today, for ...
Statistics Minister James Shaw has welcomed the first release of 2018 Census data. The first release of data today, 23 September, includes key data on population, regional growth, the number of homes and the size of different ethnic groups in New Zealand. Data from the 2018 Census will support the ...
Minister for Statistics James Shaw today announced a public consultation on a proposed algorithm charter for government agencies. The charter has been developed by the Government Chief Data Steward in response to growing calls for more transparency in government use of data. Computer algorithms – procedures or formulas for solving ...
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, Climate Change Minister James Shaw and visiting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte co-hosted a business roundtable in Auckland this morning focused on working together to address climate change. “The Netherlands is an important partner for New Zealand. We share a strong agricultural history. Sustainable agribusiness and ...
The Government is taking action to build an inclusive economy where more of us receive our fair share at work and businesses can compete on great products and services, not undercutting wages and conditions, Immigration and Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says. Two consultations launched today seek feedback ...
The future for New Zealand’s threatened indigenous freshwater fish looks brighter with the passing of the Conservation (Indigenous Freshwater Fish) Amendment Bill in Parliament today said Minister of Conservation, Eugenie Sage. “Until now, our freshwater fish legislation has been 20 years out of date. We have lacked effective tools to ...
At 1.30pm tomorrow, hundreds of thousands of Kiwis will join about 65 million people around the globe in ShakeOut, the world’s biggest earthquake drill. The annual drill is to remind people of the right action to take during an earthquake which is to Drop, Cover, Hold, and to practise their ...
Kiwis are benefiting from higher wage growth and low inflation under the Coalition Government. Stats NZ data out today shows the rise in the cost of living remains low, as annual Consumers Price Index (CPI) inflation fell to 1.5% in September from 1.7% in June. “The low inflation comes as ...
New Zealand’s economic strength and resilience has been recognised in a major update on the state of the global economy. The IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook released overnight shows a reduced global growth forecast over the next two years as issues like the US-China trade war and Brexit take hold. ...
Justice Minister Andrew Little has today introduced a new Bill to prevent terrorism and support the de-radicalisation of New Zealanders returning from overseas. The Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Bill gives the New Zealand Police the ability to apply to the High Court to impose control orders on New Zealanders who ...
A Bill that proposes targeted changes to simplify the processes for Māori land owners when engaging with the Māori Land Court has had its First Reading today. “The approach taken by the Government is to ensure that the protection of Māori land remains a priority as we seek to improve ...
Let me first thank all the new unionists and members in the room. There is nothing more important to improving people’s working lives than people making the decision to care, to get on board and help, to take up the reins and get involved. Congratulations to you. You bring the ...
Minister of Defence Ron Mark has signed a certificate exempting the activity of engine testing at Whenuapai Airbase from the Resource Management Act 1991. The Act gives the Minister of Defence the power to exempt activities for the purposes of national security. The certificate will mean the recent Environment Court ...
Finance Minister Grant Robertson has announced New Zealand will join the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action while attending APEC meetings in Chile. The objective of the 39 member Coalition is to share information and promote action to tackle climate change. It was formed in April this year, in ...
Feedback sought– Lyttelton commercial zone parking The Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Poto Williams, is seeking feedback on a proposal to remove on-site car parking requirements for new developments in the Lyttelton commercial zone. The proposal, by Christchurch City Council, asks that powers under section 71 of the Greater ...
Hon Minister Poto Williams Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration MEDIA STATEMENT Tuesday 15 October 2019 Feedback sought – Hagley Oval The Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Poto Williams, is seeking feedback on a proposal about Hagley Oval. The proposal was developed by Regenerate Christchurch ...
Ladies and gentlemen, NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff, members of respective unions – thank you for the invitation to speak to you today. This might be preaching to the choir, but the importance of trade unions in New Zealand’s historical arch is difficult to understate. And it is my belief that ...
"Let’s start by acknowledging that it has been a huge year. " Police Association Annual Conference James Cook Grand Chancellor Hotel Wellington Nau mai, haere mai. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, ka nui te mihi, ki a koutou katoa. President of the Police Association, Chris Cahill; Members of the Association and ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters and Minister of Defence Ron Mark have announced the New Zealand Government’s decision to again deploy a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 (P-3) maritime patrol aircraft to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions imposing sanctions against North Korea. New ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand continues to have serious concerns for peace and stability in north-east Syria. “Recent reports that hundreds of ISIS-affiliated families have fled from a camp are deeply concerning from a humanitarian and security perspective”, Mr Peters says. “While we acknowledge Turkey’s domestic security ...
Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor is warning travelling Kiwis to be vigilant as the high-season for the crop-eating brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is under way. “We’re on high alert to stop BMSB arriving in NZ. The high season runs until April 30 and we’ve strengthened our measures to stop stink ...
The Government is moving swiftly to change the law to improve the welfare and pastoral care of students living in university halls of residence and other tertiary hostels. Cabinet has agreed to several changes, including creating a new mandatory Code of Practice that sets out the duty of pastoral care ...
The Minister for Conservation Eugenie Sage has launched a new comprehensive trapping guide for community trappers to help them protect our native birds, plants and other wildlife, at Zealandia in Wellington today. ‘A practical guide to trapping’, has been developed by the Department of Conservation (DOC), and was launched during ...
Associate Health Minister Julie Anne Genter welcomes PHARMAC’s move to improve access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs). PHARMAC has today announced it will fund the full cost of Mirena and Jaydess for anyone seeking long term contraception, lifting previous restrictions on access to Mirena. “I welcome women having greater choices ...
The Government has approved the next stage of a major redevelopment of Taranaki Base Hospital, which will deliver new and improved facilities for patients. Health Minister Dr David Clark has announced details of a $300 million dollar project to build a new East Wing at the New Plymouth hospital. It ...
Extra funding will allow Rural Support Trusts to help farming families, says Minister for Rural Communities and Agriculture Damien O’Connor. “I know that rural families are worried about some of the challenges facing them, including the ongoing uncertainty created by the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak. “Those concerns sit alongside ongoing worries ...
Thank you for the opportunity to be here to present certificates to the 16 graduates who have completed a beekeeping course delivered by the Howard League. Let us start by acknowledging Auckland Prison’s Deputy Prison Director Tom Sherlock, and Acting Assistant Regional Commissioner of Corrections Northern Region Scott Walker - ...
Finance Minister Grant Robertson leaves this weekend to attend the APEC Finance Ministers meeting in Santiago, Chile. Discussions between APEC Finance Ministers at the meeting will include the effects of the current global economic uncertainty, risks for APEC economies and sustainable development of the region. While at APEC Grant Robertson ...
The Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio says for Pacific people, language can be a source of strength. It can help ground us and give us confidence. When we speak them, our languages provide us with an immediate and intimate access to our identity and our story - and ...
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Wellington’s new mayor faces difficult three years, Zero Carbon bill select committee report comes back, and extremist preacher barred from NZPartly because it was a widely unexpected result, the opening days of Wellington mayor Andy Foster’s tenure have been gripping. He ...
After her own troubled teenage years, Fran McEwen doesn't want to see other girls going through the same challenges. So she's running a race across a Middle Eastern desert to help them. ...
Laurence Fearnley, author of a best-selling novel about perfumes, proposes a radical new scheme in which people of refined noses set out together and establish a sniffing group. ...
A string of failures over the past 25 years has drawn attention to the quality of regulatory practice in NZ. Jeroen van der Heijden looks at what we can do differently. ...
Last night, the two titans of the cannabis referendum came together for their first televised debate on the issue – Paula Bennett and Chlöe Swarbrick.From a distance, Paula Bennett and Chlöe Swarbrick don’t feel like the most likely opponents. What with Paula Bennett recently-ish stating she would not seek re-election ...
Andrew Little’s terrorism suppression bill is facing two very different forms of resistance, from National and from the Greens. What is the legislation, and why is it controversial?What this then? The Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Bill, introduced to parliament by the justice minister, Andrew Little, last Wednesday, seeks to introduce “a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Given her status as holding two vital Senate crossbench votes Pauline Hanson is at times, in the eyes of senior government figures, She Who Must Be Obeyed. And so it was last week, when Hanson ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says he'll be watching out for potential cost blow-outs for Auckland's light rail project, after warnings from a source within the transport industry. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leah Mercer, Associate Professor of Theatre Arts, Curtin University Fully Sikh, directed by Matt Edgerton, Perth’s Studio Underground The foyer is adorned with colourful fabric and bunting. We’re welcomed by the sounds of Indian music while members of the Sikh community offer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leah Mercer, Associate Professor of Theatre Arts, Curtin University Fully Sikh, directed by Matt Edgerton, Perth’s Studio Underground The foyer is adorned with colourful fabric and bunting. We’re welcomed by the sounds of Indian music while members of the Sikh community offer ...
New Zealand First leader and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters with Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.Trying to make sense of the New Zealand First party can be difficult at the best of times. Political journalists and commentators attempt to work out where the party ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.TV3 sale Tim Batt (Metro): What if THREE’s problem isn’t TVNZ but… MediaWorks? Alex Braae ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Miller, Professor of Violence Prevention and Addiction Studies, Deakin University Over recent weeks, the alcohol industry has been drumming up mediadiscussion around Australia’s new drinking guidelines. Australia’s guidelines on alcohol consumption are under ongoing review by the National Health and ...
Extremist Baptist pastor Steven Anderson has just been blocked from entering New Zealand, making us the 34th country to reject his hate speech-filled sermons. American pastor Steven Anderson of the Faithful Word Baptist Church has been denied entry to New Zealand on character grounds, putting a stop to his plans to ...
Twenty years ago Stephen Chbosky had a massive hit with coming-of-age novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Now the director/producer/scriptwriter is back with an epic, kid-centric horror. Early on in Stephen Chbosky’s frustrating new horror novel, Imaginary Friend, its seven-year-old protagonist Christopher is sitting down to watch his favourite cartoon, ...
Hold on to your sponge nubbins, New Zealand’s loveliest reality show Great Kiwi Bake Off is back for a second serving. Before the show’s return on November 3, Tara Ward takes a sneak peek at 2019’s contestants. Lay me down on a soft bed of whipped cream and swab my forehead with a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ronald F Pol, Senior researcher NZ, La Trobe University Money laundering rarely gets as literal as the case in Thailand last week, where police raided homes of a ring suspected of laundering a billion baht (about A$48 million) of drug proceeds and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wilfred Wang, Lecturer, Communications & Media Studies, Monash University The Australian society has changed significantly since cemeteries in Victoria were planned and designed 150 years ago. But there haven’t been any major redevelopment or review of the community’s changing requirements for what ...
NZ Post’s failure to maintain an adequate postal voting infrastructure has been the subject of two submissions to Parliamentary Select Committees by the Postal Workers Union since the last Local Authority postal vote in 2016. The union maintained that ...
New Zealand honey growers appear to have so far avoided the heavy hand of the Australian government in their dispute with apiarists across the Tasman. ...
A downturn in Tourism Holdings' (THL) vehicle sales business in the United States is likely to have a material negative affect on its full year results, the company warns. ...
The troubled Auckland Light Rail project is back in the news again, and not for good reasons. So what does it all mean for transport and traffic congestion in New Zealand’s biggest city?What’s all this then?It seemed like such a good plan at the time. Over the course of 10 ...
Since taking office in this Govt, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has applied heft to NZ’s role in the Pacific. Now, 18 months on, he reflects on what has been achieved. Speaking to the NZ Institute of International Affairs, he said NZ is moving away from the donor-recipient dynamics of the ...
A white police officer who shot and killed an African American woman in her home in Fort Worth, Texas, in the presence of her eight-year-old nephew has been charged with murder after resigning from the force. The Fort Worth Police Department said its officers had been responding to a call from a neighbour, ...
Madeleine Chapman took her piano-playing nephew Harper to see the orchestra for the first time. Madeleine: When I was very small, I used to sit in the hallway at home with my closest siblings and we would ask our brother Bernard, a teenager at the time, to play songs on the ...
Otago-grown agricultural technology company Techion has cornered an international market. Its founder, Greg Mirams, explained how the internet of things and fast fibre broadband has transformed the way he does business.In a Dunedin bedroom in 1992, Greg Mirams invented Techion’s founding product: FEKPAKG2. It was developed to help local farmers ...
Botany is an electorate that deserves a representative who is committed to their community which is the reason New Conservative has confirmed Elliot Ikilei as the candidate for the 2020 election. ...
Anyone who would like to submit an account of their experience of state care to the Māori Inquiry into Oranga Tamariki has 10 days left before submissions close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justine Shaw, Conservation Biologist, The University of Queensland This year, five of the seven Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science were awarded to women. While this is a welcome development, the great majority of awards and prizes for science, technology, engineering and mathematics ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Scott Morrison seized the opportunity of his Jakarta weekend visit for Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s inauguration to obtain a meeting with Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan. Morrison told a news conference he had come out ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon O’Connor, Associate Professor in American Politics at the United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney During the 2016 US presidential campaign, people around the world were regularly reassured by election experts that Donald Trump was too outrageous to be elected president. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Leask, Professor, University of Sydney Your neighbour is telling you about his new baby. He feels nervous about vaccinating, and says he’s considering delaying Lucy’s vaccines. Your mother’s group is chatting about vaccines. One mother tells the group Jimmy isn’t vaccinated, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hal Pawson, Associate Director – City Futures – Urban Policy and Strategy, City Futures Research Centre, Housing Policy and Practice, UNSW Low-income tenants in Australia are increasingly likely to be trapped in rental stress for years. New evidence from the Productivity Commission ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland In line with his usual practice, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has backed Donald Trump over the World Trade Organisation, criticising of China’s status in it as a “developing country”. Critics of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kristal Spreadborough, Casual Academic, University of New England As the Australian premier season of The Masked Singer draws to a close, fans are listening hard to guess which celebrities remain behind the weird and wonderful costumes. Although the celebrities throw listeners a ...
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: NZ First holds crucial party conference, roving AOS trial sparks concerns, and Mediaworks facing dramatic days ahead.The most pivotal political party in the country right now has held their annual conference, a year out from what will be a make ...
Five experts, all from countries with varying levels of cannabis legality, came to Auckland to speak on the benefits and costs of the drug before New Zealand’s cannabis referendum in 2020. Alice Webb-Liddall reports.While New Zealanders wait for the cannabis referendum in 2020, the government is working hard to draft ...
Protesting has brought about enormous social change in NZ. Will transformational groups emerge from the climate and Ihumātao protests? Trevor Richards hopes so. ...
Dr Olivier Jutel goes deep on blockchain, explaining why we should be cognisant of sweeping ideological claims masquerading as the technology of truth. ...
A psychiatric doctor who helps suicidal teenagers says the Ministry of Health’s suicide reduction plans miss much of the wider issue. We need to listen to affected communities, and equip them to make the changes they need, he writes.Last week, as I left yet another 3am crisis interview in ED ...
Highly trained, armed police are a necessary tool in emergency situations, but roving teams eager to find work could be a recipe for disaster, writes investigator and former police officer Tim McKinnel for RNZ. Police announced yesterday they are to introduce a trial of Armed Response Teams (ARTs) in Auckland, Waikato ...
“Proposals to curb environmental damage help our coasts and the oceans Government Ministers today welcomed the release of a marine environment report highlighting the four key issues affecting our oceans, estuaries and coastlines. We at CEAC also ...
David Robie, concluding his three-part series about Iran, profiles an extraordinary pair of Tehran brothers who have been pioneering global research adventurers. They have been dubbed the “Persian Indiana Joneses”. Their adventures are fabled and hair-raising, as shown by a Jivaro shrunken human head and relics from curious rituals ...
Four months ago Caroline Shaw bought an e-bike. She explains why they’re the answer to our lethal car culture.Four months ago we took what felt like a huge leap of faith and bought an e-cargo bike. The combination of three things tipped us over the edge: feeling the need to ...
The online magazine that boasted a bigger Instagram following than most New Zealand media has abruptly come to an end. So what was Auckland Mag? Why did it exist? And who was it mysterious founder Dan Rolph? David Farrier investigates. The reply from Dan Rolph at Auckland Magazine came quickly. It came ...
In the wake of the shocking revelations about Three, Duncan Greive assesses the health of New Zealand’s six big media companies.Winston Peters has studied the cold, pitiless heart of a certain strand of New Zealander for four decades now, and has become our foremost expert on both expressing its feelings ...
US justice reform activists Deborah Small and asha bandele say white supremacy and colonialism are at the heart of punitive drug laws. They spoke to Teuila Fuatai about how drug reform can reverse their effects on minority communities. Deborah Small sees Donald Trump as the US Dorian Gray. “He’s the physical ...
Madeleine Chapman spent a day learning about Christchurch through its most famous dishes.What is there do with with a day in Christchurch? Thanks to the inexplicably early check-out times at hotels all over the world and a 7pm flight back to Auckland, I had a full day to wander the ...
Winston Peters says his party is a handbrake on bad ideas and a "supercharged turbo" for good ones - but will it be in the driver's seat come 2020? ...
Our former prime minister secured a meeting with Chinese premier Xi Jinping outside all normal diplomatic channels. Interest’s Jenée Tibshraeny asks what it means for New Zealand’s evolving relationship with the superpower.Former prime minister John Key secured a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week without the involvement of ...
David Robiecontinues his three-part series about travelling in Iran. I stumbled on the scene by chance. Our host family in Iran’s second city Mashhad, a modern and beautiful metropolis that would comfortably fit in New Zealand’s entire population, was taking us on a drive to the outskirts to ...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has lashed out at the media, in particular, MediaWorks, just a day after the company announced it was selling off its television arm. ...
About a hundred disgruntled licensed gun owners have descended on the New Zealand First conference to tell the party leader Winston Peters that they feel like victims. ...
Open mike 14/06/2019 
by the Council of Disobedient Women We call on the Council of Trade Unions to show some fortitude and take a stand with your sisters. Unionists know that there is a material world, otherwise workers could simply identify out of poverty. They could declare themselves Well Paid. Why stop ...13 hours ago
I spent some time reading the Regulatory Impact Statement and Bill of Rights Act advice for the government's odious control order scheme today. I am not impressed with either of them. Starting with the RIS, it is built on some pretty questionable assumptions. For example:Unless individuals have been convicted of ...14 hours ago
#NoFly: Walking the talk on climate change, by Shaun Hendy. BWB Texts, 2019. Reviewed by Robert McLachlan In June 2018, Swede Maja Rosén founded We stay on the ground with a pledge not to fly in 2019, and a goal of persuading 100,000 other Swedes to join her. In August, ...14 hours ago
A Sustainable Proposition: With as much as 18 percent of the electorate declaring itself “undecided” about who to vote for, there is obviously plenty of space for a party like former Green Party member, Vernon Tava's, about-to-be-launched "Sustainable NZ Party" to move into. The most hospitable political territory for such ...20 hours ago
Keir Starmer has hinted that Labour might vote in favour of the Johnson government's shoddy deal, with the proviso that a second referendum is attached:Speaking to BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show, he said: “We will see what that looks like but it makes sense to say that by whatever ...23 hours ago
In 1994, I was the editor for an issue of Planet magazine focused on cannabis, its culture and the prospects for the end of its prohibition. Part of that issue was an interview with 'Ringo', an experienced cannabis dealer.I recently posted my essay from that issue, and I figured it ...3 days ago
Dr Helen Waite, sports sociologist and former elite athlete, on the invasion of women’s sport by men and the anti-scientific and misogynist ideology used to rationalise it. ...3 days ago
Media Statement for Immediate Release 16th October 2019 “Fake News” from Auckland City Council CCOs Board Chairs re pay and performance bonuses for top managers Despite comments from Auckland City Council CCOs Board Chairs re pay and performance bonuses for top managers—Herald Newspaper Tuesday Oct 15th–there is very little evidence ...5 days ago
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nz There is a lot of discussion on the benefits of ...6 days ago
Thanks to a report from the Acting Inspector General of Intelligence and Security following a complaint by Nicky Hager, we have come to find out that the SIS illegally spied on Mr. Hager on behalf of the NZDF after publication of Hager’s 2011 book, Other People’s Wars. The NZDF justified ...7 days ago
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING MYTH 1: Global temperatures are rising at a rapid, unprecedented rate. FACT: The HadCRUT3 surface temperature index, produced by the Hadley Centre of the UK Met Office and the Climate Research Unit of the University of East Anglia, shows warming to 1878, cooling to 1911, ...7 days ago
A list of indicators of bad science – many of these are found in articles promoted by anti-fluoride activists. Anti-fluoride activists have been pouring money into a scaremongering campaign warning pregnant women not to drink fluoridated water. They claim fluoride will lower the IQ of their future child. Fluoride ...7 days ago
More than double the number of people who will vote in this year’s local body elections have tried marijuana or urinated somewhere they shouldn’t have. As local elections look set for the lowest turnout in decades, with many regions falling well short of 40%, the Government is exploring a number ...1 week ago
Musings continue apace about “the experienced businessman!” soon to be taking up a National Party MP position. Or to be more accurate, being parachuted into a seat to shut down their former MP Jamie-Lee Ross, who despite his own shortcomings shed at least some more light on the inner workings ...2 weeks ago
“There can be no such thing as kaupapa Māori political parties or politics in Aotearoa” (Willie Jackson, Labour Party (2017). Māori TV, General/List Election Special) I begin with that claim because at the time, I was confounded at first that it fell out of Willie Jackson’s mouth, and then ...2 weeks ago
Rt Hon Winston Peters Leader of New Zealand First The Benefits of having New Zealand First in the Centre: Security, Experience & Balance 2.00pm, 20th October 2019 Ladies and Gentlemen Thank you all for your warm welcome to this, the party’s 26th Convention. Speaking on behalf of caucus colleagues, it’s great to ...15 hours ago
We're rebuilding our hospitals, protecting our oceans, and taking mental health seriously. ...4 days ago
Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio, heads to Oslo today to represent New Zealand at the sixth Our Ocean Conference, which is being hosted by the Norwegian Government from the 23-24 October. “The Our Ocean Conference mobilises real action on issues like marine plastic pollution and the impacts of ...19 hours ago
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Wellington’s new mayor faces difficult three years, Zero Carbon bill select committee report comes back, and extremist preacher barred from NZPartly because it was a widely unexpected result, the opening days of Wellington mayor Andy Foster’s tenure have been gripping. He ...19 mins ago
A government agency puts a scientist off-limits after the re-discovery of an oyster parasite. ...1 hour ago
Urgent action on climate change will be costly. But inaction could be four or five times more expensive, according to new climate accounting. ...2 hours ago
After her own troubled teenage years, Fran McEwen doesn't want to see other girls going through the same challenges. So she's running a race across a Middle Eastern desert to help them. ...2 hours ago
The uptake rate of a free whooping cough vaccine during pregnancy to protect newborns is described as dismal. ...2 hours ago
Laurence Fearnley, author of a best-selling novel about perfumes, proposes a radical new scheme in which people of refined noses set out together and establish a sniffing group. ...2 hours ago
A string of failures over the past 25 years has drawn attention to the quality of regulatory practice in NZ. Jeroen van der Heijden looks at what we can do differently. ...2 hours ago
Andy Foster was backed by Sir Peter Jackson for the Wellington mayoralty, but his election victory was about more than that. ...2 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Given her status as holding two vital Senate crossbench votes Pauline Hanson is at times, in the eyes of senior government figures, She Who Must Be Obeyed. And so it was last week, when Hanson ...7 hours ago
A sudden change in the interpretation of how Immigration NZ makes decisions relating to partnership visas has been labelled racist and unjust. ...9 hours ago
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says he'll be watching out for potential cost blow-outs for Auckland's light rail project, after warnings from a source within the transport industry. ...11 hours ago
Winston Peters has warned those serving their own 'egregious self-interests' in the Pacific. ...13 hours ago
NZ Post’s failure to maintain an adequate postal voting infrastructure has been the subject of two submissions to Parliamentary Select Committees by the Postal Workers Union since the last Local Authority postal vote in 2016. The union maintained that ...17 hours ago
New Zealand honey growers appear to have so far avoided the heavy hand of the Australian government in their dispute with apiarists across the Tasman. ...17 hours ago
A downturn in Tourism Holdings' (THL) vehicle sales business in the United States is likely to have a material negative affect on its full year results, the company warns. ...17 hours ago
Since taking office in this Govt, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has applied heft to NZ’s role in the Pacific. Now, 18 months on, he reflects on what has been achieved. Speaking to the NZ Institute of International Affairs, he said NZ is moving away from the donor-recipient dynamics of the ...17 hours ago
A white police officer who shot and killed an African American woman in her home in Fort Worth, Texas, in the presence of her eight-year-old nephew has been charged with murder after resigning from the force. The Fort Worth Police Department said its officers had been responding to a call from a neighbour, ...17 hours ago
Steve Braunias reviews Michelle Duff’s portrait of Jacinda Ardern, published today. ...1 day ago
Canon Focus on Rugby: Jim Kayes reports from the madness at Oita as the Brave Blossoms' journey at the Rugby World Cup is blown apart. ...1 day ago
The NZ First leader offered up his greatest hits to an adoring crowd - but did little to suggest a change of team is viable come 2020. ...1 day ago
Protesting has brought about enormous social change in NZ. Will transformational groups emerge from the climate and Ihumātao protests? Trevor Richards hopes so. ...1 day ago
Dr Olivier Jutel goes deep on blockchain, explaining why we should be cognisant of sweeping ideological claims masquerading as the technology of truth. ...1 day ago
Donald Trump’s tariff war is hitting the world economy hard, and there's no sign of a truce. But it's scarier than that. Nikki Mandow reports. ...1 day ago
Could New Zealanders be short-changed by a conflicted relationship between New Zealand bank leaders and their Aussie parent companies? ...1 day ago
Are the Silver Ferns ready to lose the world's best shooter, Maria Folau, still at the top of her game? ...1 day ago
They've long been the butt of jokes, but NZ First's youth wing is serious about having a greater say within the party. ...1 day ago
The construction industry is more optimistic and better off than gloomy confidence surveys would suggest. ...1 day ago
Patience was a key virtue as the All Blacks dismantled Ireland ...2 days ago
Winston Peters says his party is a handbrake on bad ideas and a "supercharged turbo" for good ones - but will it be in the driver's seat come 2020? ...3 days ago
Using bent corrupt courts to lock up the most popular politician in the country stinks to high heaven …. and it makes mad dog Bolsonaro and his right wing thugs the most illegitimate Govt in South America …. I wonder if the Bank of England will steal their gold .
https://theintercept.com/2018/12/09/brazil-jair-bolsonaro-cabinet/
A corrupt justice system perverted the law …..and helped facilitate a corrupt far right Government.
And death squads never really went away in Brazil
https://afropunk.com/2018/08/politicians-are-involved-in-the-murder-of-brazilian-afro-feminist-activist-marielle-franco/
reason
Can you limit the opened links to one and just give us the link addresses for the others? You fill up my screen with the way you are putting up blocks of image, it must be hard to read if people are doing so on small handheld devices.
The comments system automatically expands video links like that. It is long blocks of text there is no excuse for. 🙂
Need a bit of war with that re-election?
https://twitter.com/MSNBC/status/1139237451816419329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1139237451816419329&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailykos.com%2Fstory%2F2019%2F6%2F13%2F1864591%2F-was-there-another-Dog-Wag-in-the-Gulf-of-Oman
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/113458582/national-proposes-a-new-primary-sector-visa-to-solve-labour-issue
National's solution for shit pay for shit jobs that no one wants – import third world labour. Not put pay up, or anything that might actually raise the wages and living standards of Kiwis, just do what the squatocracy demands.
National, coming up with friendly solutions for the boss class and it cow cocky mates that f**k the working man over since forever.
Yesterday, we had Jones talking about bringing in forestry workers from overseas.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018699388/shane-jones-to-include-pacific-workers-for-tree-planting
🙄 Yeah New Zealand First has decided to rebrand and call itself Immigration First…
Yes, they are undermining themselves, the Government and the local potential benefits of the scheme itself. While further adding to housing and other local infrastructure demand.
I guess they could take the approach of one or two orchard owners (or their contractors and sub-contractors – just enough levels of out-sourcing to allow a distancing of responsibility). As far as housing goes anyway. Shove up a tin shack or two onsite with a few bunks, and just enough gaps to let the rats in, and charge like an angry bull in rent. It'd be a win win sitch. The work would get done, and just as long as those natives had their visas tied to the specific employer that's giving them such a great opportunity, there'd be no question of a challenge.
Could even jack up the standard warning alert system when the Labour Inspectors were in town – even the ones like a Casson anxious to get some of that "scum" can't seem to beat it
Julian Assange's extradition order is signed by Sajid Javid
New Zealand protest opposes persecution of Julian Assange and Australian journalists
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/06/13/asnz-j13.html
Avatar
Stardust • 11 hours ago
Many thanks to all the participants of the demonstration in New Zealand, opposing the persecution of Assange and Australian journalists; and the WSWS reporters for this valuable report.
Please note, the US Department of Justice is preparing to file additional charges against the WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange on top of the 18 charges under the Espionage Act already brought against him potentially carrying 175 years imprisonment. The charges will be revealed during the 3rd extradition hearing this Friday 14th of June.
Join the protest organised by JADC in support of Julian Assange at this Hearing outside Westminster Magistrates Court, 181 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5BR from 9am in the morning. The nearest tube station is Edgware Road (on District and Circle Lines) or Marylebone (Bakerloo Line).
The proceedings will take place via video link at Court 3, which only has 10 seats available at the public gallery.
Watch the wonderful interview UN Rapporteur for Torture Nils Melzer gave to Chris Hedges about Julian Assange’s situation. https://www.youtube.com/wat…
Peters said democratic rights, such as freedom of information and free speech, were under attack in every country, because they were “not compatible with endless war and endless attacks on living standards.”
He added that the New Zealand Labour Party-led government of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had remained completely silent on the police raids in Australia, for the same reason it had refused to defend Assange: “That is, the alliance with US imperialism, which has been strengthened under Ardern. New Zealand troops are remaining in Iraq and Afghanistan at least another year and $20 billion is being spent on the military so it can integrate more effectively in US-led operations.”
The New Zealand state-run and corporate media, Peters said, had either remained silent on the persecution of Assange or actively joined in the global campaign to smear his character.
in our local area there are a couple of spur wings nesting in a fenced off area.
just a note not sure if it is I am More aware of this species but they seem to be quite plentiful.
Middle of June 5 kms from mount ruapehu the black birds are singing like its spring I'm working in short sleeves its getting weird out here.
Not really.
Winter doesn't really kick in until after the equinox. August is the coldest month of the year. Right now, it's still late autumn.
Remember the old maxim "the days grow longer, the cold gets stronger"
Below fourty south there are no laws,below 50s no god.
Another map we're not on.
Yeah it's there, we're just covered in bloody cloud again, Interestingly those fronts are always on about a 7+ day cycle which is why it sometimes rains on every weekend.
Whats happening at the moment? Those very cold storms are big and are pushing the big Aussie highs a little further north and as they slide over NZ they pull down warm moist air from the sub tropics on their western side.
And it's weather not climate change, been happening for years. If you have an argument with that spend 70 years outside like I have.
Greenland ice sheet melt graphed: https://twitter.com/EricHolthaus/status/1139234563400634368
might pay to hope were not on any maps the way events are unfolding at the moment
Nature does what nature can do on a rotating planet with an atmosphere.
the nature of immediate concern is human
They tell me that the ocean retains some warmth so that delays the coldness of winter especially since we are an island ocean with every spot of land less than 100km from the sea. Hence the winter after the shortest day.
The birds don't lie.
Quardle oodle ardle, etc
You ARE a pretty boy then?
Speaking of Jones, Shane Jones won't say how many full-time, long-term jobs have been created under the $3 billion Provincial Growth Fund.
When recently questioned on this, Jones replied, "I find when these questions come up it reminds me of someone popping pimples."
Answering an important question in this manner undermines the Government's credibility and ultimately, it's leadership.
A credibility (which in this regard) is already on thin ice. Back in February, MBIE revealed it had based the job creation figures on the estimates provided by the applicants (not the actual jobs created) with no work undertaken to assess whether the claims were credible.
Chair, you say that the Government's "credibility (in this regard) is already on thin ice."
Since you are, by your own admission, "more left than most", would you care to comment on the opposition's credibility (in any regard.)
Just hoping for one objective critique of the National party – then you can get back to holding the Government to account in that unique "more left than most" way of yours.
Curious that “#BudgetGate”
If you were as left as me you would be more concerned about the damage being done to the lefts credibility rather than attempting to somewhat justify it (or distract from it) by suggesting National's credibility should also be questioned.
If Labour are going to allow the number of new jobs to be counted in such a lax manner in such a major scheme, it won't be long before people start asking what else is the Government allowing to be counted in such a negligent manner? Which will ultimately come back to its leadership. And Labour can't afford to have Jacinda politically damaged. So she needs to get on top of this ASAP.
"National's credibility should also be questioned" – thanks Chair, much appreciated.
Agree that it's legitimate to question the integrity of both the Government and the National-led opposition. Who do you think should be questioning National's credibility? Might you, as one who is "more left than most", have a role to play?
#HoldingNationalToAccount ?
While people, the media and the Government are free to question National's credibility, considering the going-ons, the Government's focus should be on getting their own house in order, which we've yet to see.
If the overwhelming number of voters thought National was credible they would potentially be the Government now. If Labour want to maintain being in Government, they need to address their lacking credibility now.
IMHO Labour are currently more credible than National. If your blinkered critiques of the Government accurately reflect your political 'vision', then it's no wonder that you can't see that this credibility gap is widening.
Maybe your increasingly desperate one-eyed critiques are damaging your "more left than most" credibility on this site. Tbh I see no evidence that you are a friend of the left, and zero evidence that you disapprove of National party policies and MP behaviour, either in Government or in opposition, again IMHO.
The way I see it, with National the left know we are screwed.
Whereas, Labour come on friendly, then stab you in the back once obtaining power.
Many on the left see it like this. And for that reason, many no longer vote.
Ponder this:
If the number of people that don't vote start to exceed the number that do, can we still claim we live in a democracy?
That’s a fine example of binary thinking to ponder with a rather arbitrary conditional state. Assuming we (still) live in a democracy, the question is or should be whether it functions as well as it can or should. This is an open question IMO because democracy is not a fixed concept but something that can evolve over time.
Curious that “#BudgetGate”
Not at all. "The Chairman" exists to peddle National Party talking points from a supposedly left-wing perspective, so it's no surprise the account would phrase things the same way Hooton does.
I just wonder why Hootie Blowhard is speshly keen that no crime happened…
http://prn.fm/nature-bats-last-06-12-19/?fbclid=IwAR3AanGjc1CxGsarZJI7vyCUI2OgCjpeAjmkDQHj4U7dLyCsIg4db5NOHK0
Kevin and Guy were joined by meteorologist Nick Humphrey for this pre-recorded show. We discussed the links between climate change, weather, and crop failures. You can support Nick via his Patreon page.
a matter of fact discussion with some interesting information about impacts particularly in the US….and as noted at the end, not the narrative we will recieve from any government
A bad week for the PM.
Along with Budgetgate. She had Winston prematurely announcing the teachers settlement. Jones giving a stupid answer to a serious employment question undermining the Provincial Growth Fund, the Government's credibility and ultimately, its leadership. And Twyford being the latest minister accused of covering up secret meetings.
"A bad week for the PM"
Please try to contain your joy, Chair.
It's unbecoming.
And misplaced.
And makes you sound like Eeyore.
Aside from that, all good!
I strongly recommend a 2 hour dose of Nature Robert. But I'm sure you already know that. 🙂
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/13/two-hour-dose-nature-weekly-boosts-health-study-finds
I've just come in from outside, Macro; my garden’s mist-enshrouded right now, mysterious and moist; I love it like that. Everything sounds and looks happy out there; I know I was.
🙂 Yes I've been doing the same.
We had a misty moisty morning the other day but it turned into a good sunny day in the afternoon. We had planned to be doing some tree planting in the William Hall Arboretum (just down the road), but it really was far too inclement the weather for us oldies – always another day.
https://www.tcdc.govt.nz/Visiting-or-moving-to-the-Coromandel/Walkways-cycleway-and-fitness-trails/William-Hall-Arboretum-and-Walk—Thames/
They don't call him Nature Robert for nothing.
I didn't express any joy, Robert. Unlike you (that thinks it's all good) I'm disappointed in their performance.
And ultimately, a party's overall performance always comes back to its leadership. And with what has come out in the in the past week, Jacinda will be called upon to show some (leadership).
Oh, woe is us.
Saddled with Jacinda as PM.
It's enough to make you wet your blanket.
That'll be the polls. Winston'll have done the math that he needs to make noise if he means to be re-elected. The Jones spendup doesn't seem to have pulled the punters in yet. With the Gnats promising carte blanche to exploit cheap foreign labour you'd think Winston wouldn't be short of things to have a crack at, but of course he chiefly picks up disgruntled voters, so the PMs habit of leaving people gruntled feels like an existential threat.
Indeed. But undermining the Government he is apart of, isn't the right way to go about it.
Winston can't really have a crack at that when Jones is suggesting similar and with Labour also considering similar.
"undermining the Government he is apart of, isn't the right way to go about it"
I suspect the internal logic goes something like – "sitting here waiting for it to happen ain't going to happen either".
Winston may have to rein Jones in a little – endorsing a serial exploiting employer for the NZTA and conspiring to import even more cheap labour won't play well with contemporary 1st supporters.
Importing offshore labour etc won't sit well with many NZF voters indeed, Stuart.
And the way he has been failing to answer questions, Jacinda is going to have to have a word with him too.
At this stage, it seems the Provincial Growth Fund is heading the same way as Kiwibuild.
And the sad thing is, these two main policies had (and still have if they can get them right) real potential to vastly improve our nation.
Chair, does the National party have "real potential to vastly improve our nation"?
Interested in the opinion of someone who is "more left than most" – am I asking the 'right' person?
“Chair, does the National party have ‘real potential to vastly improve our nation?'”
I don't believe so.
Hallelujah – something we can agree on.
Unless you're thinking, mass resignation.
The real thing here is whether government sustains the effort until it succeeds. Kiwibuild can be made to work, though it seems that some of those tasked to implement it were not committed. Same goes for the PGF. But that doesn't mean that either will produce the desired results in a timely manner for the next election.
On the other hand, the Gnats are busy cultivating their own personal version of internal withering and thus producing disaffected voters of the kind that traditionally support Winston.
The Government needs to do more than just sustain current efforts on these to main policies, they also need to improve their implementation for them to have a better chance of succeeding.
Moreover, if they want regional communities to genuinely prosper, they need to ensure decent jobs paying a living wage are being created. Ensuring the benefits are widely shared, thus resulting in a larger economic stimulus regionally.
To date, there has been a lot of handouts to the private sector in both schemes and little to show for it. Time for the Government to get a little more hands on.
As for desired results in a timely manner, the clock is ticking.
I think that's probably true – but it flies in the face of neo-liberal public service norms, in which operational matters were surrendered to managers who were supposedly more professional. Changing back is fraught because it requires both much more work, but also the risk of politically dangerous failure. This is why the Key government chiefly did nothing – it avoids conspicuous failures in the short term.
Indeed. Nevertheless, we have witnessed the results of the alternative resulting in Labour's housing reset.
Yes, it will require far more work from the Government's perspective, but it will give them the potential to have far more control in producing the desired results. Generally, there will always be risks in most things Government do, the competence is shown in mitigating them.
Nice typo there.
Seven and a half long years to go Mr. Chairman
Before they deliver anything of significance?
Before we're free of your relentlessly-soggy commentary.
Alas, The Chairman's comments were relentlessly soggy (nice) when the Labour & Green parties were in opposition – expecting The Chair to change 'their' tune if National regains the Treasury benches is admirable but hopelessly optimistic.
Each comment by The Chair is in dire need of musical cheer, IMHO.
The Chairman's Waltz
I don't think anyone is clocking what you are calling a bad week for the PM, Chairman.
Just out of interest, are your paid or a volunteer?
“I don't think anyone is clocking what you are calling a bad week for the PM, Chairman.”
Really, well here is your chance to show me why you don't think the matters highlighted are resulting in a bad week for the PM.
And no, I'm not paid to post here. Unlike many Kiwis, I partake in democracy, which is more than just voting every three years. Moreover, I'm a strong believer in the public driving change, which is reliant on people speaking up.
If Labour are going to allow the number of new jobs to be counted in such a lax manner in such a major scheme, it won't be long before people start asking what else is the Government allowing to be counted in such a negligent manner? Which will ultimately come back to its leadership. And Labour can't afford to have Jacinda politically damaged. So she needs to get on top of this ASAP.
I don't recall seeing one article calling on Jacinda to show strong leaderenhip over the provincial fund. Saw a clip on the tele with Shane J being slightly defensive about his approach telling him the PM has told him to pull his head in (in a much kinder way than that). Stories of the week are 1. the polls, which look good for Jacinda 2. Simon still making stuff around the budget leak and there was clip in the news showing Ardern making mince meat out of him, 3, teachers resolved with higher pay (public support this). 4. stuff about housing, increase in state houses built, still negative stuff about Kiwibuild but 60% of kiwis support the scheme, Defence spending……..people have different points of views on this.
Your article about no numbers on Provisional Growth fund all hypothetical, trying to manufacture ????? not sure what………I believe you are here to troll. I could be wrong
Do you really need to see an article calling for Jacinda to show strong leadership over the provincial fund to realise she needs too? Are you happy for Jones to continue carrying on showing up the leader and undermining the Governments credibility? From what has been reported, it's clear she needs to show some leadership on this before it further undermines their credibility.
While the polls look good for Jacinda, it's not good for us on the left wanting more. The better Labour poll, the less likely they are to listen. They already believe they have the balance about right, while many on the left disagree.
News that has recently come out in regard to the Budget leak hasn't been good for Labour. Jacinda has now been implicated as knowing.
And despite Winston's assertion, the dispute between teachers and the Government isn't settled yet.
The report on the increase in state housing seems a desperate attempt to look as if something is being done when in reality the number of new state homes is nowhere near enough to address the current and growing demand.
Nevertheless, the matters I highlighted above have all been reported, moreover, you have failed to show me why you don't think the matters highlighted above are resulting in a bad week for the PM.
"Us on the left".
lol.
What a wank job that is. The other week you were banging on about how labour should be doing better and getting higher poll results. Now they have, you're changing the tune to 'if they poll high they won't listen'.
Full of shit, mate. 🙄
One poll has Labour going down while one has them going up.
And as for my comments re Labour otentially doing better in the polls, you have used them out of context to try and claim a point – weak. I post plenty on here, therefore try pulling me up on something I actually said and keep it in context.
You said what I've posted above, about how labour should be getting higher poll numbers, and in no way is it out of context. I even made a joke about it in the topic before the two polls were released.
What you are doing, I guess, is trying to cause a smokescreen to hide the fact you've been caught out. Not convincing enough, by far.
Where? Provide a link so we can see the context.
Labour have gone up in one poll while disappointing many on the left. Explaining their slip in the other.
Where I've talked of labour going up in the polls the context was in regard with them doing more to win more support.
For example, if Labour delivered for more people in the Budget, it is logical to assume they would be polling higher now.
Both those polls, even the one where they went down, showed the government advancing from national.
Both those polls, even the one where they went down, showed labour improved from election night '17.
The poll that put labour able to govern alone, over 50% they said, how much higher do you think they should be mid term?
Seems like they're doing fine in winning support, apart from as you state, "while disappointing many on the left. Explaining their slip in the other". I'd put money on any genuine lefty not being disappointed at the highly likely fact the prospect of labour not being a one term government is looking really good. The only people not happy with labour are the nats, the nat media, rim clingers and you.
Nobody cares except you and other irredeemable tories. The semantice of "hacking" vs "unauthorised access"? lol
Shane Jones? No harm to the govt, and he's Winston's problem anyway. Lol
Twyford is the only area of mild concern, and even that's offset by the stirling work on state house numbers. KB hasn't gone off well, for whatever reason, but that and anything else has negative has been largely ignored by the tories in favour of their parliamentary obsession with the semantic nature of soimon's legal transgression.
While Shane Jones is largely Winstons problem he is also the public's (due to his position in Government and what he oversees) and Jacinda's (due to also being part of a Government she leads).
He is best at home with his mates over at National.
Now that was a good laugh. Have you seen the number on the state housing waiting list and compared it to the number of houses being provided? It's far from acceptable. Wellbeing? Yeah right.
Have you seen the state housing stock vs the trend over time of the nats?
Funny thing about waiting lists: if it starts looking realistic, people apply rather than not even bothering to fill out the form.
As for shane jones, nah, he's not the PM's problem. Because everyone knows he works for NZ1.
Really? The old they did it too excuse.
I'm not defending National's poor performance on this nor am I (unlike you) using them to diminish Labour's shortcomings.
And that's a bullshit line out of Labour's spin book. Chances of securing a home isn't looking more realistic when the waiting list is growing so fast. Moreover, and here is the kicker, Labour aren't even providing enough houses to cover the number that were on the waiting list before they even came into power.
The Chairman – "more left than most"? HELP – I'm just not seeing it.
More “relentlessly-soggy commentary” showing The Chairman's true colours – that “more left than most” false flag is wearing pretty thin.
Please, just be honest – I certainly wouldn’t think any less of you.
Any genuine lefty would be disappointed with Labour's shortcomings and over their spin. Moreover, Labour are failing to meet their own modest housing targets.
Yet here you are apparently defending their shortcomings suggesting I'm not left. If you were genuinely left you would be joining me in putting the pressure on Labour to up their game.
Any genuine ‘righty’ would be delighted to point out “Labour’s shortcomings“, “their spin“, “failing to meet their own targets“, again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again. And many genuine ‘righties’ do just that on this blog, but none are as “relentlessly soggy” as you. You’re not even fooling yourself!
Are you suggesting that because I'm asserting that whoever is behind The Chairman identity is not left, that I cannot be genuinely left?
That's some mighty fine reasoning.
For the record, I would be more than happy to join you in putting pressure on National to up their game (and, let's face it, they've nowhere to go but up), but you are contractually unable to give me that opportunity.
Far from it. I'm suggesting that if you were genuinely left you would be agreeing with a good number of the issues I've raised. Especially areas where Labour themselves have expressed shortcomings.
I'd be happy for National to take up my recommendations, there was a time when they were Keynesian too.
The Chairman has but one mode of comment: 'criticise the Government' (but only if that government is left-leaning.)
This breaks down to:
'criticise Labour', 'criticise PM Ardern', 'criticise Twyford', etc.;
'criticise the Greens', 'criticise Shaw', 'criticise Davidson' (and Turei before her – that's 'right', The Chairman was also highly critical of the left in opposition), etc.;
'criticise NZ1st', 'criticise deputy PM Peters', 'criticise Jones', etc.
Seems that the only NZ politicians that have escaped The Chairman's critical gaze are National and ACT party politicians – The Chairman can't even bear to criticise Bridges, or Seymour ffs.
The Chairman is currently contractually unable to criticise the National-led opposition. Any genuine friend of the left should be able to do that, at least occasionally, on this blog, yet The Chairman can't, and never has.
The Chairman‘s 'cover' is well and truly blown, but keep digging and we'll keep pointing it out – you lefty you!
Glad you noticed. And as you would have seen, I was onto Labour's shortfalls back then too. If it wasn't for the turn of events, Jacinda taking leadership, Labour would have been hammered. And despite the recent poll, Labour shouldn't be quick to forget that.
I just told you before that I don't believe National will vastly improve our nation, so clearly your claims are crap.
"clearly your claims are crap" – have I touched a nerve, Chair?
I'll make two more 'claims' – you'll be criticising the PM, and Winston, and the Labour party/MPs, and the Green party/MPs, and NZ1st/MPs (unless they throw their lot in with National – you wish) on this site for every and a day. That's your demonstrable modus operandi – can you prove otherwise?
And your critiques of National party policies/MP behaviour will continue to be 'strangely' lacking – strange at least for one "more left than most".
No, I wasn't pulling a "they did it too" line. I was pointing out that the waiting list increased despite an increase in state houses. Labour increased state houses when national didn't, and in fact national sold state houses despite the fact that waiting lists were increasing.
So at least Labour are trying to address the problem.
Clearly, the increase was insufficient. And your point seems moot.
Now you seem to be contradicting yourself. Are you on the piss?
Yes, Labour have generally done a little of everything, giving them something to spout off for the media soundbites. But just about everything they've done has fallen far too short.
And no. I'm not an extremist expecting them to deliver us everything at once, tomorrow, but me and others do expect them to get their priorities right and deliver more.
Failing to is only going to cost us more in the long run as things further deteriorate due to Labour not even doing enough to stem the decline, admitting they expect things to worsen. And on the ground, the result is society will continue to suffer, illness, poverty, death, hunger, crime.
"National literally did the opposite" is not "national did it, too".
As for your constant criticism, I find it disingenuous. There are several commenters who would like, nay demand, the government do more. And yes, they criticise Labour. But they make what they want, their exact policy requirements, very clear. Whereas you criticise, but keep your actual demands very vague.
And even the most zealous lefties have managed to give credit where credit is due, but you'd crawl over hot glass before doing that without some snide, backhanded criticism.
Then address it without trying to personally tar me.
I often stated what I'd like to see from Government. And just the other day I told you a way Labour could possibility get more support from NZF. So don't resort to talking crap. And I've also given credit to Labour, Greens, and NZF on occasion.
I'm telling it as it is and you know it, hence your need to resort to talking crap.
Oh bullshit. When challenged on yet another vague criticism of Labour, you pulled out of your arse the idea of dramatically increasing the tourist tax as a policy that would be attractive to all three coalition parties (when you have no idea whether that was the case) and then using however much cash that would generate (of which you have no idea) to fund more expenditure.
I have many disagreements with folk like Adam or Bill or Francesca, but at least they are up front and specific about their demands on government and they give the impression that they've considered those ideas for longer than the twenty minutes since the latest reply to their comments.
I didn't just whip it out. I've posted this suggestion before and provided potential figures.
Moreover, as an entry levy has recently been announced, it indicates the three support the notion. Therefore, suggesting the potential for increasing it is in the realm of reality. And that is only one of many suggestions I've made over the years posting here.
Taxing the offshore property investors that Labour's ban failed to capture is another.
Really? How did you arrive at those figures? What calculations and assumptions did you incorporate in deriving those figures?
Oh bollocks. It indicates that at least one party supports the notion enough to put it forward, and the other two will tolerate it up to a certain point.
Only a goddamned fool of a burger joint owner would assume that just because I bought a $5 burger, I might find a $20 or even a $100 burger to be a serious proposition.
Your "many suggestions" are overwhelmed and diluted by the multitude of pointless beat-ups and criticisms you present on a daily basis. I just decided to double check and reread all your comments on this page. Maybe you should do the same and see how many specific suggestions you actually put forward, and how much despondency you try to sow.
Only a goddamned fool of a burger joint owner would assume that just because I bought a $5 burger, I might find a $20 or even a $100 burger to be a serious proposition.
Well yes, but if on the same night out I'd spent $2000 at the bar and it turns out the 'burgers' actual cost is $100 to provide … then maybe it's a different story. No comparisons are perfect, but NZ's Conservation Estate can't really be valued in the same category as a burger.
It's an issue being grappled with, and it has a few complex aspects. Here is an article on the impact of differential charging on the Great Walks:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/388842/price-hike-for-great-walks-more-money-fewer-tourists
For what it’s worth I’d prefer a generic airport fee on all overseas visitors; the vast majority of them are coming here to enjoy some aspect of our outdoors, even if only sitting in a car or bus.
Calculations were based upon the Governments with the entry levy pricing deriving from public consultation I've had with tourists and local operators in the sector.
As tourist numbers are expected to exceed our population in the near future, operators in the sector that I've spoken to aren't that nervous about a fee of that rate ($200 per adult, $100 per child) negatively impacting upon their income stream. In fact, many understand the need and the benefits (better infrastructure etc) to do this.
Many tourists (around 80%) understood this too. Plenty (just over 20%) of them were happy to pay more to enter our little slice of paradise. Understanding it costs money to maintain and manage. With around 40% comfortable with the suggested pricing.
But of course, there was a small number (close to 5%) that totally opposed it, with the rest preferring it to be less.
The Government's $35 levy comes into effect in October. And the levy rate won't increase for the first 5 years. So not only does it indicate it is supported, in 5 years it is bound to increase.
Where is your evidence it was only supported by one party and merely tolerated by the other two?
lol so let me get this straight, you think a policy necessarily means all three support it, rather than it being a concession for one or two parties making the coalition deal?
As for your "consultation" for the triple figure levy, I don't believe you.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/392062/week-in-politics-a-big-week-for-the-government-and-nothing-went-wrong
Sorry Chairman. I think this is game, set and match to me.
As I strongly believe you are a troll, this is the last reply I will give you
When Labour has Mitchell backing them saying his party would have done the same if it was in power. The left should very well know things are going wrong.
Can you remember Labour's position on the military spend when Little (the elected left representative) was party leader. And how that has now changed with Jacinda now in charge?
Just to refresh your memory. Little said the $20 billion to be spent on the defence upgrade could be better spent on housing and education.
You've managed to out-eeyore, Eeyore!
Incredible!
Where do you sit on the military spend Robert? Do you believe in and support spending so much?
Or are you with Little and like to see more money going elsewhere?
Personally, I oppose this massive amount being spent on the military when so much more nationally requires to be done.
The Chairman is a (concern) troll and should be ignored. He has taken up way too much time on this site today. He claims to be left wing, but is always criticizing the coalition with the usual meme's such as Jacinda = needs to show stronger leadership, implication is she's a weak leader.
I am going to encourage people to ignore him
I'm not a concern troll. I'm a lefty expressing my valid conerns which you have failed to refute when challenged.
You provided a link to an article promoting Labour's military spend suggesting Labour have done no wrong this week. Showing National's backing
The left don't support massive military spends, especially when when locals are homeless and kids are going hungry. So where do you get off calling me a concern troll?
"I'm a lefty"
whats wrong with this statement?
Thank-you Pat, well spotted – by their pejoratives shall you know them.
The Chairman, "more left[y] than most", hoisted on their own petard.
Along with Budgetgate. She had Winston prematurely announcing the teachers settlement. Jones giving a stupid answer to a serious employment question undermining the Provincial Growth Fund, the Government's credibility and ultimately, its leadership. And Twyford being the latest minister accused of covering up secret meetings.
A set of talking points taken straight from Kiwiblog by the concern-troll account supposedly belonging to a left-winger. I'm not sure you're aware of this, but every week is a bad week for the PM on Kiwiblog. The number of non-Kiwiblog readers who are even aware of the above "issues" would be tiny, let alone the number who find they reflect badly on the PM.
Really? Seems you visit there more than me. These are matters recently reported by the media and have concerns for the left.
Jacinda can't afford to have Winston going rogue. It undermines her leadership. And Labour can't afford that to happen to their star player. How you think this valid concern (hence line of talk) aligns with National is bizarre.
The similar applies to Twyford being the latest minister accused of covering up secret meetings. Jones running wild and Jacinda being implicated in Budgetgate. And as for Budgetgate, Labour could have put it to bed before it got to this if they owned it from the onset.
Give it a rest tableman, nobody is buying your dog poo here.
I visit there quite often, yes. That's how I could identify every one of the items in your comment as talking points featured on Kiwiblog. It's also the only place I've seen mention of a supposed Twyford "secret meeting." These are "issues," for want of a less-ridiculous term, that only interest Tories and their concern-troll sock-puppet accounts.
Reminds me of the poster on here during the build up to the '14 election who continually bagged the greens for intruding on labours territory, parroting the nat line, saying they should stick to environmental issues and leave the social stuff out of it.
Can't remember the name, but I'm sure someone will. Eerily similar.
Well, if you also paid attention to the news, you would have seen the Twyford story (as with the others) was reported with comparisons of the infamous Clare Curran clip shown.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/06/housing-minister-phil-twyford-accused-of-holding-sneaky-undisclosed-meeting.html
And if you paid attention to the news you would have known that the omission of the meeting in the publicly available schedule of ministerial meetings had been an inadvertent mistake on the part of the staffer responsible for putting it together. Given the huge number of ministerial meetings on a weekly basis, it is not surprising it happens now and then.
And if you paid attention you would also have known that this government introduced the publicly available schedule of ministerial meetings in the interest of transparency. Under the last government there was no such schedule available so they could – and did – hold secret meetings without anyone knowing.
Hi Anne
Is that galloping I hear?
Yes, they did. However, that didn't stop it from being done, seems you have forgotten (or is that willingly overlooked?) the Clare Curran incident.
As for this one, there is the emails Twyford's office refused to release and the suspect timing (apparently when he was caught) of the correction being made. So even if it is legit, it is all looking rather dodgy. And you know what they say about perception.
Chair, just a friendly observation – if it's easy for me to see that you’re putting the boot into Labour with your comments, then it'll be easy for others to see that too.
"You know what they say about perception."
This news item has gathered some examples of the same breed of dog attacking people. Should there be some more controls on breeding so that bad traits aren't intensified?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/113475788/australian-mans-suspicious-death-caused-by-his-pet-dog
He was 51. His dog was a Staffordshire bull terrier….
A 72-year-old woman was also killed last month when she was attacked by her pet Staffordshire cross breed at her home in Sydney's south-west.
Her husband was bitten while trying to save her, but survived
(Rosemary O'Reilly, 72, suffered significant bite wounds and lacerations to her arms, legs and body when she was attacked by the large Staffordshire terrier-Rhodesian ridgeback cross at her home.) https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/112820522/australian-woman-dies-after-being-attacked-by-her-pet-dog?rm=a
Three people were critically injured in a "horrific" dog attack involving a Staffordshire cross in Sydney's west this year.
One of those attacked died five weeks later.
On Staffordshire bull terriers. The item below notes they can be good family dogs. But dogs need to be classified as whether they need special puppy training to learn good traits, or not. If it is essential that they be trained properly then that should be started before they are sold, and the new owner have to sign a contract to continue. If they later cause trouble, then there would be a fine and the dog would be put down. I think there needs to be control over owners, who may be lax, too busy, or irresponsible, and they should know there will be consequences to them for failure. No excuses and legal battles.
On the "dog news" website gooddogstory.com, an article about the case said Staffordshire bull terriers, which are a permitted breed in New Zealand, were bred in the 19th century as agile fighting dogs.
"Just because they were bred to fight other dogs does not mean they are bad with people; in fact, as nearly any educated enthusiast would agree – these dogs have severely misunderstood reputations, and are in fact some of the absolute best family dogs an owner can find. Anywhere," the site said. https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/79308625/euthanasia-reprieve-for-staffordshire-bull-terrier-found-eating-part-of-its-owner?rm=a
A NZ dog attack story – dog breaks away from walker and attacks a cat on own property. Walker laughs and walks on. Some advice:
"If a dog does have to be dragged off another animal it should be grabbed by the back legs and pulled away while lifting its legs up," van der Merwe said.
"It is also helpful to remember any details about the owner's appearance, and record any other information, such as addresses or vehicle registration numbers. This will assist Animal Management with the investigation in the event that the dog or owner has left the area before the officer's arrival."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/east-bays-courier/88686715/cat-mauled-in-front-of-99yearold-owner-dies-from-injuries?rm=a
Please can I put people straight about the Staffordshire terrior. They are a fabulous breed – loyal, warm-hearted, gentle, full of personality and wonderful family dogs. And they are one of the easiest breeds to train in obedience.
Yes, the complete opposite to what is claimed by many in their ignorance and I particularly blame the media. The key word is "cross-breed". It is not the pure bred staffies who are prone to being dangerous, but the irresponsible, undesirable dog owners who breed them for their sharp teeth with the real fighting breeds.
The media should have long ago been called out on their propensity for naming these dangerous dogs "Staffordshire crosses". It sends entirely the wrong message. Call them by the breeds that are the real culprits like "American Pit Bull crosses" or "Mastiff Bull crosses" but stop attributing the blame to the little pedigree Staffie.
I have known of little Staffies who have been attacked in the street or on beaches by individuals because of this wrong publicity and it left both the dogs and their owners distraught and terrified by the intensity of the hostility.
Agreed, Anne
Older Bull Terriers were OK until American Pit Bull Terriers etc were imported (we were warned at the time but did nothing) and now we have huge cross-breed problems, despite trying far too late to limit the Pit Bulls.
This was emailed to the NZTA (responsible for drivers licencing) and CCd to Phil Twyford (Transport) and Julie Anne Genter (Associate Minister) about 2 weeks ago. According to the instant auto-replies, all 3 offices have recieved it. As anticipated, I've heard nothing. I've posted it here because I'm not the only one whose very real and legitimate concerns over this drug brand switch are being completely ignored, brushed off, blatently lied about and in the case of Ministers of the Crown (especially the Minister of Health,)not even being acknowledged in the first place. The latter is also refusing to speak to a senior reporter on the subject.
For a Government spouting the compassion and well being line they are completely abdicating their responsibility for the well being of the general public. This is bigger than Pharmac wanting to save a bit of money. Knowing there are more than likely people closely connected to Paliament/Government who read this blog maybe they will see it. It's also really important that the public at large know what is going on, because, PUBLIC SAFETY.
This letter is written in pain English to make it simple enough for even a Minister to understand, one would think. Again, PUBLIC SAFETY. This brand switch has already started. If you are concerned about this then make a noise to the suitable Ministers, or in public if you're in a position to do so.
"I am sure you are aware of Pharmacs’ recent decision to enforce a brand switch of the epilepsy drug lamotrigine. And of course you’re very aware of the very real consequences of someone driving when they are at risk of a seizure behind the wheel which is why there’s very reasonable rules/laws in place for the safety of both the individuals and the general public.
So I’m writing to you with extreme concern over your response to the driving status of persons who will be undertaking this lamotrigine brand switch over the next few months. According to Pharmacs notification on their website
“New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) noted a brand change does not constitute a treatment change for purposes of driving and considered that any risks from changing would be extremely low.”
Now, given that NO ONE can guarantee that break through seizures will not occur as a result of this brand change- and trust me, they do- how did you reach the conclusion that any risks would be ‘extremely low’ and why is this not be treated in the same way as a drug change, ie a 6 month stand down? Is one person crashing and killing someone acceptable to you?More to the point, why haven’t you insisted to Pharmac that anyone currently fully controlled and driving continue having their current brand funded and stay on it?
Maybe your medical advisors weren’t aware of it at the time but this submission from Medsafe has recently come to light https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6025152-MedSafe-OIA.html
Since we are now in the position of the Medicines Safety Agency strongly disagreeing with the Medicines Funding Agency over the safety of this decision, until something is clarified either way you cannot continue to say there is no risk to individuals- or to the general public- if they carry on driving while changing brands of this medication. This is a PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
While I’m personally not affected in this area (permanently banned from driving due to the nature of my epilepsy), as a member of the public it terrifies me to think there will be people out there driving around not knowing their longstanding fully controlled epilepsy is at risk. Personally, I don’t want to be on the receiving end when they have a seizure behind the wheel and crash into the footpath. Are you really prepared to continue this stance?
Finally, should heaven forbid the worst happen and even one person dies or is seriously injured as a result of your refusal to face reality on this issue, will the NZTA be accepting any responsibility for their role given they are now fully aware? I sincerely hope you have sought legal advice on where you stand with this.
Please get this out there. If the worse case scenario did happen- and hope like hell it doesn't- there will be avoidable blood on the hands of a lot of Government agencies, but none of them will accept any responsibility.
I really hope they sort this out. The issue had some good media coverage too.
It has, Guyon Espinor has been amazing. There's an even bigger story that's unfolding out of this with major ramifications. It's way more than just defunding a drug brand used for a couple of conditions that most of the public don't care about anyway.
Managing seizures so that you can have a normal life and not have them occurring when you are in a position where you can harm yourself and others – that's a serious thing.
My old car is good but has a 'condition' where in humid conditions water gets into the distributor or something and it will conk out just when I enter an intersection. CRC will fix it, stronger pressure on the accelerator will prevent it, but if it happens the steering goes, the motor dies, and i have to send distress signals to avoid harm. It's alarming but I can prevent it, and handle it if it happens.
So I sympathise. It is particularly important for your ability to have a life to have the right medication. Government should give Pharmac the right and also the responsibility to choose not just the best efficient drug for each disability, but also look at which is most effective. It is no good just being given a good quality drug, if it does not provide the essential help to prevent the momentary seizure that can lead to harm, injury or death.
(This would apply for someone who is not at an old age; there will be a need to limit more expensive drugs to people over say 75, as we are being too demanding in our numbers, living to longer age, and that is a fact.)
This letter is written in pain English to make it simple enough for even a Minister to understand, one would think.
Brilliant! (A young friend, reading one of the 2765 or so such letters/emails I've written to Ministers, CEOs, Managers, Lawyers and the like over the years on matters Disability, proffered the opinion that it was no wonder I was getting nowhere because I was assuming too high a level of comprehension from the addressee.
"One issue per letter, in plain language, and no polysyllables."
Kay, Peter and I are wishing you the very best outcome on this…we pay extra for one of Peter's meds that was disfunded by Pharmac a few years ago…but we're better placed to pay the extra with Peter now off the Supported (Hah!) Living Payment and grazing in the lusher pasture of National Super.
Knowing there are more than likely people closely connected to Parliament/Government who read this blog maybe they will see it.
I have no doubt there are…but do they actually care?
It seems there are far too many Coalition flag-wavers frequenting these pages…those that leap into print at the mere hint of complaint from those who are not feeling the Lovingkindness.
Rosemary, I'm not even fighting for my own situation anymore. Well it's on hold, it has to be. I had no idea just how ill fighting the government could make you, physically and mentally. I have even more admiration for you now- how the hell have you kept this up for so long and not lost the plot completely??? I'm under GPs orders to back off for now the situation got so dangerous.
As that email is referring to, it's the very real dangers facing people who are currently fully controlled and driving, something that's never going to affect me. I guess that's called giving a damn about people other than myself? A foreign concept to Public servants and politicians too…
"I had no idea just how ill fighting the government could make you, physically and mentally."
Shocking thing to learn the hard way, eh.
…how the hell have you kept this up for so long and not lost the plot completely???
I have had the odd moment or nine.
So has Peter. We tell each other to buck the fuck up, but sometimes when we both are laid low…it is hard not to be teary. But shit man…(for those close to the Government that lurk around these pages 
) we ain't dead yet. We have nothing to lose…well, MOH funding for Peter's care since they still refuse to pay…so we have no fear of speaking out. You just might be shocked how vulnerable MOH DSS clients feel. If they complain publicly, funding could be cut
. I'm more than happy to be a goad…
Take care.
This morning's news.
Nitrate levels in water raising beware flags in Denmark. Scorned by NZ Federated Farmers – nitrate is in lots of things.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018699583/nitrates-in-nz-drinking-water-is-a-review-needed
Environment Canterbury response : https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018699585/environment-canterbury-stands-by-nitrate-limits-in-water
Oranga Tamariki following the letter of the law? They want to keep whanau together and their relationships and culture alive as encouraged for decades, presumably. But also well known is that when children are bonded with loving people, it breaks a child's trust and feeling of security and instinctive acceptance of continual caring relationships when cut-and-dried law results in separation and replacement with other carers.
This is not just a case of pakeha preference, it is following a practice that Maori have wanted.
But if the child comes first, then their development of trust and security, should be paramount. Letting Samoan foster parents continue caring for a pakeha child, if they are well-integrated in society and adequate and reliable parents, should be enabled not cut away. The trauma of complete or long-term separation can remain for a lifetime. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/first-up/audio/2018699557/oranga-tamariki-rejects-couple-s-request-to-foster-child-for-not-being-european
and
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018699579/open-letter-urges-govt-to-stop-taking-maori-children
If you bred any of those nasty little fucking handbag rats much adored by young women and the retired to be as big as a staffy or ridgeback you would have a lethal, filthy tempered killing machine without paralell in the animal world.
Worse than Michelle Boag?
Not possible. Striking resemblance though. She certainly has a face like a dogs ****, but without the charm.
Worse than the nasty little rats that often come on to this blog and want to take a rabid bite out of our arms or anywhere, they don't care? They have never been properly trained in how to consider other people in society fairly and considerately, and shouldn't be left alone in a room with a computer, Facebook or twitter.
Be kind to dogs and Michelle is more snake-like.
Reptile like, yes, that is a good description. Slithering along. Reminds me of Kaa from Jungle Book film now you mention it.
What was the name of the immense snake in Harry Potter books? N-something. Very reliable in service of Voldemoor, but didn't Harry find that he had some of her genes, and could understand snake language – a bit horrifying for him?
I tend to see analogies; we all have some of the unpleasant side of snake-like people which we have to keep under control. I often hiss when I find something annoying. Sometimes I worry about myself!
Ha Greywarshark, being too hard on yourself😉.
Personally, I just launch into a 4 letter word rant for a few.minutes. usually does the trick.
Yes PeterCh That's what I am trying to lessen. I have to be in a room with other computer users soon and want to show that my parents brought me up well.
Good luck greywarshark and I hope you let us know how you go. And I mean that 100% sincerely, as I hope all on this site do!
Yes, and it helps even more if you make up a few more 4 letter words along the way and string them altogether. Quite therapeutic.
Read "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" by Rudyard Kipling, greywarshark, if you want to get inside a snake's skin; it's a remarkable short story, featuring a mongoose and two cobra snakes; it'll have you curled up on your chair, looking to the corners of the room 🙂
Nagini.
That's the one. Even sounds slithery somehow.
LMFAO!!!!!!! Mr Guyton 🙂
That's a big if Ady.
If you have met a 'nasty little fucking handbag rat' Adrian and it was in a situation that leaves you in a foul temper, I feel for you. But the bigger dogs have a bigger bite, and nipped heels, and if accompanied by careless, inconsiderate women are not in the same league as being mauled by mini-tigers.
A piece backgrounding Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. A USA phenomenon.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/the-detail/story/2018698903/the-astonishing-rise-of-aoc
Chch gunman in court this morning. Pleaded 'not guilty'. What on earth is he thinking? If someone films their crime and broadcasts it live, bit of a problem mounting a defence i would have thought.
His lawyer certainly drew the short straw with this.
Of course he is going to plead Not Guilty – he wants his day/s in Court and to be as big a toe-rag as possible, playing our system of civilian justice for all its worth. If we got as tough as he we would kill him without much ado but we are afraid that we will look into the abyss, and see ourselves if we do that.
Yes not guilty to get his day in court………..that is all he has. The rest of his life is finished. Years and years, day in day out in virtual solitary……………
I hope the judge shuts it down as much as possible within the law.
That's sounds absolutely horrendous, regardless of what he has done.
As Hanibal Lector said in Silence of the Lambs: ' a civilised society would either put me to work or put me to death'. So true.
Yes, I think it does sound horrendous Peter, regardless of what he has done. But then I think of those who have lost love ones and also the survivors and their injuries, one woman who will never walk again, one who is in constant pain due to the damage the bullet did and the little girl with unknown consequences of the effect of the bullet in her brain. My compassion goes to them. they didn't choose it…….He did.
True, but why would anyone actually 'choose' that? My sympathies too go to the victims and their loved ones. But somewhere somehow the shooter is ill or something similar. Hate is easy. Understanding is not.
On this site, I have been called a right wing troll (absolutely not true), yet on this, I am a 'bleeding heart liberal'.
Hanibal Lector was so true. Execute or put to work. But torture (which is his de facto future) is not worthy of the 21st century.
Thing is, he's not ill. He's ideological. There is a difference.
And execution is still worse than imprisonment.
As for his status, if found guilty he needs to be in prison to protect us, and he needs to be in solitary to protect himself. He'd still get to talk to his guards.
Entitled to your point of view about the gunman Peter.
Given he is not pleading Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (which would mean he was psychotic at the time and out of touch with reality) we can assume he was sane. We all have to take responsibility for our actions. If we don't that means we blame someone else. There is no one else to blame here.
The shooter was exposed to extremist views. He continued to engage with them. He developed a hatred for people of the Muslim faith. He took many months/years to plan and execute these horrendous attacks that cost 51 their lives left many injured and disabled and disturbed the peace of mind of many, many others. In pleading not guilty, he shows no remorse or sympathy for his victims. I and many others suspect he has done that to expose his hate filled views and gain notoriety.
His will now be the most hideous existence and likely he will have long periods where he wishes he was dead and regrets what he did, not for his victims, but for himself. I know myself to be a compassionate person and have no problem saving that compassion for those who are deserving of it.
It's so costly to keep them locked up. If they can't be contained where they can grow their own food and not run away or have a go at staff, they would be better off dead. We will have better people to look after, including ourselves.
Not guilty will be to gain a platform to mount a defence in order to promote his philosophy. Be interesting to see how a Judge handles the extent of that.
If he started spouting forth his sick ideology, surely the judge would cut him off, and if he persists have him removed from court?
I mean, whatever he says in that vein, it in no way whatsoever can be a defence or related to his defence.
A barrister acting for someone like the shooter who seems to have no attributes or soul, in giving his defence acts against his own nature but follows the law which says that we should hear what can be said in the accused's defence. I think defending bastards that he thought were guilty led to Greg King's death.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11141626
Greg King suffered ‘massive breakdown’ – coroner
Unbelievably, some idiot was outside court this morning abusing Muslims attending the session for Mosque shooter. Heil Hitler salutes and Nazi music (the Nazis actually actively helped Muslim freedom movements, so he is ignorant as well as bigoted and just plain stupid). And of course nasty anti Muslim speech. He has now appeared in court.
I despair. A crazy like ******* is one thing, but the supporters, in the cool light of day, scare me more.
Health and wellbeing. Surgical mesh has been a disaster for some people mainly women I think.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018699603/national-surgical-mesh-registry-off-minister-responds
Teeth brushing programs for primary schools would be excellent preventative care, and have a flow-on effect for other health problems and general wellbeing of children. A caring community being both kindly and practical!
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018699591/call-for-teeth-brushing-help-in-northland-schools
We need to be caring about our young people who may be prevented from gaining employment because of unreasonable and unnecessary drug tests that bear no relation to their readiness and ability to do the work they apply for. Two opinions about drug testing methods:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018699395/employers-warned-to-change-drug-testing-methods
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018699589/urine-testing-most-effective-in-detecting-drugs-hardy
This week the Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told parliament's health select committee that a register to track patients who have been harmed by mesh implants would be too expensive and take too much time.
FFS! He expects the DHBs to collect the data in their region..too much for the MOH to assign one of their overpaid bureaucrats to simply be the person that receives that data from the DHBs on a regular basis and puts them a file for future reference.
They are deliberately sidestepping here…you can't measure what you don't count.
Typical MOH. SSDD.
Really disappointing. Have a friend who was severely damaged by mesh implants, and has been active with select committee hearings.
Part of the difficulty of her return to health was the relationships between surgeons and specialists in this small country of ours. Our ACC was the reason given why some NZ patients were unable to join in on class action lawsuits in the states. However, many in NZ have been unable to get compensation or support from ACC as they won't recognise the injuries caused by the mesh implants.
As you often point out, SSDD.
Cleangreen – it's a good start! After puffing and blowing for years to get the wheels rolling, you will have your own Thomas the Tank Engine.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018699590/napier-wairoa-rail-line-reopens
Does Muck Pomposo know who really attacked those tankers? I'm strugglin to see why Iran would annoy the Japanese if they're talking trade.
Maybe Muck set it up all along, it's almost like they are leveraging it as an excuse for a war, not like they've ever done that before. Lolz
It may be that the mode of attack points to a state actor – one of the ships claimed to have been torpedoed. A torpedo is a bit more complex than the usual scratchbuilt bombs employed by the likes of ISIS for example. Limpet mines appear to have used, and these are primarily available to states – though of course one could readily supply them to the perpetrators.
"…. scratchbuilt bombs employed by the likes of ISIS… "
There doesn't seem to be any scratch-built bombs in this list.
"Based on various reports, CNBC came up with the following laundry list of supplies the U.S. has so kindly provided to ISIS so far.
https://www.globalresearch.ca/where-does-isis-get-all-those-tanks-weapons-and-shiny-new-toyota-trucks/5490040
I think your source contains wildebeests of dubious provenance Brigid. 2,300 Humvees would be noticed, as would an Abrams tank battalion. Sure they had plenty of Toyota trucks – they're a preferred civilian and civil service vehicle in the region.
IEDs seem to be a preference with ISIS, which might be because they don’t have an Abrams tank battalion.
Explosive violence in Iraq in 2018
There were 2,510 deaths and injuries from explosive violence
60% (1,508) were civilians
This is a 77% decrease in civilian casualties from explosive violence. In 2017, AOAV recorded 6,571 civilian casualties from explosive weapons in Iraq,
Of civilian deaths and injuries, 89% were caused by IEDs
When explosive violence was used in a populated area in Iraq last year 86% of those dead and injured were civilians
https://aoav.org.uk/explosiveviolence/iraq/
It's time we mounted a humanitarian project and took all those people off Manus Island, not only for their health and humanity, but for ours and that or the Pacific Island country that is under such strain and warping of their life and culture and ability to plan for their future under CC and CUH (Chinese/Usa hegemony).
5/6/19 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/391291/manus-island-police-chief-calls-for-govt-action-over-suicidal-refugees
For years, the Manus Provincial Police Commander David Yapu has dealt with the impact of hundreds of young, male refugees foisted on his community by Australia.
Conflict and crime are just some of the problems My Yapu has faced, but its only now with refugee suicide attempts reaching epidemic proportions that the police commander has turned to policy makers in Port Moresby.
"There must be some intervention from the government because the trend of attempted suicide is growing," Mr Yapu said.
"Anything drastic can happen, meaning that they can lose their life. This is something that I don't want to see."
Refugees have reported about 40 suicide attempts or incidents of self harm since the Australian election on 18 May, a statistic borne out by Mr Yapu's plea in which he described two attempted hangings and a failed self immolation last week, while admitting the situation was beyond his control.
This will go in our history where we sat back and did nothing but ineffectually wag our hands and tongues. It is hard to bear to think of these poor people inside and outside of the prison complex. And we are being screwed by the Australians as well. Have we any strength of will; do we have any integrity or are we true mercenaries, willing to sell ourselves and our integrity if any, if we are offered the right price?
Can we start a fund-raiser to send a fleet of little boats there, like Dunkirk. This might prompt some nastiness! But would highlight the disaster for the world's attention. Embarrassment at being shown up might do it.
And where would they come to in NZ. Pepin Island say? What about buying that NZ Government and settling them there and giving them the care and mental health services they need and deserve. That would be a good answer, as similar events will continue to happen. And we need to remember that NZ troops have participated in attacks and destruction of home areas that have caused many of these people to flee. We help destabilise the world, and injure and kill and deprive the populations in those places.
Where are our standards, our morals, our higher civilisation, or are we at heart ready to sink below the bottom line as long as we are comfortable? We won't be for long anyway, so let us try to do some good and not misuse our intelligence and cleverness to take us below the beasts as we decline.
No one really gives a crap about those idiots on the island sept the usual left wing nutters
Buster 12, = ignorant, overgeneralisation and labelling. Plus bad spelling. Not worth replying to.
Sorry buster we move in circles much larger than 12 and totally disagree with you. Is that the answer you were hoping for?
Not sure they would be a vote winner, we can’t even house refugees we have, all stuck in Mangere refugee Center with no where to go
I'm sure the cow cockies down south would lap them up.
That is a great idea Stuart. That would smooth the way in to our paradise, and keep the cockies quiet for a short time. They would all live in a giant housebus and have a medical team alongside. They might be able to cope for 4 hours a day. They would be pretty debilitated mentally if not physically but some therapeutic work not over demanding would be good.l
I was being facetious Grey, the southern communities would look after them though – the lactocapitalist mafia not so much.
Hi greywarshark…. I agree fully …. refugees have contributed and benefited to New Zealand throughout our past …..
Recently The Canadians found that refugees payed more tax and contributed to society more than their Millionaire Investor citizens…. The Aussies also found the same sad sack returns from their rich investment citizen schemes
Not to long ago, The Aussie five eyes spies bluffed, bullshitted and punked our prime minister …. when she previously offered NZ to take 100 ( or more? ) refugees off the Ausie Island prison camps.
Shortly after the offer our media carried stories of the aussie navy turning back refugee boats bound for Nz … it was reported as the Aussies stopped these boats from " crossing the ditch " …… To me "The ditch" infers the Tasman sea ….. but according to the Aussie Navy, these boats were turned back into Indonesian waters … So thousands of miles and a sea or two away.
In what seemed a beat up to me ,,,, Aussie 'officials' and herald type media …. were trying to blame jacinda Arden for an upsurge in mythical NZ bound boat people.
In January of this year we were 'warned' that a fishing boat, full of refugees, had left India , NZ bound which is over 11,000 Kms…… never to be heard of again.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/missing-boat-carrying-dozens-indian-migrants-bound-new-zealand-report
John Key fearmongered about refugee boats for most of his DP time as PM …. his proof was … steel boats … and vague reports of the threat ' getting closer'.
It's all bullshit ……….. as the old rooted and often dangerous refugee boats … will always try to make it onto Aussie soil.
The aussie strategy is intercept and prevent this ……. as it allows them to deny a lot of rights refugees who actually make it onto Aussie soil would be entitled to.
Its a cynical stripping of human rights ,, this aussie intercept at sea ,,,, is a nasty creative run around policy…. to avoid acting humane
Creative avoidance of having to act humane.
Thanks for the reminder reason.
It is to be noted that the Aussie intelligence agencies have been living in the pockets of the CIA for many decades. So, it is not surprising they have acted from time to time in the same devious and dishonest way.
Interesting report on the Globug electricity pre-payment system (through Mercury I think.) It sounds like a feel-good advertisement but they have anecdotes to say that it works for people who make payments regularly rather than monthly and if they try to do so will get all the discounts that regular monthly account holders would get. They may get behind and get cut off, but if they contact their provider they can get electricity reinstated quickly with no hefty charge for the reinstatement. It sounds Hope it is as good as it sounds.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018699598/is-the-prepay-power-market-working-as-it-should
It doesn't sound good at all. I gather the issue is people who end up on Globug are people who have financial issues already, and are unlikely to be ontop of payments, otherwise they would be okay with the usual system..
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/104524807/more-protection-needed-for-prepay-power-customers-consumer-nz
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/113441644/prepaid-power-customers-borrowing-to-pay-bills-survey-shows
That is interesting. It came up as a news item I thought. But my antennae thought it sounded too smooth. So thanks for the feedback. I must look again and see the steps – if Radionz have started advertorials I shall go up and kick them in the bum.
An interesting view on Bob Hawke and some of his more radical ideas around reform:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-14/bob-hawke-1979-boyer-lecture-recommended-abolishing-the-states/11203734
"We should seize a simple public education opportunity,
by renaming
GDP (Gross Domestic Product)
to
GDB¹ (Gross Domestic Burn);"
https://un-denial.com/2018/02/08/on-burning-carbon/
Some people eh – so sad and reduced to nothing inside themselves that they hate on others because of skin pigmentation or religious beliefs – yep the real deal – and the others who refuse to notice this shit even when they live down there – ffs
He should be assessed for exposing himself.
Lock em up he obviously is not right in the head
From my reading the increases by increasing the number of pay steps have been loaded to take effect from July 2020. Excluding the $1,500 one off bonus paid only to the union members, those non union will also have to wait another 3 months for their increase to apply – delaying the financial impact to the govts books.
Increasing beginning teachers pay hopefully will make the profession a little more appealing. Still like so many workers of today the difficulty in funding the "Affordable" $650k 2+ bedroom house
So the following govt. will have to deal with the implications as this agreement takes effect a few months before the next election.
Nice to see that "we have no more money" was not true 🤭 Well done the unions as I read this
https://campaigns.nzei.org.nz/time/june-2019-offer-ptca-ppca/
https://campaigns.nzei.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/20190614-Proposed-Terms-of-Settlement-PTCA.pdf
Interesting quote from Duncan Garner, a center left journo
I’ve watched politics closely for 25 years and this government is the least effective of them all, by some margin.
It's almost as though a three-party coalition government might struggle to define and implement a cohesive policy programme, or something. If people are concerned about it, they should vote Labour or Green next time so those two can govern without NZ First. You'd see a coherent policy programme then, alright.
Also: Duncan Garner, a center left journo
Oh, my aching sides! Keep 'em coming!
Another vacuous garnerism, don't sweat it, bewildered.
It was one of those Freudian slips.
I've watched Duncan Garner closely for 25 years and this is his least effective of them all, by some margin.
Gardening leave beckons.
You should have tried to participate and lobby for things to make us more effective instead of watching it like some skewed voyeur.
Druncan may be missing the liquid lunches.
My thoughts on the Government's proposed changes to the Hobbit Law:
https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2019/06/14/party-like-its-1894-reforming-the-hobbit-law-new-zealand-politics/
It's either something very good via the back door, or something very bad via the back door.
During the Key government the huge wind farm project planned for near Huntly named Hauauru Ma Raki, was cancelled when the price of coal dropped. Eric Sykes the head of the Wind Energy Association of New Zealand said at the tim, "the right policy settings" could see the cancelled Hauauru Ma Raki wind farm be restarted.
So why aren’t these policy settings being put in place?
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2019/06/why-hasnt-new-zealand-been-building.html
The Prince of Whales meets the Minnow of Presidents.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-48622001
Kia ora Newshub Nation.
Tanya it is not good the out comes of the tamariki who end up in state care most of those tamariki are Maori & Pacific tamariki they end up in jail or on the streets .
I think that the state abuse should be dragged out into court and sorted OUT so that the state abuse of tamariki will stop .
Eco Maori knows what the state not listening to one concerns as I have tried to use the Official Information act 3 x nothing.
Its sad Tanya that you lost your sister to suerside ultermitly because of state abuse being covered up. .
I agree people should not be put through recalling the trummer 2 or 3 X to get justice that would trummertize you and darn right rude that the person who was listening to you story of abuse while in state care falling asleep is down right rude and disrespectful the state servants are all about protecting them selves and there m8 and the state who care of the carnage that there actions do to the poor common tangata.
I don,t think a state opolergy is going to make any difference to the people whos lives have been harmed I say drag the people at fault for the abuse over the hot coals of a court and COMPONSATION for the people who have been abused that will improve the people whos lives that have been dammaged more than sorry Tova but thanks for this story.
david free speech is diffrent to Hate Speech and white supremacy if we let fools make hate speech and white supremacy common practices we will end up in anarchy A big MESS.
Niki shonky ran NZ like a busness take over he slashed and burned the state agencys budeget and sack heads of agencys use the state police to suppress people that were a threat to him and his goals all targeting a surplase in the state budget denied the housing crisses he was making . One can not run a goverment to cater for one small part of our socity the state need to be run for the better of all people not just the 00.1 %
Ka kite ano
Some Eco Maori music for the minute.
Kia kaha Extinction Rebellion all the people around the world for championing human caused climate change our grandchildren futures are so special to Eco Maori ka pai.
Extinction Rebellion protesters stop rush-hour traffic in London
Lewisham campaigners block three roads into city centre to highlight ‘air pollution crisis
Environmental protesters stopped traffic on three main roads into central Londonfrom the south-east in protest over the “air pollution crisis” in the area.
The protesters, organised by a local chapter of the Extinction Rebellion group, blocked traffic on the A20 near Lewisham station, A205 South Circular in Catford and the A2 in Deptford during the morning rush-hour.
XR said the action was intended as the first in a series of disruptions in the area as part of a campaign called Let Lewisham Breathe. Protesters handed out leaflets and cake to apologise for the disruption caused on a main route into the centre of London.
Extinction Rebellion protesters in Lewisham. Photograph: Lorna Greenwood/Extinction Rebellion
Lorna Greenwood, who took part in the protest despite being nine months pregnant, said she and about 50 fellow activists – all from the local area – began their action at 7.30am ka kite ano link below.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/14/extinction-rebellion-protesters-stop-rush-hour-traffic-london-lewisham
Some Eco Maori music for the minute.
Eco Maori thanks the Pope for his declaration that Human Caused Climate Change is a World Emergency ka pai.
Pope Francis has declared a global “climate emergency”, warning of the dangers of global heating and that a failure to act urgently to reduce greenhouse gases would be “a brutal act of injustice toward the poor and future generations”.
He also endorsed the 1.5C limit on temperature rises that some countries are now aiming for, referring to warnings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of “catastrophic” effects if we crossed such a threshold. He said a “radical energy transition” would be needed to stay within that limit, and urged young people and businesses to take a leading role.
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“Future generations stand to inherit a greatly spoiled world. Our children and grandchildren should not have to pay the cost of our generation’s irresponsibility,” he said, in his strongest and most direct intervention yet on the climate crisis. “Indeed, as is becoming increasingly clear, young people are calling for a change.”
The Pope’s impassioned plea came as he met the leaders of some of the world’s biggest multinational oil companies in the Vatican on Friday to impress upon them the urgency and scale of the challenge, and their central role in tackling the emissions crisis. It followed a similar meeting last year, but this time the Pope’s stance was tougher as he warned that time was running out and urged them to hear “the increasingly desperate cries of the earth and its poor
Ka kite ano link below.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/14/pope-francis-declares-climate-emergency-and-urges-action
Kia ora Newshub.
Ollie I don't think david cares really he just wants the publicity who cares about the people whom are hurting because of hate speech and people who think that they are superior.
Condolences for the whanau of the plane that crashed and the pilot died in NZ
I think everyone should put those life bars on Quads I have had a close call 6 years ago .
I don't think the Nelson council should leavening that leakey suerage pipe spewing crap into Tangaroa for another minute if farmers do something like that they would get a huge fine .
It is shocking the way Australia treats those refugees asylum seekers on manus island the people are self harming and can't see a better future than death WTF Scottmo gets of your ASS and fix this atrocity.
It is very cool all the buildings and aroha that Sir Edmond Hillary graced Nepal with awesome to give it was the old Maori way to give a the receiver userly tried to out gift the other if they had the resources.
Ka kite ano
Kia ora te ao Maori news
I say that oranga tamariki is going to change its prosess in the way that they assess and up lift Pepe and tamariki I hope that they have Maori whanau involvement and maybe get a credible kaumatua to sign the papers before pepe are up lifted should be same Iwi but not a immediate whanau member ie they should not no each other for a fair CALL.
Aotearoa produces enough food to feed 40 million people worldwide that is one of the reason why I back our farmers for one food is going to become more expensive and harder for the common and the poor people to get with Global warming. We have to do our part to feed the whole Papatuanuku. The other is corporate farming taking over our farms and turning Aotearoa into one big factory farm f that.
Awesome to that Wahine printing te reo on cloving kia kaha I missed her company name Eco Maori mite have to get a few shirts branded with my name.
Ka kite ano
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12240761
"Non-union teachers are angry that they will have to wait three months to get the pay rises that the Government has offered to union members…Justin Lindsay, a Hastings Boys' High School music teacher who is philosophically opposed to unions, said the three-month delay in the pay rise for non-union members is unprecedented and unfair.
"We are the teachers who would like to see performance pay and individual contracts," he said.That's a philosophical issue, but I feel like we are being punished for taking that point of view."
Charter school founder Alwyn Poole said even the three-month advance on the pay rise and the $1500 lump sum were less than the fees paid by union members. Union members have paid, on average, well in excess of $500 a year for the last three years and the next three years, i.e. $3000," he said. The percentage increase for three months will only be marginal. Plus the union members have struck for at least three days, [losing] approximately $900. So us non-members are still winning by about $2000 and don't have all of the ridiculous hassle of union membership."
I guess Justin Lindsay will be refusing the pay increases and contacting the Ministry of Education to negotiate an Individual Employment Agreement with performance based pay. If teachers want the pay increases at the same time as every one else, well, they could join the union.
And as for Alwyn Poole, well, if it wasn't for the education unions it's very likely the pay rates for teachers would be quite a bit lower than they are at present and teachers would still be dealing with rubbish like National Standards and Charter Schools.