The NZ Herald use the word "Downfall" of Poto. But I guess in your view the NZH is a hard right wing publication.
It was only a week ago that Jacinda said she had full confidence in Poto but I guess a week is a long time in politics. I agree with your comment "Williams was wrong for Police and Ardern has corrected that." I guess Jacinda has to wear that error of judgement appointing her in the first place, but she took an awful long time to correct that, and has now been forced to act due to public pressure and probably internal polling.
Over the previous weeks there were plenty of Labour supporters here who defended Williams a whole lot more than Ardern did yesterday. For them, such love is blind.
I don't particularly like Ardern granted, but TBH Labour is always going to lose a Law and Order debate no matter what they do.
Ardern has renewed with 18 months to get the game back for a 3rd term.
"Over the previous weeks there were plenty of Labour supporters here who defended Williams"
That is a bit like going to an AA meeting and asking "Do any of you like beer?"
People on the Standard will of course defend any Labour or Green MP (and knock any Nats) no matter what they do. Remember when David Clark broke his own party's lockdown rules and went mountain biking, it was all fine according to people on here. Imagine if it had been a National MP that went biking!
Poto Williams is a fantastic caring and kind person with a huge background with helping the misfortune downtrodden and abused and vulnerable, she was the wrong person for police (and frankly Mahuta is a terrible pic for Mahuta but Mahutas faction is too powerful to reshuffle her)
Poto will do an incredible job in her new portfolios. Things she is strong and confident in, police was always a bizarre and strange pick for Poto but if you're offered a cabinet position you take it.
Call it a demotion call it whatever you want but she's still a minister, she's still in an extremely safe seat and will do a very good job with disabilities.
Trevor, compared to Carter as speaker, did a great job. Carter was probably the worst speaker in my lifetime (quite a long time!)
Poto did a great job of supporting the police. Not much will change under Hipkins because strong foundations have been laid by Poto and Labour. He just might be able to answer bully boy Mercenary Mitchell's attacks on the police a little better than Williams (though I think she did a good job of that too).
A few months back I said if I was advising the PM, I would be telling her to move off shore once her tenure in politics was over.
Fast forward, and Newshub reports threats against the PM have trebled. It's interesting to note for those who still believe our media is rightwing, the reasons given for these increased threats:
''The official information shows anti-vaccination sentiment was a driving force. Opposition to the Government's firearms crackdown post-March 15 was another factor.''
Understandable, especially watching well looked after semi-autos being destroyed by dint of a liberal governments ultimate political wet dream.
''Police said it was not possible to determine the motivation for many of the threats because they were simply "offensive, obscene or threatening words directed at the PM".
Yeah, it's possible to determine another cause for a solid core of threats against the PM. Of course that would be hard for liberal media to report because it may be considered offensive?
Flash back over a decade ago. Banskie was at his best. He had just received a threat on air from a Maori bro who told Banksie to keep his opinions about Maori to himself, or he would come up to Auckland and ''do Banksie, himself.'' ( Banks was proud to have his own case manager at the racist Race Relations Office.)
Banks then spoke about the many threats he had received as a politician. He said he ignored most of them because most people who really wish you harm don't rant and rave – they just get on with the job as one person had tried to do.
So when it comes to the PM, I doubt there's any conspiracy to ''get her'' once she no longer has diplomatic protection. More likely she will be walking to the dairy one day, when Bob Kiwi who is sitting in his car rolling a smoke happens to glance up and sees the woman responsible for not allowing him to hold the hand of his beloved grandma as passed away with no one by her side. The woman who'd brought Bob up. The person he loved the most. His mind goes blank as he exits the car.
Here's the problem. There are many Bobs up and down the length of our once great land. These people don't detest the PM. They don't dislike her. They hate her with a vengeance.
You should think before you post. You just reinforce the stereotype of the nasty Leftie. In your case brainless halfwit at that. Talking of nasty things. Check out this legacy.
"I don't comment on people's private lives and certainly when Trevor Mallard and David Benson-Pope made their allegations in Parliament about Dr Brash's private life they crossed the line," Mrs Collins said on National Radio today.”
You don't see your own hypocrisy Blade? You should follow your own advice and think before you post. You are coming across just like what you are accusing others of being.
That's quite an unhinged, rather threatening rant.
Why should the PM "move off shore once her tenure in politics was over'? I note John key and Paula Bennett, who were quite despised by many still live in NZ. Why should the PM leave NZ? it's her home.
Sounds like the Bob you are describing is yourself Blade, you're the one that hates the PM with a vengeance.
''That's quite an unhinged, rather threatening rant.''
No it's not. That's what you want it to be. That is my honest opinion. You didn't need to abuse. Or did you?
''Why should the PM "move off shore once her tenure in politics was over'? ''
Well, believe it of not, the answer to that is in my post.
''I note John key and Paula Bennett, who were quite despised by many still live in NZ. Why should the PM leave NZ? it's her home.''
''Quite true, and of course, Jacinda does not have to leave NZ. My post said… if I was advising her. John Key and Paula Bennett are not in the same dislike club as Jacinda, simply because Jacinda has had to make decisions that have pissed way more people off – whether rightly or wrongly.''
''Sounds like the Bob you are describing is yourself Blade, you're the one that hates the PM with a vengeance.''
I am neutral regarding the PM – she does nothing for me, or against me. In fact I have praised her on occasions. Not that that would interest you with your cheap point scoring.
"Cheap point scoring" That's what you're doing. Your opinion was abusive and threatening, you don't need to be like that but neither are you neutral either when it comes to the PM and her govt, quite the opposite in fact. Key and Bennett did indeed piss off a hell of a lot of people and the anti Jacinda brigade appear to be a minority, albeit loud and fodder for media clickbait. btw, unlike John key, it's not in Jacinda's DNA to do a runner when times get tough. NZ couldn't have a better leader than Ardern, particularly during these global crises.
No need. I have written time and again there is no one better than Jacinda for fronting a crisis. She is the best of all times. I have written she has bewitched the global community(not all though) with her special brand of Jacinda fairy dust.
Stu.. you are asleep at the wheel. Stay awake and I will learn you.
You need to establish that you are not merely a toxic turkey begging for the axe by showing that some tiny proportion of your sad contributions are based in fact.
You are a dull Blade, but the habit of validating your assertions will (eventually) grind away that superficial dross and scale, until you are no longer a blunt instrument.
I noticed that too. Rather than stop threats of violence against public figures, that she should move. Thankfully she has other advisors.
Or we could treat threats of violence in public life with the severity it deserves and act sharply against extremism. Those who deliberately spread untrue statements about government actions and create all kinds of trouble.
On Groundswell I guess we have to wait until a significant number of farms are rendered uneconomic by flooding and so on and even then perhaps we won’t see any kind of teal/green realization like Aussie.
This is the reality of transition surgery for some. It’s also why so many people are against affirmation of gender identity in children, because once they get to puberty the paths to this kind of surgery is often uncritically offered.
Tullip is a British man in his thirties who was so distressed he couldn’t give informed consent. His doctors certainly didn’t seek it. He had radical transition surgery on the NHS and is left permanently disabled in multiple ways. This is both medical negligence (I would guess much worse than negligence, there’s the sense of experimentation), but also part of a medical scandal that few will talk about but affects many.
The politics of this are that large chunks of the left had supported No Debate (the political position that no one should be allowed to criticises any trans issues), and cancel culture to the point that people are afraid to speak out for fear of losing the jobs and careers. Hence we don’t know what is happening, good research isn’t being done, and we are passing bad laws.
Tulip did a good interview last week on Transition Radio Show's Youtube channel. They also interviewed Shapeshifter a couple of weeks ago, another MtF transitioner talking openly about their medical interventions.
The backstory and timeline of Transition Radio show is interesting to look into, as well.
Scrolling through the replies leads to this contribution from the outstanding UnHerd platform.
Is it a result of the 'baby led' trend that has contributed to this crop of tantrum throwing snowflakes that demand their every wish be not only fulfilled, but accepted and embraced without question by all?
Time for the grown ups to put aside the 'cringe' from their own youthful struggles and step up and be actual parents.
I was talking to a friend recently about a mutual friend whose daughter has said she is a boy, and so her mum bought her a chest binder, and I said how sad I found that. My friend was shocked by my sadness.
“But what would you do if your daughter wanted one?” she asked.
“I’d ask her what she thought she could do as a boy that she can’t do as a girl, and I’d ask if she wanted to be a boy, or did she want to be different person,” I said.
“But it’s the daughter’s choice,” my friend said.
“It would be her choice if she wanted to self-harm. But I wouldn’t buy her the razor,” I replied.
I'm a bit worried about David, he appears to be the only ACT rep allowed to talk to the media. They don't care about his mental health and will work him delusional if he can't delegate. Could ACT find a representative to cover him while he takes a break?
Surely this lack of sharpness says a lot about why hes considered too Socialist in some circles.
Especially with your increased risk of substantive capital loss,on investment watch the capital gains of the last 2 years contract to their real price of around 5 median incomes to median price.
US mortgage rates just crashed through to 6.13%,and the bloody monday event on wall street saw a 4% wack on your super fund.
The substantive rates increases coming for AK will be a problem going forward with the debt blowout heading to 20b by 2027.(excluding the cost blowouts and uncosted changes to infrastructure for the light rail lemon.
Treasury stated in the budget update that ownership had yet to be determined for light rail.The cost of land and infrastructure realignment has not been determined or costed into the project,and is expected to double the cost.
Look at the cost of the blowouts on cycleways alone,all funded on increased debt.
Yes that's Treasury keeping the back door open for a PPP + 'targeted rates'. Whether they went through with a targeted rate, it's not determined if Ak Council would collect it, but I very much doubt they will.
Minister Robertson was clearer, saying: "the Government will fund the "lion's share" of the $15b project and look at other options, including "value uplift" – a charge on businesses and developments that benefit from the project – and some kind of targeted rate."
In the major projects industry we are generally viewing light rail is dead, unless Labour get back for a third term.
My general view of cycleway cost blowouts is simply: every single major transport project is about to blow out. Nothing we can do except kill projects if we want to stay in budget.
the full cost is 25B as neither land or moving of infrastructure and services has been costed in,treasury warning also stated interest costs and forex costs not fully included.
The $$ for ones on the starting line like PenLink, AMETI to Botany, Riverlink, 2nd Harbour Crossing, Downtown Wellington, and the next tranche of Ak trains … I would watch them closely as they are going to blow sky high.
In the US and Europe construction materials such as rebar and lumber have fallen off peaks,the latter in the US coming back 55% in 3 months as new inventory stalls in the housing market.
The RBNZ review into housing determined the NZ housing and construction sectors were operating at 133% of capacity and it needed to contract to sustainable levels to constrain build inflation.
The OECD suggested pausing large infrastructure,to constrain both deflation and forward debt risk.
House prices will fall,thats a given as the central banks QT and ratchet interest mechanisms start to rotate both buyers and sellers to the new reality.
Well the sandflys are still breaking into my whare at will trying to set me up to crashs everyday i go to work next minute national are waving the flag
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The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Changes to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
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The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
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Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...
Our response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...
The new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...
The Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...
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A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)Hot off the press, this debut ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...
Chief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...
The Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The ...
Barcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...
Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...
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“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...
The Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...
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With Poto Williams being demoted and Trevor Mallard going, that's National's two best assets gone which should strengthen Labour.
Cabinet reshuffle: Chris Hipkins new Police Minister as PM says Poto Williams 'lost focus' – NZ Herald
In my world Conservation is a promotion.
Spot on, Ad. Conservation is a very important portfolio!
You really should do stand up comedy (or spin for Labour. So in your view Poto has been promoted!)………that's gold!
Moved to Disabilities and Conservation where Jacinda hopes even Poto cant fuck those up!
Conservation is the primary Ministry within which our colonial sins are now washed clean. Sure ain't in Office of Treaty Settlements.
Check out the depth of partnership through all the national parks that we have with iwi.
Check out also Minister Williams' depth of background in disability issues.
Williams was wrong for Police and Ardern has corrected that.
The NZ Herald use the word "Downfall" of Poto. But I guess in your view the NZH is a hard right wing publication.
It was only a week ago that Jacinda said she had full confidence in Poto but I guess a week is a long time in politics. I agree with your comment "Williams was wrong for Police and Ardern has corrected that." I guess Jacinda has to wear that error of judgement appointing her in the first place, but she took an awful long time to correct that, and has now been forced to act due to public pressure and probably internal polling.
Over the previous weeks there were plenty of Labour supporters here who defended Williams a whole lot more than Ardern did yesterday. For them, such love is blind.
I don't particularly like Ardern granted, but TBH Labour is always going to lose a Law and Order debate no matter what they do.
Ardern has renewed with 18 months to get the game back for a 3rd term.
"Over the previous weeks there were plenty of Labour supporters here who defended Williams"
That is a bit like going to an AA meeting and asking "Do any of you like beer?"
People on the Standard will of course defend any Labour or Green MP (and knock any Nats) no matter what they do. Remember when David Clark broke his own party's lockdown rules and went mountain biking, it was all fine according to people on here. Imagine if it had been a National MP that went biking!
Poto Williams is a fantastic caring and kind person with a huge background with helping the misfortune downtrodden and abused and vulnerable, she was the wrong person for police (and frankly Mahuta is a terrible pic for Mahuta but Mahutas faction is too powerful to reshuffle her)
Poto will do an incredible job in her new portfolios. Things she is strong and confident in, police was always a bizarre and strange pick for Poto but if you're offered a cabinet position you take it.
Call it a demotion call it whatever you want but she's still a minister, she's still in an extremely safe seat and will do a very good job with disabilities.
plus 1 Ad, Conservation is massive, the fact RWs don't get that is rather showing IMO.
But weren’t Trevor and Poto doing a great job? And just the other day Kris Faafoi said he loved Parliament and wasn’t going anywhere.
Trevor, compared to Carter as speaker, did a great job. Carter was probably the worst speaker in my lifetime (quite a long time!)
Poto did a great job of supporting the police. Not much will change under Hipkins because strong foundations have been laid by Poto and Labour. He just might be able to answer bully boy Mercenary Mitchell's attacks on the police a little better than Williams (though I think she did a good job of that too).
Chris Trotter invokes the ghost of Muldoon.
https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2022/06/the-recession-new-zealand-has-to-have.html
Fuck he just moans.
He's incapable of admitting that this is the most interventionist social democratic government we've had since Kirk.
That is hard to argue against.
Intervention is not automatically a bad thing.
Chris Trotter spends his whole life living in 1982.
And complaining that the Labour Party don't invite him to sing at their Conferences any more.
He's done very well out of being a 'lefty' for the media to use as 'balance' like pagani etc.
Nice work If you can get it.
True. tc.
Agreed Sanc….that's why he hates the Greens. But he can write superbly at times
Hmmm…8 comments and not one addressed the theme of the article….no surprises there.
Mens Health..a sad indictment. And its this week !
A few months back I said if I was advising the PM, I would be telling her to move off shore once her tenure in politics was over.
Fast forward, and Newshub reports threats against the PM have trebled. It's interesting to note for those who still believe our media is rightwing, the reasons given for these increased threats:
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/06/threats-against-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-involving-police-almost-triple-in-three-years.html
Quote:
''The official information shows anti-vaccination sentiment was a driving force. Opposition to the Government's firearms crackdown post-March 15 was another factor.''
Understandable, especially watching well looked after semi-autos being destroyed by dint of a liberal governments ultimate political wet dream.
''Police said it was not possible to determine the motivation for many of the threats because they were simply "offensive, obscene or threatening words directed at the PM".
Yeah, it's possible to determine another cause for a solid core of threats against the PM. Of course that would be hard for liberal media to report because it may be considered offensive?
Flash back over a decade ago. Banskie was at his best. He had just received a threat on air from a Maori bro who told Banksie to keep his opinions about Maori to himself, or he would come up to Auckland and ''do Banksie, himself.'' ( Banks was proud to have his own case manager at the racist Race Relations Office.)
Banks then spoke about the many threats he had received as a politician. He said he ignored most of them because most people who really wish you harm don't rant and rave – they just get on with the job as one person had tried to do.
So when it comes to the PM, I doubt there's any conspiracy to ''get her'' once she no longer has diplomatic protection. More likely she will be walking to the dairy one day, when Bob Kiwi who is sitting in his car rolling a smoke happens to glance up and sees the woman responsible for not allowing him to hold the hand of his beloved grandma as passed away with no one by her side. The woman who'd brought Bob up. The person he loved the most. His mind goes blank as he exits the car.
Here's the problem. There are many Bobs up and down the length of our once great land. These people don't detest the PM. They don't dislike her. They hate her with a vengeance.
Are you always an idiot, or do you work on it for this site?
You should think before you post. You just reinforce the stereotype of the nasty Leftie. In your case brainless halfwit at that. Talking of nasty things. Check out this legacy.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/06/trevor-mallard-retires-a-look-back-at-the-long-time-mp-s-career-in-parliament.html
Yep saw that on TV3 last night. Scalping rugby tickets to students ….how low can you go.
In terms of "lowness" that wouldn't even leave a mark
To be fair he probably needed the cash, MPs aren't well remunerated for their efforts
Terrible stuff, Jimmy. I think he went lower though.
Talking of nasty things = Talking of affairs.
Remember this? I would like to say plenty more about the character of the Left. But Sanctuary above and below has obliged me.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/labours-questioning-of-brash-a-disgrace/MK5GPXOIUJONA2A2PF2B75XKJM/
Quote:
"I don't comment on people's private lives and certainly when Trevor Mallard and David Benson-Pope made their allegations in Parliament about Dr Brash's private life they crossed the line," Mrs Collins said on National Radio today.”
That's a wicked tag-team.
What a snowflake.
You don't see your own hypocrisy Blade? You should follow your own advice and think before you post. You are coming across just like what you are accusing others of being.
The first of your 2 options, Sanctuary!
LOL, I think the PM is a child ,in mind only.She hasnt any depth,she shall be remembered by many for what she has forced on NZ,hers to deal with.
bobnaki lol You show such depth of perception sarc.
I bet she can manage basic grammar and punctuation though.
The last 5 years proves your opinion wrong bobnaki
That's quite an unhinged, rather threatening rant.
Why should the PM "move off shore once her tenure in politics was over'? I note John key and Paula Bennett, who were quite despised by many still live in NZ. Why should the PM leave NZ? it's her home.
Sounds like the Bob you are describing is yourself Blade, you're the one that hates the PM with a vengeance.
''That's quite an unhinged, rather threatening rant.''
No it's not. That's what you want it to be. That is my honest opinion. You didn't need to abuse. Or did you?
''Why should the PM "move off shore once her tenure in politics was over'? ''
Well, believe it of not, the answer to that is in my post.
''I note John key and Paula Bennett, who were quite despised by many still live in NZ. Why should the PM leave NZ? it's her home.''
''Quite true, and of course, Jacinda does not have to leave NZ. My post said… if I was advising her. John Key and Paula Bennett are not in the same dislike club as Jacinda, simply because Jacinda has had to make decisions that have pissed way more people off – whether rightly or wrongly.''
''Sounds like the Bob you are describing is yourself Blade, you're the one that hates the PM with a vengeance.''
I am neutral regarding the PM – she does nothing for me, or against me. In fact I have praised her on occasions. Not that that would interest you with your cheap point scoring.
"Cheap point scoring" That's what you're doing. Your opinion was abusive and threatening, you don't need to be like that but neither are you neutral either when it comes to the PM and her govt, quite the opposite in fact. Key and Bennett did indeed piss off a hell of a lot of people and the anti Jacinda brigade appear to be a minority, albeit loud and fodder for media clickbait. btw, unlike John key, it's not in Jacinda's DNA to do a runner when times get tough. NZ couldn't have a better leader than Ardern, particularly during these global crises.
In fact I have praised her on occasions.
Citation required.
No need. I have written time and again there is no one better than Jacinda for fronting a crisis. She is the best of all times. I have written she has bewitched the global community(not all though) with her special brand of Jacinda fairy dust.
Stu.. you are asleep at the wheel. Stay awake and I will learn you.
I'm afraid there is every need, Blade.
You need to establish that you are not merely a toxic turkey begging for the axe by showing that some tiny proportion of your sad contributions are based in fact.
You are a dull Blade, but the habit of validating your assertions will (eventually) grind away that superficial dross and scale, until you are no longer a blunt instrument.
I noticed that too. Rather than stop threats of violence against public figures, that she should move. Thankfully she has other advisors.
Or we could treat threats of violence in public life with the severity it deserves and act sharply against extremism. Those who deliberately spread untrue statements about government actions and create all kinds of trouble.
Spin-off report on online mischief at the protests
On Groundswell I guess we have to wait until a significant number of farms are rendered uneconomic by flooding and so on and even then perhaps we won’t see any kind of teal/green realization like Aussie.
+1 newsense
This is the reality of transition surgery for some. It’s also why so many people are against affirmation of gender identity in children, because once they get to puberty the paths to this kind of surgery is often uncritically offered.
Tullip is a British man in his thirties who was so distressed he couldn’t give informed consent. His doctors certainly didn’t seek it. He had radical transition surgery on the NHS and is left permanently disabled in multiple ways. This is both medical negligence (I would guess much worse than negligence, there’s the sense of experimentation), but also part of a medical scandal that few will talk about but affects many.
The politics of this are that large chunks of the left had supported No Debate (the political position that no one should be allowed to criticises any trans issues), and cancel culture to the point that people are afraid to speak out for fear of losing the jobs and careers. Hence we don’t know what is happening, good research isn’t being done, and we are passing bad laws.
https://twitter.com/wekatweets/status/1536454022407655424
Tulip did a good interview last week on Transition Radio Show's Youtube channel. They also interviewed Shapeshifter a couple of weeks ago, another MtF transitioner talking openly about their medical interventions.
The backstory and timeline of Transition Radio show is interesting to look into, as well.
Detrans subreddit now at 33.6K members.
https://youtu.be/qtNVFljdo1E
Scrolling through the replies leads to this contribution from the outstanding UnHerd platform.
Is it a result of the 'baby led' trend that has contributed to this crop of tantrum throwing snowflakes that demand their every wish be not only fulfilled, but accepted and embraced without question by all?
Time for the grown ups to put aside the 'cringe' from their own youthful struggles and step up and be actual parents.
I was talking to a friend recently about a mutual friend whose daughter has said she is a boy, and so her mum bought her a chest binder, and I said how sad I found that. My friend was shocked by my sadness.
“But what would you do if your daughter wanted one?” she asked.
“I’d ask her what she thought she could do as a boy that she can’t do as a girl, and I’d ask if she wanted to be a boy, or did she want to be different person,” I said.
“But it’s the daughter’s choice,” my friend said.
“It would be her choice if she wanted to self-harm. But I wouldn’t buy her the razor,” I replied.
Indeed.
Political blindness 101. This lot should be the last to be pontificating.
Quote:
''But the changes haven't gone over well at the ACT Party, and Seymour said the reshuffle doesn't change the Government's "lack of talent.''
Oh, boy!
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/06/act-national-decry-cabinet-reshuffle-say-it-won-t-change-government-s-lack-of-delivery.html
I'm a bit worried about David, he appears to be the only ACT rep allowed to talk to the media. They don't care about his mental health and will work him delusional if he can't delegate. Could ACT find a representative to cover him while he takes a break?
Surely this lack of sharpness says a lot about why hes considered too Socialist in some circles.
Stats just released food index inflation came in at 6.8% annual increase,rental index cam in at 3.8% for existing tenancy ,and 5.3% for new tenancy.
https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/annual-food-price-increase-remains-high-at-6-8-percent/
https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/rental-price-indexes-may-2022/
prices will not affect next months ocr review as housing costs are still substantive,and property prices need a good wack.
Yep my fixed term tenancies ending at the end of this year will have prices going up. Got to pay that higher mortgage.
Especially with your increased risk of substantive capital loss,on investment watch the capital gains of the last 2 years contract to their real price of around 5 median incomes to median price.
US mortgage rates just crashed through to 6.13%,and the bloody monday event on wall street saw a 4% wack on your super fund.
My gearing is tiny and the cashflow just needs to stay balanced.
I'm reasonably sanguine on Growth … so far.
The substantive rates increases coming for AK will be a problem going forward with the debt blowout heading to 20b by 2027.(excluding the cost blowouts and uncosted changes to infrastructure for the light rail lemon.
Light rail is on central government's books not local government.
But Auckland Council is on the hook for the cost increases within City Rail Link which are already substantial.
Treasury stated in the budget update that ownership had yet to be determined for light rail.The cost of land and infrastructure realignment has not been determined or costed into the project,and is expected to double the cost.
Look at the cost of the blowouts on cycleways alone,all funded on increased debt.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/469068/cycleway-building-programme-faces-delays-deferrals-over-potential-670m-overspend
Yes that's Treasury keeping the back door open for a PPP + 'targeted rates'. Whether they went through with a targeted rate, it's not determined if Ak Council would collect it, but I very much doubt they will.
Minister Robertson was clearer, saying: "the Government will fund the "lion's share" of the $15b project and look at other options, including "value uplift" – a charge on businesses and developments that benefit from the project – and some kind of targeted rate."
Auckland $15b light rail project will largely be paid for by Government and built by 2033, say ministers – NZ Herald
In the major projects industry we are generally viewing light rail is dead, unless Labour get back for a third term.
My general view of cycleway cost blowouts is simply: every single major transport project is about to blow out. Nothing we can do except kill projects if we want to stay in budget.
The QS and Estimating teams are going nuts.
the full cost is 25B as neither land or moving of infrastructure and services has been costed in,treasury warning also stated interest costs and forex costs not fully included.
It's not a project we need to worry about.
The $$ for ones on the starting line like PenLink, AMETI to Botany, Riverlink, 2nd Harbour Crossing, Downtown Wellington, and the next tranche of Ak trains … I would watch them closely as they are going to blow sky high.
In the US and Europe construction materials such as rebar and lumber have fallen off peaks,the latter in the US coming back 55% in 3 months as new inventory stalls in the housing market.
The RBNZ review into housing determined the NZ housing and construction sectors were operating at 133% of capacity and it needed to contract to sustainable levels to constrain build inflation.
The OECD suggested pausing large infrastructure,to constrain both deflation and forward debt risk.
House prices will fall,thats a given as the central banks QT and ratchet interest mechanisms start to rotate both buyers and sellers to the new reality.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/us-canada/300612838/how-to-murder-your-husband-author-jailed-for-murdering-her-husband
For some reason I felt like listening to this song…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jne9t8sHpUc
Bloody hell. Compton, here comes Aotearoa. It's been reasonably quiet in my neck of the woods recently. Just a couple of bashings and two ram raids.
https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/taupiri-shooting-man-dropping-his-child-off-at-school-injured-when-gunman-opened-fire/
Blade – you remind me of Marilyn Monroe luxuriating in a bubble-bath. Except for your appearance, of course.
Kia Ora whano
Well the sandflys are still breaking into my whare at will trying to set me up to crashs everyday i go to work next minute national are waving the flag