Medvedev wrote that Russia has not yet used “its full arsenal” of weapons and has not struck “all potential enemy targets.” He added that “there is time for everything.” ”
In light of Russia's armed forces weakness and failure on the battlefield, Medvedev's comment that Russia has not used its full arsenal of weapons and his veiled threat to strike, a mighty enemy and/or alliance of enemies, that the Russian imperialists intend to continue their expansion and aggression to establish their ‘future world order’ under the cover of their nuclear umbrella.
They have told themselves stories of their manifest superiority for too long, and rather than try to grow into those role models, they have rested upon them. A few political parties here have the same vice, just not yet carried to the same extremes.
I think it is time to view the Russian nuclear sabre rattling as an empty threat.
As one commentator I heard said, the Russian narrative gets the world talking about the Russian nukes rather than the great success of the Ukrainian military.
China has told Russia nukes are a red line for them. So, basically telling their poodle to get back in line.
A death cult calling for a MAD attack on Washington?
I wonder if these people have children or anyone to cherish.
I also wonder if there has ever been an equivalent death cult calling for a MAD strike on the Kremlin, or is this just a Russian thing?
I notice that these protesters aren't being violently dragged into police vans.
While these MAD protesters obviously have the support of the police and the Russian state, thank goodness this well rehearsed death cult is not representative of most Russians, many thousands of Russians have been arrested and dragged away into police vans for protesting against the war in Ukraine.
to establish their ‘future world order’ under the cover of their nuclear umbrella.
A "new world order" does not imply that that order will be unipolar. The latter (under US hegemony) is really the USA's ambition.
Putin has said recently that he will not use nuclear weapons against Ukraine. Do we believe him? Ukraine will have to gamble on him keeping his word since they can't reasonably back down at this stage.
‘ A "new world order" does not imply that that order will be unipolar.mikesh
Mikesh, nowhere did I imply that the Russian Federation "new world order" would be unipolar.
The supporters of Russian and Chinese expansion and aggression allegedly want a 'multipolar world order' by the so called BRIC countries.
Brazil, Russia, Iran, China
The last powers to attempt to impose a new multipolar world order;
The US dollar is at present the world's reserve currency. The BRIC countries, understandably, would like to change that. It seems that some sort of "pandora's box" was opened when Nixon severed the US dollar from its connection with gold.
‘ “The US dollar is at present the world’s reserve currency.”mikesh
So what?
“The BRIC countries, understandably, would like to change that.”mickesh
Sure, I can see why they might want that.
The British Pound was once the world's default currency. Which of course must also have been annoying to Germany, Italy, and Japan.
But the answer to British imperialism was not German imperialism, (or Japanese or Italian imperialism).
British imperialism was not ended by German imperialism.
What ended the British Empire were movements for national independence from British political and economic hegemony.
US imperialism will not be ended by rival imperialists. US imperialism will be ended by movements for national independence from US political and economic hegemony.
And Russian imperialism too, will also be ended by movements for national independence.
We are witnessing that process unfolding in real time.
The defeat of Russian imperialism at the hands of the Ukraine nationalist independence movement, will be a message to all imperialists and all anti-imperialists: 'Imperialism, the cause of misery and injustice all over the world, is not invulnerable.'
The age of imperialism is passing.
……the British pound was once the world's de facto reserve currency, while today the U.S. dollar and Euro are regarded as reserve currencies…
"…We left Abd el Main there and rode on past the other bodies, now seen clearly in the sunlight to be men, women, and four babies, toward the village whose loneliness we knew meant that it was full of death and horror. On the outskirts were the low mud walls of some sheep-folds, and on one lay something red and white. I looked nearer, and saw the body of a woman folded across it, face downward, nailed there by a saw-bayonet whose half stuck hideously into the air from between her naked legs. She had been pregnant, and about her were others, perhaps twenty in all, variously killed, but laid out to accord with an obscene taste. The Zaggi burst out into wild peals of laughter, in which some of those who were not sick joined hysterically. It was a sight near madness, the more desolate for the warm sunshine and the clean air of this upland afternoon. I said: "The best of you brings me the most Turkish dead"; and we turned and rode as fast as we might in the direction of the fading enemy. On our way we shot down those of them fallen out by the roadside who came imploring our pity…"
T. E Lawrence, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom.
Wikipedia tells us that in retaliation for the massacre, Lawrence's troops attacked the withdrawing Turkish columns, and for the first time in the war ordered his men to take no prisoners.
@ Sanctuary…So just to be clear, and we can all understand exactly what you are stating here on TS…it seems that you are saying that when any soldier from the Wagner Group are captured, they should be executed immediately by their captors?..is that what you just said?
The Ukraine has shown remarkable constraint in it's treatment of Russian POWs compared to barbarism of it's opponents, which is to be commended. They must consider the treatment of their ownmen held by the Russians – they are already subject to torture and indignities.
To be honest, I wonder if I could be so magnaminous to captured members of an organisation whose ranks are filled by criminals and brutalised mercenaries who have been ravaging my homeland.
The only WW2 old soldier I ever talked to on the subject made it reasonably clear to me that as far as he was concerned (he was an Anders Army/Polish paratrooper) anyone from the SS they took prisoner would count himself extrememly fortunate to survive the event.
So I am not saying you shoot Fascist Russia's Waffen SS equivalent out of hand as policy, that would be awful. But personally I would not be too inclined to hang onto to any of them if it was any sort of inconvenience whatsoever. As mercenaries, IMHO they have forfeited that right.
That's funny because that is exactly what your comment implies….what nuance did I miss?
"Wikipedia tells us that in retaliation for the massacre, Lawrence's troops attacked the withdrawing Turkish columns, and for the first time in the war ordered his men to take no prisoners.
And Ukrainian forces have also committed plenty of war crime of that you can be sure..
"Each soldier who got out of the van got a bullet to the knee from an assault rifle, whereas they were defenseless and tied up. I have videos showing this. Otherwise, I would not allow myself to make such allegations, showing Russian soldiers getting bullets in the knee. … And the ones who unfortunately decided to say, “I am an officer,” they got a bullet to the head."
If you really believe that in what is total war in the Ukraine, that both sides are not now and have not been involved in war crimes, then your understanding/knowledge of history and war is even worse than I already know it is….but then again, with your long history here on TS in totally believing without question pretty much any and all liberal propaganda… believing in, and then vigorously debating the existence of unicorns and dragons here on TS wouldn't be that much of leap from where you are sitting right now…you have done worse.
Unlike Putin dupes, I try not to believe too much in the absence of evidence.
No doubt there have been incidents on both sides – but the preponderance certainly lies with the invaders – Ukrainian forces having no civilians to abuse.
But of course, as one of the most credulous lackeys mindlessly repeating Putin's propaganda the cognitive dissonance in admitting you are on the wrong side is doubtless more than your ego can stand.
"Ukrainian forces having no civilians to abuse"…have you any understanding to what is going on in the Ukraine at all, that this conflict has been going on as a civil war since 2014?…obviously not.
Maybe you should take the time to read this extract from Amnesty….you do understand that everyone from all sides are lying at full volume right?
"Each side has made allegations against the other of extrajudicial killings and other grave human rights abuses, which have been extensively broadcast in the Ukrainian and Russian media. Many of these reports, however, have been poorly substantiated or unsubstantiated.
Even in cases where the allegations have some basis in reality, their scale has often been considerably exaggerated"
"….you do understand that everyone from all sides are lying at full volume right?" Adrian Thornton
Maybe you are right about that, Adrian.
For instance, you could bring up some horrific alleged atrocity committed by Ukraine, and I could best you with some other alleged atrocity committed by Russia. And we could play that stupid game all day long. And at this far distance never being able to attain the truth.
Which is why I don't refer to, or argue about disputed atrocities.
Only to war crimes that can't be disputed, or denied as never having happened.
The numerous Russian missiles that have been captured in photos and video slamming into apartment buildings.
The deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, admitted by Russia. Why waste my breath arguing with you about Bucha or any other atrocity, When the deliberate destruction of civilian homes and infrastructure is a war crime openly admitted to by Russia.
Ukraine didn't invade Russia, Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia is the aggressor in this war.
Adrian as you are a big time supporter of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Can you answer these two simple questions for me;
Do you support slamming missiles into apartment buildings?
Do you support the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure like power and water utilities with bombs and missiles?
My guess; You will ignore both these questions. And you will keep ignoring them.
Which is why I will make it my mission to keep asking you them.
I want to be able to determine the depth of your depravity. So expect me Adrian, to be asking you these two questions every time that you raise some specious argument in support of the bloody invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation.
Do you Adrian Thornton support slamming missiles into apartment buildings?
Do you support the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure?
You aren’t going to get out of this one so easily my friend…
What I am doing Sanctuary, is establishing for everyone here on TS to see and understand, is where your moral compass is pointing, and as I have suspected for a long time it points down…you have out in the open, advocated for the summery execution of prisoners of war.
You know there was a good reason why I used to describe you Liberal neo-imperialist war hawks as ‘Camp Guards” (which I am no longer allowed to do)..that was because it describes you lot perfectly…march to the step of propaganda in perfect time, and as you have just confessed here today, use extreme violence when rallied by that same propaganda to do so..pretty unsettling stuff.
Ukraine is being backed by the West, and is dependent on the West for the supply of weaponry, so I guess it has to be remain "squeaky clean". Or am I just being cynical ?
"…since when has 'The West' cared about war crimes committed under it's name…"
Absolutely ridiculous whataboutism.
Have you seen what remain of Mariupol or Severdonesk? How did Grozny look after the Russian way of war had finished with it? How do you think the civilian population of Al-Fallujah would have fared if it had been the Russians and not the Americans clearing the city? For all their sins, western armies gave up leveling heavily populated civilian areas with massive amounts of indiscriminate heavy artillery fire seventy years ago, and the mis-treatment of prisoners by western special forces has led to numerous scandals.
Do you really think that if a bunch of our SAS guys uploaded to Youtube a celebratory video of them proudly smashing a Syrian captives hands and feet with a sledgehammer before cutting said limbs off with a saw and finally executing their victim by smashing his brains out with the sledgehammer, cutting off what is left of the head and offering one final indignity of of buring the corpse we'd all just go around saying "Ah, such is the SAS way of execution!" and happily watch them all getting promoted?
The Wagner group is full of monsters who deserve whatever they get.
The thing is Sanctuary, you have proven today, that when push comes to shove you would most probably be just like them, that's the irony, and that is probably what triggers you so much.…do you really think that once you had given the green light to dehumanize a body of humans so that they can be executed without remorse, this despicable crime that you are so keen on, that they would all just get a clean bullet through the back of the head? of course not…you are a fucking maniac.
My Lai is a neat illustration of the difference actually. First, the massacre was stopped by actions of a passing helicopter pilot, who at one stage threatened his own side with his machine gun. Second, it caused all operations in the area tobe cancelled as the US forces were effectivly deemed to ill disciplined to continue, third all the ringleaders were tried (albeit acquitted), fourth their was a humoungous and debilitating scandal over the massacre and fifthly, Hugh Thompson Jr and his helicopter crew were ultimately decorated for their actions.
Not one of those five things would occur in Putin's army, let alone the Wagner group.
It has been said that America lost in Vietnam because that war was the first war to be televised, and thus the American public were able to see the atrocities that were being committed in their name.
That was a comforting fiction, like the contemporary Russian one that they are being defeated by Nato mercenaries rather than the despised khokhols. The Vietnamese fought a superpower to a standstill.
@Sanctuary…
And of course you used T.E Lawrence as example of your justified righteous retribution, a perfect choice coming from you…a great white man solving coloured people’s problems for them…I really don’t think you are even aware of the racism that so deeply embedded within the very fabric of the world outlook and ideology you promote so passionately….maybe one day you will have an epiphany around this, but I doubt it.
I really don’t think you are even aware of the racism that so deeply embedded within the very fabric of the world
White Russian racism you mean? It's a feature of the regime you shill for.
Racist attacks and killings of foreigners and ethnic minorities are reported with shocking regularity in Russia and, disturbingly, their frequency seems to be increasing. Amnesty.
I have stayed out of this debate for a long time, thinking that history is going to make one of two utterly convinced sides look very silly.
But Stuart – I felt wary when you first quoted T E Lawrence. In literature he is a recognised giant. Unfortunately, in racism, some have found a patronising element in his works..
Are you recognising that Lawrence was racist in his attitude to inferior Arabs? It sounds to me as if you are equating what you call White Russian racism with Lawrence's racism.
In the rush of things, did you intend it that way?
I'm a fan of Lawrence, having read it with an Algerian student back in the day – though it was Sanctuary that raised him on this occasion.
Lawrence was a thorough Arabophile, which was how it was that he was a fluent Arabic speaker (likely the only truly fluent British officer of the period). He sympathized with the Arab cause, and bitterly resented the Sykes-Picot treaty which subjugated them once more to the commercial interests of Britain and France. It reneged upon the UK's promises to Arabs, which Lawrence had vouched for, dishonouring him. This led him to retire from public life – he felt disgraced.
Lawrence was a 'white saviour', which people of colour are not presently fond of. But it requires a considerable stretch to call him a racist – he was infinitely more pro-Arab than was usual in his day. He had completed his degree on the Crusader castles of the region, and had traveled to them, making him knowledgeable of the terrain and its strategic consequences. As the champion of the Arabic cause within the army, and the conduit for arms and materiale to Arabic forces, who were revolting against a Turkish rule that had conducted a number of genocides, Lawrence to a large extent made the revolt happen.
A degree of patronizing was probably inevitable. Lawrence did his degree at Oxford, but many of the men he led were illiterate. When they made unenlightened errors, like the fellow that quarreled with and murdered a fellow Arab soldier, Lawrence was obliged to deal with it. He summarily executed the murderer, and his troops were satisfied enough that further animosity did not develop. A less honest narrator might not have recorded the incident.
Anyone wants to bathe in a warm soapy shower of cleansing schadenfreude, check out MSNBC smiling all the way through the Democrats taking the Senate and Kelly Lake getting done like a political dinner.
Power companies have been paying out billions more in dividends than they've been making in profits, driving up electricity prices, union researchers have found.
The report – co-authored by First Union, the Council of Trade Unions, and climate group 350 – calls for the payouts to instead be channelled into building renewable generating capacity.
The paper also recommends a windfall tax.
From 2014 to 2021, Contact, Genesis, Mercury and Meridian paid shareholders $8.7 billion in dividends, the report said. That's despite recording a total profit of just $5.35b over that period.
I was going to post this as well. Can some smart person, in good faith of course, explain why we need to do this again? Line the pockets of shareholders? How is that better than not doing it?
I seem to remember, from years ago, a cartoon in the magazine, MAD, pointing out all the job losses that would be caused by the war against cigarette smoking.
The biggest denomination I can think of would be the Singapore $10,000 note. That is about $8,000 US dollars. $44 billion US would therefore be about 5.5 million notes
That is a pile of notes about 6 kilometres high and would weigh about 5,500 kg (if I have done the maths properly).
I think you are right. It would take a very long time to get it all burnt with even the largest circulating note wouldn't it? Perhaps we could approach the BOE and see if they would supply us with some Titans. They are a (non-circulating) note worth 100 million pounds and are the backing for the Scottish and Norther Irish banknotes. We would only need a few hundred of them.
" Behind the headline “$200m boost for new homes” is a sordid tale of a government demolishing state houses, selling most of the land to private property developers and in this case building fewer state houses than were previously there "
If a National government was doing this Megan Woods would be raging and demanding the resignation of the minister. If only.
173,000 more homes since Labour came to power. 1 in 12 homes in NZ built in just 5 years
More bullshit from Clint Smith,using gross figures without subtracting the houses demolished.Here an independent metric shows the reality of the difference in code of compliance and usable housing.
The electrical connections to residential houses (ICP) was
Could you please double-check your numbers for 2022?
Looking at this chart (figure.nz) the number of "estimated private dwellings" is over 2 million.
Looking at this table (emi.ea.govt.nz) the number of residential ICP is 1.9 million (September 2022).
The number of ICPs is higher than the figure you've given (just checked the figures for June 2022: 1,908,807 compared to 1,916,835 in September 2022) and the estimated number of dwellings is higher than the numbers of ICPs.
Good point,there is a difference in the 2 datasets of the EA,and MBIE.
MBIE uses distribution (line company) data ,EA uses retail data ( number of consumers) ,the MBIE data also removes the Rural (agriculture etc) from the data set.
Unless you're a property speculator, NZ housing value trends are looking good, especially for first home buyers – long may this modest correction continue.
Property prices need to drop significantly to be affordable,where median multiples do matter,and a larger focus on debt repayment rather then debt accumulation (leverage).
Thanks – median multiple dropped 13% from 9.3 to ~8.1 in 10 months (to 30 Sept 2022), so looking good also – a temporary correction is better than none.
Would be great if the median multiple could be driven down (gradually) to ~6.
Has Minto forgotten that the previous National govt shifted the goal posts and removed people from the state housing wait list and made it harder to get on it?
2011 "About 4700 families with only "moderate" or "low" housing needs will be bumped off the waiting list for state houses if the National Party wins this year's election.
Housing Minister Phil Heatley says Housing NZ will stop accepting applicants with low or moderate needs on its waiting list"
"Building more houses was not a lasting solution, Mr Heatley said.
Labour's housing spokeswoman, Moana Mackey, said that comment was concerning. "What he failed to say is that when National was in power in the 1990s, it oversaw a fire-sale of state houses and introduced market rents which put even state housing out of reach for many families."
National's answer was to kick people off the waiting list, she said"
Three Waters has become Five Waters? What's going on? Democracy? What democracy! The most important general election in New Zealand's history happens next year, folks.
Quote:
''The really radical move in the report — also overlooked entirely by Jack Tame on TVNZ’s Q&A and by Andrew Dickens interviewing Mahuta for Newstalk ZB — was the proposed extension to the scope of Te Mana o Te Wai statements.
Only iwi have the right to issue these edicts, which are binding on the Water Services Entity in their region. That right is denied to non-Maori, who make up the remaining 84 per cent of the population.
The select committee has proposed that such statements, issued exclusively by iwi, should apply not only to freshwater but coastal and geothermal water as well.''
Yes, I see my mistake. Irony and a host of other givens aren't in your tool box. Please forgive me. Btw… anything to add to the subject matter? Take your time.
Only iwi have the right to issue these edicts, which are binding on the Water Services Entity in their region. That right is denied to non-Maori, who make up the remaining 84 per cent of the population. [my italics]
The premise of the Platform plonker (?) and you, it seems, is flawed. Moreover, your comment is nothing but fear mongering without making a decent argument at all. Lift your game here or go back to the Platform where you might feel more at home anyway.
"The premise of the Platform plonker (?) and you, it seems, is flawed". Pray enlighten us. What is flawed? Is the statement false? Will iwi not be able to issue edicts? Will they not be binding?
Contributing writer like MS is on this blog. The difference is I don't call Mickey a plonker just because I disagree with everything he writes. Ok, 95% of what he writes.
The premise of the Platform plonker (?) and you, it seems, is flawed. Moreover, your comment is nothing but fear mongering without making a decent argument at all.
The 'premise' around this issue seems to be fluid. Please explain where our premise may be wrong. I would much rather be wrong and have Five Waters drop back to Three Waters. There is no fear mongering. The contributing writer has written a reasonable article that you are free to correct. I have provided a link.
Three Waters has morphed following recommendations of a proposed extension to the scope of Te Mana o Te Wai statements.
The problem with people like you who ‘read’ the Platform and listen to talk-back shock-jocks is that they turn off their brain. Here’s a hint: region vs. general population. Did you see a light flash?
Do you understand what Three Waters reforms propose with regards to loco-regional management of water resources? It seems that you and – from what I could gather from your quoted text – that Platform plonker have the wrong idea(s) (aka premise). For example, do you think that central government/Government is going to take over all management and this is what this Government is proposing? Or do you think that Maori will be in charge?
''Do you understand what Three Waters reforms propose with regards to loco-regional management of water resources?''
Well, for a while I thought I had a general understanding of what Three Waters reforms entailed. However, now I'm not so sure, for the simple reason when it comes to Maori, the sky seems to be the limit regardless of what community, regional and Tauiwi groups have been assured under this proposed legislation.
Quote:
''What are the new opportunities for iwi/Māori?
There are several new areas of opportunity for iwi/Māori:
Oversight – Mana whenua will participate in the joint oversight of the new entities. Representative interests will need to be determined by Māori for Māori through a Kaupapa Māori process. In some entity areas these processes have begun. More detail on this will be available over the coming months.
New entity operation – The proposed water services entities will be required to have significant cultural and local expertise. This will provide local opportunities for Māori to participate in the new delivery arrangements.
Te Mana o Te Wai – the reform will provide for local expression of Te Mana o Te Wai that will enable development of Mauri frameworks, application of mātauranga Māori measurement or any other expression that iwi decide is relevant to them.
Local opportunities – Economic analysis projects that the reforms will create 6,000 to 9,000 jobs over the next 30 years and that reforms will grow GDP by $14 billion to $23 billion over the next 30 years. Iwi/Māori will have the ability to participate in delivery of this investment in local infrastructure.'
Too many vague concepts that cannot be quantified into legal frame works in my opinion. Nothing is concrete, and as the latest report has shown, can be modified at a whim under the guise of 'culture.'
It has been reported that Labour was helped to power by some farmers/ right leaning voters wanting the Greens locked out of power. To me, the differences between grassroot Labour and National voters isn't great. Labour is dreaming if they don't believe their grassroot voters have major reservations about Three Waters. Just like some voters swallowed a dead rat to keep the Greens out of power, I'm betting some on the Left will do likewise regarding Three Waters.
It is as vague or clear as Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which is at the basis of much that is proposed in the Three Waters reforms. When it gets too hard, don’t start shouting Democracy? What democracy! and other nonsense about the demographics of the general population (a major red herring and red flag).
Similarly, labelling (or fobbing off, by some) Te Tiriti o Waitangi as ‘culture’ seems deliberately demeaning and is not helpful either.
Having reservations about new frameworks for fresh water management and new forms of (local) democracy is one thing but wilful ignorance is another. The latter leads to closed minds, bias, polarisation, and division.
Using Three Waters reforms as a political pawn is a sure way of stuffing up everything for little short-term political gain – the real issues will remain and likely get worse, like so many others such as actions against climate change and/or risk mitigation and resilience measures.
Lastly, they are proposals under active consideration, i.e., things are being shaped still, so perhaps it is a little premature to assume worst-case scenarios and other dystopian fantasies aka fear-mongering unless that’s (part of) one’s agenda …
"No Joe you are not in Colombia"….PM of New Zealand, Ardern, reminds the the old guy with some sort of dementia, who also happens to be in charge of the most weapons and most powerful army in human history, what country he is in.
Joe Biden mixes up Cambodia and Colombia in latest high-profile gaffe
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Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
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)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
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The new Reich
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council and the leader of the ruling United Russia party, wrote on his Telegram channel on Saturday;
In the same post;
Medvedev makes further menacing reference to Russia's nuclear capability.
In light of Russia's armed forces weakness and failure on the battlefield, Medvedev's comment that Russia has not used its full arsenal of weapons and his veiled threat to strike, a mighty enemy and/or alliance of enemies, that the Russian imperialists intend to continue their expansion and aggression to establish their ‘future world order’ under the cover of their nuclear umbrella.
They have told themselves stories of their manifest superiority for too long, and rather than try to grow into those role models, they have rested upon them. A few political parties here have the same vice, just not yet carried to the same extremes.
And look who's on their side.
https://twitter.com/JuliaDavisNews/status/1591472331368861697
I think it is time to view the Russian nuclear sabre rattling as an empty threat.
As one commentator I heard said, the Russian narrative gets the world talking about the Russian nukes rather than the great success of the Ukrainian military.
China has told Russia nukes are a red line for them. So, basically telling their poodle to get back in line.
A death cult calling for a MAD attack on Washington?
I wonder if these people have children or anyone to cherish.
I also wonder if there has ever been an equivalent death cult calling for a MAD strike on the Kremlin, or is this just a Russian thing?
I notice that these protesters aren't being violently dragged into police vans.
While these MAD protesters obviously have the support of the police and the Russian state, thank goodness this well rehearsed death cult is not representative of most Russians, many thousands of Russians have been arrested and dragged away into police vans for protesting against the war in Ukraine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqS1l3wWVa8
“The New Reich”….I assume you are referring to the USA…you know that ultra-aggressive world hegemony that meddles in other countries elections at will, the country with 750 military bases in 80 countries around the world..the country that the rest of the world sees as the biggest threat and road block to world peace….yeah you must be.
"I assume you are referring to the USA….
….yeah you must be."
Only in your fevered imagination.
Unlike you Adrian I am not a partisan supporter of one imperialist power. I am opposed to all imperialists, and always have been.
to establish their ‘future world order’ under the cover of their nuclear umbrella.
A "new world order" does not imply that that order will be unipolar. The latter (under US hegemony) is really the USA's ambition.
Putin has said recently that he will not use nuclear weapons against Ukraine. Do we believe him? Ukraine will have to gamble on him keeping his word since they can't reasonably back down at this stage.
‘
A "new world order" does not imply that that order will be unipolar. mikesh
Mikesh, nowhere did I imply that the Russian Federation "new world order" would be unipolar.
The supporters of Russian and Chinese expansion and aggression allegedly want a 'multipolar world order' by the so called BRIC countries.
Brazil, Russia, Iran, China
The last powers to attempt to impose a new multipolar world order;
Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain.
The US dollar is at present the world's reserve currency. The BRIC countries, understandably, would like to change that. It seems that some sort of "pandora's box" was opened when Nixon severed the US dollar from its connection with gold.
‘
“The US dollar is at present the world’s reserve currency.” mikesh
So what?
“The BRIC countries, understandably, would like to change that.” mickesh
Sure, I can see why they might want that.
The British Pound was once the world's default currency. Which of course must also have been annoying to Germany, Italy, and Japan.
But the answer to British imperialism was not German imperialism, (or Japanese or Italian imperialism).
British imperialism was not ended by German imperialism.
What ended the British Empire were movements for national independence from British political and economic hegemony.
US imperialism will not be ended by rival imperialists. US imperialism will be ended by movements for national independence from US political and economic hegemony.
And Russian imperialism too, will also be ended by movements for national independence.
We are witnessing that process unfolding in real time.
The defeat of Russian imperialism at the hands of the Ukraine nationalist independence movement, will be a message to all imperialists and all anti-imperialists: 'Imperialism, the cause of misery and injustice all over the world, is not invulnerable.'
The age of imperialism is passing.
"…We left Abd el Main there and rode on past the other bodies, now seen clearly in the sunlight to be men, women, and four babies, toward the village whose loneliness we knew meant that it was full of death and horror. On the outskirts were the low mud walls of some sheep-folds, and on one lay something red and white. I looked nearer, and saw the body of a woman folded across it, face downward, nailed there by a saw-bayonet whose half stuck hideously into the air from between her naked legs. She had been pregnant, and about her were others, perhaps twenty in all, variously killed, but laid out to accord with an obscene taste. The Zaggi burst out into wild peals of laughter, in which some of those who were not sick joined hysterically. It was a sight near madness, the more desolate for the warm sunshine and the clean air of this upland afternoon. I said: "The best of you brings me the most Turkish dead"; and we turned and rode as fast as we might in the direction of the fading enemy. On our way we shot down those of them fallen out by the roadside who came imploring our pity…"
T. E Lawrence, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom.
Wikipedia tells us that in retaliation for the massacre, Lawrence's troops attacked the withdrawing Turkish columns, and for the first time in the war ordered his men to take no prisoners.
Need we question the wisdom of Lawrence of Arabia when dealing with savages such as the Wagner Group?
@ Sanctuary…So just to be clear, and we can all understand exactly what you are stating here on TS…it seems that you are saying that when any soldier from the Wagner Group are captured, they should be executed immediately by their captors?..is that what you just said?
The Ukraine has shown remarkable constraint in it's treatment of Russian POWs compared to barbarism of it's opponents, which is to be commended. They must consider the treatment of their ownmen held by the Russians – they are already subject to torture and indignities.
To be honest, I wonder if I could be so magnaminous to captured members of an organisation whose ranks are filled by criminals and brutalised mercenaries who have been ravaging my homeland.
The only WW2 old soldier I ever talked to on the subject made it reasonably clear to me that as far as he was concerned (he was an Anders Army/Polish paratrooper) anyone from the SS they took prisoner would count himself extrememly fortunate to survive the event.
So I am not saying you shoot Fascist Russia's Waffen SS equivalent out of hand as policy, that would be awful. But personally I would not be too inclined to hang onto to any of them if it was any sort of inconvenience whatsoever. As mercenaries, IMHO they have forfeited that right.
That's funny because that is exactly what your comment implies….what nuance did I miss?
"Wikipedia tells us that in retaliation for the massacre, Lawrence's troops attacked the withdrawing Turkish columns, and for the first time in the war ordered his men to take no prisoners.
Need we question the wisdom of Lawrence of Arabia when dealing with savages such as the Wagner Group?"
And Ukrainian forces have also committed plenty of war crime of that you can be sure..
"Each soldier who got out of the van got a bullet to the knee from an assault rifle, whereas they were defenseless and tied up. I have videos showing this. Otherwise, I would not allow myself to make such allegations, showing Russian soldiers getting bullets in the knee. … And the ones who unfortunately decided to say, “I am an officer,” they got a bullet to the head."
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/05/25/tcbh-m25.html
Ukrainian neo-Nazi militias armed by NATO against Russia
So you've found unicorns – maybe the next story will include dragons.
If you really believe that in what is total war in the Ukraine, that both sides are not now and have not been involved in war crimes, then your understanding/knowledge of history and war is even worse than I already know it is….but then again, with your long history here on TS in totally believing without question pretty much any and all liberal propaganda… believing in, and then vigorously debating the existence of unicorns and dragons here on TS wouldn't be that much of leap from where you are sitting right now…you have done worse.
Unlike Putin dupes, I try not to believe too much in the absence of evidence.
No doubt there have been incidents on both sides – but the preponderance certainly lies with the invaders – Ukrainian forces having no civilians to abuse.
But of course, as one of the most credulous lackeys mindlessly repeating Putin's propaganda the cognitive dissonance in admitting you are on the wrong side is doubtless more than your ego can stand.
"Ukrainian forces having no civilians to abuse"…have you any understanding to what is going on in the Ukraine at all, that this conflict has been going on as a civil war since 2014?…obviously not.
Ukraine must stop ongoing abuses and war crimes by pro-Ukrainian volunteer forces
Ukraine: Ukrainian fighting tactics endanger civilians
Maybe you should take the time to read this extract from Amnesty….you do understand that everyone from all sides are lying at full volume right?
"Each side has made allegations against the other of extrajudicial killings and other grave human rights abuses, which have been extensively broadcast in the Ukrainian and Russian media. Many of these reports, however, have been poorly substantiated or unsubstantiated.
Even in cases where the allegations have some basis in reality, their scale has often been considerably exaggerated"
https://www.amnesty.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Ukraine.pdf
Actually, I have been following Putin's atrocities since he inveigled his way into power, you sweet summer child.
Civil war eh? Funny name for an insurgency.
Many of these reports, however, have been poorly substantiated or unsubstantiated.
Yes, funny that – Russia can make stuff up faster than the facts can be verified:
There was the dirty bomb.
And the Dniper dam story.
And a personal favourite, the lie (which you swallowed like a gullible guppy) about MH17.
There is no lie so outlandish that, if Putin utters it, you will not swallow it. That's how you earned the title of Putin dupe.
"….you do understand that everyone from all sides are lying at full volume right?" Adrian Thornton
Maybe you are right about that, Adrian.
For instance, you could bring up some horrific alleged atrocity committed by Ukraine, and I could best you with some other alleged atrocity committed by Russia. And we could play that stupid game all day long. And at this far distance never being able to attain the truth.
Which is why I don't refer to, or argue about disputed atrocities.
Only to war crimes that can't be disputed, or denied as never having happened.
The numerous Russian missiles that have been captured in photos and video slamming into apartment buildings.
The deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, admitted by Russia. Why waste my breath arguing with you about Bucha or any other atrocity, When the deliberate destruction of civilian homes and infrastructure is a war crime openly admitted to by Russia.
Ukraine didn't invade Russia, Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia is the aggressor in this war.
Adrian as you are a big time supporter of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Can you answer these two simple questions for me;
Do you support slamming missiles into apartment buildings?
Do you support the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure like power and water utilities with bombs and missiles?
My guess; You will ignore both these questions. And you will keep ignoring them.
Which is why I will make it my mission to keep asking you them.
I want to be able to determine the depth of your depravity. So expect me Adrian, to be asking you these two questions every time that you raise some specious argument in support of the bloody invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation.
Do you Adrian Thornton support slamming missiles into apartment buildings?
Do you support the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure?
Before you decide to die on a hill for Putin's Dirlewanger Brigade I suggest you research why a sledgehammer was the chosen method of execution.
I hope you've got a strong stomach.
You aren’t going to get out of this one so easily my friend…
What I am doing Sanctuary, is establishing for everyone here on TS to see and understand, is where your moral compass is pointing, and as I have suspected for a long time it points down…you have out in the open, advocated for the summery execution of prisoners of war.
You know there was a good reason why I used to describe you Liberal neo-imperialist war hawks as ‘Camp Guards” (which I am no longer allowed to do)..that was because it describes you lot perfectly…march to the step of propaganda in perfect time, and as you have just confessed here today, use extreme violence when rallied by that same propaganda to do so..pretty unsettling stuff.
Harrowing scenes on TV tonight as the people of Kherson reacted to the arrival of their 'oppressors' in the shape of Ukrainian soldiers.
Hell, they even tried to poison them with bouquets of flowers!
/s
What has that got to do with this thread?
Ukraine is being backed by the West, and is dependent on the West for the supply of weaponry, so I guess it has to be remain "squeaky clean". Or am I just being cynical ?
"Or am I just being cynical ?"….no you are being naive….since when has 'The West' cared about war crimes committed under it's name?
U.S. Pulls Out of War Crimes Court, Fearing Easy Political Prosecutions
https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1020564287351612400
"…since when has 'The West' cared about war crimes committed under it's name…"
Absolutely ridiculous whataboutism.
Have you seen what remain of Mariupol or Severdonesk? How did Grozny look after the Russian way of war had finished with it? How do you think the civilian population of Al-Fallujah would have fared if it had been the Russians and not the Americans clearing the city? For all their sins, western armies gave up leveling heavily populated civilian areas with massive amounts of indiscriminate heavy artillery fire seventy years ago, and the mis-treatment of prisoners by western special forces has led to numerous scandals.
Do you really think that if a bunch of our SAS guys uploaded to Youtube a celebratory video of them proudly smashing a Syrian captives hands and feet with a sledgehammer before cutting said limbs off with a saw and finally executing their victim by smashing his brains out with the sledgehammer, cutting off what is left of the head and offering one final indignity of of buring the corpse we'd all just go around saying "Ah, such is the SAS way of execution!" and happily watch them all getting promoted?
The Wagner group is full of monsters who deserve whatever they get.
The thing is Sanctuary, you have proven today, that when push comes to shove you would most probably be just like them, that's the irony, and that is probably what triggers you so much.…do you really think that once you had given the green light to dehumanize a body of humans so that they can be executed without remorse, this despicable crime that you are so keen on, that they would all just get a clean bullet through the back of the head? of course not…you are a fucking maniac.
Oh for goodness sake.
I bet your bedroom is painted in primary colours as well.
Since My Lai at least.
Were you to try to point to a comparable incident where Russia admitted culpability however, you would come up short.
They are still in their infallible phase.
My Lai is a neat illustration of the difference actually. First, the massacre was stopped by actions of a passing helicopter pilot, who at one stage threatened his own side with his machine gun. Second, it caused all operations in the area tobe cancelled as the US forces were effectivly deemed to ill disciplined to continue, third all the ringleaders were tried (albeit acquitted), fourth their was a humoungous and debilitating scandal over the massacre and fifthly, Hugh Thompson Jr and his helicopter crew were ultimately decorated for their actions.
Not one of those five things would occur in Putin's army, let alone the Wagner group.
And any reporter who got a similar story out today would likely find himself in a cell next to Assange. How far the mighty have fallen.
This is a recent interview, handy if you have a bit of French to get the questions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKIPdi1u_ns
https://twitter.com/RnaudBertrand/status/1558538612035264513
It has been said that America lost in Vietnam because that war was the first war to be televised, and thus the American public were able to see the atrocities that were being committed in their name.
That was a comforting fiction, like the contemporary Russian one that they are being defeated by Nato mercenaries rather than the despised khokhols. The Vietnamese fought a superpower to a standstill.
@Sanctuary…
And of course you used T.E Lawrence as example of your justified righteous retribution, a perfect choice coming from you…a great white man solving coloured people’s problems for them…I really don’t think you are even aware of the racism that so deeply embedded within the very fabric of the world outlook and ideology you promote so passionately….maybe one day you will have an epiphany around this, but I doubt it.
I really don’t think you are even aware of the racism that so deeply embedded within the very fabric of the world
White Russian racism you mean? It's a feature of the regime you shill for.
Racist attacks and killings of foreigners and ethnic minorities are reported with shocking regularity in Russia and, disturbingly, their frequency seems to be increasing. Amnesty.
I have stayed out of this debate for a long time, thinking that history is going to make one of two utterly convinced sides look very silly.
But Stuart – I felt wary when you first quoted T E Lawrence. In literature he is a recognised giant. Unfortunately, in racism, some have found a patronising element in his works..
Are you recognising that Lawrence was racist in his attitude to inferior Arabs? It sounds to me as if you are equating what you call White Russian racism with Lawrence's racism.
In the rush of things, did you intend it that way?
I'm a fan of Lawrence, having read it with an Algerian student back in the day – though it was Sanctuary that raised him on this occasion.
Lawrence was a thorough Arabophile, which was how it was that he was a fluent Arabic speaker (likely the only truly fluent British officer of the period). He sympathized with the Arab cause, and bitterly resented the Sykes-Picot treaty which subjugated them once more to the commercial interests of Britain and France. It reneged upon the UK's promises to Arabs, which Lawrence had vouched for, dishonouring him. This led him to retire from public life – he felt disgraced.
Lawrence was a 'white saviour', which people of colour are not presently fond of. But it requires a considerable stretch to call him a racist – he was infinitely more pro-Arab than was usual in his day. He had completed his degree on the Crusader castles of the region, and had traveled to them, making him knowledgeable of the terrain and its strategic consequences. As the champion of the Arabic cause within the army, and the conduit for arms and materiale to Arabic forces, who were revolting against a Turkish rule that had conducted a number of genocides, Lawrence to a large extent made the revolt happen.
A degree of patronizing was probably inevitable. Lawrence did his degree at Oxford, but many of the men he led were illiterate. When they made unenlightened errors, like the fellow that quarreled with and murdered a fellow Arab soldier, Lawrence was obliged to deal with it. He summarily executed the murderer, and his troops were satisfied enough that further animosity did not develop. A less honest narrator might not have recorded the incident.
Russian racism is far cruder stuff.
Anyone wants to bathe in a warm soapy shower of cleansing schadenfreude, check out MSNBC smiling all the way through the Democrats taking the Senate and Kelly Lake getting done like a political dinner.
Here we are on Fox a few days ago.
(384) ‘SNL’ mocks Biden, Democrats before midterms: ‘Big Yikes’ – YouTube
You can check out MSNBC any time for the fun they are having now.
Bet McCarthy gets rolled for a start.
Kari Lake?
Predictive script apologies
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/478672/household-power-bills-driven-up-by-retailers-paying-excessive-dividends-union
This is where price inflation comes from, capital accumulation of the 'investor' class.
Taxation could help to redistribute this accumulation: https://www.greens.org.nz/excess_profits_tax
It's a bit late.
Grant Robertson, who will have received more than half the amount, has been like Billy Bunter with his pocket money purchases.
He has already eaten the lot.
I was going to post this as well. Can some smart person, in good faith of course, explain why we need to do this again? Line the pockets of shareholders? How is that better than not doing it?
This is where price inflation comes from, capital accumulation of the 'investor' class.
Oh my gosh! And I thought inflation was all Adrian Orr's fault. Irony is a wonderful device.
Would it not be useful for us plebs to see Musk's Twitter empire burnt to the ground in $US44b of warm ash?
Every oligarch should be humbled.
Sure, but wasn't it you worrying about the job losses this would cause?
I seem to remember, from years ago, a cartoon in the magazine, MAD, pointing out all the job losses that would be caused by the war against cigarette smoking.
Humble the owners not the workers.
We're humble enough already.
I'm pretty sure literally burning $44 billion in cash would be a slower process than how Musk is proceeding.
Let's see.
The biggest denomination I can think of would be the Singapore $10,000 note. That is about $8,000 US dollars. $44 billion US would therefore be about 5.5 million notes
That is a pile of notes about 6 kilometres high and would weigh about 5,500 kg (if I have done the maths properly).
I think you are right. It would take a very long time to get it all burnt with even the largest circulating note wouldn't it? Perhaps we could approach the BOE and see if they would supply us with some Titans. They are a (non-circulating) note worth 100 million pounds and are the backing for the Scottish and Norther Irish banknotes. We would only need a few hundred of them.
There are some splendid tweets coming out from blue ticked authors:
Chiquita: We've just overthrown the government of Brazil.
Chiquita: We apologize to those who have been served a misleading message from a fake Chiquita account. We haven't overthrown a government since 1954.
" Behind the headline “$200m boost for new homes” is a sordid tale of a government demolishing state houses, selling most of the land to private property developers and in this case building fewer state houses than were previously there "
If a National government was doing this Megan Woods would be raging and demanding the resignation of the minister. If only.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2022/11/14/hundreds-of-millions-in-state-house-land-sold-by-labour-in-the-middle-of-a-housing-catastrophe-for-pe
"$200m boost for eastern Porirua will help enable construction of more than 2000 new homes"
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/130428606/200m-boost-for-eastern-porirua-will-help-enable-construction-of-more-than-2000-new-homes
https://twitter.com/ClintVSmith/status/1588339502778437632
https://twitter.com/ClintVSmith/status/1578153073364504576
More bullshit from Clint Smith,using gross figures without subtracting the houses demolished.Here an independent metric shows the reality of the difference in code of compliance and usable housing.
The electrical connections to residential houses (ICP) was
1755070 ( Dec 2017)
1807035 (June 2022)
net connections 51965.
Infill housing removes inventory.
imo Clint would disagree with you.
Yeah well nothing destroys a hypothesis more then a neat statistical fact.
Clint backs himself up with the statistical facts.
Could you please double-check your numbers for 2022?
Looking at this chart (figure.nz) the number of "estimated private dwellings" is over 2 million.
Looking at this table (emi.ea.govt.nz) the number of residential ICP is 1.9 million (September 2022).
The number of ICPs is higher than the figure you've given (just checked the figures for June 2022: 1,908,807 compared to 1,916,835 in September 2022) and the estimated number of dwellings is higher than the numbers of ICPs.
Good point,there is a difference in the 2 datasets of the EA,and MBIE.
MBIE uses distribution (line company) data ,EA uses retail data ( number of consumers) ,the MBIE data also removes the Rural (agriculture etc) from the data set.
Unless you're a property speculator, NZ housing value trends are looking good, especially for first home buyers – long may this modest correction continue.
Property prices need to drop significantly to be affordable,where median multiples do matter,and a larger focus on debt repayment rather then debt accumulation (leverage).
https://www.interest.co.nz/property/house-price-income-multiples
Thanks – median multiple dropped 13% from 9.3 to ~8.1 in 10 months (to 30 Sept 2022), so looking good also – a temporary correction is better than none.
Would be great if the median multiple could be driven down (gradually) to ~6.
https://www.numbeo.com/property-investment/rankings_by_country.jsp
6 would be about right.
Has Minto forgotten that the previous National govt shifted the goal posts and removed people from the state housing wait list and made it harder to get on it?
2011 "About 4700 families with only "moderate" or "low" housing needs will be bumped off the waiting list for state houses if the National Party wins this year's election.
Housing Minister Phil Heatley says Housing NZ will stop accepting applicants with low or moderate needs on its waiting list"
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/thousands-to-come-off-housing-list/MI2RAMFK4VC2YX4M5VVFFDDLIY/
"Building more houses was not a lasting solution, Mr Heatley said.
Labour's housing spokeswoman, Moana Mackey, said that comment was concerning. "What he failed to say is that when National was in power in the 1990s, it oversaw a fire-sale of state houses and introduced market rents which put even state housing out of reach for many families."
National's answer was to kick people off the waiting list, she said"
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5209598/State-house-waiting-list-only-for-the-very-needy
Who can really Grok the whims of multi-billionaires?
Perhaps burning Twitter to the ground is just too much "fun" to resist???
Three Waters has become Five Waters? What's going on? Democracy? What democracy! The most important general election in New Zealand's history happens next year, folks.
Quote:
''The really radical move in the report — also overlooked entirely by Jack Tame on TVNZ’s Q&A and by Andrew Dickens interviewing Mahuta for Newstalk ZB — was the proposed extension to the scope of Te Mana o Te Wai statements.
Only iwi have the right to issue these edicts, which are binding on the Water Services Entity in their region. That right is denied to non-Maori, who make up the remaining 84 per cent of the population.
The select committee has proposed that such statements, issued exclusively by iwi, should apply not only to freshwater but coastal and geothermal water as well.''
https://theplatform.kiwi/opinions/hey-presto-three-waters-becomes-five-waters
You are apparently a stranger to logic, but you could at least read what you post:
Democracy? What democracy! The most important general election in New Zealand's history happens next year …
It's now obvious that you are some kind of Alan Partridge comedy turn, but the script needs work.
Yes, I see my mistake. Irony and a host of other givens aren't in your tool box. Please forgive me. Btw… anything to add to the subject matter? Take your time.
The premise of the Platform plonker (?) and you, it seems, is flawed. Moreover, your comment is nothing but fear mongering without making a decent argument at all. Lift your game here or go back to the Platform where you might feel more at home anyway.
"The premise of the Platform plonker (?) and you, it seems, is flawed". Pray enlighten us. What is flawed? Is the statement false? Will iwi not be able to issue edicts? Will they not be binding?
Switch on the light on the top floor. I’ve already given you one leg-up by using italics. Work it out.
''The premise of the Platform plonker (?) ''
Contributing writer like MS is on this blog. The difference is I don't call Mickey a plonker just because I disagree with everything he writes. Ok, 95% of what he writes.
The premise of the Platform plonker (?) and you, it seems, is flawed. Moreover, your comment is nothing but fear mongering without making a decent argument at all.
The 'premise' around this issue seems to be fluid. Please explain where our premise may be wrong. I would much rather be wrong and have Five Waters drop back to Three Waters. There is no fear mongering. The contributing writer has written a reasonable article that you are free to correct. I have provided a link.
Three Waters has morphed following recommendations of a proposed extension to the scope of Te Mana o Te Wai statements.
The problem with people like you who ‘read’ the Platform and listen to talk-back shock-jocks is that they turn off their brain. Here’s a hint: region vs. general population. Did you see a light flash?
No.
Do you understand what Three Waters reforms propose with regards to loco-regional management of water resources? It seems that you and – from what I could gather from your quoted text – that Platform plonker have the wrong idea(s) (aka premise). For example, do you think that central government/Government is going to take over all management and this is what this Government is proposing? Or do you think that Maori will be in charge?
''Do you understand what Three Waters reforms propose with regards to loco-regional management of water resources?''
Well, for a while I thought I had a general understanding of what Three Waters reforms entailed. However, now I'm not so sure, for the simple reason when it comes to Maori, the sky seems to be the limit regardless of what community, regional and Tauiwi groups have been assured under this proposed legislation.
Quote:
''What are the new opportunities for iwi/Māori?
There are several new areas of opportunity for iwi/Māori:
https://www.dia.govt.nz/three-waters-reform-programme-frequently-asked-questions
Too many vague concepts that cannot be quantified into legal frame works in my opinion. Nothing is concrete, and as the latest report has shown, can be modified at a whim under the guise of 'culture.'
It has been reported that Labour was helped to power by some farmers/ right leaning voters wanting the Greens locked out of power. To me, the differences between grassroot Labour and National voters isn't great. Labour is dreaming if they don't believe their grassroot voters have major reservations about Three Waters. Just like some voters swallowed a dead rat to keep the Greens out of power, I'm betting some on the Left will do likewise regarding Three Waters.
It is as vague or clear as Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which is at the basis of much that is proposed in the Three Waters reforms. When it gets too hard, don’t start shouting Democracy? What democracy! and other nonsense about the demographics of the general population (a major red herring and red flag).
Similarly, labelling (or fobbing off, by some) Te Tiriti o Waitangi as ‘culture’ seems deliberately demeaning and is not helpful either.
Having reservations about new frameworks for fresh water management and new forms of (local) democracy is one thing but wilful ignorance is another. The latter leads to closed minds, bias, polarisation, and division.
Using Three Waters reforms as a political pawn is a sure way of stuffing up everything for little short-term political gain – the real issues will remain and likely get worse, like so many others such as actions against climate change and/or risk mitigation and resilience measures.
Lastly, they are proposals under active consideration, i.e., things are being shaped still, so perhaps it is a little premature to assume worst-case scenarios and other dystopian fantasies aka fear-mongering unless that’s (part of) one’s agenda …
Adams' opinion is so 'Kiwi not Iwi'. Iwi eh, always pinching our stuff – fearful business
Perhaps this picture of President Biden and PM Ardern would make a caption competition.
https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-national/jacinda-ardern-meets-joe-biden-east-asia-summit
My suggestion would be "Young lady. Can you tell me which of these forks I use for the salad course? I never can remember."
Hey Joe, see what that well known wit alwyn has written about you on The Standard
Still, the Herald's 'elbow time' tickled my funny bone – isn't our part-time PM busy.
"No Joe you are not in Colombia"….PM of New Zealand, Ardern, reminds the the old guy with some sort of dementia, who also happens to be in charge of the most weapons and most powerful army in human history, what country he is in.
Joe Biden mixes up Cambodia and Colombia in latest high-profile gaffe
https://news.sky.com/story/joe-biden-mixes-up-cambodia-and-colombia-in-latest-high-profile-gaffe-12745370
With the Chair of Auckland Unlimited dying overnight, Mayor Brown just got delivered a governance gift to not reappoint, then disestablish, and then gut.