Disgusting how Corporates get favourable treatment. One dollar a year lease for Wellington’s ex-Overseas Passenger terminal. The same company got a similar deal a while ago for another property.
Wellington.scoop.co.nz » A dollar a year – Willis Bond’s deals with the council :
Key has not initiated debate on this, nor is he going to push it, but if it comes up in the ballot (initiated by Labour’s Louisa Wall) he said he will vote to have it debated in parliament. That seems reasonable to me, and a silly thing to blast the PM for. I’d blast him if he tried to block debate on this.
Key has said he will do the absolute minimum necessary to maintain his gay-friendly persona if forced to by others. How courageous of him.
Of course, it helps him that he doesn’t need to “block” debate on this, just sit back and do fuck-all safe in the knowledge the Pete Georges of the world will be there to broadcast his spin.
Felt very sad watching the doco on 3 last night about the Strongman mine disaster. Seems there were similarities in management behaviour at Pike River. In light of last weeks dispicable news regarding the non recovery of victims, it was particularly painful watching the doco. The pain and grief of the victims families must be unfathomable.
I was recently bought an E Reader. Now I am retired I have started to read novels again something I have not been able to do for quite a few years owing to work pressures.
Being a lover of history, I have downloaded and started to read again the Flashman novels by Mc Donald Frazer, who in the sixties started to write about the career’s of the bully of Rugby School who was expelled in Tom Brown School Days. Frazer wrote these novels based on true historical events like the Charge of the Light Brigade and interwove his fictional character of Flashman with real people. The novels are very humorous, but also a good record of historical events and attitudes of the times.
When I first started to read theses novels in the sixties I thought then how fortunate it was that the world was progressing away from the attitudes the novels projected.
Starting to read these novels again today, my thoughts have completely changed to how unfortunate it is that the world is slipping backwards to the same Neo Liberal attitudes that are equal if not worse than the attitudes the Flashman novels projected.
HCM: Read several in the series this year. Flashman was part of the Imperial forces used to impose will on “ignorant savages” in places like Afghanistan and India. Yes it does sound familiar today in Iraq and Afghanistan and soon in Iran.
History does repeat. Agreed. Sadly.
Also in Britain and America and sadly NZ. Saw that clown Cameron in Parliament just after the riots in Tottenham. I thought any minute now this spoilt upper class brat is going to burst into tears and stamp his foot in temper, and I am sure if he could, he would have the culprits given 10 lashes and transported on a convict ship to a penal colony somewhere.
Tapu Misa does it again. How come the research is not published widely in this case Incentivising as a means of improving Performance in this case of teaching. Great column.
…..education academic Richard Rothstein argued that incentive systems have a corrupting influence, and many “have actually harmed the institutions they were designed to improve”…….
“When health care systems (such as Medicare) attempted to reward cardiac surgeons, or their hospitals or practice groups for survival rates of their patients, medical professionals responded by declining to operate on the sickest patients. When the Department of Labour attempted to reward local agencies for placing the unemployed in jobs, the agencies increased placement rates by getting more workers into easily found short-term poorly paid jobs, and fewer into harder-to-find but more skilled long-term jobs.”
A 2010 study which looked at the impact of performance-related pay in Portugal’s public schools in the three years after it was introduced found “that the increased focus on individual teacher performance caused a sizeable relative decline in student achievement, as measured by national exams”. The study also found evidence of grade inflation, “disruption of teacher co-operation … and increased administrative workloads, both resulting in job dissatisfaction”.
ianmac, you may have seen the doco on tv3 last night about the Strongman Mine disaster in 1967 and the leading role that incentivisation had in driving lax safety regimes which killed 19 men.
Exactly the same as Pike River, where 29 men were killed.
Do you imagine this link registers in the thinking of those setting up such important structures and organisations? Because I think most people dont really think much at all when they go about things at work.
Exactly vto. I wonder how the multi-million dollar Incentive schemes for big business works, like in Banks for instance? Even when the business has failures, the bosses still get their bonusses.
There is strong evidence that job satisfaction and job recognition is far more powerful incentivising and conversely lack of recognition and lack of job satisfaction is the recipe for poor performance. (The glow from a pay rise lasts about 3 days.)
Trouble is that most of our right wing leaders are solely motivated by money.
They are incapable of understanding those who work mostly for the satisfaction of achievement, to help other people or for a better society.
There is actually nothing in the Teachers agreement that prevents extra pay for performance. Though, just as in the private sector, performance pay has often proven to be counterproductive.
Economist Sue Newberry said New Zealand’s Constitution Act 1986 requires parliament to approve borrowing and spending, but the Public Finance Act delegates these powers to the minister of finance, along with the power to delegate further.
Those powers appear to be delegated without limit and are exercised outside of the parliamentary process, Newberry said.
The result a portfolio of $112 BILLION in DERIVATIVES kept of the books and outside of Governmental oversight.
Yes indeed, this is no different to how the big banks run their books…Have a look at how those countries in Europe has been attacked in the derivatives markets. It will come as no surprise when NZ suffers the same fate, and it will be off balance sheet derivatives which will provide the gunpowder.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 8
Me too, prism. Much as I think Watson is an ego driven buffoon, his organisation has actually had the guts to physically stop whale slaughter, which is a big step up from lobbying nations who aren’t listening anyway.
The odd line is where it’s claimed that Sea Shepherd were acting on behalf of the Guatamalan Government. That doesn’t sound too likely, does it?
the gospel according to mathew.
winston will go back into coalition with national in 2014 because john key will promise him a senior cabinet position and a knighthood and overseas posting whereas labour cant.
and while the nincompoops were arguing about promsicuity (gasp) the nats passed a bill stopping allowances for students doing a second degree.
hmmmmmm.
So what is happening while we weep over Pike River Mine. Surely the observation, “Just declare it a cemetery” was not insensitive.
A search party is usually closed down when there is no hope of life.
Would like to see The Standard do something on this:
Key backs off ‘hub’
“John Key’s plan for a financial services hub in New Zealand would require years of taxpayer support and risks transferring wealth offshore, Treasury has warned the Government.
The Government’s lead economic and financial policy agency advised that plans to pay international banks to move here represent “a wealth transfer from New Zealand taxpayers to overseas financial institutions”.
Further, the touted benefits were highly uncertain.
Following queries from the Sunday Star-Times last week, Key distanced the government from the controversial aspects of the plan.
“The more costly aspects of the [hub] plan were not seen as an effective use of taxpayer money,” a spokesman said.
The financial services hub proposal emerged after banker Craig Stobo told the Government’s 2009 Jobs Summit an economic boost would result if the Government created a zero tax rating for foreign investors who invested in international funds based here.”
One. Would finance from any other country be safe ?
Two How does it fit in with muzza theory that some small group is trying to take over the entire world?
ssshhh no-one mention the war,
or the Council on Foreign Relations, or the IMF or the Trilateral Commission, its all good john, go back to sleep chasing dragons and dandelions
It is now 8.25pm(20.25hrs) and 4 people have replied. May I suggest that each one takes a hard copy of the relevant parts of the post and puts this in the back of their diary, to read in 6 months time. Hopefully they will be pleasantly surprised to find how much they have matured in 6 months.
But John, it is you with the child-like view in pouring scorn on anyone who suggests that darker forces are at play – as has been the case at just about every point of time in history.
That is what Neville Chamberlain did, for just one of countless examples consistent through history.
Shonkey’s mob are too busy selling our laws and SOE’s, they never figured it’d be this much work even with a sham consultation process.
Simply no time to sell out the remainder of our economic sovereignty now (more so than laws and SOE’s reperesent anyway) or even whip up some opinionated costings that make it appear the answer to our prayers with a financial hub.
This was always a reckless and ill considered spark of an idea (especially with sydney/melbourne so close) more so than the cycleway which at least would leave us with a physical asset but then JK’s is the ideas guy with the smile n wave thing going for him also.
From what I’ve been reading on several sites, at least 3 shipments of Jap import cars have been sent back to Japan,(or maybe re routed to NZ?) two from Russia and one from Vietnam.
There are meant to be 7,000 Jap import cars on the docks in Auckland at the moment, I wounder if anyone has gone over them with a Geiger counter?
The exporters in Japan are re-registering Fukushima cars, so it looks like they came from another prefecture.
And in Chile: “Traces of radiation were found on 21 of the 2500 vehicles that were shipped from Yokohama. The Chilean Nuclear Commission deemed the level of radiation too low to be harmful to human health, although Chilean port workers protested, believing their safety was being put at risk.”
Doesn’t say what specific radiation they are looking for. I’d guess there’d be s.f.a. gamma radiation, which is what a geiger counters detect. But ‘hot particles’ emitting beta and/or alpha radiation? In the air filters of used cars? Well, that’s another matter innit? They can be dislodged and become airborne and then potentially be inhaled by a driver or passenger and lodge in their lung.
Anyway, this presentation was of a study done on the air filters of Japanese cars. (the transcript for the video is lower on the same page)
we took our automobile air filters from different locations. We opened them up and we laid the filter paper inside these air filters on a piece of x-ray film and developed them. On the far left we have an automobile air filter that operated during March, April and May in Seattle, Washington. It looks clear, if your eyes are really good, you can see one tiny little dot near the center. We have an automobile air filter from Tokyo and you can see that each one of these black spots represents a radioactive particle that was trapped on the filter paper and exposed the x-ray film. And also we have Fukushima’s which is about 65 kilometers away from the site. This automobile air filter is actually hazardous. My university is annoyed with me because we have to contract to have this filter disposed of as radioactive waste. Unfortunately, you can just imagine what this means to the people in Fukushima City which is not evacuated, and even for the (automobile) mechanics who are changing these air filters.
Meanwhile, Hilary Clinton apparently signed a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ deal with Japan whereby the US will not test imported Japanese goods for radiation levels. And I very much doubt NZ is carrying out any testing on goods or food. Which is bizarre given the fact that there are (just to give one of many examples) still sheep in Wales that are too radioactive due to uptake of contamination from their pasture to go to market following Chernobyl.
can’t be slowing down free trade now, can we. The other issue is: Japan’s economy is on a knife edge. Any continued ahem, fallout, affecting their massive export industry from radiation fears will help push them over the brink.
just how much poverty and abjection are these [people] willing to impose on NZ?
Let’s pay folk to build a deal that will sell us what we already own, before it is gifted away to people who won’t pay us much to get what they want but will charge us more once they have it. That is obviously far far more important than citizens getting the medicine they need.
Wait to see headlines about people turning up at ED for standard GP care – because people hadn’t filled prescriptions. Wait to see overwork increase in hospital clinics for chronic conditions. Wait to see the headlines about increased rates of hospitalisation because people aren’t filling the prescriptions they need. Wait to see the headlines about poor people not taking personal responsibility for their own health.
A lot of the very good work to improve access to health care access is slowly being unravelled by this government.
Wait to see headlines about people turning up at ED for standard GP care – because people hadn’t filled prescriptions.
Absolutely yes! I now have a prescription to pick up, but have been putting it off until I absolutely need it – it will be worse when the price rises!
Also, just hearing Garner on 3News banging on about his belief that Shearer barred Cunliffe from appearing on his programme. It doesn’t matter what Shearer and Cunliffe actually say! (Each got a 15 second soundbite, but Garner chose to disbelieve them both.)
Pity that yet again to see that this topic had to go to the highest level in our legal system to find out what – that these caregivers/family were being used by the last 2 governments. And Vicky agree hope that there is no retrospective changes to the entitlements.
Yet in examples re private schools being overpaid $2.5m and the govt comfortable in not retrieving the $ owed or the “moral” basis for covering those who were not entitled to their full SCF investments being covered by the govt e.g from Treasury link below “Where a retail debt security is held jointly, the coverage limit applies to the joint holders collectively and the maximum that will be paid to the joint holders collectively in respect of their debt security jointly held is $500,000 per institution if the deposit is with a registered bank and $250,000 if the deposit is with a non-bank deposit taker.
The Crown has discretion to apply a higher cap in relation to any claim or class of claims against an entity that is the product of the merger, amalgamation or takeover of one or more approved institutions.” So how come we are questioning compensating valid and worthy reasons and then paying out on cases that there is no obligation to ? http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/87100/criticism-of-ministry-for-overpaying-private-schools http://www.treasury.govt.nz/economy/guarantee/retail/qanda/coverage
This case is pretty damning to both Nat and Lab for their lack of empathy 🙁
@ianmac – your links have a ” ‘ ” [space added for emphasis] at the end – I was having the same prob when cutting and pasting from the ‘how to?’ tab. I recommend committing to memory a href= and ></a – looks tricky at first glance, but easier to remember than you might think : )
My opinion of George Lucas has just risen markedly! After his equally wealthy neighbours vetoed his plans to expand the film production facilities at his ranch in Marin County, California by raising ongoing planning objections, Lucas has decided to do the one thing that is guaranteed to annoy snobs.
Instead of building a new studio, Lucas is proposing to subdivide the ranch and turn it into to low cost housing for the poor and the retired. Presumably, just the sort of folk his neighbours moved from the city to avoid.
Ok, it doesn’t quite make up for Jar Jar Binks, but it shows he’s at least got a sense of humour, eh?
Especially as all those poor people will lower surrounding land values and cause flight given that American’s are massive snobs when it comes to living near poor people. Although this maybe some cunning plan to make his neighbours accept the film production facilities expansion. Which will likely backfire, given it’s Lucas…
However, the Aids Foundation labelled the Mokopuna Early Childhood Education centre close-minded, irresponsible and guilty of wilful ignorance.
The boy was infected at birth and is on advanced medication, which means he is not considered a risk.
The Director of Child Health at Auckland District Health Board, Dr Richard Aickin, said HIV could not be transmitted through social contact, sharing utensils, kissing, hugging or sharing baths.
“If another child has an open wound or cuts themselves simultaneously with another and is exposed to infected blood, then any blood from the infected child would have to, firstly, contain viral DNA. This is unlikely in a child with an undetectable viral load,” he said.
“Secondly, the virus would have to be able to survive the journey from the infected child to the non-infected child and thirdly, somehow manage to enter the non-infected child’s blood stream.
“There has been no documented case of transmission of HIV from one child to another in a day care or school setting. This, we believe, supports our opinion that the transmission risk is miniscule.”
And here was me thinking we’d finally left stupid fearmongering crap over HIV carriers behind…
NickS The fact that to explain this matter properly you used a number of points and sentences illustrates that it is not a simple straightforward problem. It is silly to go off at a tangent when the schools are trying to ensure they have a plan that works for everyone. It’s not an Eve situation.
Are you sure that talking down to everyone who doesn’t meet the demands of our own rigorous intellectual sensibilities won’t be effective, persuasively?
You did notice the quote marks right? And the point in said quote marks that the kid is completely non-infectious thus the pre-schools attitude has major issues? And that this sort of shit last happened long ago and was mainly associated with the initial outbreak of HIV?
Because if not, you need to re-read it, and go a googling. Otherwise I’m going to have to nom on you.
After work (FUCK YES, finally got some work!) that is.
NickS I know about the previous HIV scare. We have found that it is treatable and containable, it won’t be picked up like a flu virus by everybody. We have had our fears allayed by knowledge and time. In that time we have forgotten things and need to run a check again on how to manage it and what problems there might be. That is what the school did apparently. Then they can provide an assurance of safety and care for other parents.
I think I have read your comments in the past and you always seemed to take an objective, scientific view. So this matter strikes a nerve perhaps.
So Ryall tells us that prescription charges haven’t been increased for 20 years. So what political party had the treasury benches back then. And what was Upton/Richardsons rationale?
joe 90
This Arizona stuff is unbelievable – but reading it, well it’s eyes wide open. A sure sign of cant and intolerance is in the reference to mom and pop, hostility to the ‘gummint’, the Soviet Union and then the skewed opposite idea of virtuous USA. This is the sort of doubletalk that does not represent good religious thought. Taleban anyone?
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6-2 Monday to endorse a controversial bill that would allow Arizona employers the right to deny health insurance coverage for contraceptives based on religious objections.
Arizona House Bill 2625, authored by Majority Whip Debbie Lesko, R-Glendale, would permit employers to ask their employees for proof of medical prescription if they seek contraceptives for non-reproductive purposes, such as hormone control or acne treatment.
“I believe we live in America. We don’t live in the Soviet Union,” Lesko said. “So, government should not be telling the organizations or mom and pop employers to do something against their moral beliefs.”
Lesko said this bill responds to a contraceptive mandate in the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law March 2010.
“My whole legislation is about our First Amendment rights and freedom of religion,” Lesko said. “All my bill does is that an employer can opt out of the mandate if they have any religious objections.”
Does this sound vaguely familiar when thinking of recent comments on this blog. Awful government measures to force long acting contraceptives on female citizens who Have Rights to Have as many Children on Welfare as happenstance. (Because they wouldn’t be planned. And the benefits of having sex without the concern about having extra children would be wrong, wrong according to the human rightists.)
If an alien was looking at this from outofspace it would surely conclude that the USA is as facsist and as extremist as those places where the Taleban rule.
So perhaps the USA is as fascist and extremist as the worst of them. Do you think Americans would consider themselves extremists? I bet not. Would love to hear the reasons …. any Americans out there like to defend the motherland?
vto I don’t think you would find any Americans who could give an objective view of their zeitgeist. Their extreme religious, individualistic, skewed attitudes of resentment to federal as opposed to state government, their brain-washed attitudes about communism and socialism, and grandiose notions of their country’s standing and moral worth is based on just being big, nationally wealthy and powerful, free-market and profit driven with a huge military with a compliant treasury enabling huge deficits, and some random individual efforts to provide needed charitable programs glinting through the smog here and there.
And there is the fact that they are not united at all in their behaviours and thinking, going from backward states like Arizona, and the still racist southern states to the cooler, thinking northern states shows a great difference in progress towards realisation of the greatness and goodness that human society can aspire to.
The myths inculcated at school and reinforced at assemblies while assuming the posture of patriotic hand-over-heart when facing the flag is reminiscent of the automatic nazi salute – all these things are scrambled egg floating around in the heads of US Americans. Most would be unable to crawl out from under them to get a different view.
And there are shadows of this hanging over New Zealand too.
The care giver case also displays the lack of caring from Labour, they do not come out of this untarnished vto. As stated above hope the disease of retrospective changes does not carry over tho this case. Pretty poor on all accounts from our voted by the peoples governments for the people !! http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/6917371/Parents-of-disabled-children-win-court-battle
Heh, there’s also an unfinished draft on this site too from back then go over marine reserve and general theory stuff that I never got finished explaining why they’re a really good idea and why people should welcome them, even if it means loosing a mint fishing spot. Plus some more general NZ marine ecology stuff that came up abut sea grass meadow restoration (tip – major habitat for young fish).
What the government really funded was an advertising campaign to promote themselves, and we – collectively – just paid $1 million dollars for it. Not a bad investment from their point of view.
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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 ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
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 ...
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. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
The Prime Minister has committed to resuming direct flights to Thailand. But it’s not a promise he will be able to deliver on anytime soon. The post Prime Minister jumps the gun in Thailand appeared first on Newsroom. ...
It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
FICTION 1 Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) There’s commercial fiction, like this book, and then there’s quality fiction, quality writers, quality literature; the forthcoming Auckland Writers Festival is full of quality, and ReadingRoom has two tickets to give away to the following events: Paul Lynch (Dublin ...
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You can’t have missed the Gallipoli story as the movies, documentaries, essays and books capture what it was like for New Zealand troops in their eight-month campaign on the Peninsula. But this Anzac Day the Auckland War Memorial Museum has published a book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the free-for-all between the Australian government and Big Tech boss Elon Musk this week, the government had to be on a winner. Most people would have little sympathy with Musk’s vociferous opposition to ...
Asia Pacific Report Chief Mandla Mandela, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has joined the Freedom Flotilla in istanbul as the ships prepare to sail for Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. Mandela is also the ambassador for the Global Campaign to Return to ...
Pacific Media Watch Journalists who report on environmental issues are encountering growing difficulties in many parts of the world, reports Reporters Without Borders. According to the tally kept by RSF, 200 journalists have been subjected to threats and physical violence, including murder, in the past 10 years because they were ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Pōneke based peace activists staged a silent protest at the ANZAC day service to highlight New Zealand’s complicity in war and genocide, and urge the government to take concrete steps to stop the genocide in Palestine. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Until this month, Auckland swimmer Hazel Ouwehand had never met a qualifying time in an Olympic event for a New Zealand team, even as a junior. Now she’s very likely off to the Paris Olympics after swimming well under the qualifying standard in the 100m butterfly twice – both in ...
While Anzac Day has experienced a resurgence in recent years, our other day of remembrance has slowly faded from view.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Hope McConnell.First published in 2022.The high school’s head girl and ...
Australian and New Zealand volunteers fought together in the Waikato War, yet still its place in the Anzac tradition is unacknowledged by our defence forces or Returned Services Association.First published in 2018.When I was a boy cub I attended Anzac Day services in the South Auckland suburb of ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
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Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Disgusting how Corporates get favourable treatment. One dollar a year lease for Wellington’s ex-Overseas Passenger terminal. The same company got a similar deal a while ago for another property.
Wellington.scoop.co.nz » A dollar a year – Willis Bond’s deals with the council :
http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=44816
The times they are a changing – sung by Michael Moore and friends for the Occupy movement. Not bad.
http://soundcloud.com/occupy-this-album/01-michael-moore-the-times
Key supports having a debate on marriage equality and would vote for a bill if introduced to parliament.
It will depend on whether Louisa Wall’s proposed bill gets drawn from the ballot.
john key supports having a debate on anything that will distract from what is really going on…seems you do to
Key has not initiated debate on this, nor is he going to push it, but if it comes up in the ballot (initiated by Labour’s Louisa Wall) he said he will vote to have it debated in parliament. That seems reasonable to me, and a silly thing to blast the PM for. I’d blast him if he tried to block debate on this.
Key has said he will do the absolute minimum necessary to maintain his gay-friendly persona if forced to by others. How courageous of him.
Of course, it helps him that he doesn’t need to “block” debate on this, just sit back and do fuck-all safe in the knowledge the Pete Georges of the world will be there to broadcast his spin.
And for more daily horrors news – and the National Govt horrors do keep coming on a daily basis don’t they?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6913814/Secret-changes-to-labour-rules
Felt very sad watching the doco on 3 last night about the Strongman mine disaster. Seems there were similarities in management behaviour at Pike River. In light of last weeks dispicable news regarding the non recovery of victims, it was particularly painful watching the doco. The pain and grief of the victims families must be unfathomable.
True! Encouragingly, the poll at the bottom of the page is mostly against these changes…
I was recently bought an E Reader. Now I am retired I have started to read novels again something I have not been able to do for quite a few years owing to work pressures.
Being a lover of history, I have downloaded and started to read again the Flashman novels by Mc Donald Frazer, who in the sixties started to write about the career’s of the bully of Rugby School who was expelled in Tom Brown School Days. Frazer wrote these novels based on true historical events like the Charge of the Light Brigade and interwove his fictional character of Flashman with real people. The novels are very humorous, but also a good record of historical events and attitudes of the times.
When I first started to read theses novels in the sixties I thought then how fortunate it was that the world was progressing away from the attitudes the novels projected.
Starting to read these novels again today, my thoughts have completely changed to how unfortunate it is that the world is slipping backwards to the same Neo Liberal attitudes that are equal if not worse than the attitudes the Flashman novels projected.
HCM: Read several in the series this year. Flashman was part of the Imperial forces used to impose will on “ignorant savages” in places like Afghanistan and India. Yes it does sound familiar today in Iraq and Afghanistan and soon in Iran.
History does repeat. Agreed. Sadly.
Also in Britain and America and sadly NZ. Saw that clown Cameron in Parliament just after the riots in Tottenham. I thought any minute now this spoilt upper class brat is going to burst into tears and stamp his foot in temper, and I am sure if he could, he would have the culprits given 10 lashes and transported on a convict ship to a penal colony somewhere.
Tapu Misa does it again. How come the research is not published widely in this case Incentivising as a means of improving Performance in this case of teaching. Great column.
Incentivise, Performance Pay
Damn doesn’t link to:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10805614
ianmac, you may have seen the doco on tv3 last night about the Strongman Mine disaster in 1967 and the leading role that incentivisation had in driving lax safety regimes which killed 19 men.
Exactly the same as Pike River, where 29 men were killed.
Do you imagine this link registers in the thinking of those setting up such important structures and organisations? Because I think most people dont really think much at all when they go about things at work.
Exactly vto. I wonder how the multi-million dollar Incentive schemes for big business works, like in Banks for instance? Even when the business has failures, the bosses still get their bonusses.
There is strong evidence that job satisfaction and job recognition is far more powerful incentivising and conversely lack of recognition and lack of job satisfaction is the recipe for poor performance. (The glow from a pay rise lasts about 3 days.)
Worked for ENRON?
Trouble is that most of our right wing leaders are solely motivated by money.
They are incapable of understanding those who work mostly for the satisfaction of achievement, to help other people or for a better society.
There is actually nothing in the Teachers agreement that prevents extra pay for performance. Though, just as in the private sector, performance pay has often proven to be counterproductive.
They just want to pay most teachers less.
Economist Sue Newberry said New Zealand’s Constitution Act 1986 requires parliament to approve borrowing and spending, but the Public Finance Act delegates these powers to the minister of finance, along with the power to delegate further.
Those powers appear to be delegated without limit and are exercised outside of the parliamentary process, Newberry said.
The result a portfolio of $112 BILLION in DERIVATIVES kept of the books and outside of Governmental oversight.
With a $500 Trillion to $1.5 Quadrillion in derivatives on the verge of collapse what do you reckon? You feel safe?
Stumbled on this and thought of you, Ev:
http://theflatearthsociety.org/forum/index.php?topic=6308.0
You’re a doll Gormy!
Yes indeed, this is no different to how the big banks run their books…Have a look at how those countries in Europe has been attacked in the derivatives markets. It will come as no surprise when NZ suffers the same fate, and it will be off balance sheet derivatives which will provide the gunpowder.
The Leveson inquiry for pop music:
https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23popleveson
brilliant #funnybastards
My personal favourite:
And did you honestly believe that rock and roll was an adequate foundation for a city of this size?
Paul Watson of telling lies to save the whales fame has been nicked in Germany and is being deported to face attempted murder charges in Costa Rica.
TRP Your link gives a good report on this situation. And I hope they give him fair justice and don’t brush off his evidence there as ‘telling lies’.
Me too, prism. Much as I think Watson is an ego driven buffoon, his organisation has actually had the guts to physically stop whale slaughter, which is a big step up from lobbying nations who aren’t listening anyway.
The odd line is where it’s claimed that Sea Shepherd were acting on behalf of the Guatamalan Government. That doesn’t sound too likely, does it?
Yes that was a puzzle.
the gospel according to mathew.
winston will go back into coalition with national in 2014 because john key will promise him a senior cabinet position and a knighthood and overseas posting whereas labour cant.
and while the nincompoops were arguing about promsicuity (gasp) the nats passed a bill stopping allowances for students doing a second degree.
hmmmmmm.
So what is happening while we weep over Pike River Mine. Surely the observation, “Just declare it a cemetery” was not insensitive.
A search party is usually closed down when there is no hope of life.
Would like to see The Standard do something on this:
Key backs off ‘hub’
“John Key’s plan for a financial services hub in New Zealand would require years of taxpayer support and risks transferring wealth offshore, Treasury has warned the Government.
The Government’s lead economic and financial policy agency advised that plans to pay international banks to move here represent “a wealth transfer from New Zealand taxpayers to overseas financial institutions”.
Further, the touted benefits were highly uncertain.
Following queries from the Sunday Star-Times last week, Key distanced the government from the controversial aspects of the plan.
“The more costly aspects of the [hub] plan were not seen as an effective use of taxpayer money,” a spokesman said.
The financial services hub proposal emerged after banker Craig Stobo told the Government’s 2009 Jobs Summit an economic boost would result if the Government created a zero tax rating for foreign investors who invested in international funds based here.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/latest-edition/6910087/Key-backs-off-hub
One. Would finance from any other country be safe ?
Two How does it fit in with muzza theory that some small group is trying to take over the entire world?
ha ha, yeah John, because nobody has ever tried to dominate the known world before – no sirreeeee…… just never happens.
ssshhh no-one mention the war,
or the Council on Foreign Relations, or the IMF or the Trilateral Commission, its all good john, go back to sleep chasing dragons and dandelions
Another NWO conspiracy theorist?
Nope no theory any more but scientifically proven just like the psychopathy of traders and bankers
The New World Order has been scientifically proven? That’s a new one.
It is now 8.25pm(20.25hrs) and 4 people have replied. May I suggest that each one takes a hard copy of the relevant parts of the post and puts this in the back of their diary, to read in 6 months time. Hopefully they will be pleasantly surprised to find how much they have matured in 6 months.
But John, it is you with the child-like view in pouring scorn on anyone who suggests that darker forces are at play – as has been the case at just about every point of time in history.
That is what Neville Chamberlain did, for just one of countless examples consistent through history.
Refer to “muzza 11 May 2012 12.40 hrs”
Shonkey’s mob are too busy selling our laws and SOE’s, they never figured it’d be this much work even with a sham consultation process.
Simply no time to sell out the remainder of our economic sovereignty now (more so than laws and SOE’s reperesent anyway) or even whip up some opinionated costings that make it appear the answer to our prayers with a financial hub.
This was always a reckless and ill considered spark of an idea (especially with sydney/melbourne so close) more so than the cycleway which at least would leave us with a physical asset but then JK’s is the ideas guy with the smile n wave thing going for him also.
From what I’ve been reading on several sites, at least 3 shipments of Jap import cars have been sent back to Japan,(or maybe re routed to NZ?) two from Russia and one from Vietnam.
There are meant to be 7,000 Jap import cars on the docks in Auckland at the moment, I wounder if anyone has gone over them with a Geiger counter?
The exporters in Japan are re-registering Fukushima cars, so it looks like they came from another prefecture.
Very interesting Robert. Found this where tires imported to Russia were sent back due to radiation. http://www.timeslive.co.za/world/article3199418.ece
They are also already testing in Australia: http://www.caradvice.com.au/123945/australian-vehicles-imported-from-japan-to-be-radiation-tested/
And in Chile: “Traces of radiation were found on 21 of the 2500 vehicles that were shipped from Yokohama. The Chilean Nuclear Commission deemed the level of radiation too low to be harmful to human health, although Chilean port workers protested, believing their safety was being put at risk.”
Doesn’t say what specific radiation they are looking for. I’d guess there’d be s.f.a. gamma radiation, which is what a geiger counters detect. But ‘hot particles’ emitting beta and/or alpha radiation? In the air filters of used cars? Well, that’s another matter innit? They can be dislodged and become airborne and then potentially be inhaled by a driver or passenger and lodge in their lung.
Anyway, this presentation was of a study done on the air filters of Japanese cars. (the transcript for the video is lower on the same page)
http://www.fairewinds.com/content/new-video-scientist-kaltofen-presenting-american-public-health-association
Meanwhile, Hilary Clinton apparently signed a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ deal with Japan whereby the US will not test imported Japanese goods for radiation levels. And I very much doubt NZ is carrying out any testing on goods or food. Which is bizarre given the fact that there are (just to give one of many examples) still sheep in Wales that are too radioactive due to uptake of contamination from their pasture to go to market following Chernobyl.
And yet here we are.
can’t be slowing down free trade now, can we. The other issue is: Japan’s economy is on a knife edge. Any continued ahem, fallout, affecting their massive export industry from radiation fears will help push them over the brink.
Thanks for the insight Bill
Thanks Bill’ that was a lot clearer
Ryall anounces 66% hike in prescription charges.
just how much poverty and abjection are these [people] willing to impose on NZ?
Let’s pay folk to build a deal that will sell us what we already own, before it is gifted away to people who won’t pay us much to get what they want but will charge us more once they have it. That is obviously far far more important than citizens getting the medicine they need.
Two words: Grey Power.
Wait to see headlines about people turning up at ED for standard GP care – because people hadn’t filled prescriptions. Wait to see overwork increase in hospital clinics for chronic conditions. Wait to see the headlines about increased rates of hospitalisation because people aren’t filling the prescriptions they need. Wait to see the headlines about poor people not taking personal responsibility for their own health.
A lot of the very good work to improve access to health care access is slowly being unravelled by this government.
Absolutely yes! I now have a prescription to pick up, but have been putting it off until I absolutely need it – it will be worse when the price rises!
Also, just hearing Garner on 3News banging on about his belief that Shearer barred Cunliffe from appearing on his programme. It doesn’t matter what Shearer and Cunliffe actually say! (Each got a 15 second soundbite, but Garner chose to disbelieve them both.)
yeah – you’re in the same boat as 7-19% of the population who can’t afford their prescriptions, so I guess technically this is true –
– I mean most are people who are not poor and pick up a prescription only now and then.
I wonder if they’re making changes to charges for prescriptions from specialists …
That means that parents who care for disabled kids are just as entitled to be paid support as any other care giver. Good job. Hope Tony Ryall doesn’t change the Act to bypass our Courts.
Appeal Court triumph for caregivers
Damn again links to wrong place.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10805814
Awesome news! I used to work with that family at Unitec in 2001… 🙂
Pity that yet again to see that this topic had to go to the highest level in our legal system to find out what – that these caregivers/family were being used by the last 2 governments. And Vicky agree hope that there is no retrospective changes to the entitlements.
Yet in examples re private schools being overpaid $2.5m and the govt comfortable in not retrieving the $ owed or the “moral” basis for covering those who were not entitled to their full SCF investments being covered by the govt e.g from Treasury link below “Where a retail debt security is held jointly, the coverage limit applies to the joint holders collectively and the maximum that will be paid to the joint holders collectively in respect of their debt security jointly held is $500,000 per institution if the deposit is with a registered bank and $250,000 if the deposit is with a non-bank deposit taker.
The Crown has discretion to apply a higher cap in relation to any claim or class of claims against an entity that is the product of the merger, amalgamation or takeover of one or more approved institutions.” So how come we are questioning compensating valid and worthy reasons and then paying out on cases that there is no obligation to ?
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/87100/criticism-of-ministry-for-overpaying-private-schools
http://www.treasury.govt.nz/economy/guarantee/retail/qanda/coverage
This case is pretty damning to both Nat and Lab for their lack of empathy 🙁
@ianmac – your links have a ” ‘ ” [space added for emphasis] at the end – I was having the same prob when cutting and pasting from the ‘how to?’ tab. I recommend committing to memory a href= and ></a – looks tricky at first glance, but easier to remember than you might think : )
@lprent
Maybe the link tutorial should read more like this?
a href=my-bloody-long-link>Visible text</a
Just a thought.
I will add reviewing the FAQ on to the list. Some of it is pretty old.
My opinion of George Lucas has just risen markedly! After his equally wealthy neighbours vetoed his plans to expand the film production facilities at his ranch in Marin County, California by raising ongoing planning objections, Lucas has decided to do the one thing that is guaranteed to annoy snobs.
Instead of building a new studio, Lucas is proposing to subdivide the ranch and turn it into to low cost housing for the poor and the retired. Presumably, just the sort of folk his neighbours moved from the city to avoid.
Ok, it doesn’t quite make up for Jar Jar Binks, but it shows he’s at least got a sense of humour, eh?
Epic troll is Epic.
Especially as all those poor people will lower surrounding land values and cause flight given that American’s are massive snobs when it comes to living near poor people. Although this maybe some cunning plan to make his neighbours accept the film production facilities expansion. Which will likely backfire, given it’s Lucas…
Derp:
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/hiv-row-childcare-centre-considers-legal-action-4887167
And here was me thinking we’d finally left stupid fearmongering crap over HIV carriers behind…
NickS The fact that to explain this matter properly you used a number of points and sentences illustrates that it is not a simple straightforward problem. It is silly to go off at a tangent when the schools are trying to ensure they have a plan that works for everyone. It’s not an Eve situation.
Are you sure that talking down to everyone who doesn’t meet the demands of our own rigorous intellectual sensibilities won’t be effective, persuasively?
I’ll talk down and cluebat at will damn you 😛
Uh?
You did notice the quote marks right? And the point in said quote marks that the kid is completely non-infectious thus the pre-schools attitude has major issues? And that this sort of shit last happened long ago and was mainly associated with the initial outbreak of HIV?
Because if not, you need to re-read it, and go a googling. Otherwise I’m going to have to nom on you.
After work (FUCK YES, finally got some work!) that is.
NickS I know about the previous HIV scare. We have found that it is treatable and containable, it won’t be picked up like a flu virus by everybody. We have had our fears allayed by knowledge and time. In that time we have forgotten things and need to run a check again on how to manage it and what problems there might be. That is what the school did apparently. Then they can provide an assurance of safety and care for other parents.
I think I have read your comments in the past and you always seemed to take an objective, scientific view. So this matter strikes a nerve perhaps.
So Ryall tells us that prescription charges haven’t been increased for 20 years. So what political party had the treasury benches back then. And what was Upton/Richardsons rationale?
The lunatics continue their war on the undeserving.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-rt-us-usa-politics-tennesseebre84b00d-20120511,0,6341950.story
http://teamuterati.com/2012/05/12/arizona-gov-jan-brewer-signs-legislation-permitting-employers-to-interrogate-female-employees-about-contraception-use/
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/11/justice/florida-stand-ground-sentencing/index.html
joe 90
This Arizona stuff is unbelievable – but reading it, well it’s eyes wide open. A sure sign of cant and intolerance is in the reference to mom and pop, hostility to the ‘gummint’, the Soviet Union and then the skewed opposite idea of virtuous USA. This is the sort of doubletalk that does not represent good religious thought. Taleban anyone?
Does this sound vaguely familiar when thinking of recent comments on this blog. Awful government measures to force long acting contraceptives on female citizens who Have Rights to Have as many Children on Welfare as happenstance. (Because they wouldn’t be planned. And the benefits of having sex without the concern about having extra children would be wrong, wrong according to the human rightists.)
If an alien was looking at this from outofspace it would surely conclude that the USA is as facsist and as extremist as those places where the Taleban rule.
So perhaps the USA is as fascist and extremist as the worst of them. Do you think Americans would consider themselves extremists? I bet not. Would love to hear the reasons …. any Americans out there like to defend the motherland?
vto I don’t think you would find any Americans who could give an objective view of their zeitgeist. Their extreme religious, individualistic, skewed attitudes of resentment to federal as opposed to state government, their brain-washed attitudes about communism and socialism, and grandiose notions of their country’s standing and moral worth is based on just being big, nationally wealthy and powerful, free-market and profit driven with a huge military with a compliant treasury enabling huge deficits, and some random individual efforts to provide needed charitable programs glinting through the smog here and there.
And there is the fact that they are not united at all in their behaviours and thinking, going from backward states like Arizona, and the still racist southern states to the cooler, thinking northern states shows a great difference in progress towards realisation of the greatness and goodness that human society can aspire to.
The myths inculcated at school and reinforced at assemblies while assuming the posture of patriotic hand-over-heart when facing the flag is reminiscent of the automatic nazi salute – all these things are scrambled egg floating around in the heads of US Americans. Most would be unable to crawl out from under them to get a different view.
And there are shadows of this hanging over New Zealand too.
One and the same prism. Pandering to the Taliban/taxpaying public.
Key’s government told “piss off you fucked up” by the Courts over the Akaroa Marine Reserve decision.
Key’s government told “piss off you fucked up” by the Courts over the family care-givers.
Key’s government told “piss off you fucked up” by the Courts over the Crafar farms decision.
….. there are a few patterns here ……….
The care giver case also displays the lack of caring from Labour, they do not come out of this untarnished vto. As stated above hope the disease of retrospective changes does not carry over tho this case. Pretty poor on all accounts from our voted by the peoples governments for the people !!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/6917371/Parents-of-disabled-children-win-court-battle
Dotcom
Wait, the marine reserve actually went though?!
FUCK YES.
Heh, there’s also an unfinished draft on this site too from back then go over marine reserve and general theory stuff that I never got finished explaining why they’re a really good idea and why people should welcome them, even if it means loosing a mint fishing spot. Plus some more general NZ marine ecology stuff that came up abut sea grass meadow restoration (tip – major habitat for young fish).
Russell Brand appears before the Home Affairs Committee on drug policy.
Dude’s eloquent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_LHuII-jYQ
Previously.
An interesting look at the contraceptives for beneficiaries:
This is a test message looking for a reported problem saving comments on firefox 12.0. Logged in works ok.
Ok that worked. Now trying while not logged in.
And that worked as well.
I use Firefox 13 and can’t delete comments, and when I edit and Save it sticks on the edit screen (showing as saved).
Haven’t had any problems myself, I don’t use the WYSIWYG editor though.
Can edit but cant delete. Using Chrome.