Watching from afar the leadership of labour, I am taken back the column of comments to me seem to infer that the leadership will direct the direction of the party. Should not the the direction be already established and that the leader deliverers the message.
Unfortunately the cult of personality appears to have taken over and most are looking for someone to take on and win this battle with Key. Key’s time as the nats lead is limited, and perhaps labour should be more concerned about taking control of the message instead of trying to take on key 1:1.
@Hero-dotus
+200 The message of the policies directed to changing NZ again, away from the dead hand of Rogernomics, private and crony-benefits, free and open markets, including for labour is what is needed.
Labour got it all started, so determinedly, let Labour give us back a thriving country with a modern direction, following the best principles that the bureaucrats like to preach, and that would include taking note of our scientists, and professional thinkers (some professionals are just skilled at working within their own silos.)
couldnt agree more. asked this a few times since cunliffe resigned as leader. where does the party want to go and who does it want to represent, THEN find someone to drive that.
in the LP vision they state they are progressive. prior to september 20 they openly stated nzf was preferred partner to greens…. winston is many things but progrssive isnt one of them.
100% agree. Labour MPs seem organically incapable of that type of thinking.
Mana is better in this respect. Hone put aside his own views on the dreaded electric puha to push a line developed by the wider movement. Labour has a tendency to do the exact opposite.
Hah, that’s amusing – National does everything without evidence. Or, at least, against the evidence that we’re seeing – they may have some other evidence from other sources with other goals that they’re not sharing.
Is Shearer New Zealand’s most graceless politician?
Just in case we were imagining there wasn’t an active network that had been growing again Cunliffe since he stepped into Parliament, Shearer spells it all out on National Radio for us.
Shearer did not have the fortitude to stand himself, despite clearly thinking he could, so decides to damage the process that the membership had to fight for hard. The Party is better than Shearer. And will show it.
By attacking Cunliffe so openly and at length, he is attacking all the members who supported Cunliffe throughout.
Just in case any member or activist thought that a new era was dawning and that a new leader wasn’t going to go through the whole joint and rip and tear out every single Cunliffe supporter … just listen to the open rage on display now, and figure your future out.
I believe the members and activists and affiliates will do exactly the reverse. Woe betide Shearer at the next list conference. And about six other names.
We won in the constitutional changes. Now we really have to unseat them.
and your LP is, hmmmm, National? paint the picture for us fool, this LP you thinkmof, that isnt National, what are their policies, directions and who is their leader? do tell?
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
Here is an inconvenient fact. Labour can only become government by gaining the votes of people who presently vote National. Making Labour more like Mana is not going to cause those people to vote Labour.
go on then, outline the policies to do that and the leader.
and which nat voters will you target.
and how, by what means
stating the obvious might make you feel clever but it advances nothing, especially as only a few percentage are needed from nat vote, not the lot, and better strategic mmp thinking.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
the core ideas and concepts behind left leaning policies are still very popular, so popular in fact that the nats keep nicking it and trying desperately to not talk about what they are really planning
so yes – labour does need to win back people who have switched their vote – but the answer isnt in trying to be more like national.
Its more to do with acting like a bunch of kids, poorly constructed and poorly delivered policies and a media witch hunt that cost them the election
Your confusing why people voted for a party with actual policy direction. They arent the same thing
Yes, Shearer should STFU. He and his cronies have won. Now he should take his boot out of DC’s ribcage and get back to restoring the once dynamic Mt Albert electorate to something a bit more like its former glory.
It seems to me pretty obvious that Andrew Little will now win the leadership now that Cunliffe has pulled out. The Unions and most of the party membership will swing behind him, and I assume Little commands reasonable support in caucus. So if Little wins, where to for Robertson and the ABCs? An Andrew Little victory would be the second, calculated and explicit rejection by the unions and membership to the Labour old guard and ABCs. For the faction built around Robertson to lose twice and not accept the time has come for many of them to move on would be for it to become completely isolated from the unions, the membership and the MPs who support Little and to risk complete humiliation at selection time in 2017.
So I guess the big question is this, would the likes of Mallard, Goff, Shearer, Cosgrove, King, and Robertson retire from politics or will they try to continue to white ant until they get their man into the top job? And by extension, should Robertson be allowed to win as he is the only man capable of keeping the dead wood in line?
Sanctuary
But is Robertson capable of keeping the dead wood in line? You seem fairly confident there. But they have a long history already of survival and effectiveness. They can keep gnawing away at the Labour tree, it struggles on and so there’s opportunity for them to keep going.
@ Paul
Shearer couldn’t keep off the media. Sounds like Dunney pontificating in a deep, sonorous voice. Talking about cohesion etc but busies himself on the media interfering in a vital process in Labour’s leadership vote supposed to make it more effective. So does Shearer want to help that, by keeping schtum and separate himself quietly. No he does not, he resigns from the process of leader-choosing, and casts himself as a hero and jabs Cunliffe again. The whole process to me is as confusing as the Schrödinger’s Cat experiment.
Then he talks about the fault of Labour being concerned about identity politics. But I’m not sure of the identitity of these identities. Would some commentators who have a grasp of all these types of people, their ages, their gender and their work category, please list them for me! He does diss the idea that the Deputy Leader should be a woman, Maori or Pacifica. One imagines these are some of the identities. Is that right, and who else please.
Then Brent Edwards comes on and jabs Cunliffe and mentions The Standard as vocal supporters, and we are cast somehow as causing dissension. No mention of the constant media campaign for and against apparent favourites of these objective, wise political common-tators that have embedded their feed lines into our brains to receive their opinions. Why else would people listen to these gabby talk-fests like Leighton Smith, John Tamihere, Willy Jackson, Josie Pagani et al.
And no mention of the elephant in the room. That is the need to wrest back Labour from the smug and comfortable in the middle class. Labour was started as a workers party and also spoke for those dispossessed from the position of ‘comfortably off’ in the country for various reasons. Trying to get the long-term right wing pollies out and also their pernicious influence is bound to be bruising and difficult. And it is bound to seem odd, incoherent, chaotic and crazy to those who are happy with the status quo on the RW side. I referred recently to The Good Samaritan, who was exceptional from his class, just because he did something for an opposition group. So Labour reformers are not going to receive much credence from the comfortable in NZ, and those who live off them like fleas on a cat.
edited
I was confused about the same thing until I saw a pattern emerge. Here is my take on the Labour Saga but also the way John Key , Ian Fletcher and Graeme Wheeler and even Russell Norman came to their august positions.
Little has sufficient cause to send Shearer to the backbenches and to publically ask him not to go for selection next time.
New branches need to be formed in Mt Albert that are not under the thumb of Shearer and his wife Anushka. Mt Albert was the strongest LEC in NZ up to when Shearer was handed the seat on a plate by Goff. That is sadley far from the case now.
Mt Albert was the strongest LEC in NZ up to when Shearer was handed the seat on a plate by Goff.
I can attest to that. I was one of a group of young activists who built up the Mt Albert Labour Party in the 1970s and 80s and Helen Clark’s suppporters continued the good work when we moved on to other places. In August of last year I attended a memorial service for the Labour incumbent prior to Helen (Warren Freer) who had also been an old friend of my deceased father. I was taken aback to find myself on the receiving end of “unfriendly glares” from David Shearer. He apparently knew who I was and appeared unhappy about my presence. It Ieft me feeling embarrassed and angry as I had even more right to be there than himself.
Since reading his comments in today’s Herald the penny has dropped. Someone must have enlightened him about my support for Cunliffe. That didn’t stop me fully supporting Shearer the entire time he was leader.
Ad +100 …these MPs seem to go to radionz to do their damage and spin things for themselves
……Shearer said that Cunliffe undermined both him and Goff ( NO!)
…..Shearer also mentioned Left wing blogs ( well those political observers of Shearer debated and reported what they saw on the Left blogs…but the debates were free and open ended ( unlike the msm) …and sadly they were stating the obvious
the fact of the matter is that it was patently obvious to every new Zealander and especially Labour Party voters ( who dont read left wing blogs and who incidentally originally supported Shearer) that he was hopelessly inexperienced and inarticulate as leader!)
Methinks Shearer is feeling guilty for the bullying and undermining of David Cunliffe by caucus
…so now Shearer, with the airing of radionz , is leading the attack on Left wing blogs for debate and stating the obvious
…perhaps Left wing blogs with their open debate are now being perceived as a threat
What a pity certain MPs in Labour didn’t channel their competitiveness and aggression toward challenging the political parties/political views they were elected in to vie with.
You sound like one of those nasty Standard people he was complaining about on Morning Report today!
He clearly has a strong agenda….move to the centre, big party that appeals to everyone….
Everyone?
Power at all costs then.
Like Tony Blair.
Oh dear.
If Shearer and his ilk gain control of the Labour Party, then neoliberalism is locked into this country.
As was planned by the establishment. Shearer and the right wing cabal in the Labour caucus are just as important to the powers that run NZ as Key and his group.
They need Tweedlede and Tweedledum parties.
The TPPA will further lock down the settings for them.
Shearer has worked hard, again and again, to remove any doubt that he has the ability to do his job as a leader or caucus colleague. Time for him to shut up and move out.
Labour Party members can lodge complaints with Council about him bringing the Party into disrepute: clause 387 (b), NZLP Constitution 2014.
“Labour MP David Shearer has ruled out trying to get his old job back but has sent a blunt message to [himself] to get out of Parliament altogether, saying as long as he was there he would be a lightning rod for speculation over the leadership [and caucus division, as well as his own IQ].
You don’t remember the Minister of Pornography calling him a huhu grub as well as young Richie Cunningham giving him a public serve after that Labour conference a few years back.
Maybe Shearer’s outburst is just a symptom of the current state of the party where no-one really trusts each other and everyone’s got their own hidden/ not so hidden agenda. If Little is elected he’s certainly got his job cut out in trying to get some discipline going in the party.
maybe the plan.As far as the present ego contest goes Little and Parker seem the most humble.Should Little succeed ,expect an old fashioned ‘reds under the beds’ attack from the right.What sort of impression can Little make on that 20% of floating voters?
well Labour is clearly in terminal decline if thats the priority.From Clarks reign to this in 6 /7 years?Does not augur well.The Natz managed a renaissance with new blood,and a united strategy,….Labour ,with Little will be only 1/2 way there.Imagine what will happen when Winston puts his cue in the rack.
So thats what the dog was whinging about yesterday. I keep it on in the garage where it (Radio Live) keeps the dog company. And Garners dulcet tones were great for keeping the puppies quiet just after they were born earlier in the year.
I suspect Shearer’s activities are actually meant to be in support of Parker’s cause. Ardern’s Central Auckland team have been pumping the phones for Parker and, with their encouragement, Shearer in trying to be a player!
This toxic spittoon was shaped by the arch Machiavellian Robertson. He and Goff put the unsuitable and inexperienced Shearer into the leadership to block Cunliffe.
Shearer still does not get it that he was used and abused by Robertson. It was Robertson who undermined Shearer. It was Robertson who got Maryan Street to do the numbers and roll Shearer.
This rush of blood to Shearer’s head marks the last stage of his career in the Labour Party. Good riddance.
From what I remember of the Engineers’ Class Collaboration Association, Little will go to Parker and say that making the people they represent work two more years is absolutely unacceptable. After strenuous negotiations, he’ll triumphantly announce that he got it changed to four, and half pension for Pasifika, because they have big families to support them.
Disclaimer: this post may not be entirely serious.
On TV3’s The Nation a couple of days ago, David Shearer suggested: “When I stood down (as leader) we were polling at 34%, and we ended up on 25% in the Election. That was in the space of 12 months. That is a catastrophic drop.”
Reality
Labour support in last 8 polls BEFORE Shearer stood down
Labour Monthly Average support for Last 4 Months of Shearer Leadership
MAY 33%……..JUNE 32%……..JULY 31%……..AUGUST 32%
Labour Monthly Average support for First 4 Months of Cunliffe Leadership
SEPTEMBER 35%……..OCTOBER 35%……..NOVEMBER 33%……..DECEMBER 35%
You really have to wonder where Labour would be now if Shearer had held on to the Leadership and then come in for the relentless MSM character assassination inflicted on Cunliffe over the last 8 months. I’m picking something close to National under Bill English in 2002.
Not to mention the wholesale slaughter in the pre-Election Leader Debates.
Shearer announced he was standing down on 22 Aug 2013.
In the Roy Morgan released 20 August 2013, Labour got 34%. Yes, a spike. Yes, many other issues. Yes, he and damned near everyone else who’s been tipped to be a contender is acting like a dickhead.
But technically, he’s correct.
BTW, it’s not like Shearer wasn’t on the receiving end of relentless character assassination, either. Nor will the next Labour Party leader be in for any less. The reason is that the tories don’t like labour, and there seems to be a tendency for those within Labour (caucus and membership) to flail about at anybody with a slightly different opinion. FFS, there’s now an alleged Labour party “branch” that uses a gmail account.
(1) As the poll figures I set-out above show, that 34% was an outlier. 6 of the last 8 polls of Shearer’s leadership had Labour in the 29.0-31.6% range.
(2) You’re talking about the last poll to be released before he announced his departure. If you’re going to narrow the focus to just the very last poll of his leadership (which isn’t something I’d recommend – far better to average out the last few), then you need to look at the last poll conducted before he announced he was stepping down.
There are two candidates for this:
Fairfax-Ipsos (conducted 10-15 August) Labour 31.6% Roy Morgan (conducted 12-25 August) Labour 31.5%
So, no, I disagree that Shearer is technically correct
As above, the last two measurements of public opinion before he announced his decision to step down had Labour on 31.6% and 31.5%. Shearer can’t just cherry-pick the third-to-last one because it was better for Labour than all the surrounding polls and say this is where Labour was when I departed.
In chronological order from 8th-to-last through to last poll before stepping down
Shearer announces his intention to stand down as Labour Leader 22 August.
It’s a total misrepresentation by Shearer and his cheerleaders to suggest Labour were sitting comfortably on 34% when he stood down (and strongly implying that this was a consistent and solid rating throughout those final weeks)
(We both like to have the last word, don’t we McFlock)
The 12-25th one doesn’t count, because it includes after shearer announced his resignation.
The fairfax could have fairly been ignored at that time, given the bias displayed in the previous election. But when was it released?
Still, the last poll released was indeed 34%, so IMO it’s a fair statement.
Frankly, if you think it’s the most irritating comment he’s made in the past few days, I disagree with your characterisation of the comment but respect your dedication to the importance of numbers 🙂
The Herald online has a story about conjoint twins and has a photo of two a…holes. See the picture. It’s at the story “Hosking v Henry: Radio’s new war.”
lol
I prefer that.
I don’t listen to radio as a habit, but I do watch late might TV. Hopefully his stint at 1030pm is over, so there might be something on that I’d prefer to watch. Like paint drying on horseshit.
Unbelievable behavior from David Shearer the article that he is quoted on in the Herald today certainly brings the Party into disrepute. Who the hell does David Shearer think he is, what a destructive nasty piece of work he is. Its David Shearer that clearly needs to move on along with his nasty bunch of caucus mates.
We should be paying attention to this. While the left is in a dither over Labour, Key is setting up to bring in legislation that will lessen our rights and increase the power of the spooks.
People on twitter are making jokes about the terror alert increase. We shouldn’t be so complacent. It’s classic moves to make NZ less sovereign and put more power in the hands of the few (in this case the PM and his cronies).
With the help of some basic web tools the ‘small roadside shop’ is a safety deposit box in Parnell and the email address given is provided by a Canadian email company.
So quite likely the whole thing is a front run from anywhere.
And probably enabled by our insanely loose Shell company laws which have been an ongoing global concern due to enabling arms smuggling, money laundering & god knows what else.
So quite likely the whole thing is a front run from anywhere.
Yep which is why NZ really needs to tighten up its authentication process for registering a business and to stop accepting foreign people from registering here at all.
No, DTB! The freedom of capital is sacred! To combat this, we need less regulation on business and greater domestic powers for the squirrels. The interests of liberty demand that the GCSB and SIS have the right to manufacture evidence against people they don’t like but can’t find any proof against. After all, ngati poaka have had this right for years, squirrels must be treated equally!
This has been a community broadcast in favour of freedom, liberty, and undersize crayfish.
We’re are so open and friendly to anything and everything from overseas, except terrorists. But anything else dangerous to our or economy’s health is okay. WE don’t put up any defences against shonky businesses and their shell companies that cover nasty little surprises. Next thing someone will pick up a shell and find underneath a present of an ebola virus.
1. He pretty much confirmed my point that Cunliffe was stupid to run with Mahuta as a double-ticket back in 2011, when none of the other candidates were. Clearly caucus as a whole thought she didn’t deserve the role and was just there as a token Maori woman. This move seems to have cemented the existing bad faith that they held against Cunliffe. It also shows that he badly misjudged the mood of caucus to run on a double ticket like that.
2. Shearer early on said he didn’t care what people on blogs said (meaning, The Standard) because they didn’t have any power or achieve anything. Yet this morning he specifically attacks people on The Standard as if we wield some mighty power?
3. Shearer seems to think that it’s ok for the caucus members who don’t like the leader to constantly speak to the MSM and bleat about it, but if anyone on a blog dare suggest that the leader isn’t doing their job well, it’s the end of the world. In short, Shearer is a massive hypocrite.
thats the bit i found really weird. I caught the dig at the standard in his interview – and my reaction was (once the swearing subsided) – “This guy doesnt see the irony of pointing the finger at the unfluence* of bloggers – while on national radio?!”
STFU Shearer!
im not even a labour member, and im furious at shearers continued media yapping – lord knows how those who are members feel about him continuing to not only air, but generate, dirty laundry in public
* its a typo – but i feel like ive just invented a useful word – so im leaving it in there 🙂
Good summary, Lanthanide. Clearly, Shearer is bitter and twisted about his own failure to hold onto the leadership, despite having the majority of caucus behind him. He’s not really scared of the Standard, he’s scared of the members.
So here’s my suggestion: if Cunliffe should quit as an MP, then so should Shearer. And Goff, obviously.
But wait! There’s more!!! Also well past there use by date are Mallard, Cosgrove and King. Ruth Dyson has not done anything to deserve the chop, but as with King, it’s probably time to call time there too.
If King steps down, Andrew Little will win the subsequent Rongotai by-election. Mallard should probably stay until the next election because of the risk of losing a by-election in Hutt South, but he should be given a whip’s role in the meantime just to keep him busy and full of self importance in the meantime. Shearer and Goff’s seats should go to whoever the local LEC’s think the best fresh faces are.
Ok, it’s a slightly risky strategy, but forcing 3 by-elections, and winning them all, would be a turning point on the road to recovery.
Maybe a tweak to the constitution re: leadership contests: there’s also an ostracism ballot for the entire caucus (i.e. everyone includingthe new leader), kicking one MP out of parliament if a list mp and caucus if electorate? Open to membership only.
Might add a wee bit of self-preservation instinct to some folks.
My opinion and it is just an opinion that the bad blood in Caucus goes back to when Cunliffe was Minister of Health and sacked the Hawkes Bay Health Board.
Annette’s husband was impacted upon by this. Sorry can’t remember the details. So she is p…..ed off with DC. She is popular. DC perceived as up himself. so a group think takes over, which is the breeding ground for the ABC’s. Strenthened by the left/right split.
Are we in a police state yet? If so, at what point did it occur?
When will Shearer, and his mates, move to National? Although it’s probably too late as their house is full.
I am thoroughly p…d off, Mr Shearer. I worked hard in my electorate for the Labour vote. You were not supported as leader because although you had a great back story, you did not have the verbal skills to match the current PM. The majority of members supported David Cunliffe in the vote when he was elected because he has the ability to think on his feet and express himself fluently. He proved to be more than a match in the electoral debates. The caucus did not but made a moderate effort to contain itself although there were leaks to the MSM (the 3 day holiday, etc.) After the election there has been a wholesale lack of discipline from some of the caucus. What would you think of a sporting team which, after losing an important match, behaved in such a manner as the Labour Party caucus? This was not the time to roll the leader. You were correct in saying that there needed to be an analysis of what went wrong first, but obviously Grant Robertson couldn’t wait. Since then, the indiscipline has been totally embarrassing and infuriating. My computer screen is not darkened, David Shearer. I use a pseudonym not to protect myself but so that my family members and the place where I am employed on a part time basis are not associated with my personal comments.
+1 TMM
I wish Meg Bates had won the selection for Mt Albert instead of Shearer. We may by now have had the Labour Party that those of us on the left wanted.
Shearer on Morning Report this morning was a disgrace. Why is he being allowed to get away with this deluded, self-serving behaviour? Why didn’t he stand? Afraid of being the first candidate to be eliminated Mr Shearer?
I am surprised that anyone connected with David Shearer should think that the worst thing about him was he did not have good verbal skills.
To me, making sneering comment about a beneficiary doing maintenance on his house and implying it was likely to be part of rorting the welfare system, shows a poisoned mind to welfare. And all his supposedly humanitarian work overseas was no doubt for good salary. It is known that these aid workers/administrators get well paid and usually distort the economy of any poor and needy place they work in, getting the best quality of amenities at that place, so not sharing similar standards which the people bear.
Seems by his attitude, he was prepared to see the same here. That’s why he was no good for a Labour leader. He was just going to be another distanced middle class aspirational type looking out first for No.1.
I like the bit phillip when you said his eyes glazed. Too much information for him no doubt. I think a lot of these pollies like to fly by the seat of their pants, it’s how they feel that matters, the facts just get in the way.
That was cunning, giving a link to the post that gives the actual link. Double your web traffic 🙂
Nice story anyway. I can remember coming across Syd Jackson in a supermarket once. As a member of the Clerical Workers’ Union, I let him know some of my concerns. He was also less than interested.
Two dams in the Hunua Ranges which supply about 20 per cent of Auckland’s water were closed for four months this year after traces of a toxic herbicide applied to nearby forestry blocks got into the dams’ supply lakes.
…
Auckland Council was told of the incident, but both the council and Watercare Services kept it quiet from the public until a whistleblower contacted the Herald yesterday.
A speaker on radionz from watercare said they acted to close water down straight away and that the water supply was not contaminated. And unless he was lying I don’t think there was a case to cause general alarm over nothing.
interesting!… there is a culture in New Zealand of not taking toxic herbicides (or 1080 poisoning) as seriously as they do in other countries …the Greens are an exception, although even they are brainwashed on the 1080 issue
Interesting email from a male friend of mine:
“I went out for a meal after work and was sitting quite close to the till. It was really interesting hearing the conversations this young French woman server was having with people.
In particular, just while we were there about four different guys older than you and I were trying to pick her up. One invited her on to his boat, and another asked her out on a date and was trying to hold her hand.
You could tell this women was a friendly and warm person to everyone and these guys were just like untrained puppies. This must happen to her every night. “
After a reply from me:
“I guess it does – bit disturbing of course”
He replied:
“It must become a bit of a drag for these women – and of course, this sort of behaviour makes women naturally defensive towards all men.”
My reply was:
“Each man thinks is only him asking and never thinks that he is one of millions which as you say must become very exhausting for women. In places like Indonesia women are never left alone.”
Yes, younger women in particular can receive an awful lot of this type of interaction which eventually causes a lot of them to close out all but people they know well. At some level it also means that no matter what they are trying to say, using their intelligence or other skills, all the feedback they get is through that single prism. Sometimes I wonder , if by default, they start to exclude themselves from the wider positions in society just so they get some peace.
I know, I know, our governments don’t conspire with other governments and we can trust John Key to be here for us and not his corporate mates but still…
All those things I have been saying over the years about how John Key would be limiting our freedoms, sell our assets, take us to war given half a chance are sort of happening aren’t they?
And waddayaknow, they are happening at the same time they are happening in the other 4 countries of the five eye nations aren’t they? And they are using the exact same arguments all of a sudden out of the blue (In the same blue suits I might add)!
ISIS blah blah blah, Syris blah blah blah, Need more security local beheadings blah blah blah. Non violent extremists are as bad as ISIS blah, blah, blah. Must fight the extremism spawning these terror groups you know people thinking 9/11 wasn’t done by a group of mad extremist Muslims blah, blah, blah. If your not with us you’re a terrorist blah, blah, blah.
So just in case there are people here to take the next step towards understanding why this is happening now and everywhere in the Anglo Saxon world here is a link towards Architects and Engineers for 9/11 truth. I know, I know, they would never do that and our governments love us to bits but you know it can’t heard just to do a little read and maybe pick up some reality. I mean real reality not the one created for us by the MSM.
And just in case you’re wondering, I am a very proud non-violent extremist ans I am in very good company!
thanks for that …i am with you…personally i like the “dustification” theory the best…because it did look like bloody dustification….certainly not the result of an plane crashing in
Last week, when there were recomendations to through out bagged lettuce and carrots I rang our local new world to see if there was any compensation and what they recomended we do (we had bagged lettuce and carrots in the fridge). I was told that all there produce was safe, when I asked if it was safe to give to my kids the guy said yes it was, I through it out anyway.
No it has come to light that it is suspected to be the exact same lettuce we had. I rang them back and have been told that at the time all the staff had been told to say that all there producè was safe nd unaffected, I asked who had told them to say this and was told it came from head office.
so foodstuff had a strong suspicion that it was them, but still sent out that message to the shops.
I hadn’t thought about it til Campbell Live mentioned Pam’s bagged lettuce last night. And I had just had some for dinner. Apparently it can take between hours or many days for the symptoms of the illness to appear……. counting down….
Edit: Though I did wash it before I put it on my plate.
phillip you must always eat your greens….and that includes lettuce!…(stop being such a picky eater and food faddist !)
and if the lettuce is the “comma of the vegetable world”…David Suzuki , the environmentalist , said he is a vegetarian and eats chicken because it is a flying vegetable
Hi lprent
Is it my computer, or has the consecutive numbering gone awry or away? A long thread soon loses any numbering and they don’t seem to go as far in the subsets as before. Is this inevitable? Can it only be fixed by choosing a more expensive option in the works?
Surely the three remaining candidates for leader can see that Little will win. Why submit the party to four weeks of the media painting Labour as a hopelessly divided party. Why waste time traipsing to meetings when the result is known and time could be better spent getting organized. Why spend the money on a leadership primary campaign, (anyone know if the cost is 5 or six figures??)
Little as leader. either of the other two as Deputy and the other given a front bench position. Done and dusted today. Fighting fit for Parliament starting next week.
It gets Labour out into the provinces and talking to people. At this point it might be advantageous for them to see Labour in action rather than rely on the right wing negative media line they’re exposed to day in and day out…
Better to entrench our hard-won democracy within the party’s practices than to take a convenient shortcut. We need to make it harder, not easier, for Hooton-anointed leaders to be slipped into place in the future.
Simple paddy.? That is the attitude that got Labour into this mess. Paying proper attention to the important matters of leadership and choice of MPs and generally running the party better.
Yes but Paddy there have been 2000 new members join since the announcement of the leadership campaign (2014). That potentially covers it. BTW I think we need to try and organised with the new members.
I am amazed. Shearer makes significant criticisms of the effect that commentators (perhaps including myself) have made here, and there seems to be nobody willing to self reflect that he may have some legitimate complaint.
I’m not suggesting that there should not be robust discussion defending “our place”. I’m simply surprised. I’ll go back over the last few posts. There are others that have criticised Shearer, in a manner that promotes better constructive debate or comment. (For example, mickysavage’s contribution on “Dear David Shearer”)
I hope those comments by mickysavage (in “Dear David Shearer”) “the Standard has a very open policy on comments and sometimes people say things that are not very nice. Criticism is not treachery” have some truth.
I guess I will find out in the consequences of this post, that I hope are not simply interpreted as “right wing troll” or “stfu”. I would rather they be interpreted as intended, in the spirit of Nicky Hager hoping that the standard of political debate is raised as a legacy to “Dirty Politics”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
@ vto (10 )
David Shearer – what a babbler. what a mumbler what a bumbler
stfu Shearer
Shearer says that you only have to look at some of the comments in the Standard to understand his grievances. This is a good example, I expect. No justification for a most insidious smear. Whaleoil 101.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
@ Craig Glen Eden (12)
Unbelievable behavior from David Shearer the article that he is quoted on in the Herald today certainly brings the Party into disrepute.
And if Shearer is bringing the Party into disrepute, where does that leave many commentators here, including myself?
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@ Craig Glen Eden (12)
Who the hell does David Shearer think he is, what a destructive nasty piece of work he is. Its David Shearer that clearly needs to move on along with his nasty bunch of caucus mates.
Shearer says that you only have to look at some of the comments in the Standard to understand his grievances. This is another good example, I expect. No justification for a most insidious smear. Whaleoil 101.
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@ Tracey (13.1)
shearer will be on the wireless soon suggesting cunliffe is behind ISIS
Tracey joins the pack hunting Shearer, and uses another subject to attack Shearer. It’s disguised as humour. But obviously a nice thing to bite around the ankles, while the pack attacks the jugular.
~~~~~~~~~
@ Lanthanide (14)
(parts one and two)
One of the better contributions, which is not high praise. It is clearly legitimate personal opinion. But totally in defensive mode. Not a pinch of self reflection about the role of commentators on the Standard. And unsubstantiated sledges that are more characteristic of John Key: “Cunliffe is stupid” “Clearly caucus as a whole thought she didn’t deserve the role and was just there as a token Maori woman”. And unsubstantiated assertions “Shearer early on said”
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@ Lanthanide (14)
(The third part of the post) Shearer seems to think that it’s ok for the caucus members who don’t like the leader to constantly speak to the MSM and bleat about it, but if anyone on a blog dare suggest that the leader isn’t doing their job well, it’s the end of the world. In short, Shearer is a massive hypocrite.
A hard hitting attack on Shearer ending in in an extraordinary claim that he is not just a hypocrite, but a massive hypocrite. I probably would not have added comment here, were it not for the added word “massive”. (In contrast to smears by others about Shearer, the justification for the claim is provided, and able to be debated)
But there is no self reflection on the difference between Shearer’s comments to the media (sledged as bleats) and the critical comments on blogs. Lanthanide conveniently characterises these as “suggesting that the leader isn’t doing their job well”, for which there could be no complaint. But Lanthanide does not pause to reflect that the majority of critical comments about Shearer on blogs are basically ad hominem attacks and Whaleoil 101 smears. Shearer is actually entitled to be pissed.
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@ Te Reo Putake (14.2)
“totally agreed” by @ Not a PS Shark Sashimi (14.2.1)
“Clearly, Shearer is bitter and twisted about his own failure to hold onto the leadership, despite having the majority of caucus behind him. He’s not really scared of the Standard, he’s scared of the members. ……………….. But wait! There’s more!!! Also well past there use by date are Mallard, Cosgrove and King”
A classic critique, containing nothing but an ad hominem smear. Whaleoil 101. A post that is even supported by another commentator! This sort of comment provides Shearer, or anyone else attacked in a similar sort of way, with a legitimate complaint. For f. sake. Attack the policy; Attack anything with substance. Provide praise where it is due. Have we collectively not learnt anything from Nicky Hager, while we generously provide donations for him? Or is it always them, and not us?
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@ philj (15) Are we in a police state yet? If so, at what point did it occur?
When will Shearer, and his mates, move to National?
Shearer says that you only have to look at some of the comments in the Standard to understand his grievances. This is another good example, I expect. No justification for a most insidious smear. Whaleoil 101. It could be turned into a comment of significance, by providing a reference to policies that Shearer has promoted that you believe should not be in Labour.
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@ les (16) Why does anyone really care what Shearer thinks! Hes not standing,obviously has a sour grape hangover and the public couldn’t care less either
Well actually I care, as I care about what all member of the caucus think. If I was Shearer, I would be pissed about this Whaleoil 101 contribution
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@ Tautoko Mangō Mata (17)
You were not supported as leader because although you had a great back story, you did not have the verbal skills to match the current PM.
Is it true to suggest that the only reason Shearer was not supported was because he did not have the verbal skills to match John Key? I do not know, and have not looked back and reviewed discussions here when Shearer was leader. Were there not criticisms, as there seem to be now that Shearer was ‘too far to the right’ etc? and simply dislike characterised by Whaleoil 101 smears?
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[lprent: This is a site for expressing opinions for the left. We explicitly state that it is here for robust debate.
In the case of the comments you are reflecting above, are any distortions of fact? Or are they very clearly opinions as I think. Perhaps you should show exactly which ones have statement of facts that are not valid? Because that is the requirement for any legal issues.
You appear to looking from Where? The viewpoint of a Labour party member? Looking through your examples, I think that less than half are even members of the Labour party. Where exactly do you think you are? An LEC? Some place governed by the rules of NZLP?
This site is designed to allow discussion amongst people from the broad labour movement. That includes unionists, the vast numbers of ex-labour members, greens, anarchists, communists, many religious movements, and even economic drys like myself. We argue, bicker, and disagree. We also say exactly what we think about politicians and their behaviour. If some politicians are too sensitive about people talking about them, then I suggest that they avoid pubs, workplaces, and blogs.
I suspect that we have helped convince a large number of people to join or rejoin the NZLP as well as the Greens and other left parties. Why do you think that the NZLP membership is nearly triple what it was in 2011? But we have done that through open discussion not the kind of constrained narrow arselicking that you seem to want to impose.
But be warned, you are clearly advocating a change in our policies. You can argue that. You can however not state that we should change them either directly or indirectly. That is because the only people who can do that that are those who actually author and work on the site. You are not one of them.
They are the only people that you can really try to influence. ]
Not a pinch of self reflection about the role of commentators on the Standard.
And what role is that? How wide an audience do you think The Standard, and the comments here, have? Hint: MSM like TV1 news goes into 500,000 households each weeknight”
And unsubstantiated sledges that are more characteristic of John Key: “Cunliffe is stupid”
It’s my personal opinion that Cunliffe was stupid to run with Mahuta as a double ticket, when:
1. None of the other contenders did
2. I had honestly never heard of her or knew she was an MP. You can say this says a lot about me; but I think as someone who has been interested in Labour party politics for over a decade, it says something about her and how effective she is.
“Clearly caucus as a whole thought she didn’t deserve the role and was just there as a token Maori woman”.
This is based on Cunliffe’s failure to win the 2011 election contest and Shearer’s comments that the best person for the job is whoever is most competent at it, not just installing someone because they are a woman or a maori.
And unsubstantiated assertions “Shearer early on said”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10846967
“The series of those calling for Shearer to step down included three bloggers on the Standard blog … Mr Shearer said the spate of calls consisted of “a small circle of bloggers feeding off each other and I’m surprised the media is taking it seriously. It’s nonsense.””
And that was not the first time he’s been dismissive of The Standard, but I’m not going to bother looking for the earlier version because I have work to do.
If we had to ‘substantiate’ every single statement we made on this blog, then not much would get written. But that doesn’t mean statements aren’t true.
But there is no self reflection on the difference between Shearer’s comments to the media (sledged as bleats) and the critical comments on blogs.
Again, you’re failing to distinguish the reach of blogs vs MPs talking to MSM.
Lanthanide conveniently characterises these as “suggesting that the leader isn’t doing their job well”, for which there could be no complaint. But Lanthanide does not pause to reflect that the majority of critical comments about Shearer on blogs are basically ad hominem attacks and Whaleoil 101 smears. Shearer is actually entitled to be pissed.”
Firstly I’m only talking about The Standard, because that’s who Shearer addressed this morning on the radio. Secondly, during his tenure as leader, I don’t believe the “majority” of comments critical of him on TS were ad hominem attacks, more they were critical appraisals of his ability to do the job. Yes, we may use “naughty” language that some disapprove of, but we’re not politicians and the language isn’t any different then you would hear in a bar on a Friday night.
Finally, you’re using evidence of comments that were posted today, in response to Shearer’s attack on people here, as evidence that we have unfairly attacked him in the past. You’d be much better off actually looking at what was said in the past to make your judgements as to whether what Shearer said today was warranted or not.
This stuff from Shearer and Cosgrove is just grade a stupidity.
There are people here, people in the party or would be supporters of it, who don’t like that crew.
That leaves that crew with 3 options:
1) Win them over.
2) Ignore them because they are irrelevant.
3) Beat them.
They went with 3, and that is fair enough. But their strategy has been to go massive. Instead of fighting here, or somewhere similar, at the grassroots level, they went to the media. Repeatedly. It’s just stupid. Doing that doesn;t lessen the emotion on here, as can be seen. It doesn’t do anything at all except raise the Standard as being an equal player on the level of front bench MPs. That’s just fucking ridiculous.
It looks to me like Shearer and some of his acolytes in the party as well as caucus have decided there has been a long-term coordinated campaign run by The Standard (yeah I know the Standard doesn’t have a brain so can’t run anything but the Lab technophobes don’t) to oust David Shearer.
We don’t know one another for starters. And who is the chief co-ordinator? mickeysavage? Yep, its mild mannered mickeysavage who has a penchant for under-statement. He’s an evil Jekyll and Hide didn’t you know…
They went with 3, and that is fair enough. But their strategy has been to go massive. Instead of fighting here, or somewhere similar, at the grassroots level, they went to the media. Repeatedly. It’s just stupid.
I have been puzzled for some time. What do they expect to achieve? Where is their leverage point(s) on a ground-level. Knowing these two techno luddites they probably think that this site is being run by someone apart from me.
Do they even understand the concept of a strategy. Or are they just making pissing in the wind?
How wide an audience do you think The Standard, and the comments here, have? Hint: MSM like TV1 news goes into 500,000 households each weeknight”
Influential enough for Shearer to refer to it. Heh, we cannot have it both ways. ie Refer to Dirty Politics and claim significant influence of Farrar and Slater on the right, but then somehow claim that only a few people read here.
And it’s not just the readers here. When you look at the ever declining standards of MSM (based on fewer journalists, less time permitted, more stories required, and personal opinion quite ok) where do you think they get “public opinion”?
If they do their job right they’ll be getting the information from a wide range of sources. But it appears to me, that too often, they will interview their own typewriters, and get sufficient sufficient “corroboration” for those thoughts from the blogs. I don’t “know” but I have a strong suspicion.
~~~~~
I said:
And unsubstantiated sledges that are more characteristic of John Key: “Cunliffe is stupid”
You replied:
It’s my personal opinion that Cunliffe was stupid to run with Mahuta as a double ticket, when:
1. None of the other contenders did
2. I had honestly never heard of her or knew she was an MP. You can say this says a lot about me; but I think as someone who has been interested in Labour party politics for over a decade, it says something about her and how effective she is.
As soon as you point out WHY you think he was stupid, you raise your comment from an ad hominem smear, to a justified and interesting comment. That’s the distinction that is all important
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And unsubstantiated assertions “Shearer early on said”
Thanks for the reference. I’m sorry the way I framed what I said. ie In the context of other criticisms. I could have simply asked for the reference.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Secondly, during his tenure as leader, I don’t believe the “majority” of comments critical of him on TS were ad hominem attacks, more they were critical appraisals of his ability to do the job. Yes, we may use “naughty” language that some disapprove of, but we’re not politicians and the language isn’t any different then you would hear in a bar on a Friday night.
I’ll accept that the “majority” of the critical comments were not ad hominem while he was leader. I have not looked. They appear to be that way now, possibly.
I do not think anybody, and definitely not myself have ANY problem with critical appraisals. And probably most of what you would hear in a bar on a Friday night. We do not want Sanitiser over everything.
But I do think that we all have a responsibility to make an improvement in political debates in the post “Dirty Politics” book era. It’s when we cross the line to “Dirty”.
And Lanthanide, I am also sorry that I included your post with the others in the list. I’ll stand by what I said, but your post was not in the category of the “Dirty” that I refer to. By lumping all the posts together there is an unintended implication that they are all of one category.
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Finally, you’re using evidence of comments that were posted today, in response to Shearer’s attack on people here, as evidence that we have unfairly attacked him in the past. You’d be much better off actually looking at what was said in the past to make your judgements as to whether what Shearer said today was warranted or not.
” Shearer makes significant criticisms of the effect that commentators (perhaps including myself) have made here, and there seems to be nobody willing to self reflect that he may have some legitimate complaint.”
So says Sir Brian. So tell me please what is Shearer’s legitimate complaint ? That he was undermined by anonymous, in-darkened-rooms commentators ?
If that is so, then he is wrong. Shearer as Leader was unavailable to ordinary Labour members. He wouldn’t meet with them, he didn’t answer letters, or emails, he was uncomfortable on marae, he wouldn’t speak with members at functions, he was always protected by his minders such as Cosgrove or Jones – and so those ordinary Labour members made up their own minds about him. Something that he hasn’t yet realised : that Labour members have minds of their own, they do their own thinking and analysis – and they put their thumbs down on Shearer.
So tell me please what is Shearer’s legitimate complaint ? That he was undermined by anonymous, in-darkened-rooms commentators ?
That was my understanding of his complaint.
~~~~~`
If that is so, then he is wrong.
Apart from the fact that the evidence is there for all to see. The sort of comments I have singled out. I note that I have not used any of your posts as an example. If I had, I think the bar could be set lower, as you post with your name. But those with anonymous handles (like myself) need to be especially careful when making criticisms. And he is also talking about ‘undermining’, which I take to mean the Whaleoil smears, half truths and ad hominem attacks, that have been exposed in “Dirty Politics”. Any politician MUST expect fair criticism for what he does as part of the job.
~~~~~
Shearer as Leader was unavailable to ordinary Labour members. He wouldn’t meet with them, he didn’t answer letters, or emails, he was uncomfortable on marae, he wouldn’t speak with members at functions, he was always protected by his minders such as Cosgrove or Jones – and so those ordinary Labour members made up their own minds about him. Something that he hasn’t yet realised : that Labour members have minds of their own, they do their own thinking and analysis – and they put their thumbs down on Shearer.
I am no apologist for Shearer. To the extent that what you say is true, all of what you say is fair political criticism. I would not criticise you for pointing these things out. And I am sorry that you think I would have. Thank you for the opportunity to make this distinction clear.
And yet Shearer himself gave no examples despite, apparently have so many to choose from.
You jest! I just picked the post of the day, and went back about ten comments and picked some obvious examples I hardly see there was a need for Shearer to pick a particular one out
[lprent: You still haven’t said why they were anything to be concerned about? You have just asserted that they are and provided neither evidence or *any* supporting facts. Why should anyone take you seriously? ]
~~~~~
Has not come here to express them.
He probably thinks he could use his time more productively cutting his toenails. At least that’s what I would think if I was in his shoes.
~~~~~
I also question his, and your definition of a blog?
I’m puzzled by the question! I’d suggest you look at wikipedia, perhaps?
LOLZ mate. Why don’t you fuck off then and do your toe nails instead of bugging us.
BTW of course Shearer likes to think of The Standard as irrelevant. As irrelevant as the big gaping hole we collectively put into his ability to pretend all was going well with his Leadership.
LOLZ mate. Why don’t you fuck off then and do your toe nails instead of bugging us.
Because I’m not Shearer. Guys like you treat me with the utmost respect, and appear to even appreciate what I say! I enjoy chatting with you, Colonial! (And my toe nails are already cut)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BTW of course Shearer likes to think of The Standard as irrelevant. As irrelevant as the big gaping hole we collectively put into his ability to pretend all was going well with his Leadership.
Putting the big gaping hole in is not the issue. It’s how that hole is made that makes the difference.
A lawyer once told me that the BEST prosecution ensures that the defence is as good as it can be. There is no wriggle room for the offender to then claim important stuff was left out; or not done well enough, or not done fairly. All the criminal can do is sit in the cell and reflect on what he has done.
There is some sort of equivalence there as you go about prosecuting a poorly performing Leader
“.… it must be conducted in a spirit of respect and with the realisation that many from outside the Party are watching the process. This applies across mainstream and social media, our husting meetings, other Party meetings and the informal networks which we all have. The greater our discipline the stronger our foundation will be to unite behind the leader who is selected.” …”
Thanks Tracey. I hope I have contributed positively to that objective.
Even if I am one voice, I’d like it to be known here (while I am also present) that I do not condone discussion that is NOT conducted in a spirit of respect. On this occasion the bile seemed to be being spewed in an ever increasing succession of posts.
I will also try and ensure my own posts live up to that same expectation
For goodness sake Bad Sir Brian
I am beginning to think you are a clever trole. Just a new approach in troledom.
David Shearer is standing as leader and his every word counts in our attempt to understand him and this is one place where he is not going to get fawned over.
People here are concerned to get a better Labour party and when they see the old bods combining to set up a mutual support club to get their preferred people into power, which will continue with the degrading of the work environment, employment, wages, lack of social infrastructure, business boosting etc then they get angry. And underneath is the awareness of the downgrading of NZ’s ability to make it in the world and offer all its citizens opportunities to get a good paying job and have a life, all because of the persisting and determined attempts that revolutionised the country by the RWs. And you don’t get change by sitting on your bottom and asking nicely for it. It is necessary to be abrasive, it gets a reaction then doesn’t it, and that’s a first step.
And you are worrying about David Shearer’s feelings. Better go back to your regular blog. You will feel uncomfortable in our company.
For goodness sake Bad Sir Brian
I am beginning to think you are a clever trole. Just a new approach in troledom
Hi greywarshark. That’s nice!
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David Shearer is standing as leader …………………………………….. gets a reaction then doesn’t it, and that’s a first step.
That’s a good thoughtful passage. I agree with all you say. I’m not sure it has any relevance to my post, or your assertion that I am a trole, but heh, that’s your call.
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And you are worrying about David Shearer’s feelings
That was not in my thoughts when I wrote my comment. I was thinking about Dirty politics. I was thinking about the credibility of comments here when those commenting use the same or similar methods that have been well attributed to Whaleoil (I note that I did not make any such claim with anything that you have written). Based on the reactions to my post, it appears to me that it is a little harder to "see" such tactics when our "friends" use them, compared to when our "enemy" uses them.
There is absolutely no obligation to conduct oneself within anything else other than the rules of this place. Certainly not what David Shearer (or you) thinks should be the rules of the place. When, subjectively, an issue or person is worth it then genuine and credible argument can be advanced, but when the issue or person is worth nothing but shit then perhaps you will get nothing but shit.
There is absolutely no obligation to conduct oneself within anything else other than the rules of this place.
I have not suggested otherwise. Even New Zealand law does not even try to outlaw the right of a person to make a fool of themselves, if they are so determined.
~~~~
Certainly not what David Shearer (or you) thinks should be the rules of the place.
I did not make any comment on the rules of the place. I’m actually very happy with the rules of the place. It allows people who are determined to practice their new skills they have learned at Whaleoil 101 to do so. It allows me to point out that such a post is Whaleoil stuff. And it allows you to choose to try and ridicule the messenger, as you have done. That’s ok. I’m happy to listen
~~~~~~~
When, subjectively, an issue or person is worth it then genuine and credible argument can be advanced, but when the issue or person is worth nothing but shit then perhaps you will get nothing but shit. suck on it pea-brain
And you are quite free to dump a pile of shit, as you have done, and obviously happy to have done. I’m vaguely mystified as to why, but not mystified enough to desire a response.
Cheers
Mr. Botany (B.)
argument can be advanced, but when the issue or person is worth nothing but
When, subjectively, an issue or person is worth it then genuine and credible shit then perhaps you will get nothing but shit.
Fair enough bold brian, and despite not wanting an explanation for such comment styles as that at issue, can I suggest that Murray Rawshark immediately below summarises the situation perfectly in his first paragraph – it is part of an entire history of commenting. Such history ranges from short and shitty to long, comprehensive and, I would like to think, compelling. It needs to be viewed in this light.
Nah. The comments we make here are part of an ongoing conversation we have. You are asking us to substantiate each comment by detailing the whole history.
To suggest those who aren’t Labour members are bringing the party into disrepute is ridiculous. I am actually beginning to wonder if you are posting in bad faith.
Nah. The comments we make here are part of an ongoing conversation(
What they are part of it totally irrelevant.
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You are asking us to substantiate each comment by detailing the whole history.
I was not asking you to substantiate anything.
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To suggest those who aren’t Labour members are bringing the party into disrepute is ridiculous.
Perhaps it would be, or perhaps it wouldn’t be. Depends on what the suggestion was. As I did not make such a suggestion, it’s totally irrelevant
~~~~~~~
I am actually beginning to wonder if you are posting in bad faith.
I’m actually simply baffled by your post. Almost a parallel universe. I didn’t even male a comment on any of your posts! Perhaps you post under a couple of pseudonyms?
If you have something to say please spit it out instead of re-hashing entire comment threads. Ever heard of a hyperlink ?
I’m not a party member either, more of a swing voter, but I supported Shearer because he was the public face of Labour and God knows we need some decent opposition to the right-wing track that NZ is stuck on. (full speed into a brick wall). I will support the next leader too. (unless that bastard Roger Douglas makes a comeback)
Not quite a raid but waddayaknow! New Zealand is ISIS’s internet headquarters and with the old laws we couldn’t find them. Be prepared for more laws, more restrictions, more censure. But conspiring? Our governments? NEVERRRRRR. Rofl!
…well i think Shearer had such a great CV and great msm publicity to begin with that most Labour people were supporters of him!
…but Shearer just couldnt live up to the minimum standard required of a leader
ie Shearer was not articulate. Shearer couldnt think on his feet. Shearer didnt have enough experience. Shearer seemed ignorant of issues. Shearer was out of touch with Labour. Shearer seemed blinded by his own importance and oblivious to his own shortcomings.
Oops, yes, ‘leader’. Now he has become an idiot in his public statements bringing Cunliffe, but more importantly the party into disrepute in the minds of the public.
Whilst the cut and thrust of labour party politics may enthrall some – I’m over it. Really, I don’t care, what a bunch of liberals are doing. What they are doing is not stopping the pain and hurt that working people have to deal with every day. What they are not doing is putting the boot into a government of lies and spin. What they are not doing is standing up to the corporatocracy, which has walked into power in this country.
But, bugger me – lets prattle and fiddle whilst working people suffer. By all means carry on – I know it’s way more simpler to bitch about the fishmonger from Mt Albert and his liberal failings.
But the real world, is kinda shitty at the moment for working people and about to get worse.
Housing
Jobs
Wages
Falling health system
Inflation
Jingoism
So here’s one from left field.
This is from the states – what the future of the private prisons mean here in NZ, and the pressure it will put on families when the model is fully rolled out.
Corporations don’t like working folk left for deadshark, they really only care for the dollar.
I had a discussion when private prisons were first noted and pointed out the were a road to hell for working families. I think the States is proving that over and over. We need to stop them, actually we really need to discuss the whole institution, and ask if it is really working at all?
I agree vto what have we done – but, more importantly – what are we going to do.
Number of Doubling Periods = ((ln(7,500,000,000) – ln(4,000))/ln(2)= 10.94
Number of days = 10.94 * 20 = 219
Date Ebola infects entire world population = Thursday, 21st May, 2015.
The upside is that with treatment about 30-40% of cases do survive. So it’s not the end of the human race just yet.
Well reality will be somewhat different to this simple analysis – but right now we do not have an effective treatment or vaccine. But once it reaches across Africa into say Egypt or the Middle East in say about another 6 – 8 weeks, the rest of the world will have to close all borders.
Yes – I agree we can certainly do quarantine better than chaotic, impoverished Third World nations.
Although so far by far the most vulnerable group are medical professionals who are all fully suited and trained. And these suits are neither simple to work in or use safely. You finish up sweltering at 40 degC and have to change out every 40 mins or so. The act of getting out of the suit (with the help of a buddy) is the most dangerous point. How sustainable is this going to be in the face of maybe thousands of cases?
On a wider scale mass quarantine will imply the closing down of all global, regional and even local travel. That alone has massive implications.
And even then we have to consider the impact of maybe 2-3 billion deaths in Third World nations without effective quarantine.
There are real problems running an “if these exponential trends continue” analysis on disease spread.
Basically, there is an escalating response scale (like the so-called “terror alert levels” but, like, actually effective) available to nations. It will be much worse for developing nations than developed, as you point out (4,000 vs half a dozen so far). but the global response is kicking up because it’s much easier to try to limit it at this level rather than wait for it to cross one’s own borders.
I think your 2-3bil deaths estimate is wildly alarmist (or optimistic, if your in the pro-human extinction brigade). It might become endemic in parts of Africa and Asia, like malaria. But it’s not a doomsday event, even for most of those continents.
The natural host for Ebola is thought to be fruit-bats, and has only recently evolved to become infectious in humans. The usual pattern for a disease adapting to a new host is to start out highly lethal, but weakly infectious and to gradually transition to something which is endemic in the environment, but much less lethal.
But as the virus makes this transition, there is a window where it is both – highly infectious and highly lethal. The 1918 flu is one example. Smallpox being an exception. The pattern of this transition is highly variable. Ebola is bang in the middle of this pattern right now.
Of course the 1918 flu gained it’s massive foothold due to the enormous numbers of soldiers living in camps and then being sent home all over the world – and a medical system that had little ability to anticipate and prevent it’s spread.
The conditions in Africa are highly favourable to a mass-death epidemic, a fact that has WHO extremely concerned. Mass populations living in generally unsanitary camp-like conditions, with a high probability of uncontrollable movements of infectious people in the region, combined with an overwhelmed medical system. The US Army is right now flying in extra troops to assist and we have to hope they make a difference.
And that these people know what they are doing. Things could get very interesting if American troops suddenly start dying as well. We have already seen many health workers infected despite following protocol. This means either the protocols are either not fully effective or difficult to comply with – which doesn’t bode well either way.
If in the next 20 days the death toll has cumulatively doubled to 12,000 then we will have a clear indication that early containment has failed. It’s that 20 day doubling period which is as scary as hell in the short-term. In the longer run I agree with you that it will likely become another endemic disease like malaria – but getting there could be a bear.
And then within say 40 days the world will have to implement total travel bans.
Yeah – that’s the point joe. No-one is careless around Ebola, so any ‘protocol breaches’ are most likely the result of an inadvertent mistake. Which implies that the protocols are damned hard to comply with 100% of the time.
Nor is the rest of that BBC link terribly encouraging.
1) 4000 is the death toll. Confirmed cases are around 8,000. Generally accepted that these numbers underestimate the real situation by 50% to 100%. In some provinces in West Africa, growth rate in cases is declining. Not because new infections are petering out, but because capacity to record new cases officially is heavily degraded.
2) CIDRAP has announced that it is possible that aerosol droplets can spread ebola some distance from a victim. This means that face masks are not as protective as first thought and respirators should be used.
3) We don’t know if healthier western populations with better nutrition will advantage or disadvantage us in terms of survival. Conventional knowledge says it should be a plus.
4) India. You think population density, sanitation and poverty is bad in West Africa. Well, fucking India. No further comment.
That’s in the ballpark of reasonable predictions, but it could equally burn out in the next several months as controls become effective in urban environments and its growth slows to manageable levels in rural areas.
a commentator on Twitter @leashless quite correctly pointed out – when the time comes we need to quickly gear up immune/mostly immune Ebola survivors to function as healthcare workers.
I’ve also been thinking about what happens when the hospitals reach overload point. What would NZ authorities do? Keep people at home? Makeshift quarantine facilities?
Have seen a comment somewhere that we should be treating this as an opportunity to develop quarantine proceedures for all potential epidemics.
I think we would be unlikely to get Ebola here, but I don’t trust our border control either. Harsh, but why are countries repatriating citizens who contract Ebola overseas? Wouldn’t it be better to fund their treatment where they are?
Funding is an issue, but frankly some of these provinces are short doctors and nurses and they cannot be magicked up. IIRC Liberia only has a few dozen doctors for a population of millions – and some of those doctors have already died. Its bad news.
Based around influenza, but can be adapted to other outbreaks.
We’ve already seen some implementation, such as the Middlemore? isolation ward having its preparation and training upped, but it’s sort of a constant function of them backroom boorowkrats. For exampe, in 2007 they ran Operation Cruickshank, a nationwide exercise where they simulated an infectious person getting off a plane.
But then that’s the sort of thing that they haven’t been able to do in Liberia, ever.
1. How quickly is this virus mutating? Previous outbreaks were more lethal, but were contained due to relatively poor infectivity. This outbreak seems to have hit the ‘black spot’ in terms of both.
2. How competent and effective will any containment effort be? So far the global response has been well short of the mark.
3. What other events might intersect on a response effort? What if the situation in Iraq spirals out of control? Or another GFC?
4. how will repressive govts in the West use an outbreak to further consolidate their power and undermine democracy? At this point I find that more scarey than the possibility of Ebola spreading.
My first post on this simply showed just how potentially dangerous a 20 day doubling period could be.
And I did make the point that while reality was likely to be different to a simple exponential curve – it remains the underlying driver unless we can effectively intervene.
Perhaps I can defer to an expert:
Attention, World: You just don’t get it.
You think there are magic bullets in some rich country’s freezers that will instantly stop the relentless spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa? You think airport security guards in Los Angeles can look a traveler in the eyes and see infection, blocking that jet passenger’s entry into La-la-land?
You believe novelist Dan Brown’s utterly absurd description of a World Health Organization that has a private C5-A military transport jet and disease SWAT team that can swoop into outbreaks, saving the world from contagion?
Wake up, fools. What’s going on in West Africa now isn’t Brown’s silly Inferno scenario — it’s Steven Soderbergh’s movie Contagion, though without a modicum of its high-tech capacity.
Last week, my brilliant Council on Foreign Relations colleague John Campbell, former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria, warned that spread of the virus inside Lagos — which has a population of 22 million — would instantly transform this situation into a worldwide crisis, thanks to the chaos, size, density, and mobility of not only that city but dozens of others in the enormous, oil-rich nation. Add to the Nigerian scenario civil war, national elections, Boko Haram terrorists, and a countrywide doctors’ strike — all of which are real and current — and you have a scenario so overwrought and frightening that I could not have concocted it even when I advised screenwriter Scott Burns on his Contagion script.
Leaders across the world should be worried, assessing their preparedness, and helping address the outbreak in WA.
But (aside from a few professionals/decision makers who might or might not be reading/commenting here), we should not be worried about ebola any more than we worry about the traffic on the way to work. At this stage, traffic is the bigger and more immediate threat.
At this stage, traffic is the bigger and more immediate threat.
Classic failure to recognise a black swan.
The difference is that while the traffic on the way to work is indeed a more immediate and larger risk, it is one we have learned to live with as a society. Traffic accidents kill about 1.2 m people annually, malaria kills many times this number. But these are known and contained risks the system copes with.
While ebola – and it’s potential secondary impacts especially – has the real potential to be globally disruptive.
Nope.
Simply pointing out that if I worried too much about ebola and its effect on hospitals, I might get hit by a truck tomorrow. Sort of a “white swan” effect.
We know what the worst case scenario is. But to fixate on the WCS is almost as pointless as simply being in denial about how bad things might be.
Oh I get it McF – no point in worrying, something will turn up.
Ever wonder why the left keeps on getting blindsided? It’s because we keep being fixated on the little things under our noses, while all the really important things that affect us are global in nature.
And that is where everyone immediately disconnects – the moment something is defined as ‘global’ in nature we immediately lose any sense of agency and abdicate our autonomy to others.
Nope.
Simply pointing out that if I worried too much about ebola and its effect on hospitals, I might get hit by a truck tomorrow. Sort of a “white swan” effect.
Nope. That’s still classic failure to recognise Black Swan events.
Without meaning to be callous, and although we will miss your valuable input here at The Standard for a while, it really doesn’t really matter (to society) if you get hit by a truck tomorrow.
Isn’t thinking through scenarios part of planning?
Hands up everybody here who is likely to be asked to coordinate a global, national, or even hospital-level response to a pandemic.
Now hands up everyone who has the basic 3days of supplies in case of emergency, and a current first aid certificate. That’s planning for most people involved in this discussion, I bet.
no point in worrying, something will turn up.
Nope, that’s not what I said. And yes, we do abdicate our agency to others, when we are not in a position to do a damned thing about it.
Without meaning to be callous, and although we will miss your valuable input here at The Standard for a while, it really doesn’t really matter (to society) if you get hit by a truck tomorrow.
True. I’d be irked, though.
And if we all worried about ebola so much we stopped paying attention to traffic, and international efforts to control it managed to knock it back, then ebola could conceivably kill more people just by panic than its direct threat as a disease.
I fully agree it is way too soon to panic about Ebola, but not too soon educate ourselves about it and to think about your own personal responses to what could happen.
Hands up everybody here who is likely to be asked to coordinate a global, national, or even hospital-level response to a pandemic.
That is of course a political matter. Our governments are responsible for organising and funding this level of response. So far the rich countries emergency level response has been woefully short.
I realise NZ is a modest player in this matter, but what has been said or done so far? Any response at all from Key’s govt, or the Opposition?
And if we all worried about ebola so much we stopped paying attention to traffic, and international efforts to control it managed to knock it back, then ebola could conceivably kill more people just by panic than its direct threat as a disease.
That is what I mean by secondary effects. Already in the affected countries ordinary medical care has collapsed; people are dying because traffic injuries remain untreated and child-birth is unattended.
And you are quite correct, panic would be the worst response. But of course panic is the normal response to the fear of the unknown and a sense of powerlessness born out of ignorance and a failure to think ahead.
If coordination of NZ’s response were a political matter, I’d be pretty bloody disappointed.
MoH has implemented some measures based on the situation and will escalate further if the situation deteriorates, and the ministry’s also set up a technical advisory group to make sure appropriate precautions have been taken.
I have no idea whether an official NZ contribution to West Africa has been requested or considered.
“Hands up everybody here who is likely to be asked to coordinate a global, national, or even hospital-level response to a pandemic.
Now hands up everyone who has the basic 3days of supplies in case of emergency, and a current first aid certificate. That’s planning for most people involved in this discussion, I bet.”
I don’t believe you have answered my question about what happens once the hospitals are full. I trust NZ to manage a few cases. I don’t trust us to manage an epidemic. Chch taught me that once we are past our limits of what we can cope with, we don’t do very well. I’m not talking about emergency medical services in Chch (they seemed to have done well), I’m talking about what happened after the quakes over the short, medium and long term.
So your smarty pants reply misses the point. Planning isn’t just for the authorities. No-one in this conversation is panicking. If you don’t feel the personal need to talk these things through so you can be prepared, why are you talking?
btw, 3 days of supplies is woefully inadequate. When the big one hit’s the Alpine fault we will need months of supplies. Likewise with an epidemic. Or a big oil crash. Preparation for local resilience has been going on for some time now. Most people I know don’t believe that local or central govt authorities are reliable (although they certainly have their place). The idea of handing over all responsibility would be laughable.
I don’t believe you have answered my question about what happens once the hospitals are full.
see above.
By the way, the hospital beds aren’t the problem, especially with a fairly short-run condition. The problem will be with sticks of consumables from medication to blankets, and there is a tiered system of local/dhb/ministry stockpiling for emergencies.
I trust NZ to manage a few cases. I don’t trust us to manage an epidemic. Chch taught me that once we are past our limits of what we can cope with, we don’t do very well. I’m not talking about emergency medical services in Chch (they seemed to have done well), I’m talking about what happened after the quakes over the short, medium and long term.
Okay, but most of that was demolition and reconstruction. The logistical issues relating to a pandemic, even one that kills say 25% of the population, revolve largely around which fields to dig big holes in and who drives the trucks. And long term skills shortages/retraining.
So your smarty pants reply misses the point. Planning isn’t just for the authorities. No-one in this conversation is panicking. If you don’t feel the personal need to talk these things through so you can be prepared, why are you talking?
Because pointlessly speculating about 3 billion deaths tends to create the foundations for panic. When we get a few spill-over cases within our borders, I still want to be able to go to the supermarket without being delayed by people bulk-buying because the end of days is here. And avoid being clocked in the carpark by the SUV of some jerk who watched “world war z” one too many times.
btw, 3 days of supplies is woefully inadequate. When the big one hit’s the Alpine fault we will need months of supplies. Likewise with an epidemic. Or a big oil crash. Preparation for local resilience has been going on for some time now. Most people I know don’t believe that local or central govt authorities are reliable (although they certainly have their place). The idea of handing over all responsibility would be laughable.
Yeah, well, people have dug backyard A-bomb bunkers for decades.
The funny thing about all of this is that if there’s global spread of a disease with 70% mortality, and it spreads throughout New Zealand, then:
both of us will probably be dead anyway, and
if one of us survives, we can be some of the 1 million people living off the stockpiles designed for 4 million.
Dr. Nancy Snyderman, the NBC on-air doctor whose cameraman was diagnosed with ebola, is supposed to be under quarantine for 21 days. She happens to live in my neighborhood in Princeton, NJ, where her reputation as a bit of an arrogant specimen had me idly remarking last night that if ever there were someone likely to flout the quarantine and leave their house, it was her.
Fast forward to today: my wife and a friend are virtually certain they spotted her in a car outside a restaurant in Hopewell, NJ within the past hour. She sent a guy in to retrieve her food and remained in the car. It appeared that as soon as she thought she’d been spotted, she looked away and put on sunglasses. My wife’s friend immediately called both the Hopewell and Princeton police, who said they’d “look into it.”
You have well trained healthcare staff in good facilities in Dallas and in Madrid contracting ebola, despite being aware of the issues and extensive precautions being taken. Not good.
Interesting that anyone who is not currently a financial Labour Party member but has been a paid up member in the last 3 years can still join the party by paying the membership fee by November 11th and so can vote……hopefully for Andrew Little as he seems to be the only principled person left in the race.
Could DC make a come back if Little !!!!!s up? If Shearer is correct in saying DC will undermine the next leader does that mean DC could rise from the ashes? Definitely will get my membership vote.
as i said above, there could be a Blair/Brown deal between Little and Cunliffe….Little wins in 2017, and again in 2020 and in 2021 Little resigns as leader and Cunliffe his right hand man and best performing minister is recommended by Little as his succesor…..
In April, parents and teachers launched a high-profile fight to block a takeover of Steel by a charter-school network after the district, citing the school’s low test scores, declared it in need of an overhaul. Brooks believes that her school—which, like others, has reeled under the budget cuts implemented by Pennsylvania’s Republican governor, Tom Corbett—had been set up to fail. Last spring, apart from the principal and a secretary, she says, Steel had “a teacher for each class” and almost “nothing extra.”
Also, is this why Seymour won’t be subject to parliamentary questions or the OIA?
.
The Philadelphia School District will spend a projected $729 million on charter schools in the coming fiscal year. But, if the past year at one charter operator is any indication, not all of those funds will actually go toward serving students.
Aspira Inc. of Pennsylvania owed large sums of money to four Philadelphia charter schools it runs, according to an independent audit of the organization’s finances as of June 30, 2012, that was obtained by City Paper. According to the report, which was produced for Aspira and completed in April, the nonprofit was running a deficit of $722,949 as of last June and owed the publicly financed schools $3.3 million. That’s in addition to millions of dollars in lease payments and administrative fees filtered to Aspira and entities it controls with no oversight.
“That money is being given to fulfill the purposes of the charter, which is to run the school,” says Michael Masch, a former chief financial officer at the District and budget secretary under Gov. Ed Rendell. “It’s taxpayer money, and it’s limited as to its use.”
The Freedom of Movement is an important right for workers.
As the right to Free Association.
Now we seemed to have lost both, with one swift vote at the UN. The resolution 2178 passed by the UN security council in a unanimous vote to fight Isis and curb foreign fighters. This is a new piece of international law, we have signed up to. And it is a worry. It is the vagueness of UN resolution 2178 which scares me the most.
The “Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts” was first supported by the US and Sri Lanka. It was written quickly and has academics and some media commentators, left feeling, very anxious.
It empowers member states to fight international terrorism – as they see fit. This begs the question, if political opponents are nuisance, they can just label them a terrorist – and lock people up in the name of international terror. It creates vagueness in an already shadowy world of anti-terror. It would appear, to be the Patriot Act – on a global scale.
It seems we got the smoke screen from Key again. Whilst he was talking up terrorism and laws here, anti-terrorism legislation was passed through the backdoor at the UN. Peter Fraser warned of the problem of permanent members on the UN security council, and their ability to manipulate the whole of the UN via that power. Seems old Peter was right.
Gawd what a pack of muppets, thank goodness the NZ public saw through Labour at the election.
[lprent: Why? Explain yourself. Or should I explain to you again why I
a) don’t like diversion comments on new posts
b) don’t like people making pointless comments
c) why this just went to OpenMike
d) why you just got a 2 week ban. ]
The report says that for every megawatt hour (MW/h) of electricity generated, onshore wind costs roughly €105 (£83) per MW/h, compared to gas and coal which can cost up to around €164 and €233 per MW/h, respectively.
Nuclear power, offshore wind and solar energy are all comparably inexpensive generators, at roughly €125 per MW/h.
Which is excellent news. Whenever some git says that renewables are so expensive we can hit them around the head with these facts but the interesting thing about the release of the full report was that it was leaked. The official release left out significant bits like:
The documents’ contents may also be unwelcome in some quarters of the commission, which early today published selective results from it that did not include external health and pollution costs.
These showed that renewable energy took €38.3bn of public subsidies in 2012, compared to €22.3bn for gas, coal and nuclear. The EU did however note that if free carbon allowances to polluters were included in the data, it “would reduce the gap between support for renewables and other power generation technologies.”
It seems that the rich polluters still get high powered protection.
Yes it does, the one and only one made was shut down in 1973 despite it working and it was shut down because it didn’t produce weapons grade materials. After that it became possible to become a nuclear physicist without even knowing that thorium existed.
Plenty of countries now looking into it though so I suspect that it won’t be long (decade or two) until there’s a working example.
1. Yes, they built one back in the 60s with 60s tech but they’re not going to build one today using 60s tech. They’ll be doing research to build it using today’s tech.
2. I expect that one of those countries will start building one in the fairly near future but 10 years is about how long it takes to build a nuclear reactor and, despite thorium being safer, it’s still nuclear reactor.
Like many people you seem to have this strange idea that everything can be built now, now, now. It was that type of BS thinking that allowed the 4th labour government, with Treasuries backing, to get away with selling off Telecom and thus leaving our country and our telecommunications worse off.
With global warming we can also expect steeper temperature and pressure gradients in the atmosphere, hence higher winds on average. As fossil fuels heat us up, they’ll make wind power even more affordable.
Not an argument for fossil fuel use, just one of those ironies of life.
Former National ministers Richard Worth and Pansy Wong, who both left in the wake of separate scandals, are entitled to use the formal title.
That really needs to be fixed. If a minister is shown to be dishonourable then they shouldn’t get to wear the title The Honourable because they’ve clearly shown that they aren’t.
Key steps outside of convention and protocol at his mere whim…
Key said he would not get arrogant and let the raw power go to his head. Fat chance of that from the looks of this and his other displays of me-me-me gibber blabber since election.
A lot of talk of factions and press statements by various labour heads. The thing I wonder is why we even have factions. Perhaps factions is the issue that needs dealing with and not who leads Labour.
Frankly the party members should be behind policy for the good of the country. To be elected to represent the people of New Zealand is a responsibility and privilege that should be respected, not an avenue for personal advancement of ones self.
If any Labour brass read this and fall into the latter trying to promote their own ideals, they should remember who elects them, and that they work for the greater good first and foremost, it’s not about you. Then maybe we would have less factions/clicks and therefore a more cohesive and performing group of representatives focused on a single set of policies to promote discussed and formulated as a winning team.
How can Auckland Council ‘make fish of one – but fowl of the other’ when it comes to publishing the ‘devilish details’ of contracts issued – for public scrutiny?
Auckland Transport provides the ‘devilish detail’ of contracts issued on its website – so how come Auckland Council and the rest of Auckland Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs) do not?
Auckland Transport is committed to ensuring its procurement activities are undertaken in an ethical and transparent manner.
The attached lists detail all of the contracts awarded in the previous six months that are valued over $50,000.00. Details include:
the contract number,
the contract name,
the supplier, and the
award value.
View the latest awarded contracts list (PDF 64KB)
Disclaimer: we endeavour to list all contracts awarded above the value of $50,000.00 in the previous six months. Whilst all possible care and effort has been taken to ensure accuracy in this list, we accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. Accordingly, this list should be used for reference only.
Try checking out the Auckland Council website and websites for the other Auckland Council Controlled Organisation websites, and see if YOU can find equivalent details of ‘contracts issued’?
I’ve looked and I can’t.
Which is why I’m refusing to pay Auckland Council rates, because we’re not being told EXACTLY where public rates monies are being spent.
Check for yourselves – details of ‘contracts issued’:
Hey Jim- How about coming back and starting ‘the Reformed Labour or Social Democratic Party?’
You’d get quite a few votes and we’d only expect you to stay for 3 years…Have a word to Hone, David, maybe Laila and even Winston or Ron Marks if Winston’s too tired.
I’m getting a bit sick of all the slagging off of “special interest groups”. While I might roll them all into one statement – the we stand for equal / affirmative treatment … – As far as I can see women, LBGT , young people vote and are part of society. Why is the white male vote the only one worth having??
Why this constant demand that we all adhere to the white middled aged male view of ” reasonable” and then expect to be slagged off if we don’t want to. There seems to be a level of blokification spreading over society , whether it is the male shock jocks, elderly male RW commentators stuck in some mind warp of their own, (we seem to be awash with those) or the endless dribbling on male sport. ( borrowed a car the other day- don’t know what station it was on but the news seemed to consist of 28 minutes of sport. ) All this adds up an insiduous fog that shuts out the needs of other groups.
It’s a backlash against the human rights gains of recent decades. The people in the dominant group who haven’t adapted are going to resist more and more as their privileges that come at the expense of others are eroded. It’s their death fight. The good news is that there are plenty of white men who get it and who now support a society where all people can be treated fairly. That’s a big change in my lifetime.
Your analysis avoids the issue of class, including avoiding considering the utter destruction of secure decent paying working class jobs and the inability/unwillingness of the privileged liberal class to do anything effective about that.
As economic conditions get worse, you can expect more and more people to start sneering at the purported and ineffectual values of the liberal elite.
The people in the dominant group who haven’t adapted are going to resist more and more as their privileges that come at the expense of others are eroded.
But this isn’t what is actually happening, which suggests that you won’t be able to successfully counter what is actually happening.
Not sure what you are on about there CV. I was referring to the likes of Shearer.
btw, most of my work within feminism has been alongside working class women. This is part of the reason why I find your analysis of identity politics so odd. Feminism as practiced by the people I have known inherently had class issues built in. Being raised middle class, I initially learned about class from those women.
I don’t have to counter what is happening. Identity politics gains will only be rolled back if we become an extremely repressive society, and I don’t mean individual policies, I mean that things like that we have human rights legislation, or that women have relative degrees of financial emancipation.
Solutions to the problems of working class men won’t come at the expense of other identities. Stop buying into the shock jock and Shearer memes.
There seems to be a level of blokification spreading over society , whether it is the male shock jocks, elderly male RW commentators stuck in some mind warp of their own, (we seem to be awash with those) or the endless dribbling on male sport.
‘Blokification’ is a good word for it. It’s just as alienating for many men as it is for everyone else.
Frankly these days I struggle to find anything much in the public sphere I can identify with.
Would anyone else be keen to see a panel discussion between the significant others of this crop of leadership aspirants? From the little I have heard they are all very interesting people in their own right and just purely from the popcorn/entertainment point of view it would be fascinating. Also- it would save the surprise at finding out what they thing later! Ah, oops, actually was thinking about this before DC had pulled out- ha, maybe Karen could host it? Incidentally Karen on this thread and a few others are you that Karen?
As our PM has kindly explained, NZ faces a heinous terrorism threat that is “slightly above zero”. So now would be a good time to make a short list of the worst terrorist attacks in the history of New Zealand and ask who was behind them, so we can get some idea of who poses the greatest terrorist threat to our country.
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The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report shows worsening food poverty and housing shortages mean more than 400,000 people now need welfare support, the highest level since the 1990s. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and ...
You're just too too obscure for meOh you don't really get through to meAnd there's no need for you to talk that wayIs there any less pessimistic things to say?Songwriters: Graeme DownesToday, I thought we’d take a look at some of the most cringe-inducing moments from last week, but don’t ...
Please note: I’ve delayed my “What can we do?” article for this video.The video above shows Destiny Church members assaulting staff and librarians as they pushed through to a room of terrified parents and young children.It was posted to social media last night.But if you read Sinead Boucher’s Stuff, you ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is sea level rise exaggerated? Sea levels are rising at an accelerating rate, not stagnating or decreasing. Warming global temperatures cause land ice ...
Here is a scenario, but first a historical parallel. Hitler and the Nazis could well have accomplished everything that they wanted to do within German borders, including exterminating Jews, so long as they confined their ambitious to Germany itself. After all, the world pretty much sat and watched as the ...
I’ve spent the last couple of days in Hamilton covering Waikato University’s annual NZ Economics Forum, where (arguably) three of the most influential people in our political economy right now laid out their thinking in major speeches about the size and role of Government, their views on for spending, tax ...
Simeon Brown’s Ideology BentSimeon Brown once told Kiwis he tries to represent his deep sense of faith by interacting “with integrity”.“It’s important that there’s Christians in Parliament…and from my perspective, it’s great to be a Christian in Parliament and to bring that perspective to [laws, conversations and policies].”And with ...
Severe geological and financial earthquakes are inevitable. We just don’t know how soon and how they will play out. Are we putting the right effort into preparing for them?Every decade or so the international economy has a major financial crisis. We cannot predict exactly when or exactly how it will ...
Questions1. How did Old Mate Grabaseat describe his soon-to-be-Deputy-PM’s letter to police advocating for Philip Polkinghorne?a.Ill-advisedb.A perfect letterc.A letter that will live in infamyd.He had me at hello2. What did Seymour say in response?a.What’s ill-advised is commenting when you don’t know all the facts and ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff has called on OJI Fibre Solutions to work with the government, unions, and the community before closing the Kinleith Paper Mill. “OJI has today announced 230 job losses in what will be a devastating blow for the community. OJI needs to work with ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is sounding the alarm about the latest attack on workers from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden, who is ignoring her own officials to pursue reckless changes that would completely undermine the personal grievance system. “Brooke van Velden’s changes will ...
Hi,When I started writing Webworm in 2020, I wrote a lot about the conspiracy theories that were suddenly invading our Twitter timelines and Facebook feeds. Four years ago a reader, John, left this feedback under one of my essays:It’s a never ending labyrinth of lunacy which, as you have pointed ...
And if you said this life ain't good enoughI would give my world to lift you upI could change my life to better suit your moodBecause you're so smoothAnd it's just like the ocean under the moonOh, it's the same as the emotion that I get from youYou got the ...
Aotearoa remains the minority’s birthright, New Zealand the majority’s possession. WAITANGI DAY commentary see-saws manically between the warmly positive and the coldly negative. Many New Zealanders consider this a good thing. They point to the unexamined patriotism of July Fourth and Bastille Day celebrations, and applaud the fact that the ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: and on the week in geopolitics, including the latest from Donald Trump’s administration over Gaza and Ukraine; on the ...
Up until now, the prevailing coalition view of public servants was that there were simply too many of them. But yesterday the new Public Service Commissioner, handpicked by the Luxon Government, said it was not so much numbers but what they did and the value they produced that mattered. Sir ...
In a moment we explore the question: What is Andrew Bayly wanting to tell ACC, and will it involve enjoying a small wine tasting and then telling someone to fuck off? But first, for context, a broader one: What do we look for in a government?Imagine for a moment, you ...
As expected, Donald Trump just threw Ukraine under the bus, demanding that it accept Russia's illegal theft of land, while ruling out any future membership of NATO. Its a colossal betrayal, which effectively legitimises Russia's invasion, while laying the groundwork for the next one. But Trump is apparently fine with ...
A ballot for a single member's bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Employment Relations (Collective Agreements in Triangular Relationships) Amendment Bill (Adrian Rurawhe) The bill would extend union rights to employees in triangular relationships, where they are (nominally) employed by one party, but ...
This is a guest post by George Weeks, reviewing a book called ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin AshtonBook review: ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin Ashton (2015) – and what it means for Auckland. The title of this article might unnerve any Greater Auckland ...
This story was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Within just a week, the sheer devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires has pushed to the fore fundamental questions about the impact of the climate crisis that have been ...
In this world, it's just usYou know it's not the same as it wasSongwriters: Harry Edward Styles / Thomas Edward Percy Hull / Tyler Sam JohnsonYesterday, I received a lovely message from Caty, a reader of Nick’s Kōrero, that got me thinking. So I thought I’d share it with you, ...
In past times a person was considered “unserious” or “not a serious” person if they failed to grasp, behave and speak according to the solemnity of the context in which they were located. For example a serious person does not audibly pass gas at Church, or yell “gun” at a ...
Long stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, February 13 are:The coalition Government’s early 2024 ‘fiscal emergency’ freeze on funding, planning and building houses, schools, local roads and hospitals helped extend and deepen the economic and jobs recession through calendar ...
For obvious reasons, people feel uneasy when the right to be a citizen is sold off to wealthy foreigners. Even selling the right to residency seems a bit dubious, when so many migrants who are not millionaires get turned away or are made to jump through innumerable hoops – simply ...
A new season of White Lotus is nearly upon us: more murder mystery, more sumptuous surroundings, more rich people behaving badly.Once more we get to identify with the experience of the pampered tourist or perhaps the poorly paid help; there's something in White Lotus for all New Zealanders.And unlike the ...
In 2016, Aotearoa shockingly plunged to fourth place in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. Nine years later, and we're back there again: New Zealand has seen a further slip in its global ranking in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). [...] In the latest CPI New Zealand's score ...
1. You’ve started ranking your politicians on how much they respect the rule of law2. You’ve stopped paying attention to those news publications3. You’ve developed a sudden interest in a particular period of history4. More and more people are sounding like your racist, conspiracist uncle.5. Someone just pulled a Nazi ...
Transforming New Zealand: Brian EastonBrian Easton will discuss the above topic at 2/57 Willis Street, Wellington at 5:30pm on Tuesday 26 February at 2/57 Willis Street, WellingtonThe sub-title to the above is "Why is the Left failing?" Brian Easton's analysis is based on his view that while the ...
Salvation Army’s State of the Nation 2025 report highlights falling living standards, the highest unemployment rates since the 1990s and half of all Pacific children going without food. There are reports of hundreds if not thousands of people are applying for the same jobs in the wake of last year’s ...
Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Correction: On the article The Condundrum of David Seymour, Luke Malpass conducted joint reviews with Bryce Wilkinson, the architect of the Regulatory Standards Bill - not Bryce Edwards. The article ...
Tomorrow the council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee meet and agenda has a few interesting papers. Council’s Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport Every year the council provide a Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport which is part of the process for informing AT of the council’s priorities and ...
All around in my home townThey're trying to track me down, yeahThey say they want to bring me in guiltyFor the killing of a deputyFor the life of a deputySongwriter: Robert Nesta Marley.Support Nick’s Kōrero today with a 20% discount on a paid subscription to receive all my newsletters directly ...
Hi,I think all of us have probably experienced the power of music — that strange, transformative thing that gets under our skin and helps us experience this whole life thing with some kind of sanity.Listening and experiencing music has always been such a huge part of my life, and has ...
Business frustration over the stalled economy is growing, and only 34% of voters are confidentNicola Willis can deliver. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 12 are:Business frustration is growing about a ...
I have now lived long enough to see a cabinet minister go both barrels on their Prime Minister and not get sacked.It used to be that the PM would have a drawer full of resignations signed by ministers on the day of their appointment, ready for such an occasion. But ...
This session will feature Simon McCallum, Senior Lecturer in Engineering and Computer Science (VUW) and recent Labour Party candidate in the Southland Electorate talking about some of the issues around AI and how this should inform Labour Party policy. Simon is an excellent speaker with a comprehensive command of AI ...
The proposed Waimate garbage incinerator is dead: The company behind a highly-controversial proposal to build a waste-to-energy plant in the Waimate District no longer has the land. [...] However, SIRRL director Paul Taylor said the sales and purchase agreement to purchase land from Murphy Farms, near Glenavy, lapsed at ...
The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has been a vital tool in combatting international corruption. It forbids US companies and citizens from bribing foreign public officials anywhere in the world. And its actually enforced: some of the world's biggest companies - Siemens, Hewlett Packard, and Bristol Myers Squibb - have ...
December 2024 photo - with UK Tory Boris Johnson (Source: Facebook)Those PollsFor hours, political poll results have resounded across political hallways and commentary.According to the 1News Verizon poll, 50% of the country believe we are heading in the “wrong direction”, while 39% believe we are “on the right track”.The left ...
A Tai Rāwhiti mill that ran for 30 years before it was shut down in late 2023 is set to re-open in the coming months, which will eventually see nearly 300 new jobs in the region. A new report from Massey University shows that pensioners are struggling with rising costs. ...
As support continues to fall, Luxon also now faces his biggest internal ructions within the coalition since the election, with David Seymour reacting badly to being criticised by the PM. File photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Not since 1988 when Richard Prebble openly criticised David Lange have we seen such a challenge to a Prime Minister as that of David Seymour to Christopher Luxon last night. Prebble suggested Lange had mental health issues during a TV interview and was almost immediately fired. Seymour hasn’t gone quite ...
Three weeks in, and the 24/7 news cycle is not helping anyone feel calm and informed about the second Trump presidency. One day, the US is threatening 25% trade tariffs on its friends and neighbours. The reasons offered by the White House are absurd, such as stopping fentanyl coming in ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Wherever you look, you'll hear headlines claiming we've passed 1.5 degrees of global warming. And while 2024 saw ...
“The ACT Party can’t be bothered putting an MP on one of the Justice subcommittees hearing submissions on their own Treaty Principles Bill,” Labour Justice Spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
The Government’s newly announced funding for biodiversity and tourism of $30-million over three years is a small fraction of what is required for conservation in this country. ...
The Government's sudden cancellation of the tertiary education funding increase is a reckless move that risks widespread job losses and service reductions across New Zealand's universities. ...
National’s cuts to disability support funding and freezing of new residential placements has resulted in significant mental health decline for intellectually disabled people. ...
The hundreds of jobs lost needlessly as a result of the Kinleith Mill paper production closure will have a devastating impact on the Tokoroa community - something that could have easily been avoided. ...
Today Te Pāti Māori MP for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, released her members bill that will see the return of tamariki and mokopuna Māori from state care back to te iwi Māori. This bill will establish an independent authority that asserts and protects the rights promised in He Whakaputanga ...
The Whangarei District Council being forced to fluoridate their local water supply is facing a despotic Soviet-era disgrace. This is not a matter of being pro-fluoride or anti-fluoride. It is a matter of what New Zealanders see and value as democracy in our country. Individual democratically elected Councillors are not ...
Nicola Willis’ latest supermarket announcement is painfully weak with no new ideas, no real plan, and no relief for Kiwis struggling with rising grocery costs. ...
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
Comment: The recent attack by Destiny Church front groups on a Drag science show at Te Atatū library crossed a line. This wasn’t the first time that Brian Tamaki, the multimillionaire self-appointed ‘apostle’, has ordered acts of aggression against the queer community. Last year, Drag Story Time events were targeted, ...
Martina Salmon is well versed in the fast-paced action on a netball court, but even she was caught by surprise with the speed at which her career changed tack last year.Staying in the fast lane is only part of her drive this season.Fresh off a nine-day camp in Sydney with ...
Last night I may as well have been in Taihape. Or, closer to home, for me at least, somewhere in the Wairarapa. Or Tūrangi, even – which is near where we used to spend the summer when I was a child. For there was that same gorgeous small town feeling ...
Having Auckland’s food scraps dumped onto your rural backyard sounds scandalous, but in the North Island town of Reporoa there’s no fuss about the thousands of tonnes carted here every week.From the same site as one truck drops the waste, another truck picks up fertiliser to spread on local sheep ...
Negotiating rights over freshwater in Treaty settlement negotiations could have extended negotiations a decade, a Ngāi Tahu leader says.Tribal leaders, and its umbrella body, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, have taken the Attorney-General to court in a bid to have the Crown recognise its rangatiratanga (chiefly authority) over wai māori ...
Analysis: Poor safeguarding of New Zealanders’ data could be a widespread practice within the public service and certainly within the health system, according to the findings of an independent inquiry into allegations of misused census and Covid-19 vaccination information.The Public Service Commission’s review, led by consultant Pania Gray and former ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer Stone, Principal Research Fellow, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock Having dense breasts is a clear risk factor for breast cancer. It can also make cancers hard to spot on mammograms. Yet you ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The National Anti-Corruption Commission will finally investigate whether six people referred to it by the royal commission into Robodebt engaged in corrupt conduct. This follows an independent reconsideration by former High Court judge Geoffrey ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University Last week in Europe, the United States sent some very strong messages it is prepared to upend the established global order. US Vice President JD Vance warned a stunned Munich ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Reserve Bank has delivered the expected modest rate cut of a quarter of a percentage point, and we’re set for the predictable frenzy of speculation about an April election. The cut is unlikely to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra The Reserve Bank cut official interest rates on Tuesday, the first decrease in four years, saying inflationary pressures are easing “a little more quickly than expected”. However, the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Reserve Bank has delivered the expected modest rate cut of a quarter of a percentage point, and we’re set for the predictable frenzy of speculation about an April election. The cut is unlikely to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Allan Fels, Professor Allan Fels, Professor of Law, Economics and Business at the University of Melbourne and Monash University., The University of Melbourne Australia is creeping towards adding a divestiture power to its Competition and Consumer Act. Under such a law, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arjen Vaartjes, PhD Student, Quantum Physics, UNSW Sydney Dmitriy Rybin / Shutterstock What makes something quantum? This question has kept a small but dedicated fraction of the world’s population – most of them quantum physicists – up at night for decades. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mary Anne Kenny, Associate Professor, School of Law, Murdoch University Australia’s minister for home affairs announced on Sunday that the federal government has struck a deal with Nauru to “resettle” three non-citizens from what’s come to be known as the “NZYQ cohort”. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Fitzpatrick, Professor in International History, Flinders University (From left to right): Neville Chamberlain, Édouard Daladier, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano before signing the Munich Agreement, which gave the Sudetenland to Germany.German Federal Archives/Wikimedia Commons Ukraine ...
The purpose was to establish the facts and provide an independent assessment of government agency activity in relation to allegations that personal data may have been misused during the 2023 General Election. ...
Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster said he is carefully reviewing the referrals raised in the two reports. That work will be done in the context the Privacy Act and the need to ensure individuals’ rights to privacy is protected and respected. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bhavna Middha, ARC DECRA Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University The average Australian household size has decreased from 4.5 people per household in 1911 to 2.5 people in 2024. At the same time, the average house size has increased, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Page Jeffery, Lecturer in Media and Communications, University of Sydney suriyachan/Shutterstock When the Australian government passed legislation in November last year banning young people under 16 from social media, it included exemptions for platforms “that are primarily for the purposes ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leslie Roberson, Postdoctoral research fellow, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland If you’ve ever been stopped by quarantine officers at the airport, you might think Australia’s international border is locked down like a fortress. But when it comes ...
Duncan Sarkies’ latest novel, Star Gazers, is about the collapse of democracy in a society of alpaca breeders. Here are some things his intensive research revealed. 1 How greed works, psychologicallyYes, I guess I already understood greed, but I could never understand why people who already have everything they ...
The proposed cuts would see only two full time Telehealth data and digital roles, and one Planning, Funding and Outcomes (PFO) role remain, reduced from 17 Telehealth support roles (including vacant roles). Roles proposed to be cut include Telehealth ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is calling for Ministers to end funding for Te Kurahuna programmes and workshop grifters that have received millions in taxpayer funding, despite the Government’s supposed focus on cutting costs. ...
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist, in Avarua, Rarotonga More than 400 people have taken to the streets to protest against Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown’s recent decisions, which have led to a diplomatic spat with New Zealand. The protest, led by Opposition MP and Cook Islands United Party ...
In the second episode, Brynley Stent and Kura Forrester unearth some truths about dating on a dance floor in South Canterbury. Bryn & Ku’s Singles Club is a brand new documentary series for The Spinoff following award-winning comedians and friends Brynley Stent and Kura Forrester as they embark ...
The first half of a billion-dollar pipe that will drastically reduce wastewater overflows in the Auckland isthmus is now in operation. As I biked south, I thought about all the poo sloshing beneath my wheels. Tubes of it disgorging from U-bends, into wastewater pipes laid under our streets that become ...
🚐 The vulnerability continues as the pair head to the Hunt Ball in South Canterbury in search of a rich farmer, before getting some sage relationship advice from Brynley’s Dad and Oma. ❣️ Bryn & Ku’s Singles Club follows comedians Brynley Stent and Kura Forrester as they head out on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joel Garrett, Lecturer in Exercise Science and Physiology, Griffith University Australia’s love affair with the major football codes – the Australian Football League (AFL) and National Rugby League (NRL) – is well documented. However, one aspect that stands out to many observers, ...
The White Lotus is back for season three. Here’s what we made of episode one. The third White Lotus season rinses and repeats – and thank God for that. Turns out there is enough comedic and dramatic juice in resort-set ensemble satires on privilege in the modern world, ...
Watching from afar the leadership of labour, I am taken back the column of comments to me seem to infer that the leadership will direct the direction of the party. Should not the the direction be already established and that the leader deliverers the message.
Unfortunately the cult of personality appears to have taken over and most are looking for someone to take on and win this battle with Key. Key’s time as the nats lead is limited, and perhaps labour should be more concerned about taking control of the message instead of trying to take on key 1:1.
+100 – currently Labour have no credibility
@Hero-dotus
+200 The message of the policies directed to changing NZ again, away from the dead hand of Rogernomics, private and crony-benefits, free and open markets, including for labour is what is needed.
Labour got it all started, so determinedly, let Labour give us back a thriving country with a modern direction, following the best principles that the bureaucrats like to preach, and that would include taking note of our scientists, and professional thinkers (some professionals are just skilled at working within their own silos.)
couldnt agree more. asked this a few times since cunliffe resigned as leader. where does the party want to go and who does it want to represent, THEN find someone to drive that.
in the LP vision they state they are progressive. prior to september 20 they openly stated nzf was preferred partner to greens…. winston is many things but progrssive isnt one of them.
.
@ Herodotus (1)
You are correct. What you suggest should be the case.
Mr. Botany (B.)
Brave Sir Brian,
as Bold as a lion,
take that, and that and that!
Yes Sir Brian. Direction confirmed first. Now who will be the charismatic one to gird his battleaxe and ride forward into the battle.
100% agree. Labour MPs seem organically incapable of that type of thinking.
Mana is better in this respect. Hone put aside his own views on the dreaded electric puha to push a line developed by the wider movement. Labour has a tendency to do the exact opposite.
Good to hear the opposition actually speaking on an issue.
Labour telling Key not to rush through new anti terror laws without evidence.
+100…yes Goff is very effective in this role
Hah, that’s amusing – National does everything without evidence. Or, at least, against the evidence that we’re seeing – they may have some other evidence from other sources with other goals that they’re not sharing.
decision first, conveniently placed evidence second
Is Shearer New Zealand’s most graceless politician?
Just in case we were imagining there wasn’t an active network that had been growing again Cunliffe since he stepped into Parliament, Shearer spells it all out on National Radio for us.
Shearer did not have the fortitude to stand himself, despite clearly thinking he could, so decides to damage the process that the membership had to fight for hard. The Party is better than Shearer. And will show it.
He believes in privatising war.
How he is in a Labour Party I don’t know.
Gibbering on about Twilight Zone…..
Blames the Standard and people behind ‘darkened screens’….
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/1998/09/15/outsourcing_war
By attacking Cunliffe so openly and at length, he is attacking all the members who supported Cunliffe throughout.
Just in case any member or activist thought that a new era was dawning and that a new leader wasn’t going to go through the whole joint and rip and tear out every single Cunliffe supporter … just listen to the open rage on display now, and figure your future out.
I believe the members and activists and affiliates will do exactly the reverse. Woe betide Shearer at the next list conference. And about six other names.
We won in the constitutional changes. Now we really have to unseat them.
That interview with Espiner this morning is worth a post on its own.
So much in there.
Yes
@ ad..
“..We won in the constitutional changes. Now we really have to unseat them…”
..yes please..!
Yes, I wonder how low Labour can go. With the sort of Labour Party that Ad and phillip ure want, my guess is below Mana.
@ gormless..
..are you conveniently ignoring the fact that cunliffe/labour polled highest when cunliffe was talking about the kind of labour party ‘i want’..?
..and then plunged when told that actually ..’no..we aren’t going to do that poverty-busting stuff cunliffe talked about..(to such good response..)
..we are actually going to give the poorest nothing..
..and we are going to make you work longer/older’
..and cd you point out which of manas’ policies so scares you..?
..all manas’ policies are are what labour party policies used to be..
..before the party was hijacked by the rightwing..
..real bread and butter social democratic stuff..
..y’know..!..like ending poverty/feeding the hungry/housing the homeless..?..dangerous ‘lefty’-stuff like that..
..all those ‘scary’ mana policies..
..all that stuff so alien to the labour party of the last three decades..
..and yes..i am in/support mana..
..but i am also enough of a realist to know that if labour continues in lockdown by the neo-lib/rightwing..
..we are all fucked..and ain’t going nowhere..
+1
and your LP is, hmmmm, National? paint the picture for us fool, this LP you thinkmof, that isnt National, what are their policies, directions and who is their leader? do tell?
Here is an inconvenient fact. Labour can only become government by gaining the votes of people who presently vote National. Making Labour more like Mana is not going to cause those people to vote Labour.
You would have thought this was self-evident.
go on then, outline the policies to do that and the leader.
and which nat voters will you target.
and how, by what means
stating the obvious might make you feel clever but it advances nothing, especially as only a few percentage are needed from nat vote, not the lot, and better strategic mmp thinking.
I state the obvious because it is lost on so many here.
And, for so long as it is, Labour is fucked no matter who the leader is.
so obvious you cant follow up with detail?
right, you have no idea.
another inconvenient fact you forgot to add.
the core ideas and concepts behind left leaning policies are still very popular, so popular in fact that the nats keep nicking it and trying desperately to not talk about what they are really planning
so yes – labour does need to win back people who have switched their vote – but the answer isnt in trying to be more like national.
Its more to do with acting like a bunch of kids, poorly constructed and poorly delivered policies and a media witch hunt that cost them the election
Your confusing why people voted for a party with actual policy direction. They arent the same thing
Nope, Labour can lead a government by helping get the third of the voters who didn’t vote to vote for the Left.
i think oleo wd plump for rightwing poster-boy/lusk-acolyte nash..as his/her choice for labour leader.
..(he who will lose napier in 2017..if mcvicar doesn’t again split the vote..
..so if labour can keep him far enough down the list..
..it’ll be ee-aww..ee-aww..as he drives off in his (rightwing bought/paid for) fire-engine election-prop..)..
..in 2017…
..and no more nash..
..(here’s some career advice for nash..
..why not go and join nz first..?
..yr simplistic-sloganeering and teeth will likely go down a treat there..)
Yes, Shearer should STFU. He and his cronies have won. Now he should take his boot out of DC’s ribcage and get back to restoring the once dynamic Mt Albert electorate to something a bit more like its former glory.
It seems to me pretty obvious that Andrew Little will now win the leadership now that Cunliffe has pulled out. The Unions and most of the party membership will swing behind him, and I assume Little commands reasonable support in caucus. So if Little wins, where to for Robertson and the ABCs? An Andrew Little victory would be the second, calculated and explicit rejection by the unions and membership to the Labour old guard and ABCs. For the faction built around Robertson to lose twice and not accept the time has come for many of them to move on would be for it to become completely isolated from the unions, the membership and the MPs who support Little and to risk complete humiliation at selection time in 2017.
So I guess the big question is this, would the likes of Mallard, Goff, Shearer, Cosgrove, King, and Robertson retire from politics or will they try to continue to white ant until they get their man into the top job? And by extension, should Robertson be allowed to win as he is the only man capable of keeping the dead wood in line?
Sanctuary
But is Robertson capable of keeping the dead wood in line? You seem fairly confident there. But they have a long history already of survival and effectiveness. They can keep gnawing away at the Labour tree, it struggles on and so there’s opportunity for them to keep going.
is robertson and abc labours version of two track politics… and they misunderstod who the enemy was
@ Paul
Shearer couldn’t keep off the media. Sounds like Dunney pontificating in a deep, sonorous voice. Talking about cohesion etc but busies himself on the media interfering in a vital process in Labour’s leadership vote supposed to make it more effective. So does Shearer want to help that, by keeping schtum and separate himself quietly. No he does not, he resigns from the process of leader-choosing, and casts himself as a hero and jabs Cunliffe again. The whole process to me is as confusing as the Schrödinger’s Cat experiment.
Then he talks about the fault of Labour being concerned about identity politics. But I’m not sure of the identitity of these identities. Would some commentators who have a grasp of all these types of people, their ages, their gender and their work category, please list them for me! He does diss the idea that the Deputy Leader should be a woman, Maori or Pacifica. One imagines these are some of the identities. Is that right, and who else please.
Then Brent Edwards comes on and jabs Cunliffe and mentions The Standard as vocal supporters, and we are cast somehow as causing dissension. No mention of the constant media campaign for and against apparent favourites of these objective, wise political common-tators that have embedded their feed lines into our brains to receive their opinions. Why else would people listen to these gabby talk-fests like Leighton Smith, John Tamihere, Willy Jackson, Josie Pagani et al.
And no mention of the elephant in the room. That is the need to wrest back Labour from the smug and comfortable in the middle class. Labour was started as a workers party and also spoke for those dispossessed from the position of ‘comfortably off’ in the country for various reasons. Trying to get the long-term right wing pollies out and also their pernicious influence is bound to be bruising and difficult. And it is bound to seem odd, incoherent, chaotic and crazy to those who are happy with the status quo on the RW side. I referred recently to The Good Samaritan, who was exceptional from his class, just because he did something for an opposition group. So Labour reformers are not going to receive much credence from the comfortable in NZ, and those who live off them like fleas on a cat.
edited
I was confused about the same thing until I saw a pattern emerge. Here is my take on the Labour Saga but also the way John Key , Ian Fletcher and Graeme Wheeler and even Russell Norman came to their august positions.
His rubbish on Saturday and then this morning spells him out as unfit to be a member of the Labour Party or caucus, or as an MP.
Little has sufficient cause to send Shearer to the backbenches and to publically ask him not to go for selection next time.
New branches need to be formed in Mt Albert that are not under the thumb of Shearer and his wife Anushka. Mt Albert was the strongest LEC in NZ up to when Shearer was handed the seat on a plate by Goff. That is sadley far from the case now.
I can attest to that. I was one of a group of young activists who built up the Mt Albert Labour Party in the 1970s and 80s and Helen Clark’s suppporters continued the good work when we moved on to other places. In August of last year I attended a memorial service for the Labour incumbent prior to Helen (Warren Freer) who had also been an old friend of my deceased father. I was taken aback to find myself on the receiving end of “unfriendly glares” from David Shearer. He apparently knew who I was and appeared unhappy about my presence. It Ieft me feeling embarrassed and angry as I had even more right to be there than himself.
Since reading his comments in today’s Herald the penny has dropped. Someone must have enlightened him about my support for Cunliffe. That didn’t stop me fully supporting Shearer the entire time he was leader.
Methinks he suffers from a touch of paranoia.
@ Anne…”Methinks he suffers from a touch of paranoia”.
or megalomania ?…maybe Shearer gets his sense of identity and arrogant entitlement from OUTSIDE the Labour Party?….from who and what?
(and he does go to Hooton’s barbeques does he not?….and David Cunliffe declined)
Shearer is a dick, another reason I’m glad for the Māori roll—I don’t have to swallow a dead rat and vote for him.
No rat swallowing for me in 2011 – I voted for David Clendon. Much better choice of David.
Ad +100 …these MPs seem to go to radionz to do their damage and spin things for themselves
……Shearer said that Cunliffe undermined both him and Goff ( NO!)
…..Shearer also mentioned Left wing blogs ( well those political observers of Shearer debated and reported what they saw on the Left blogs…but the debates were free and open ended ( unlike the msm) …and sadly they were stating the obvious
the fact of the matter is that it was patently obvious to every new Zealander and especially Labour Party voters ( who dont read left wing blogs and who incidentally originally supported Shearer) that he was hopelessly inexperienced and inarticulate as leader!)
Methinks Shearer is feeling guilty for the bullying and undermining of David Cunliffe by caucus
…so now Shearer, with the airing of radionz , is leading the attack on Left wing blogs for debate and stating the obvious
…perhaps Left wing blogs with their open debate are now being perceived as a threat
Authoritarian leader types don’t like anything outside of their control.
What a pity certain MPs in Labour didn’t channel their competitiveness and aggression toward challenging the political parties/political views they were elected in to vie with.
It.Is.Not.That.Hard.To.Know.What.Your.Role.Is,Is.It?
What a damned weasel !!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11341984
Shearer seems …oh fuck it what is the point?
You sound like one of those nasty Standard people he was complaining about on Morning Report today!
He clearly has a strong agenda….move to the centre, big party that appeals to everyone….
Everyone?
Power at all costs then.
Like Tony Blair.
Oh dear.
Shearer had his chance. Time for Shearer to shut up.
Or do his job and hold the government to account.
If Shearer and his ilk gain control of the Labour Party, then neoliberalism is locked into this country.
As was planned by the establishment. Shearer and the right wing cabal in the Labour caucus are just as important to the powers that run NZ as Key and his group.
They need Tweedlede and Tweedledum parties.
The TPPA will further lock down the settings for them.
“..Shearer and the right wing cabal in the Labour caucus are just as important to the powers that run NZ as Key and his group..”
+ 1..
and the worry is that many on the right championed shearer for leader, now boag and key have endorsed little…. curiouser and curiouser
Shearer has worked hard, again and again, to remove any doubt that he has the ability to do his job as a leader or caucus colleague. Time for him to shut up and move out.
Labour Party members can lodge complaints with Council about him bringing the Party into disrepute: clause 387 (b), NZLP Constitution 2014.
Thanks for that. I was going to write a letter, but that sounds better.
Was joking!
That piece should have read:
“Labour MP David Shearer has ruled out trying to get his old job back but has sent a blunt message to [himself] to get out of Parliament altogether, saying as long as he was there he would be a lightning rod for speculation over the leadership [and caucus division, as well as his own IQ].
@ kiwiri..
..i thought it should read more:..
..’toothless-politician flashes his gums..’
I guess he’s still a bit annoyed with Cunliffe for undermining him when he was leader.
oh really, link?
You don’t remember the Minister of Pornography calling him a huhu grub as well as young Richie Cunningham giving him a public serve after that Labour conference a few years back.
what?
i do hope your not talking about the “gower coup”
@ bm..
“..young Richie Cunningham..”
..i do like that reference for ‘chippy’…
..but too ‘glowing’..
..i have him more as that kid who stands behind the bully going:..
..’go on..!..hit him..!’..
yea, damned democracy aye BM. not like nats where if you have money you can pay for people to join so they can vote for you…
Notice no comments after that load of Drivel from Shearer The Herald would crash at the indignation shown at Shearers Treachery.
Shearer seems petty and unhinged. Whose stupid idea was it to gift him a once proud electorate?
(just in case you missed it…on stuff 2day..)
“..I gave my eight-year-old medical cannabis..
..As a baby Alice was having up to 30 life threatening seizures a day –
– and her neurologist told me:
‘It’s like your baby’s brain is exploding –
– take her home to die – she is too sick to live’..”
(cont..)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/life/10610772/I-gave-my-eight-year-old-medical-cannabis
Hey Phil check this out
http://www.ionvapor.com/CBD-E-Liquid.html
http://livflavors.com/index.php/hemp-cbd-e-liquids.html
maybe a good option for people here in NZ, would make an interesting trial case any way if some was intercepted by customs due to the NO THC content ,
I buy Nic E-Liquid from the states regularly without 1 package molested yet
Maybe Shearer’s outburst is just a symptom of the current state of the party where no-one really trusts each other and everyone’s got their own hidden/ not so hidden agenda. If Little is elected he’s certainly got his job cut out in trying to get some discipline going in the party.
Little is going to be the Hatchet Man.
Don’t think he’ll win in 2017, but he’ll certainly get Labour back on its feet again.
BM, for once I agree with you !
His job will be to move the deadwood to the right of the party.
maybe the plan.As far as the present ego contest goes Little and Parker seem the most humble.Should Little succeed ,expect an old fashioned ‘reds under the beds’ attack from the right.What sort of impression can Little make on that 20% of floating voters?
I don’t think that should be his main priority. Labour is in a bad way, last legs sort of stuff.
Littles main objective should be to rebuild the party and make it a contender again so people have to be a bit more realistic about time frames.
If everything goes to plan, 2020 would be when Labour is ready to have another crack at government.
“I don’t think that should be his main priority. Labour is in a bad way, last legs sort of stuff.”
People would have been saying exactly the same about National in 2002 within a month of the election.
Remember Brash didn’t parachute into the leadership role until a year later.
Still took till 2008 to get back in power.
Somehow I don’t think Labour will be able to achieve the same result in a shorter time frame.
As I wrote above, people have to except this and be a bit more realistic in their expectations.
They only narrowly lost 2005.
They won in 2008 when Labour would have been going into their 4th term. National will be attempting a 4th term in 2017.
well Labour is clearly in terminal decline if thats the priority.From Clarks reign to this in 6 /7 years?Does not augur well.The Natz managed a renaissance with new blood,and a united strategy,….Labour ,with Little will be only 1/2 way there.Imagine what will happen when Winston puts his cue in the rack.
Les are you a RW trole? You seem to have a lot of negatives about Labour but seem to enjoy that.
+1
Les makes me think the grass might be greener over that bridge.
Marcus Lush 10, Paul Henry 0
….. a sad day
?
@ paul..
..lush is losing his radio breakfast show to henry..
lush is a great/intelligent/funny broadcaster..and i wd listen to him..
..but that station format is too/so stuffed with ads/promos/irrelevancies/annoyances..
..to be able to be listened to..
..i tried it once..
..it had me running from the room..
..all these people shouting commercial-imperatives at me..
..it was all a bit too much..
gavin ellis has suggested that radio new zealand should snaffle up lush..
..that is a brilliant idea..
..lush first showed his skills on bfm…
..and national radio wd be a natural roost for him..
..and i am sure he wd enjoy being freed of/from all those commercial-imperatives/time-gobblings..
..and he wd deliver really quality radio..
So thats what the dog was whinging about yesterday. I keep it on in the garage where it (Radio Live) keeps the dog company. And Garners dulcet tones were great for keeping the puppies quiet just after they were born earlier in the year.
Obviously David Shearer is not interested in keeping disputes in-house.
Yes, I wonder if RNZ contacted him or vice versa.
@ paul..
..shearer has been all over the media..like a rash…
I suspect Shearer’s activities are actually meant to be in support of Parker’s cause. Ardern’s Central Auckland team have been pumping the phones for Parker and, with their encouragement, Shearer in trying to be a player!
This toxic spittoon was shaped by the arch Machiavellian Robertson. He and Goff put the unsuitable and inexperienced Shearer into the leadership to block Cunliffe.
Shearer still does not get it that he was used and abused by Robertson. It was Robertson who undermined Shearer. It was Robertson who got Maryan Street to do the numbers and roll Shearer.
This rush of blood to Shearer’s head marks the last stage of his career in the Labour Party. Good riddance.
it’s kinda funny..
..little vs. parker…
..it’s like a charisma-vampire wreaked havoc in the labour caucus..
From what I remember of the Engineers’ Class Collaboration Association, Little will go to Parker and say that making the people they represent work two more years is absolutely unacceptable. After strenuous negotiations, he’ll triumphantly announce that he got it changed to four, and half pension for Pasifika, because they have big families to support them.
Disclaimer: this post may not be entirely serious.
..shearer has been all over the media..like a rash…
…More like a Bad Smell…
he’s going at it like an energiser-bunny having an attack of roid-rage…
the tone and flow of the interview had all the hallmarks of shearer going to them
shearer wasnt trying to avoid any questions, and in fact seemed to enjoy talking at length – he would have gone longer if allowed
+100 rnz is right wing biased…increasingly i am walking away from it.
…my daughter never listened to it…..my son doesnt listen to it at all …my partner listens to it when it suits him ….we need more radio options
On TV3’s The Nation a couple of days ago, David Shearer suggested: “When I stood down (as leader) we were polling at 34%, and we ended up on 25% in the Election. That was in the space of 12 months. That is a catastrophic drop.”
Reality
Labour support in last 8 polls BEFORE Shearer stood down
31.5………31.6………34.0………33.0………29.0………31.0………31.0………31.5
Labour support in first 8 polls AFTER Shearer stood down
32.5……..34.0……….37.7……….37.0……..37.0………33.6………34.0………35.5
Labour Monthly Average support for Last 4 Months of Shearer Leadership
MAY 33%……..JUNE 32%……..JULY 31%……..AUGUST 32%
Labour Monthly Average support for First 4 Months of Cunliffe Leadership
SEPTEMBER 35%……..OCTOBER 35%……..NOVEMBER 33%……..DECEMBER 35%
You really have to wonder where Labour would be now if Shearer had held on to the Leadership and then come in for the relentless MSM character assassination inflicted on Cunliffe over the last 8 months. I’m picking something close to National under Bill English in 2002.
Not to mention the wholesale slaughter in the pre-Election Leader Debates.
And where they’ll go if the right wing caucus take power back.
not letting facts get in the way of his hatchet job. thanks fish.
The relentless claim from Shearer and the constant MSM refrain that Shearer was 35% and fell to Cunliffe’s 25% was simply wrong.
Thanks swordfish.
Would be good for Shearer to come over here and give his comments on these figures.
The election loss was die to too many other factors not in control of Cunliffe. He worked very hard and very well under very difficult circumstances.
Hope Shearer will respond here.
actually, he’s right about that.
Shearer announced he was standing down on 22 Aug 2013.
In the Roy Morgan released 20 August 2013, Labour got 34%. Yes, a spike. Yes, many other issues. Yes, he and damned near everyone else who’s been tipped to be a contender is acting like a dickhead.
But technically, he’s correct.
BTW, it’s not like Shearer wasn’t on the receiving end of relentless character assassination, either. Nor will the next Labour Party leader be in for any less. The reason is that the tories don’t like labour, and there seems to be a tendency for those within Labour (caucus and membership) to flail about at anybody with a slightly different opinion. FFS, there’s now an alleged Labour party “branch” that uses a gmail account.
Meh. It’s a ponderable.
Two problems with this.
(1) As the poll figures I set-out above show, that 34% was an outlier. 6 of the last 8 polls of Shearer’s leadership had Labour in the 29.0-31.6% range.
(2) You’re talking about the last poll to be released before he announced his departure. If you’re going to narrow the focus to just the very last poll of his leadership (which isn’t something I’d recommend – far better to average out the last few), then you need to look at the last poll conducted before he announced he was stepping down.
There are two candidates for this:
Fairfax-Ipsos (conducted 10-15 August) Labour 31.6%
Roy Morgan (conducted 12-25 August) Labour 31.5%
So, no, I disagree that Shearer is technically correct
And yet, outlier/spike even so, Labour did poll 34% just before he resigned.
So in actual fact, he was technically correct.
As above, the last two measurements of public opinion before he announced his decision to step down had Labour on 31.6% and 31.5%. Shearer can’t just cherry-pick the third-to-last one because it was better for Labour than all the surrounding polls and say this is where Labour was when I departed.
In chronological order from 8th-to-last through to last poll before stepping down
31.5 (conducted 17-30 June)
31.0 (1-14 July)
31.0 (9-14 July)
29.0 (15-28 July)
33.0 (27-31 July)
34.0 (29 July-11 August)
31.6 (10-15 August)
31.5 (12-25 August)
Shearer announces his intention to stand down as Labour Leader 22 August.
It’s a total misrepresentation by Shearer and his cheerleaders to suggest Labour were sitting comfortably on 34% when he stood down (and strongly implying that this was a consistent and solid rating throughout those final weeks)
(We both like to have the last word, don’t we McFlock)
🙂
The 12-25th one doesn’t count, because it includes after shearer announced his resignation.
The fairfax could have fairly been ignored at that time, given the bias displayed in the previous election. But when was it released?
Still, the last poll released was indeed 34%, so IMO it’s a fair statement.
Frankly, if you think it’s the most irritating comment he’s made in the past few days, I disagree with your characterisation of the comment but respect your dedication to the importance of numbers 🙂
David Shearer – what a babbler
what a mumbler
what a bumbler
stfu Shearer.
The Herald online has a story about conjoint twins and has a photo of two a…holes. See the picture. It’s at the story “Hosking v Henry: Radio’s new war.”
super right wing smug bastard versus super right wing smug bastard…looks like Jeremy might have twice as much work to do!
lol
lol
I prefer that.
I don’t listen to radio as a habit, but I do watch late might TV. Hopefully his stint at 1030pm is over, so there might be something on that I’d prefer to watch. Like paint drying on horseshit.
Unbelievable behavior from David Shearer the article that he is quoted on in the Herald today certainly brings the Party into disrepute. Who the hell does David Shearer think he is, what a destructive nasty piece of work he is. Its David Shearer that clearly needs to move on along with his nasty bunch of caucus mates.
remind me what carter did to get chucked out?
cosgrove is uncannily quiet… has he gone on holiday now that the party he wont campaign for got him back in?
Weird story of the day
ISIS website shut down in Iceland had NZ address
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11341989
‘A suspected Islamic State website shut down by Iceland was registered to a small roadside shop in New Zealand.
Iceland found it!!!!
NZ and 5 eyes did not!!!!!
Weird
shearer will be on the wireless soon suggesting cunliffe is behind ISIS
lol…Shearer is in the wrong Party …he should join Jones for barbeques at Hootons
….and something might be able to be worked out by John key that is more satisfactory for him
personally..i also blame cunliffe for the drop in dairy prices..
We should be paying attention to this. While the left is in a dither over Labour, Key is setting up to bring in legislation that will lessen our rights and increase the power of the spooks.
People on twitter are making jokes about the terror alert increase. We shouldn’t be so complacent. It’s classic moves to make NZ less sovereign and put more power in the hands of the few (in this case the PM and his cronies).
With the help of some basic web tools the ‘small roadside shop’ is a safety deposit box in Parnell and the email address given is provided by a Canadian email company.
So quite likely the whole thing is a front run from anywhere.
And probably enabled by our insanely loose Shell company laws which have been an ongoing global concern due to enabling arms smuggling, money laundering & god knows what else.
Herald article has been updated now with half that.
And Stuff guy has a couple of clues, got that detail to start with & has also confirmed its a shell company front address
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/10613951/Islamic-State-site-linked-to-New-Zealand-office
re nz as tax-haven/money-laundering..(this is from april this yr..)
‘..how does goldman sachs use new zealand as a tax haven..(would you believe 155 subsidiary-companies..here..in new zealand..?..)
(look at this graphic..and have yr mind blown..)
(cont..)
http://whoar.co.nz/2014/how-does-goldman-sachs-use-new-zealand-as-a-tax-haven-would-you-believe-155-subsidiary-companies-here-in-new-zealand/
Yep which is why NZ really needs to tighten up its authentication process for registering a business and to stop accepting foreign people from registering here at all.
+100 pu and DTB…corruption
No, DTB! The freedom of capital is sacred! To combat this, we need less regulation on business and greater domestic powers for the squirrels. The interests of liberty demand that the GCSB and SIS have the right to manufacture evidence against people they don’t like but can’t find any proof against. After all, ngati poaka have had this right for years, squirrels must be treated equally!
This has been a community broadcast in favour of freedom, liberty, and undersize crayfish.
We’re are so open and friendly to anything and everything from overseas, except terrorists. But anything else dangerous to our or economy’s health is okay. WE don’t put up any defences against shonky businesses and their shell companies that cover nasty little surprises. Next thing someone will pick up a shell and find underneath a present of an ebola virus.
Maybe 5 eyes was running it? Stranger things have happened.
Some thoughts on Shearer’s interview:
1. He pretty much confirmed my point that Cunliffe was stupid to run with Mahuta as a double-ticket back in 2011, when none of the other candidates were. Clearly caucus as a whole thought she didn’t deserve the role and was just there as a token Maori woman. This move seems to have cemented the existing bad faith that they held against Cunliffe. It also shows that he badly misjudged the mood of caucus to run on a double ticket like that.
2. Shearer early on said he didn’t care what people on blogs said (meaning, The Standard) because they didn’t have any power or achieve anything. Yet this morning he specifically attacks people on The Standard as if we wield some mighty power?
3. Shearer seems to think that it’s ok for the caucus members who don’t like the leader to constantly speak to the MSM and bleat about it, but if anyone on a blog dare suggest that the leader isn’t doing their job well, it’s the end of the world. In short, Shearer is a massive hypocrite.
re: number 3
thats the bit i found really weird. I caught the dig at the standard in his interview – and my reaction was (once the swearing subsided) – “This guy doesnt see the irony of pointing the finger at the unfluence* of bloggers – while on national radio?!”
STFU Shearer!
im not even a labour member, and im furious at shearers continued media yapping – lord knows how those who are members feel about him continuing to not only air, but generate, dirty laundry in public
* its a typo – but i feel like ive just invented a useful word – so im leaving it in there 🙂
framu..
..i like it..!..’unfluence’…(poss def:..the opposite of influence..a faux-influence..)
..it is definitely what shearer has…
..so that pointed-finger from him instantly curled backwards to/at source..
or the inability to influence
or the opposite of affluence…
wouldnt that be “defluence”?
ascend/descend
unfluence could be what afflicts the poor and vulnerable… the lack of influence and affluence
Good summary, Lanthanide. Clearly, Shearer is bitter and twisted about his own failure to hold onto the leadership, despite having the majority of caucus behind him. He’s not really scared of the Standard, he’s scared of the members.
So here’s my suggestion: if Cunliffe should quit as an MP, then so should Shearer. And Goff, obviously.
But wait! There’s more!!! Also well past there use by date are Mallard, Cosgrove and King. Ruth Dyson has not done anything to deserve the chop, but as with King, it’s probably time to call time there too.
If King steps down, Andrew Little will win the subsequent Rongotai by-election. Mallard should probably stay until the next election because of the risk of losing a by-election in Hutt South, but he should be given a whip’s role in the meantime just to keep him busy and full of self importance in the meantime. Shearer and Goff’s seats should go to whoever the local LEC’s think the best fresh faces are.
Ok, it’s a slightly risky strategy, but forcing 3 by-elections, and winning them all, would be a turning point on the road to recovery.
I agree with TRP 100%. I’ll lie down and have a rest now.
Pity the party can’t afford it and National would spin it as Labour wasting $1.5M of taxpayer money because they can’t keep their own house in order.
That’s very bold TRP. I hope someone will take notice and consider the idea. If it stands their scrutiny I hope they’ll get behind it.
Maybe a tweak to the constitution re: leadership contests: there’s also an ostracism ballot for the entire caucus (i.e. everyone includingthe new leader), kicking one MP out of parliament if a list mp and caucus if electorate? Open to membership only.
Might add a wee bit of self-preservation instinct to some folks.
thanks lanth. i didnt hear it.
My opinion and it is just an opinion that the bad blood in Caucus goes back to when Cunliffe was Minister of Health and sacked the Hawkes Bay Health Board.
Annette’s husband was impacted upon by this. Sorry can’t remember the details. So she is p…..ed off with DC. She is popular. DC perceived as up himself. so a group think takes over, which is the breeding ground for the ABC’s. Strenthened by the left/right split.
This is my theory anyway.
Are we in a police state yet? If so, at what point did it occur?
When will Shearer, and his mates, move to National? Although it’s probably too late as their house is full.
Why does anyone really care what Shearer thinks!Hes not standing,obviously has a sour grape hangover and the public couldn’t care less either.
I am thoroughly p…d off, Mr Shearer. I worked hard in my electorate for the Labour vote. You were not supported as leader because although you had a great back story, you did not have the verbal skills to match the current PM. The majority of members supported David Cunliffe in the vote when he was elected because he has the ability to think on his feet and express himself fluently. He proved to be more than a match in the electoral debates. The caucus did not but made a moderate effort to contain itself although there were leaks to the MSM (the 3 day holiday, etc.) After the election there has been a wholesale lack of discipline from some of the caucus. What would you think of a sporting team which, after losing an important match, behaved in such a manner as the Labour Party caucus? This was not the time to roll the leader. You were correct in saying that there needed to be an analysis of what went wrong first, but obviously Grant Robertson couldn’t wait. Since then, the indiscipline has been totally embarrassing and infuriating. My computer screen is not darkened, David Shearer. I use a pseudonym not to protect myself but so that my family members and the place where I am employed on a part time basis are not associated with my personal comments.
+1 TMM
I wish Meg Bates had won the selection for Mt Albert instead of Shearer. We may by now have had the Labour Party that those of us on the left wanted.
Shearer on Morning Report this morning was a disgrace. Why is he being allowed to get away with this deluded, self-serving behaviour? Why didn’t he stand? Afraid of being the first candidate to be eliminated Mr Shearer?
I am surprised that anyone connected with David Shearer should think that the worst thing about him was he did not have good verbal skills.
To me, making sneering comment about a beneficiary doing maintenance on his house and implying it was likely to be part of rorting the welfare system, shows a poisoned mind to welfare. And all his supposedly humanitarian work overseas was no doubt for good salary. It is known that these aid workers/administrators get well paid and usually distort the economy of any poor and needy place they work in, getting the best quality of amenities at that place, so not sharing similar standards which the people bear.
Seems by his attitude, he was prepared to see the same here. That’s why he was no good for a Labour leader. He was just going to be another distanced middle class aspirational type looking out first for No.1.
(this may be of interest to some..i had an encounter with shearer in 2011…and i wrote it up..)
comment@ whoar:..a look back at an encounter with david shearer..
(ed:..i published this in august 2011..
..and this was pre that shirking-benificiary-on-a-hot-tin-roof meme shearer later floated..
..but it does bring that more into focus..
..and i hafta say..that walking away from him..
..i felt like i had been talking to a cipher/hollow-man..)
http://whoar.co.nz/2013/comment-whoar-a-look-back-at-an-encounter-with-david-shearer/
I like the bit phillip when you said his eyes glazed. Too much information for him no doubt. I think a lot of these pollies like to fly by the seat of their pants, it’s how they feel that matters, the facts just get in the way.
That was cunning, giving a link to the post that gives the actual link. Double your web traffic 🙂
Nice story anyway. I can remember coming across Syd Jackson in a supermarket once. As a member of the Clerical Workers’ Union, I let him know some of my concerns. He was also less than interested.
Coincidence or careful protection of reputation of a senior business guy?
Yesterday
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11341703
Today
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11341878
A speaker on radionz from watercare said they acted to close water down straight away and that the water supply was not contaminated. And unless he was lying I don’t think there was a case to cause general alarm over nothing.
interesting!… there is a culture in New Zealand of not taking toxic herbicides (or 1080 poisoning) as seriously as they do in other countries …the Greens are an exception, although even they are brainwashed on the 1080 issue
Interesting email from a male friend of mine:
“I went out for a meal after work and was sitting quite close to the till. It was really interesting hearing the conversations this young French woman server was having with people.
In particular, just while we were there about four different guys older than you and I were trying to pick her up. One invited her on to his boat, and another asked her out on a date and was trying to hold her hand.
You could tell this women was a friendly and warm person to everyone and these guys were just like untrained puppies. This must happen to her every night. “
After a reply from me:
“I guess it does – bit disturbing of course”
He replied:
“It must become a bit of a drag for these women – and of course, this sort of behaviour makes women naturally defensive towards all men.”
My reply was:
“Each man thinks is only him asking and never thinks that he is one of millions which as you say must become very exhausting for women. In places like Indonesia women are never left alone.”
Something for guys to think about perhaps?
yup …ugly is liberating and age is liberating …the young and beautiful are vulnerable
Yes, younger women in particular can receive an awful lot of this type of interaction which eventually causes a lot of them to close out all but people they know well. At some level it also means that no matter what they are trying to say, using their intelligence or other skills, all the feedback they get is through that single prism. Sometimes I wonder , if by default, they start to exclude themselves from the wider positions in society just so they get some peace.
I know, I know, our governments don’t conspire with other governments and we can trust John Key to be here for us and not his corporate mates but still…
All those things I have been saying over the years about how John Key would be limiting our freedoms, sell our assets, take us to war given half a chance are sort of happening aren’t they?
And waddayaknow, they are happening at the same time they are happening in the other 4 countries of the five eye nations aren’t they? And they are using the exact same arguments all of a sudden out of the blue (In the same blue suits I might add)!
ISIS blah blah blah, Syris blah blah blah, Need more security local beheadings blah blah blah. Non violent extremists are as bad as ISIS blah, blah, blah. Must fight the extremism spawning these terror groups you know people thinking 9/11 wasn’t done by a group of mad extremist Muslims blah, blah, blah. If your not with us you’re a terrorist blah, blah, blah.
So just in case there are people here to take the next step towards understanding why this is happening now and everywhere in the Anglo Saxon world here is a link towards Architects and Engineers for 9/11 truth. I know, I know, they would never do that and our governments love us to bits but you know it can’t heard just to do a little read and maybe pick up some reality. I mean real reality not the one created for us by the MSM.
And just in case you’re wondering, I am a very proud non-violent extremist ans I am in very good company!
thanks for that …i am with you…personally i like the “dustification” theory the best…because it did look like bloody dustification….certainly not the result of an plane crashing in
Last week, when there were recomendations to through out bagged lettuce and carrots I rang our local new world to see if there was any compensation and what they recomended we do (we had bagged lettuce and carrots in the fridge). I was told that all there produce was safe, when I asked if it was safe to give to my kids the guy said yes it was, I through it out anyway.
No it has come to light that it is suspected to be the exact same lettuce we had. I rang them back and have been told that at the time all the staff had been told to say that all there producè was safe nd unaffected, I asked who had told them to say this and was told it came from head office.
so foodstuff had a strong suspicion that it was them, but still sent out that message to the shops.
Bloody irresponsible
I hadn’t thought about it til Campbell Live mentioned Pam’s bagged lettuce last night. And I had just had some for dinner. Apparently it can take between hours or many days for the symptoms of the illness to appear……. counting down….
Edit: Though I did wash it before I put it on my plate.
i knew there was a good reason why i don’t like/avoid lettuce..
..it is the comma of the vegetable world..
…a cringing nothing…
phillip you must always eat your greens….and that includes lettuce!…(stop being such a picky eater and food faddist !)
and if the lettuce is the “comma of the vegetable world”…David Suzuki , the environmentalist , said he is a vegetarian and eats chicken because it is a flying vegetable
that’s kinda like those people who say they are vegetarians..’cos they only eat fish…
Hi lprent
Is it my computer, or has the consecutive numbering gone awry or away? A long thread soon loses any numbering and they don’t seem to go as far in the subsets as before. Is this inevitable? Can it only be fixed by choosing a more expensive option in the works?
long threads always lose their numbering. Just use the last reply button you can find diresctly upthread and you’ll stay in line.
Ta wekarawshark
Surely the three remaining candidates for leader can see that Little will win. Why submit the party to four weeks of the media painting Labour as a hopelessly divided party. Why waste time traipsing to meetings when the result is known and time could be better spent getting organized. Why spend the money on a leadership primary campaign, (anyone know if the cost is 5 or six figures??)
Little as leader. either of the other two as Deputy and the other given a front bench position. Done and dusted today. Fighting fit for Parliament starting next week.
I don’t know paddy.
It gets Labour out into the provinces and talking to people. At this point it might be advantageous for them to see Labour in action rather than rely on the right wing negative media line they’re exposed to day in and day out…
Better to entrench our hard-won democracy within the party’s practices than to take a convenient shortcut. We need to make it harder, not easier, for Hooton-anointed leaders to be slipped into place in the future.
i read yesterday its expected to cost 30k
$30,000 of hard earned cake stall money pissed away on a beauty parade when the result is bleedin obvious. FFS. Sort it out in the next 3 hours.
Simple paddy.? That is the attitude that got Labour into this mess. Paying proper attention to the important matters of leadership and choice of MPs and generally running the party better.
Yes but Paddy there have been 2000 new members join since the announcement of the leadership campaign (2014). That potentially covers it. BTW I think we need to try and organised with the new members.
I am amazed. Shearer makes significant criticisms of the effect that commentators (perhaps including myself) have made here, and there seems to be nobody willing to self reflect that he may have some legitimate complaint.
I’m not suggesting that there should not be robust discussion defending “our place”. I’m simply surprised. I’ll go back over the last few posts. There are others that have criticised Shearer, in a manner that promotes better constructive debate or comment. (For example, mickysavage’s contribution on “Dear David Shearer”)
I hope those comments by mickysavage (in “Dear David Shearer”)
“the Standard has a very open policy on comments and sometimes people say things that are not very nice. Criticism is not treachery” have some truth.
I guess I will find out in the consequences of this post, that I hope are not simply interpreted as “right wing troll” or “stfu”. I would rather they be interpreted as intended, in the spirit of Nicky Hager hoping that the standard of political debate is raised as a legacy to “Dirty Politics”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
@ vto (10 )
David Shearer – what a babbler. what a mumbler what a bumbler
stfu Shearer
Shearer says that you only have to look at some of the comments in the Standard to understand his grievances. This is a good example, I expect. No justification for a most insidious smear. Whaleoil 101.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
@ Craig Glen Eden (12)
Unbelievable behavior from David Shearer the article that he is quoted on in the Herald today certainly brings the Party into disrepute.
And if Shearer is bringing the Party into disrepute, where does that leave many commentators here, including myself?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
@ Craig Glen Eden (12)
Who the hell does David Shearer think he is, what a destructive nasty piece of work he is. Its David Shearer that clearly needs to move on along with his nasty bunch of caucus mates.
Shearer says that you only have to look at some of the comments in the Standard to understand his grievances. This is another good example, I expect. No justification for a most insidious smear. Whaleoil 101.
~~~~~~~~~
@ Tracey (13.1)
shearer will be on the wireless soon suggesting cunliffe is behind ISIS
Tracey joins the pack hunting Shearer, and uses another subject to attack Shearer. It’s disguised as humour. But obviously a nice thing to bite around the ankles, while the pack attacks the jugular.
~~~~~~~~~
@ Lanthanide (14)
(parts one and two)
One of the better contributions, which is not high praise. It is clearly legitimate personal opinion. But totally in defensive mode. Not a pinch of self reflection about the role of commentators on the Standard. And unsubstantiated sledges that are more characteristic of John Key: “Cunliffe is stupid” “Clearly caucus as a whole thought she didn’t deserve the role and was just there as a token Maori woman”. And unsubstantiated assertions “Shearer early on said”
~~~~~~~~~
@ Lanthanide (14)
(The third part of the post)
Shearer seems to think that it’s ok for the caucus members who don’t like the leader to constantly speak to the MSM and bleat about it, but if anyone on a blog dare suggest that the leader isn’t doing their job well, it’s the end of the world. In short, Shearer is a massive hypocrite.
A hard hitting attack on Shearer ending in in an extraordinary claim that he is not just a hypocrite, but a massive hypocrite. I probably would not have added comment here, were it not for the added word “massive”. (In contrast to smears by others about Shearer, the justification for the claim is provided, and able to be debated)
But there is no self reflection on the difference between Shearer’s comments to the media (sledged as bleats) and the critical comments on blogs. Lanthanide conveniently characterises these as “suggesting that the leader isn’t doing their job well”, for which there could be no complaint. But Lanthanide does not pause to reflect that the majority of critical comments about Shearer on blogs are basically ad hominem attacks and Whaleoil 101 smears. Shearer is actually entitled to be pissed.
~~~~~~
@ Te Reo Putake (14.2)
“totally agreed” by @ Not a PS Shark Sashimi (14.2.1)
“Clearly, Shearer is bitter and twisted about his own failure to hold onto the leadership, despite having the majority of caucus behind him. He’s not really scared of the Standard, he’s scared of the members. ……………….. But wait! There’s more!!! Also well past there use by date are Mallard, Cosgrove and King”
A classic critique, containing nothing but an ad hominem smear. Whaleoil 101. A post that is even supported by another commentator! This sort of comment provides Shearer, or anyone else attacked in a similar sort of way, with a legitimate complaint. For f. sake. Attack the policy; Attack anything with substance. Provide praise where it is due. Have we collectively not learnt anything from Nicky Hager, while we generously provide donations for him? Or is it always them, and not us?
~~~~~~~
@ philj (15)
Are we in a police state yet? If so, at what point did it occur?
When will Shearer, and his mates, move to National?
Shearer says that you only have to look at some of the comments in the Standard to understand his grievances. This is another good example, I expect. No justification for a most insidious smear. Whaleoil 101. It could be turned into a comment of significance, by providing a reference to policies that Shearer has promoted that you believe should not be in Labour.
~~~~~~
@ les (16)
Why does anyone really care what Shearer thinks! Hes not standing,obviously has a sour grape hangover and the public couldn’t care less either
Well actually I care, as I care about what all member of the caucus think. If I was Shearer, I would be pissed about this Whaleoil 101 contribution
~~~~~~
@ Tautoko Mangō Mata (17)
You were not supported as leader because although you had a great back story, you did not have the verbal skills to match the current PM.
Is it true to suggest that the only reason Shearer was not supported was because he did not have the verbal skills to match John Key? I do not know, and have not looked back and reviewed discussions here when Shearer was leader. Were there not criticisms, as there seem to be now that Shearer was ‘too far to the right’ etc? and simply dislike characterised by Whaleoil 101 smears?
~~~~~~
[lprent: This is a site for expressing opinions for the left. We explicitly state that it is here for robust debate.
In the case of the comments you are reflecting above, are any distortions of fact? Or are they very clearly opinions as I think. Perhaps you should show exactly which ones have statement of facts that are not valid? Because that is the requirement for any legal issues.
You appear to looking from Where? The viewpoint of a Labour party member? Looking through your examples, I think that less than half are even members of the Labour party. Where exactly do you think you are? An LEC? Some place governed by the rules of NZLP?
This site is designed to allow discussion amongst people from the broad labour movement. That includes unionists, the vast numbers of ex-labour members, greens, anarchists, communists, many religious movements, and even economic drys like myself. We argue, bicker, and disagree. We also say exactly what we think about politicians and their behaviour. If some politicians are too sensitive about people talking about them, then I suggest that they avoid pubs, workplaces, and blogs.
I suspect that we have helped convince a large number of people to join or rejoin the NZLP as well as the Greens and other left parties. Why do you think that the NZLP membership is nearly triple what it was in 2011? But we have done that through open discussion not the kind of constrained narrow arselicking that you seem to want to impose.
But be warned, you are clearly advocating a change in our policies. You can argue that. You can however not state that we should change them either directly or indirectly. That is because the only people who can do that that are those who actually author and work on the site. You are not one of them.
They are the only people that you can really try to influence. ]
And what role is that? How wide an audience do you think The Standard, and the comments here, have? Hint: MSM like TV1 news goes into 500,000 households each weeknight”
It’s my personal opinion that Cunliffe was stupid to run with Mahuta as a double ticket, when:
1. None of the other contenders did
2. I had honestly never heard of her or knew she was an MP. You can say this says a lot about me; but I think as someone who has been interested in Labour party politics for over a decade, it says something about her and how effective she is.
This is based on Cunliffe’s failure to win the 2011 election contest and Shearer’s comments that the best person for the job is whoever is most competent at it, not just installing someone because they are a woman or a maori.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6075286/Mahuta-dismisses-Tamiheres-comments
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10846967
“The series of those calling for Shearer to step down included three bloggers on the Standard blog … Mr Shearer said the spate of calls consisted of “a small circle of bloggers feeding off each other and I’m surprised the media is taking it seriously. It’s nonsense.””
And that was not the first time he’s been dismissive of The Standard, but I’m not going to bother looking for the earlier version because I have work to do.
If we had to ‘substantiate’ every single statement we made on this blog, then not much would get written. But that doesn’t mean statements aren’t true.
Again, you’re failing to distinguish the reach of blogs vs MPs talking to MSM.
Firstly I’m only talking about The Standard, because that’s who Shearer addressed this morning on the radio. Secondly, during his tenure as leader, I don’t believe the “majority” of comments critical of him on TS were ad hominem attacks, more they were critical appraisals of his ability to do the job. Yes, we may use “naughty” language that some disapprove of, but we’re not politicians and the language isn’t any different then you would hear in a bar on a Friday night.
Finally, you’re using evidence of comments that were posted today, in response to Shearer’s attack on people here, as evidence that we have unfairly attacked him in the past. You’d be much better off actually looking at what was said in the past to make your judgements as to whether what Shearer said today was warranted or not.
Also I’d point out that Key gets a lot of personal attacks. Do you see him running to MSM and whinging about bloggers?
Spot on Lanth.
This stuff from Shearer and Cosgrove is just grade a stupidity.
There are people here, people in the party or would be supporters of it, who don’t like that crew.
That leaves that crew with 3 options:
1) Win them over.
2) Ignore them because they are irrelevant.
3) Beat them.
They went with 3, and that is fair enough. But their strategy has been to go massive. Instead of fighting here, or somewhere similar, at the grassroots level, they went to the media. Repeatedly. It’s just stupid. Doing that doesn;t lessen the emotion on here, as can be seen. It doesn’t do anything at all except raise the Standard as being an equal player on the level of front bench MPs. That’s just fucking ridiculous.
It makes George W Bush look like Sun fucking Tzu.
It looks to me like Shearer and some of his acolytes in the party as well as caucus have decided there has been a long-term coordinated campaign run by The Standard (yeah I know the Standard doesn’t have a brain so can’t run anything but the Lab technophobes don’t) to oust David Shearer.
We don’t know one another for starters. And who is the chief co-ordinator? mickeysavage? Yep, its mild mannered mickeysavage who has a penchant for under-statement. He’s an evil Jekyll and Hide didn’t you know…
The mind boggles with the unreality of it all.
I have been puzzled for some time. What do they expect to achieve? Where is their leverage point(s) on a ground-level. Knowing these two techno luddites they probably think that this site is being run by someone apart from me.
Do they even understand the concept of a strategy. Or are they just making pissing in the wind?
And David Shearer thinks he can run a country, with that strategic mind of his.
Oh and to BoldSirBrian – it’s rather chivalrous of you to be Shearer’s bell hop on The Standard.
@ Lanthanide (24.1)
How wide an audience do you think The Standard, and the comments here, have? Hint: MSM like TV1 news goes into 500,000 households each weeknight”
Influential enough for Shearer to refer to it. Heh, we cannot have it both ways. ie Refer to Dirty Politics and claim significant influence of Farrar and Slater on the right, but then somehow claim that only a few people read here.
And it’s not just the readers here. When you look at the ever declining standards of MSM (based on fewer journalists, less time permitted, more stories required, and personal opinion quite ok) where do you think they get “public opinion”?
If they do their job right they’ll be getting the information from a wide range of sources. But it appears to me, that too often, they will interview their own typewriters, and get sufficient sufficient “corroboration” for those thoughts from the blogs. I don’t “know” but I have a strong suspicion.
~~~~~
I said:
And unsubstantiated sledges that are more characteristic of John Key: “Cunliffe is stupid”
You replied:
It’s my personal opinion that Cunliffe was stupid to run with Mahuta as a double ticket, when:
1. None of the other contenders did
2. I had honestly never heard of her or knew she was an MP. You can say this says a lot about me; but I think as someone who has been interested in Labour party politics for over a decade, it says something about her and how effective she is.
As soon as you point out WHY you think he was stupid, you raise your comment from an ad hominem smear, to a justified and interesting comment. That’s the distinction that is all important
~~~~~~~
And unsubstantiated assertions “Shearer early on said”
Thanks for the reference. I’m sorry the way I framed what I said. ie In the context of other criticisms. I could have simply asked for the reference.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Secondly, during his tenure as leader, I don’t believe the “majority” of comments critical of him on TS were ad hominem attacks, more they were critical appraisals of his ability to do the job. Yes, we may use “naughty” language that some disapprove of, but we’re not politicians and the language isn’t any different then you would hear in a bar on a Friday night.
I’ll accept that the “majority” of the critical comments were not ad hominem while he was leader. I have not looked. They appear to be that way now, possibly.
I do not think anybody, and definitely not myself have ANY problem with critical appraisals. And probably most of what you would hear in a bar on a Friday night. We do not want Sanitiser over everything.
But I do think that we all have a responsibility to make an improvement in political debates in the post “Dirty Politics” book era. It’s when we cross the line to “Dirty”.
And Lanthanide, I am also sorry that I included your post with the others in the list. I’ll stand by what I said, but your post was not in the category of the “Dirty” that I refer to. By lumping all the posts together there is an unintended implication that they are all of one category.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Finally, you’re using evidence of comments that were posted today, in response to Shearer’s attack on people here, as evidence that we have unfairly attacked him in the past. You’d be much better off actually looking at what was said in the past to make your judgements as to whether what Shearer said today was warranted or not.
Fair call
Cheers
Mr. Botany (B.)
Huh? Shearer has repeatedly marginalised posters, readers and commentators on The Standard as being irrelevant and unrepresentative.
He’s the one who is trying to have it both ways with regards to The Standard. Are we significant or are we not?
Actually, methinks the man bitches too much.
” Shearer makes significant criticisms of the effect that commentators (perhaps including myself) have made here, and there seems to be nobody willing to self reflect that he may have some legitimate complaint.”
So says Sir Brian. So tell me please what is Shearer’s legitimate complaint ? That he was undermined by anonymous, in-darkened-rooms commentators ?
If that is so, then he is wrong. Shearer as Leader was unavailable to ordinary Labour members. He wouldn’t meet with them, he didn’t answer letters, or emails, he was uncomfortable on marae, he wouldn’t speak with members at functions, he was always protected by his minders such as Cosgrove or Jones – and so those ordinary Labour members made up their own minds about him. Something that he hasn’t yet realised : that Labour members have minds of their own, they do their own thinking and analysis – and they put their thumbs down on Shearer.
@ Jenny Kirk (24.2)
So tell me please what is Shearer’s legitimate complaint ? That he was undermined by anonymous, in-darkened-rooms commentators ?
That was my understanding of his complaint.
~~~~~`
If that is so, then he is wrong.
Apart from the fact that the evidence is there for all to see. The sort of comments I have singled out. I note that I have not used any of your posts as an example. If I had, I think the bar could be set lower, as you post with your name. But those with anonymous handles (like myself) need to be especially careful when making criticisms. And he is also talking about ‘undermining’, which I take to mean the Whaleoil smears, half truths and ad hominem attacks, that have been exposed in “Dirty Politics”. Any politician MUST expect fair criticism for what he does as part of the job.
~~~~~
Shearer as Leader was unavailable to ordinary Labour members. He wouldn’t meet with them, he didn’t answer letters, or emails, he was uncomfortable on marae, he wouldn’t speak with members at functions, he was always protected by his minders such as Cosgrove or Jones – and so those ordinary Labour members made up their own minds about him. Something that he hasn’t yet realised : that Labour members have minds of their own, they do their own thinking and analysis – and they put their thumbs down on Shearer.
I am no apologist for Shearer. To the extent that what you say is true, all of what you say is fair political criticism. I would not criticise you for pointing these things out. And I am sorry that you think I would have. Thank you for the opportunity to make this distinction clear.
Cheers
Mr. Botany (B.)
And yet Shearer himself gave no examples despite, apparently have so many to choose from. Has not come here to express them.
I also question his, and your definition of a blog?
@ Tracey (24.3)
And yet Shearer himself gave no examples despite, apparently have so many to choose from.
You jest! I just picked the post of the day, and went back about ten comments and picked some obvious examples I hardly see there was a need for Shearer to pick a particular one out
[lprent: You still haven’t said why they were anything to be concerned about? You have just asserted that they are and provided neither evidence or *any* supporting facts. Why should anyone take you seriously? ]
~~~~~
Has not come here to express them.
He probably thinks he could use his time more productively cutting his toenails. At least that’s what I would think if I was in his shoes.
~~~~~
I also question his, and your definition of a blog?
I’m puzzled by the question! I’d suggest you look at wikipedia, perhaps?
Cheers
Mr. Botany (B.)
LOLZ mate. Why don’t you fuck off then and do your toe nails instead of bugging us.
BTW of course Shearer likes to think of The Standard as irrelevant. As irrelevant as the big gaping hole we collectively put into his ability to pretend all was going well with his Leadership.
@ Colonial Rawshark (24.3.1.1)
LOLZ mate. Why don’t you fuck off then and do your toe nails instead of bugging us.
Because I’m not Shearer. Guys like you treat me with the utmost respect, and appear to even appreciate what I say! I enjoy chatting with you, Colonial! (And my toe nails are already cut)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BTW of course Shearer likes to think of The Standard as irrelevant. As irrelevant as the big gaping hole we collectively put into his ability to pretend all was going well with his Leadership.
Putting the big gaping hole in is not the issue. It’s how that hole is made that makes the difference.
A lawyer once told me that the BEST prosecution ensures that the defence is as good as it can be. There is no wriggle room for the offender to then claim important stuff was left out; or not done well enough, or not done fairly. All the criminal can do is sit in the cell and reflect on what he has done.
There is some sort of equivalence there as you go about prosecuting a poorly performing Leader
Cheers
Mr. Botany (B.)
You’re very clever indeed. But usually a time and energy waster. And I find that odd.
have you seen this?
“.… it must be conducted in a spirit of respect and with the realisation that many from outside the Party are watching the process. This applies across mainstream and social media, our husting meetings, other Party meetings and the informal networks which we all have. The greater our discipline the stronger our foundation will be to unite behind the leader who is selected.” …”
@ Tracey
Got a link? I guess it comes from guidelines from te Party admin.?
@ Tracey (24.4)
Thanks Tracey. I hope I have contributed positively to that objective.
Even if I am one voice, I’d like it to be known here (while I am also present) that I do not condone discussion that is NOT conducted in a spirit of respect. On this occasion the bile seemed to be being spewed in an ever increasing succession of posts.
I will also try and ensure my own posts live up to that same expectation
Cheers
Mr. Botany (B.)
For goodness sake Bad Sir Brian
I am beginning to think you are a clever trole. Just a new approach in troledom.
David Shearer is standing as leader and his every word counts in our attempt to understand him and this is one place where he is not going to get fawned over.
People here are concerned to get a better Labour party and when they see the old bods combining to set up a mutual support club to get their preferred people into power, which will continue with the degrading of the work environment, employment, wages, lack of social infrastructure, business boosting etc then they get angry. And underneath is the awareness of the downgrading of NZ’s ability to make it in the world and offer all its citizens opportunities to get a good paying job and have a life, all because of the persisting and determined attempts that revolutionised the country by the RWs. And you don’t get change by sitting on your bottom and asking nicely for it. It is necessary to be abrasive, it gets a reaction then doesn’t it, and that’s a first step.
And you are worrying about David Shearer’s feelings. Better go back to your regular blog. You will feel uncomfortable in our company.
+1 Greyrawshark
@ greywarshark (24.5)
@ Karen (24.5.1)
For goodness sake Bad Sir Brian
I am beginning to think you are a clever trole. Just a new approach in troledom
Hi greywarshark. That’s nice!
~~~~~~
David Shearer is standing as leader …………………………………….. gets a reaction then doesn’t it, and that’s a first step.
That’s a good thoughtful passage. I agree with all you say. I’m not sure it has any relevance to my post, or your assertion that I am a trole, but heh, that’s your call.
~~~~~~
And you are worrying about David Shearer’s feelings
That was not in my thoughts when I wrote my comment. I was thinking about Dirty politics. I was thinking about the credibility of comments here when those commenting use the same or similar methods that have been well attributed to Whaleoil (I note that I did not make any such claim with anything that you have written). Based on the reactions to my post, it appears to me that it is a little harder to "see" such tactics when our "friends" use them, compared to when our "enemy" uses them.
Cheers
Mr. Botany (B.)
Diddums for you bold brian.
There is absolutely no obligation to conduct oneself within anything else other than the rules of this place. Certainly not what David Shearer (or you) thinks should be the rules of the place. When, subjectively, an issue or person is worth it then genuine and credible argument can be advanced, but when the issue or person is worth nothing but shit then perhaps you will get nothing but shit.
suck on it pea-brain
@ vto (24.6)
Diddums for you bold brian.
Hi, vto!
~~~~
There is absolutely no obligation to conduct oneself within anything else other than the rules of this place.
I have not suggested otherwise. Even New Zealand law does not even try to outlaw the right of a person to make a fool of themselves, if they are so determined.
~~~~
Certainly not what David Shearer (or you) thinks should be the rules of the place.
I did not make any comment on the rules of the place. I’m actually very happy with the rules of the place. It allows people who are determined to practice their new skills they have learned at Whaleoil 101 to do so. It allows me to point out that such a post is Whaleoil stuff. And it allows you to choose to try and ridicule the messenger, as you have done. That’s ok. I’m happy to listen
~~~~~~~
When, subjectively, an issue or person is worth it then genuine and credible argument can be advanced, but when the issue or person is worth nothing but shit then perhaps you will get nothing but shit. suck on it pea-brain
And you are quite free to dump a pile of shit, as you have done, and obviously happy to have done. I’m vaguely mystified as to why, but not mystified enough to desire a response.
Cheers
Mr. Botany (B.)
argument can be advanced, but when the issue or person is worth nothing but
When, subjectively, an issue or person is worth it then genuine and credible shit then perhaps you will get nothing but shit.
suck on it pea-brain
Fair enough bold brian, and despite not wanting an explanation for such comment styles as that at issue, can I suggest that Murray Rawshark immediately below summarises the situation perfectly in his first paragraph – it is part of an entire history of commenting. Such history ranges from short and shitty to long, comprehensive and, I would like to think, compelling. It needs to be viewed in this light.
Nah. The comments we make here are part of an ongoing conversation we have. You are asking us to substantiate each comment by detailing the whole history.
To suggest those who aren’t Labour members are bringing the party into disrepute is ridiculous. I am actually beginning to wonder if you are posting in bad faith.
@ Murray Rawshark (24.7)
Nah. The comments we make here are part of an ongoing conversation(
What they are part of it totally irrelevant.
~~~~~~
You are asking us to substantiate each comment by detailing the whole history.
I was not asking you to substantiate anything.
~~~~~~~
To suggest those who aren’t Labour members are bringing the party into disrepute is ridiculous.
Perhaps it would be, or perhaps it wouldn’t be. Depends on what the suggestion was. As I did not make such a suggestion, it’s totally irrelevant
~~~~~~~
I am actually beginning to wonder if you are posting in bad faith.
I’m actually simply baffled by your post. Almost a parallel universe. I didn’t even male a comment on any of your posts! Perhaps you post under a couple of pseudonyms?
Cheers
Mr. Botany (B.)
boring sir pea-brain
If you have something to say please spit it out instead of re-hashing entire comment threads. Ever heard of a hyperlink ?
I’m not a party member either, more of a swing voter, but I supported Shearer because he was the public face of Labour and God knows we need some decent opposition to the right-wing track that NZ is stuck on. (full speed into a brick wall). I will support the next leader too. (unless that bastard Roger Douglas makes a comeback)
Not quite a raid but waddayaknow! New Zealand is ISIS’s internet headquarters and with the old laws we couldn’t find them. Be prepared for more laws, more restrictions, more censure. But conspiring? Our governments? NEVERRRRRR. Rofl!
When Shearer was leaser, I was a very loyal supporter of his.
Now I am thinking, ‘what the heck was I thinking!’
@ Clem…you mean “leader”
…well i think Shearer had such a great CV and great msm publicity to begin with that most Labour people were supporters of him!
…but Shearer just couldnt live up to the minimum standard required of a leader
ie Shearer was not articulate. Shearer couldnt think on his feet. Shearer didnt have enough experience. Shearer seemed ignorant of issues. Shearer was out of touch with Labour. Shearer seemed blinded by his own importance and oblivious to his own shortcomings.
Oops, yes, ‘leader’. Now he has become an idiot in his public statements bringing Cunliffe, but more importantly the party into disrepute in the minds of the public.
Whilst the cut and thrust of labour party politics may enthrall some – I’m over it. Really, I don’t care, what a bunch of liberals are doing. What they are doing is not stopping the pain and hurt that working people have to deal with every day. What they are not doing is putting the boot into a government of lies and spin. What they are not doing is standing up to the corporatocracy, which has walked into power in this country.
But, bugger me – lets prattle and fiddle whilst working people suffer. By all means carry on – I know it’s way more simpler to bitch about the fishmonger from Mt Albert and his liberal failings.
But the real world, is kinda shitty at the moment for working people and about to get worse.
Housing
Jobs
Wages
Falling health system
Inflation
Jingoism
So here’s one from left field.
This is from the states – what the future of the private prisons mean here in NZ, and the pressure it will put on families when the model is fully rolled out.
http://www.publicintegrity.org/2014/09/25/15761/prison-bankers-cash-captive-customers?utm_campaign=prison_profit_a&utm_source=appeal&utm_medium=link&goal=0_ffd1d0160d-f06427fd77-100020097&mc_cid=f06427fd77&mc_eid=c346e018f7
@ adam….heartbreaking!
…this is why we need a united coordinated, cooperative umbrella organisation of the Left Parties to win the next Election ( see karols post)
Not sure I should thank you for that link Adam,depressing,greedy bastards..
John Key would be all for that… yes he would …. in fact he is already ….
New Zealand, what have you done???
Corporations don’t like working folk left for deadshark, they really only care for the dollar.
I had a discussion when private prisons were first noted and pointed out the were a road to hell for working families. I think the States is proving that over and over. We need to stop them, actually we really need to discuss the whole institution, and ask if it is really working at all?
I agree vto what have we done – but, more importantly – what are we going to do.
Some simple exponential math for you all:
Ebola case doubling time at present = 20 days.
Current number of cases = 4,000
World population = 7,500,000,000
Number of Doubling Periods = ((ln(7,500,000,000) – ln(4,000))/ln(2)= 10.94
Number of days = 10.94 * 20 = 219
Date Ebola infects entire world population = Thursday, 21st May, 2015.
The upside is that with treatment about 30-40% of cases do survive. So it’s not the end of the human race just yet.
Well reality will be somewhat different to this simple analysis – but right now we do not have an effective treatment or vaccine. But once it reaches across Africa into say Egypt or the Middle East in say about another 6 – 8 weeks, the rest of the world will have to close all borders.
Wonder if we will have a new NZLP leader by then?
“but right now we do not have an effective treatment or vaccine”
But we (rich nations) do have effective quarantine measures.
Yes – I agree we can certainly do quarantine better than chaotic, impoverished Third World nations.
Although so far by far the most vulnerable group are medical professionals who are all fully suited and trained. And these suits are neither simple to work in or use safely. You finish up sweltering at 40 degC and have to change out every 40 mins or so. The act of getting out of the suit (with the help of a buddy) is the most dangerous point. How sustainable is this going to be in the face of maybe thousands of cases?
On a wider scale mass quarantine will imply the closing down of all global, regional and even local travel. That alone has massive implications.
And even then we have to consider the impact of maybe 2-3 billion deaths in Third World nations without effective quarantine.
There are real problems running an “if these exponential trends continue” analysis on disease spread.
Basically, there is an escalating response scale (like the so-called “terror alert levels” but, like, actually effective) available to nations. It will be much worse for developing nations than developed, as you point out (4,000 vs half a dozen so far). but the global response is kicking up because it’s much easier to try to limit it at this level rather than wait for it to cross one’s own borders.
I think your 2-3bil deaths estimate is wildly alarmist (or optimistic, if your in the pro-human extinction brigade). It might become endemic in parts of Africa and Asia, like malaria. But it’s not a doomsday event, even for most of those continents.
The natural host for Ebola is thought to be fruit-bats, and has only recently evolved to become infectious in humans. The usual pattern for a disease adapting to a new host is to start out highly lethal, but weakly infectious and to gradually transition to something which is endemic in the environment, but much less lethal.
But as the virus makes this transition, there is a window where it is both – highly infectious and highly lethal. The 1918 flu is one example. Smallpox being an exception. The pattern of this transition is highly variable. Ebola is bang in the middle of this pattern right now.
Of course the 1918 flu gained it’s massive foothold due to the enormous numbers of soldiers living in camps and then being sent home all over the world – and a medical system that had little ability to anticipate and prevent it’s spread.
The conditions in Africa are highly favourable to a mass-death epidemic, a fact that has WHO extremely concerned. Mass populations living in generally unsanitary camp-like conditions, with a high probability of uncontrollable movements of infectious people in the region, combined with an overwhelmed medical system. The US Army is right now flying in extra troops to assist and we have to hope they make a difference.
And that these people know what they are doing. Things could get very interesting if American troops suddenly start dying as well. We have already seen many health workers infected despite following protocol. This means either the protocols are either not fully effective or difficult to comply with – which doesn’t bode well either way.
If in the next 20 days the death toll has cumulatively doubled to 12,000 then we will have a clear indication that early containment has failed. It’s that 20 day doubling period which is as scary as hell in the short-term. In the longer run I agree with you that it will likely become another endemic disease like malaria – but getting there could be a bear.
And then within say 40 days the world will have to implement total travel bans.
The ambiguity on it’s method of transfer is alarming at present with a suited nurse catching it.
Most likely protocol breaches.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkroll/2014/10/12/dallas-nurse-who-cared-for-duncan-contracts-ebola-inadvertent-breach-of-protocol/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29539444
Yeah – that’s the point joe. No-one is careless around Ebola, so any ‘protocol breaches’ are most likely the result of an inadvertent mistake. Which implies that the protocols are damned hard to comply with 100% of the time.
Nor is the rest of that BBC link terribly encouraging.
1) 4000 is the death toll. Confirmed cases are around 8,000. Generally accepted that these numbers underestimate the real situation by 50% to 100%. In some provinces in West Africa, growth rate in cases is declining. Not because new infections are petering out, but because capacity to record new cases officially is heavily degraded.
2) CIDRAP has announced that it is possible that aerosol droplets can spread ebola some distance from a victim. This means that face masks are not as protective as first thought and respirators should be used.
3) We don’t know if healthier western populations with better nutrition will advantage or disadvantage us in terms of survival. Conventional knowledge says it should be a plus.
4) India. You think population density, sanitation and poverty is bad in West Africa. Well, fucking India. No further comment.
This,
http://www.medicaldaily.com/firestone-keeping-ebola-away-employees-liberia-through-low-tech-intervention-program-306878
The company I work for has an office in Africa, numerous customers in West Africa and does most of it’s business globally.
Already a very live issue for us.
That’s in the ballpark of reasonable predictions, but it could equally burn out in the next several months as controls become effective in urban environments and its growth slows to manageable levels in rural areas.
a commentator on Twitter @leashless quite correctly pointed out – when the time comes we need to quickly gear up immune/mostly immune Ebola survivors to function as healthcare workers.
I’ve also been thinking about what happens when the hospitals reach overload point. What would NZ authorities do? Keep people at home? Makeshift quarantine facilities?
Have seen a comment somewhere that we should be treating this as an opportunity to develop quarantine proceedures for all potential epidemics.
I think we would be unlikely to get Ebola here, but I don’t trust our border control either. Harsh, but why are countries repatriating citizens who contract Ebola overseas? Wouldn’t it be better to fund their treatment where they are?
Funding is an issue, but frankly some of these provinces are short doctors and nurses and they cannot be magicked up. IIRC Liberia only has a few dozen doctors for a population of millions – and some of those doctors have already died. Its bad news.
The basic response templates can be found at the Ministry of Health.
Based around influenza, but can be adapted to other outbreaks.
We’ve already seen some implementation, such as the Middlemore? isolation ward having its preparation and training upped, but it’s sort of a constant function of them backroom boorowkrats. For exampe, in 2007 they ran Operation Cruickshank, a nationwide exercise where they simulated an infectious person getting off a plane.
But then that’s the sort of thing that they haven’t been able to do in Liberia, ever.
So what happens when the hospitals are full?
Hard choices, higher triage threshholds, improvised/temporary facilities, and home quarantine.
But they can commandeer all the public facilities that are shut down for the duration.
why would you say that considering there are thousands of people/visitors travelling all over the world now.
Even if they are effective, they will not be able to identify all potential carriers at the airport/shipping terminals
Don’t know the reason, but it is a valid question.
Scary stuff!
@McFlock,
Some critical things we do not know are:
1. How quickly is this virus mutating? Previous outbreaks were more lethal, but were contained due to relatively poor infectivity. This outbreak seems to have hit the ‘black spot’ in terms of both.
2. How competent and effective will any containment effort be? So far the global response has been well short of the mark.
3. What other events might intersect on a response effort? What if the situation in Iraq spirals out of control? Or another GFC?
4. how will repressive govts in the West use an outbreak to further consolidate their power and undermine democracy? At this point I find that more scarey than the possibility of Ebola spreading.
Yes – I should have made this clearer – but it is all the potential secondary impacts that are what I am worrying about.
A bad virus with a doubling period of 20 days is just really what we need right now. Not.
Indeed.
But we don’t know that all of those factors are in the worst case hollywood-level pandemic area, either.
It is an emergency. It is not the ned of days.
Or even the end of days.
The Ned of Days is actually pretty chill, according to the Book of Revellerations.
My first post on this simply showed just how potentially dangerous a 20 day doubling period could be.
And I did make the point that while reality was likely to be different to a simple exponential curve – it remains the underlying driver unless we can effectively intervene.
Perhaps I can defer to an expert:
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/08/14/you_are_not_nearly_scared_enough_ebola_vaccine_west_africa_outbreak
Leaders across the world should be worried, assessing their preparedness, and helping address the outbreak in WA.
But (aside from a few professionals/decision makers who might or might not be reading/commenting here), we should not be worried about ebola any more than we worry about the traffic on the way to work. At this stage, traffic is the bigger and more immediate threat.
At this stage, traffic is the bigger and more immediate threat.
Classic failure to recognise a black swan.
The difference is that while the traffic on the way to work is indeed a more immediate and larger risk, it is one we have learned to live with as a society. Traffic accidents kill about 1.2 m people annually, malaria kills many times this number. But these are known and contained risks the system copes with.
While ebola – and it’s potential secondary impacts especially – has the real potential to be globally disruptive.
Nope.
Simply pointing out that if I worried too much about ebola and its effect on hospitals, I might get hit by a truck tomorrow. Sort of a “white swan” effect.
We know what the worst case scenario is. But to fixate on the WCS is almost as pointless as simply being in denial about how bad things might be.
He doesn’t look fixated to me.
Isn’t thinking through scenarios part of planning?
Oh I get it McF – no point in worrying, something will turn up.
Ever wonder why the left keeps on getting blindsided? It’s because we keep being fixated on the little things under our noses, while all the really important things that affect us are global in nature.
And that is where everyone immediately disconnects – the moment something is defined as ‘global’ in nature we immediately lose any sense of agency and abdicate our autonomy to others.
Nope. That’s still classic failure to recognise Black Swan events.
Without meaning to be callous, and although we will miss your valuable input here at The Standard for a while, it really doesn’t really matter (to society) if you get hit by a truck tomorrow.
A few cases of ebola – that’s a different story.
Hands up everybody here who is likely to be asked to coordinate a global, national, or even hospital-level response to a pandemic.
Now hands up everyone who has the basic 3days of supplies in case of emergency, and a current first aid certificate. That’s planning for most people involved in this discussion, I bet.
Nope, that’s not what I said. And yes, we do abdicate our agency to others, when we are not in a position to do a damned thing about it.
True. I’d be irked, though.
And if we all worried about ebola so much we stopped paying attention to traffic, and international efforts to control it managed to knock it back, then ebola could conceivably kill more people just by panic than its direct threat as a disease.
I fully agree it is way too soon to panic about Ebola, but not too soon educate ourselves about it and to think about your own personal responses to what could happen.
Hands up everybody here who is likely to be asked to coordinate a global, national, or even hospital-level response to a pandemic.
That is of course a political matter. Our governments are responsible for organising and funding this level of response. So far the rich countries emergency level response has been woefully short.
I realise NZ is a modest player in this matter, but what has been said or done so far? Any response at all from Key’s govt, or the Opposition?
And if we all worried about ebola so much we stopped paying attention to traffic, and international efforts to control it managed to knock it back, then ebola could conceivably kill more people just by panic than its direct threat as a disease.
That is what I mean by secondary effects. Already in the affected countries ordinary medical care has collapsed; people are dying because traffic injuries remain untreated and child-birth is unattended.
And you are quite correct, panic would be the worst response. But of course panic is the normal response to the fear of the unknown and a sense of powerlessness born out of ignorance and a failure to think ahead.
If coordination of NZ’s response were a political matter, I’d be pretty bloody disappointed.
MoH has implemented some measures based on the situation and will escalate further if the situation deteriorates, and the ministry’s also set up a technical advisory group to make sure appropriate precautions have been taken.
I have no idea whether an official NZ contribution to West Africa has been requested or considered.
“Hands up everybody here who is likely to be asked to coordinate a global, national, or even hospital-level response to a pandemic.
Now hands up everyone who has the basic 3days of supplies in case of emergency, and a current first aid certificate. That’s planning for most people involved in this discussion, I bet.”
I don’t believe you have answered my question about what happens once the hospitals are full. I trust NZ to manage a few cases. I don’t trust us to manage an epidemic. Chch taught me that once we are past our limits of what we can cope with, we don’t do very well. I’m not talking about emergency medical services in Chch (they seemed to have done well), I’m talking about what happened after the quakes over the short, medium and long term.
So your smarty pants reply misses the point. Planning isn’t just for the authorities. No-one in this conversation is panicking. If you don’t feel the personal need to talk these things through so you can be prepared, why are you talking?
btw, 3 days of supplies is woefully inadequate. When the big one hit’s the Alpine fault we will need months of supplies. Likewise with an epidemic. Or a big oil crash. Preparation for local resilience has been going on for some time now. Most people I know don’t believe that local or central govt authorities are reliable (although they certainly have their place). The idea of handing over all responsibility would be laughable.
We’ll know by the time New Years hangovers come by how screwed 2015 will be. Maybe it will all be sorted by then. Maybe.
shit. managed to reply to the wrong comment and fuck up the blockquotes. Champion.
Hope, Dallas nurse Nina Pham who contracted ebola treating Eric Duncan has had a blood transfusion from survivor Dr. Kent Brantly.
http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/health/2014/10/13/ebola-tcu-christian-student-dallas-nurse/17192239/
Arrogance, talking head flouts quarantine,
Says the tipster:
http://gawker.com/nbc-chief-medical-correspondent-quarantined-for-ebola-1645924287
You have well trained healthcare staff in good facilities in Dallas and in Madrid contracting ebola, despite being aware of the issues and extensive precautions being taken. Not good.
Thanks for the links, Joe90. Very interesting.
Shocking irresponsible stuff from people that should know better!
Interesting that anyone who is not currently a financial Labour Party member but has been a paid up member in the last 3 years can still join the party by paying the membership fee by November 11th and so can vote……hopefully for Andrew Little as he seems to be the only principled person left in the race.
Could DC make a come back if Little !!!!!s up? If Shearer is correct in saying DC will undermine the next leader does that mean DC could rise from the ashes? Definitely will get my membership vote.
as i said above, there could be a Blair/Brown deal between Little and Cunliffe….Little wins in 2017, and again in 2020 and in 2021 Little resigns as leader and Cunliffe his right hand man and best performing minister is recommended by Little as his succesor…..
The national standards endgame?.
.
In April, parents and teachers launched a high-profile fight to block a takeover of Steel by a charter-school network after the district, citing the school’s low test scores, declared it in need of an overhaul. Brooks believes that her school—which, like others, has reeled under the budget cuts implemented by Pennsylvania’s Republican governor, Tom Corbett—had been set up to fail. Last spring, apart from the principal and a secretary, she says, Steel had “a teacher for each class” and almost “nothing extra.”
http://www.thenation.com/article/181754/how-destroy-public-school-system?page=full
.
Also, is this why Seymour won’t be subject to parliamentary questions or the OIA?
.
The Philadelphia School District will spend a projected $729 million on charter schools in the coming fiscal year. But, if the past year at one charter operator is any indication, not all of those funds will actually go toward serving students.
Aspira Inc. of Pennsylvania owed large sums of money to four Philadelphia charter schools it runs, according to an independent audit of the organization’s finances as of June 30, 2012, that was obtained by City Paper. According to the report, which was produced for Aspira and completed in April, the nonprofit was running a deficit of $722,949 as of last June and owed the publicly financed schools $3.3 million. That’s in addition to millions of dollars in lease payments and administrative fees filtered to Aspira and entities it controls with no oversight.
“That money is being given to fulfill the purposes of the charter, which is to run the school,” says Michael Masch, a former chief financial officer at the District and budget secretary under Gov. Ed Rendell. “It’s taxpayer money, and it’s limited as to its use.”
http://citypaper.net/News/Charter-operator-owed-its-schools-millions-but-no-ones-checking-its-books/
The Freedom of Movement is an important right for workers.
As the right to Free Association.
Now we seemed to have lost both, with one swift vote at the UN. The resolution 2178 passed by the UN security council in a unanimous vote to fight Isis and curb foreign fighters. This is a new piece of international law, we have signed up to. And it is a worry. It is the vagueness of UN resolution 2178 which scares me the most.
http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/2178%20(2014)
The “Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts” was first supported by the US and Sri Lanka. It was written quickly and has academics and some media commentators, left feeling, very anxious.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/un-wants-to-battle-is-but-is-it-fighting-freedom/article20890383/
It empowers member states to fight international terrorism – as they see fit. This begs the question, if political opponents are nuisance, they can just label them a terrorist – and lock people up in the name of international terror. It creates vagueness in an already shadowy world of anti-terror. It would appear, to be the Patriot Act – on a global scale.
It seems we got the smoke screen from Key again. Whilst he was talking up terrorism and laws here, anti-terrorism legislation was passed through the backdoor at the UN. Peter Fraser warned of the problem of permanent members on the UN security council, and their ability to manipulate the whole of the UN via that power. Seems old Peter was right.
Tony Abbott says ‘coal is good for humanity’ while opening mine
/facepalm
So, according to Abbott killing most of the life from the Earth which may include us is good for us?
Yeah, this proves that he’s delusional.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tony-Abbott-Worst-PM-in-Australian-History/151576228341304
Labour’s Hauraki-Waikato MP Nanaia Mahuta will contest the Labour Leadership.
Just announced.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11342299
Great. She inspires me a lot more than any of the grey pakeha males that have lined themselves up. At the very least, she’s not more of the same.
Gawd what a pack of muppets, thank goodness the NZ public saw through Labour at the election.
[lprent: Why? Explain yourself. Or should I explain to you again why I
a) don’t like diversion comments on new posts
b) don’t like people making pointless comments
c) why this just went to OpenMike
d) why you just got a 2 week ban. ]
Will suit many to have a female candidate, it will see interest from both women and Maori. Should bring in new members too.
Yes, a window rather than the mirror they voted in because they couldn’t see through it – well done that lot of ignorami
Wind power is cheapest energy, EU analysis finds
Which is excellent news. Whenever some git says that renewables are so expensive we can hit them around the head with these facts but the interesting thing about the release of the full report was that it was leaked. The official release left out significant bits like:
It seems that the rich polluters still get high powered protection.
http://rameznaam.com/2014/10/05/solar-wind-plunging-below-fossil-fuel-prices/
Fusion reactors man!
antimatter power,
Thermonuclear power.
the good shit. Power!
/sarc
I have mates going on about Thorium. I say to them – so, where is the 10MW test reactor feeding power into the grid? They stop talking.
Apparently sacrificed to nuclear weapons.
Doesn’t explain why there isn’t a pilot reactor at some uni somewhere pumping out a few MW, simply keeping the campus running.
Yes it does, the one and only one made was shut down in 1973 despite it working and it was shut down because it didn’t produce weapons grade materials. After that it became possible to become a nuclear physicist without even knowing that thorium existed.
Plenty of countries now looking into it though so I suspect that it won’t be long (decade or two) until there’s a working example.
What you wrote there is a total nonsense when you examine it.
1) Yes there was a longstanding thorium reactor generator unit operating in the 60’s and 70’s but it got shut down.
2) Fifty years later, despite all the advances in computing, materials and nuclear physics, it will take a decade or two to get another reactor going.
CV this isn’t a simple project. From the article, a thorium-232 reactor is more technically challenging than the relatively fissile U-238.
China and India seem to be pretty close to building their own working prototypes in the next year or so.
Who knows why the Yanks mothballed their research? Maybe there was political stuff going on like Draco suggests.
apparently it was previously done using 1960s tech.
Can’t rush complex tech projects, unless you want another Novopay / Marine One / NHS Care cock-up
1. Yes, they built one back in the 60s with 60s tech but they’re not going to build one today using 60s tech. They’ll be doing research to build it using today’s tech.
2. I expect that one of those countries will start building one in the fairly near future but 10 years is about how long it takes to build a nuclear reactor and, despite thorium being safer, it’s still nuclear reactor.
Like many people you seem to have this strange idea that everything can be built now, now, now. It was that type of BS thinking that allowed the 4th labour government, with Treasuries backing, to get away with selling off Telecom and thus leaving our country and our telecommunications worse off.
With global warming we can also expect steeper temperature and pressure gradients in the atmosphere, hence higher winds on average. As fossil fuels heat us up, they’ll make wind power even more affordable.
Not an argument for fossil fuel use, just one of those ironies of life.
…… and so …. the Natzi infighting begins (albeit lowlevel thusfar)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10615618/Judith-Collins-seething-at-snub
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition
There’ll be a shitload of botox, colagen and Hooten spin (and spit) before this is over!
Popcorn and a beer out awaiting the fireworks!
Yep …. I’d just make sure she’s not in charge of the those NZ Airforce 767 peito tubes.
That really needs to be fixed. If a minister is shown to be dishonourable then they shouldn’t get to wear the title The Honourable because they’ve clearly shown that they aren’t.
Key steps outside of convention and protocol at his mere whim…
Key said he would not get arrogant and let the raw power go to his head. Fat chance of that from the looks of this and his other displays of me-me-me gibber blabber since election.
New Zealand what have you done???
Ponders todays open mike comments.
A lot of talk of factions and press statements by various labour heads. The thing I wonder is why we even have factions. Perhaps factions is the issue that needs dealing with and not who leads Labour.
Frankly the party members should be behind policy for the good of the country. To be elected to represent the people of New Zealand is a responsibility and privilege that should be respected, not an avenue for personal advancement of ones self.
If any Labour brass read this and fall into the latter trying to promote their own ideals, they should remember who elects them, and that they work for the greater good first and foremost, it’s not about you. Then maybe we would have less factions/clicks and therefore a more cohesive and performing group of representatives focused on a single set of policies to promote discussed and formulated as a winning team.
How can Auckland Council ‘make fish of one – but fowl of the other’ when it comes to publishing the ‘devilish details’ of contracts issued – for public scrutiny?
Auckland Transport provides the ‘devilish detail’ of contracts issued on its website – so how come Auckland Council and the rest of Auckland Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs) do not?
https://at.govt.nz/about-us/procurement/awarded-contracts/
Awarded contracts
Auckland Transport is committed to ensuring its procurement activities are undertaken in an ethical and transparent manner.
The attached lists detail all of the contracts awarded in the previous six months that are valued over $50,000.00. Details include:
the contract number,
the contract name,
the supplier, and the
award value.
View the latest awarded contracts list (PDF 64KB)
Disclaimer: we endeavour to list all contracts awarded above the value of $50,000.00 in the previous six months. Whilst all possible care and effort has been taken to ensure accuracy in this list, we accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. Accordingly, this list should be used for reference only.
For more information or advice
Please e-mail us: procurement@aucklandtransport.govt.nz
______________________________________________________________________________________
Try checking out the Auckland Council website and websites for the other Auckland Council Controlled Organisation websites, and see if YOU can find equivalent details of ‘contracts issued’?
I’ve looked and I can’t.
Which is why I’m refusing to pay Auckland Council rates, because we’re not being told EXACTLY where public rates monies are being spent.
Check for yourselves – details of ‘contracts issued’:
Auckland Council
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/Pages/default.aspx
Auckland Council Investment Limited
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/…/council…
Auckland Council Property Limited
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/…/council_property.aspx
Auckland Council Tourism, Events and Economic Development
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/…/tourism_events…
Auckland Waterfront Development Agency Limited
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/…/waterfront…
Regional Facilities Auckland
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/…/regional…
Watercare Services Limited
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/…/watercare_services…
Penny Bright
Hey Jim- How about coming back and starting ‘the Reformed Labour or Social Democratic Party?’
You’d get quite a few votes and we’d only expect you to stay for 3 years…Have a word to Hone, David, maybe Laila and even Winston or Ron Marks if Winston’s too tired.
I’m getting a bit sick of all the slagging off of “special interest groups”. While I might roll them all into one statement – the we stand for equal / affirmative treatment … – As far as I can see women, LBGT , young people vote and are part of society. Why is the white male vote the only one worth having??
Why this constant demand that we all adhere to the white middled aged male view of ” reasonable” and then expect to be slagged off if we don’t want to. There seems to be a level of blokification spreading over society , whether it is the male shock jocks, elderly male RW commentators stuck in some mind warp of their own, (we seem to be awash with those) or the endless dribbling on male sport. ( borrowed a car the other day- don’t know what station it was on but the news seemed to consist of 28 minutes of sport. ) All this adds up an insiduous fog that shuts out the needs of other groups.
It’s a backlash against the human rights gains of recent decades. The people in the dominant group who haven’t adapted are going to resist more and more as their privileges that come at the expense of others are eroded. It’s their death fight. The good news is that there are plenty of white men who get it and who now support a society where all people can be treated fairly. That’s a big change in my lifetime.
Your analysis avoids the issue of class, including avoiding considering the utter destruction of secure decent paying working class jobs and the inability/unwillingness of the privileged liberal class to do anything effective about that.
As economic conditions get worse, you can expect more and more people to start sneering at the purported and ineffectual values of the liberal elite.
But this isn’t what is actually happening, which suggests that you won’t be able to successfully counter what is actually happening.
Not sure what you are on about there CV. I was referring to the likes of Shearer.
btw, most of my work within feminism has been alongside working class women. This is part of the reason why I find your analysis of identity politics so odd. Feminism as practiced by the people I have known inherently had class issues built in. Being raised middle class, I initially learned about class from those women.
I don’t have to counter what is happening. Identity politics gains will only be rolled back if we become an extremely repressive society, and I don’t mean individual policies, I mean that things like that we have human rights legislation, or that women have relative degrees of financial emancipation.
Solutions to the problems of working class men won’t come at the expense of other identities. Stop buying into the shock jock and Shearer memes.
There seems to be a level of blokification spreading over society , whether it is the male shock jocks, elderly male RW commentators stuck in some mind warp of their own, (we seem to be awash with those) or the endless dribbling on male sport.
‘Blokification’ is a good word for it. It’s just as alienating for many men as it is for everyone else.
Frankly these days I struggle to find anything much in the public sphere I can identify with.
Remember, this is all driven by corporate media. And not accidentally.
Would anyone else be keen to see a panel discussion between the significant others of this crop of leadership aspirants? From the little I have heard they are all very interesting people in their own right and just purely from the popcorn/entertainment point of view it would be fascinating. Also- it would save the surprise at finding out what they thing later! Ah, oops, actually was thinking about this before DC had pulled out- ha, maybe Karen could host it? Incidentally Karen on this thread and a few others are you that Karen?
As our PM has kindly explained, NZ faces a heinous terrorism threat that is “slightly above zero”. So now would be a good time to make a short list of the worst terrorist attacks in the history of New Zealand and ask who was behind them, so we can get some idea of who poses the greatest terrorist threat to our country.
Top 3 Terrorist Attacks in NZ History
EBOLA : Death in Germany.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/62430808/ebola-victim-dies-in-germany.html