Open mike 15/03/2024
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- Treasury warns deeper recession worsening Budget deficit
The gift that keeps giving: David Seymour has now opened a split in the coalition over the future of National’s promise to build a new medical school. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / TheKakaKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and ...14 minutes ago - Weekly Roundup 22-November-2024
It’s another Friday and we’re inching closer to the end of the year. Here’s some of the stories that have caught our attention this week. This post, like all our work, is brought to you by a largely volunteer crew and made possible by generous donations from our readers and ...1 hour ago - Beyond Question?
Record Numbers: The Hīkoi mō te Tiriti, which began at the tip of the North, and the tail of the South, on 11 November, culminated outside Parliament on Tuesday, 19 November 2024, in one of the largest demonstrations in New Zealand’s political history.ACCORDING TO TE ARA, the Ministry of Culture ...2 hours ago - The Rush To Blame “The Activists”
Activists are such easy scapegoats. The right and center have been conditioned for decades to roll their eyes at all protests. The left are easily aggravated over students leading movements they see as belonging to grownups, who have more important concerns like the economy and whether the trains come on ...2 hours ago - Cutting Through An Inundation of Dipshit Racists
Hi,Watching New Zealand from afar offers a strange perspective. It can be a good thing — distance from Aotearoa helped keep me sane while I reported on abuse at New Zealand’s biggest megachurch over the course of a year. It helps fuel my silly podcast. But it can also be ...2 hours ago - This is bad news
The speech yesterday by Treasury’s Chief Economic Advisor warning that the books are in worse shape than forecasted looks like it’s part of a softening-up process for either more cuts or a longer wait to get back into surplus. The speech was a highly unusual public preview of Treasury’s Half-Yearly ...4 hours ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #47 2024
Open access notables Projected increase in the frequency of extremely active Atlantic hurricane seasons, Lopez et al., Science Advances: Future changes to the year-to-year swings between active and inactive North Atlantic tropical cyclone (TC) seasons have received little attention, yet may have great societal implications in areas prone to hurricane ...13 hours ago - Chicken Kiev
Chatting in the supermarket this morning, I found I needed to lunge for the chicken drumsticks.Coping mechanisms: who hasn’t felt a greater need for them lately?When it all gets too much, I turn to demonstrating handy butchery hacks.It wasn’t that she’d said anything wrong, our friend, not at all. We ...16 hours ago - The year is 2024 and it’s 1984
This is written in response to the highly significant open letter from a group of economists that was today addressed to Christopher Luxon. The year is 2024, and it’s 1984. The country is reeling from a record Olympic medal gold haul, while the globe grapples with the choice of the ...17 hours ago - The IPCA has failed
Back in 2022, RNZ took an in-depth look at the "Independent" Police Conduct Authority and its handling of killings by police. These are the most serious test of oversight, and you would expect the police's use of lethal force to receive the most severe scrutiny. But despite the police regularly ...21 hours ago - Thursday 21 November 2024
The Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti arrived at Parliament on Tuesday – the size is being debated but estimates range from 42,000 to 100,000. The Prime Minister is defending not attending due to some of the organisers being affiliated with Te Pāti Māori. The national gang patch ban came into force ...21 hours ago - ‘These budget cuts are counter-productive and make no sense’
I spoke to former Productivity Chair Nana this morning about the letter he and a group of other economists sent to PM Christopher Luxon to urge the Government to urgently suspend cuts to spending and investment for the sake of the economy, struggling businesses and the wellbeing of vulnerable ...23 hours ago
- ACT’s Astroturfing & A Co-ordinated Attack on Te Pati Māori
Unity on the Streets / Unity at the TableAfter the Hīkoi, all three right wing Coalition leaders came together to push the idea that the 42,000 - 50,000 + strong Hikoi was somehow less potent and brave, and more illegitimate than the energy and crowd displayed.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon 20-November: ...24 hours ago - Durability of carbon dioxide removal is critical for stabilizing temperatures
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- I Love My Leather Jacket
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- Economists call on PM to suspend budget cuts for the sake of the economy
Nicola Willis’ budget cuts are under fire from economists for having no clear rationale and worsening the recession. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, November 21: The news at ...1 day ago
- The end of policing by consent
National has appointed a new police commissioner. And he explicitly rejects policing by consent: Asked if he subscribed to policing by consent, he said he did not. “I don’t talk about policing by consent. I talk about trust and confidence, and it is fundamentally important that the police have ...2 days ago
- The Treaty Principles Bill: A Who’s Who
David Horatio Waterbed SeymourFringe politician and dweeb transformed successfully by ThinkTank money into a well-oiled soundbite robot.Currently programmed to say: Equal rights for all New Zealanders Equal rights for all New Zealanders Equal rights for all New Zealanders Was previously programmed to say:I am a proud libertarian andI am a ...2 days ago - Kinleith mill closure shows need for industrial strategy
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Government to deliver an economic and industrial strategy for regional manufacturing, rather than just expressing sympathy for job losses, following the announced closure of Kinleith mill in Tokoroa. “The closure Kinleith mill in Tokoroa is not just devastating for ...2 days ago
- 27% of kids going hungry, up from 21% in a year
One in four Kiwi children live in households where food runs out often or sometimes. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, November 20: The lead: The official annual Health Survey found sharp ...2 days ago - Transport modelling is an illusion
This guest post by Tim Adriaansen, an advocate for accessibility and sustainable transport, originally published on LinkedIn and cross posted here with permission. People prefer cars, right? Probably not. Here’s why. Granted, most people in English-speaking countries use a car to get around. This simple reality underpins our transport ...2 days ago
- Young Maori take over
Neither Wellington nor Parliament has ever seen anything like it before. The Police said there were more than 40,000 but however many there were, yesterday’s Hikoi to Parliament was a monumental event. It was almost three times the Foreshore and Seabed martch of 2004 and many,many times bigger than ...2 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On The Hikoi Aftermath
The euphoria from yesterday’s hikoi may be transitory, but is no less valuable for that. It is pretty rare for the left to feel itself to be in the overwhelming majority, and speaking as the voice of the people. Lest that momentum be lost, the organisers will no doubt be ...2 days ago - Sabin 33 #3 – Solar panels generate too much waste and will overwhelm landfills
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- What’s the time Mr Seymour?
Mr David Seymour crawling up to the ceilingThe sun don't shine the sun don't shine the sun don't shine at allMamma Pappa say you should go to school, I don't know what forNow that I've grown up and seen the world and all its liesSong: Southside of Bombay"Ake, ake, ake" ...3 days ago - Submit to defend te Tiriti!
The Justice Committee has called for submissions on National's racist and constitutionally radical Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill. Submissions can be made at the link above or by post, and are due by Tuesday, 7 January 2025. But I'd get in quick, in case National grows a spine ...3 days ago
- We need to talk about Kevin
All happy families are alike; each unhappy family has a Drunk Uncle Kevin in there somewhere. If your Kevin is anything like the ones I know, he was getting along happily enough without having to think too much about the Treaty Principles Bill apart from bloody good job, onya guys ...3 days ago - The hikoi
Like everyone else (everyone who wasn't there, anyway), I've spent the morning watching the hikoi march on Parliament. The pictures are astounding: parliament grounds and the surrounding streets are full, and there are still people backed up along Lambton Quay. The police are estimating 35,000 people, and that's a floor ...3 days ago
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A better world isn’t just possible, it’s desirable. And that’s how we should frame a lot of our conversations around making a greater Auckland. As an example take urban climate action. A climate friendly Auckland: Is free from congestion Enables people to travel how they choose Is filled with ...3 days ago
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There were urgent moves yesterday at Parliament to try and defuse the tension building up over ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill. The Bill’s author, ACT leader David Seymour, told reporters that he understood the Justice Select Committee met yesterday to discuss how long it should take to consider submissions on the ...3 days ago
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3 days ago - Gordon Campbell On The Hikoi Arrival, And Tyler Childers
Politicians like to bang on all about the need to heal society’s racial/economic divisions, but in their actions they’re more keen on stoking those divisions, with the Treaty Principles Bill being the classic example. The Bill seeks to dilute the Crown’s responsibilities to Māori at the same time as it ...3 days ago
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3 days ago - Kaamos: Accepted
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- Katherine Trebeck – An Alternative Economic Narrative
The era of neoliberalism has been destructive on so many levels, with a huge growth in wealth and privilege for the one percent. A hollowing out of the state; fraying of the safety net; inadequate government investment in infrastructure; and continued environmental degradation has resulted in damage on a vast ...4 days ago - In a Manner of Speaking
In a manner of speakingI just want to sayThat I could never forget the wayYou told me everythingBy saying nothingOh, give me the wordsGive me the wordsThat tell me nothingOh, give me the wordsGive me the wordsThat tell me everythingSongwriter: Winston TongNext Tuesday, the subscription price for Nick’s Kōrero will ...4 days ago - Monday 18 November 2024
The NZNO have announced a nationwide strike for December over its pay dispute with Health NZ, who have put a 1 per cent cap on pay rises. The Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti and Treaty Principles Bill remain front and centre in the media, with the impacts of the Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke-led ...4 days ago
- Shipley warns Seymour’s bill is ‘inviting civil war’
The divisive Treaty Principles Bill is not just a risk for the National Party, it’s a risk to civil order and unity, warns a National Party grandee. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on ...4 days ago - A clearer network for the City Rail Link?
This post was originally published on Linked In by Nicolas Reid. It is republished here with permission. Auckland is now just a year or so away from having the keystone of its urban rail network complete. As I wrote about here, the City Rail Link will be a literal game changer for ...4 days ago
- National’s support base is wobbling
If ACT leader David Seymour intended the Treaty Principles Bill to drive a wedge into National’s support base, he may well already be succeeding. By midnight on Thursday after the Maori Party haka in Parliament, National MPs were being deluged with emails and messages from their members calling them out ...4 days ago
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..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Self-appointed “Bishop” and proto-fascist, Brian Tamaki was at it again on 16 November, blocking Auckland’s southern motorway, SH1.This time, the target of his ire wasn’t the Civil Unions Act; covid lock-downs; mask mandates; or ...5 days ago - Rip up a bill, lead a haka are words to live by
I cannot stop grabbing people by the lapels, or shoulders, or similar, and raving at them about the tiny miracles in my ears.I can hear again! There could not be a more satisfied customer in all the world.In a noisy cafe I am even catching words that Karren cannot, she ...5 days ago - Unintended Consequences
Take the baitYou pay the priceIt's much too lateFor good adviceYou know and I know that our good things' throughBecause there's consequences for what we doConsequences for me and youWriters: Kevin Robert Hayes, David Nagier, Bonnie Adele Hayes.Fallout from the first readingOne News began last night by saying that tens ...6 days ago - Thank you, driver!
Today, Saturday 16th of November, is Auckland Transport’s Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Saturday 16 November marks the third annual Auckland Transport (AT) ‘Bus Driver Appreciation Day’, and this year we are encouraging all of New Zealand to thank their driver or let the bus go first if you are in ...6 days ago
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Hi,If I was to accurately sum up my mental state over the week, I’d just say that I got a huge fright from my own shadow.I’d nipped out for an 11pm neighborhood stroll, just to calm down after a day of stress and screens. The Cure and Fazerdaze’s new record ...6 days ago - We Are Not Listening
The current rise of populism challenges the way we think about people’s relationship to the economy.We seem to be entering an era of populism, in which leadership in a democracy is based on preferences of the population which do not seem entirely rational nor serving their longer interests. ...
7 days ago - More lawlessness from National
On Tuesday, sick of government stonewalling, the Waitangi Tribunal issued a rare court order, ordering the Minister of Health to release unredacted documents within 48 hours showing its reasoning for disestablishing Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority. The government's response to the lawful order of a court? Yeah, ...7 days ago
- National’s tyrannical “foreign interference” law
Yesterday, under cover the the biggest political fight of the year, National quietly - covertly, even - introduced anti-foreign interference legislation. The bill is the product of a years-long work-program aimed at countering shit like this and this, and there's unquestionably a need to do something to counter foreign states' ...7 days ago
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A few months ago, I was in an audience watching a Haka-Kapa and as I watched children dance and sing and sway and shout and beat, I couldn’t help but think “The Haka represents the best of us.”Yes, yes - there will be a thousand voices that rush forth to ...7 days ago
- Adding up the climate cost
St Mary’s Bay housing left hanging: Climate risk is systemically underestimated in the climate scenarios used by central banks, and a new report warns 10,000 houses are set to become uninsurable in Aotearoa. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in ...7 days ago
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One of the major problems the Government has in implementing its ‘going for housing growth’ strategy is that it isn’t giving much funding help to councils. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and ...7 days ago - Friday 15 November 2024
The Treaty Principles Bill continues to dominate political news, with it passing its first reading in the House. Parliament was briefly suspended and Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke suspended for 24 hours after leading a haka that was joined by opposition MPs and the public in the gallery. Willie ...1 week ago
- Weekly Roundup 15-November-2024
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Day One of the Treaty Principles Bill…and everyone got what they wanted, and did what they liked. Heated words were exchanged. Culturally appropriate acts of outrage were performed. David Seymour got to play the victim card. Willie Jackson got kicked out of class. A comically red-faced Mr Speaker bellowed “Order, ...1 week ago
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- The PM gets some extremely valuable legal advice for free
You can pay a great deal of money for the services of a KC. So just what would some peerless legal writing from 40 or so of them be worth, do you reckon?Priceless, that’s what. It’s not even the half of it, but this is my favourite part of the ...1 week ago - D-day for the government
The government's Treaty Principles Bill is up for its first reading today - bought forward in a rush in a desperate effort to avoid the hikoi which is currently marching on Wellington. But the Prime Minister won’t be there for it – he’s literally running away to Peru! But he ...1 week ago
- 97% of submissions did not want no-cause evictions, Trump chooses a Russian spy for US Intelligence ...
Good morning, and I’m sorry I’ve been away for a couple of days.I’ve been focusing on the Hikoi, and also testing out sentiment on the Treaty Principles Bill. It’s complicated, and the Treaty Principles Bill will be debated in the House today. The Government’s own lawyers have told them the ...1 week ago - Government must vote down ACT Members Bill that would undermine workers’ rights
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Government to vote down an ACT Party Members Bill that would undermine workers’ rights by making it easier for employers to fire workers. Last week ACT MP Laura Trask’s Employment Relations (Termination of Employment by Agreement) Amendment Bill was ...1 week ago
- Seymour causes thousands of unjustified absences by forcing kids to fight for their rights instead o...
The State would like to remind you that they are in control. They manage your employment prospects, and can destroy the job market you and yours rely on by mass-cancelling construction projects, cutting funding, and firing a good chunk of our public servants. They wield the mechanisms that provide scrutiny ...1 week ago - The Weight of the World
As the weight of the world Hangs on your shoulders The weight of the world Starts to take over again And over again All that you once loved, now you hate So slowly relearn how to meditate To have and to hold And never let go Can you feel it ...1 week ago - Thursday 14 November 2024
The Treaty Principles Bill is set to have its First Reading in the House today, as the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti continues. More than 40 KCs have written to the Prime Minister and Attorney-General outlining their “grave concerns” about the substance of the Treaty Principles Bill, while an academic and ...1 week ago
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- An opportunity for a pro-growth tax switch
As the Hikoi against it swells into the tens of thousands, KCs call on National to kill off ACT’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, November 14: The ...1 week ago
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The Ministry of Health has today released an evidence brief regarding the use of puberty blockers in gender-affirming healthcare, amid moves by the government to limit access. ...17 hours ago
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The National Government is walking away from our manufacturing sector with constant reports of closures and job losses. ...18 hours ago - Release: David Parker speech – Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change
David Parker's speech from the University of Auckland's forum on Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change in September 2024. ...18 hours ago
- Release: Youth mental wellbeing no longer a priority for Child Poverty Minister
Louise Upston has revealed her diminished vision for vulnerable youth against a backdrop of snubbed advice, scrapped priorities, shifted goal posts and thousands more children projected to fall into poverty. ...20 hours ago
- Release: National’s lack of climate action taking NZ backwards
National Government’s backward-looking climate policy has seen New Zealand fall seven places on the Climate Change Performance Index to 41 out of 63 countries measured. ...20 hours ago
- Release: Simple reason for drop in emergency housing
When the Government says it has reduced the number of people in emergency housing, what it means is it is stopping people from accessing it in the first place. ...23 hours ago
- Govt’s child wellbeing strategy ‘shallow and shameful’
The Government is turning its back on children by not only weakening child poverty reduction targets, but also removing child mental wellbeing as a priority focus in their Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy. ...23 hours ago
- Release: A historic win for Samoan communities
Labour warmly welcomes the Restoring Samoan Citizenship Bill as it passes its third reading, before becoming law. ...24 hours ago
- Government plan to reinstate live animal exports a “national disgrace”
The Government has taken a giant step backwards by reinstating live animal exports. ...2 days ago
- Pasifika justice as Member’s Bill passes final reading
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- Economists sound alarm on Government’s slash-and-burn approach
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- Release: Smoking numbers up under Costello’s watch
National’s repeal of Labour’s smokefree legislation has taken New Zealand further away from achieving a Smokefree 2025 and a smokefree generation. ...2 days ago
- Release: Call for Palestine recognition by NZ, Australian and Canadian MPs
Parliamentarians from Australia, Canada and New Zealand have written an open letter to their respective Prime Ministers calling on them to recognise Palestine. ...2 days ago
- Justice Select Committee opens floor for Treaty Principles submissions
Today, the Justice Select Committee has decided to officially open submissions for the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Power of the people on full display as hīkoi approaches Parliament
Today, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived in Wellington, with thousands gathering to march in unity against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
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- Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...1 week ago
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Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today. ...1 week ago
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- Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors
...1 week ago
- Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors
Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...1 week ago
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Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...1 week ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
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Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
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The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
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- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Winston Peters must apologise
The Deputy Prime Minister should apologise to the public servant he named and blamed for something they did not do, and for misusing the rules of Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
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- NZ signs trade deal with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland
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- Speech to Social Investment Hui: Jack and his whānau need our help
Kia ora koutou katoa. Nau mai, haere mai, piki mai. Ki te mihi atu ahau, ki te manwhenua nei, Te Atiawa, Ngāti toa rangatira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Thank you, Andy, for your introduction. Let me acknowledge you as the new Chief Executive of the Social Investment ...7 days ago
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- Proposals to modernise conservation released
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- Knowing superstitions aren’t real doesn’t stop us behaving superstitiously – why?
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The actual fuck?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350212958/green-mp-suspended-amid-migration-exploitation-claims
I'm an enormous believer in increasing POC and Maori representation in Parliament, but who the hell is vetting the Green Party's candidates!?
In the last two parliamentary terms we've had a isolation queue jumper (Mendez-March) a COVID rule breaker and flat out bully (Kerere), a shoplifter (Gharaman) and now a modern slave owner.
Add to that Metirias enormous political misjudgement that tanked the 2017 election and it's clear the Greens have a deep rooted institutional problem with how they select and vet the members of the parliamentary party.
What's the point in paying membership dues and working our asses off in the provinces if our MPs turn out to be entitled, arrogant, or just plain criminals from the major centres?
Similar sentiments were probably expressed about Barbara Kuriger.
In a slightly different vein the Simon Bridges/Asian election candidates/donations/membership of the party thing was disappeared. Yes, the same Simon Bridges recently appointed chairman of the NZ Transport Agency.
I've got plenty of sentiments about the misuse of an MP's power and position in general, and Barabara Kuriger in particular.
However, bothsidesing isn't really a valid counterargument to repeated failures to either select candidates that are prepared for the rigours of public life, or vet them with enough thoroughness to pick up any minor issues like egregious labour exploitation.
The voting public simply don't care.
We're supposed to be the party of ideas and ideals: A shining beacon of progressive politics and proof that in a world populated with cynical neo-liberals and intellectually bankrupt corporate shills that there is a better,kinder way to do politics.
Every scandal, every little peccadillo, every ill-thought out public utterance undermines the party brand, the public's trust, and the decades of hard work thousands of party members have put in to get the party to where it is.
I don't care how badass a wahine toa you are: If you are a crook, or think you are bigger and more important than the party or the values it stands for, you have no right to be a Green Party MP.
Meteria was following Green party principles.
The fact that some in the party threw her under the bus was not a good look.
Golriz was clear mental health issues. I would be sympathetic to anyone in that case regardless of party. I didn't join the approbation against Todd Muller either. His, and Golriz' experiences may well have made them better and more empathetic MP's.
I don't expect MP's to be squeaky clean in the past. No one would run.
No excuse for migrant exploitation or mis-treating stock. And those obviously looking for personal benefit. Selling policy for retirement directorships, for example.
But Todd Muller didn't let the stress get to him so much that he then went out and stole from shops several times. Hopefully the stress doesn't cause Chloe to crack as without her the Greens may struggle to exist.
Perhaps the problem is the vetting of candidates as all parties have had issues. In fact National probably more than most but they get rid of them.
Umm.. no they don't.
Uffindel is still there.. Kuriger is still there.. and Mitchell isn't exactly a shining example of principal for either his private security work or his dodgy practice becoming am MP in the first place.
Who is next on the Green list?
Francisco Hernandez
from Dunedin, which would be excellent.
Agree totally, Res. The Greens (and other centre-left parties) can't afford any more f***-ups of this sort. Even if Ms Tana is eventually exonerated – and properly, not just on some legal technicality – enough mud will have been slung in the meantime for some of it to irretrievably stick.
From the 'Feeds panel':
Passive income – the path to financial freedom – productivity genius! As for the path to financial freedom for tenants – well, that’s obvious.
I agree Drowsy that building passive investment is a great life goal.
Passive income gives the freedom to do what truly matters to you.
I am very grateful that my family taught me the principle at a young age.
Yes Michael, financial freedom is great, provided one avoids the trap of pursuing wealth for its own sake – love of money and all that.
We don't know how lucky we are, and were. What an even more wonderful place Aotearoa NZ, and indeed spaceship Earth could be (or have been) if more people like yourself were actually incredibly focussed on the goal of financial freedom for all.
Greed, alas, trumps need.
test
Indeed Michael @2.1. Passive income can give people financial freedom. However, in the case of residential rental properties, this passive income is partially extracted from someone else, and it increases property prices through the demand for this lucrative asset class. In effect, it makes other people less likely to achieve even meagre financial security, let alone develop a stream of passive income for themselves.
If your financial freedom is an impediment to other people's financial freedom, it poses an ethical problem – or at least it should do.
A man walking the talk.
.
@chefjoseandres
As @WCKitchen mission continues and our partner NGO @openarms_fund boat keeps getting closer, our Jetty construction continues. Already almost 60 meters! My heart goes to my brother Sam Block…and all the Palestinian teams, giving this heart to this mission..#OperationSafeena a second boat is getting ready in @CyprusMFA
https://twitter.com/chefjoseandres/status/1768001809912566074
I'd argue that Metiria threw the party under the bus rather than the other way around.
It wasn't even the WINZ fraud thing: it was not doing her homework, paying it back beforehand, and having a clearly thought-out plan for dealing with the blowback.
Brave last stands are cool and all. But also pointless unless they achieve something.
test
Meteria went there with the full agreement of the party hierarchy.
In fact Greens went up in the polls after that.
So. The idea that she disadvantaged the party is debatable.
A bump. It didn't last.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_2017_New_Zealand_general_election#Internal_polls
Yep. Went after Meteria was dumped.
Funny that.
When her porkies came to light.
Does anybody know any left-leaning agencies/people who do CV/cover letter checks and/or mock interviews?
My CV has left-leaning experience and I am applying for a left-leaning job.
test
Yes Drowsy I agree that financial freedom is great and have spent the last 20 years able to follow my passion of helping young people start, run and grow businesses.
I agree that we need to avoid – the "love of money" – but find generosity is the best antidote for greed.
Many people dislike their jobs – trading their time for money – and never realise that it is entirely possible, with planning, to trade money for time.
Yep Michael, for some people luck in the 'grace of god' department, plus maybe a little work, is all it takes to gain financial freedom, so kudos to you for helping. A few more like you and perhaps the trend in Kiwi home ownership might reverse.
And for those, like you and I, who have attained said freedom, with any luck it will have been without overly limiting the opportunities of others to do the same.
The reply 'button' is not working for me.
In reply to Res Publica (and others):
There is a wee smell about this latest Greens scandal. There may be something in it, or it is the latest example of DP politics – courtesy of Atlas trained opponents. In the meantime it would be wise to refrain from passing judgement until the actual facts have been determined:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/511756/green-mp-darleen-tana-suspended-amid-migrant-exploitation-claims
There's an awful lot of detail, here.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350212641/bike-shop-green-mp-and-alleged-migrant-exploitation
And, evidence that Hoff-Neilsen has a past history of not paying staff appropriately (ERA decisions against him)
What, or how much, Tana knew of the situation – remains to be seen. But her personal association with it (until 2019 she was a director of the company – during the period the alleged exploitation was going on), is doing the GP no favours.
definitely a much better write up than the one this morning.
One the face of it, it doesn’t seem credible that she didn’t know her husband had been involved in multiple employment disputes. Why was this not a red flag for the GP selection team?
She seems nice.
.
@KFILE
NEW: Michele Marrow, the GOP nominee to run North Carolina’s public schools and its $11 billion budget has repeatedly called for executing Democrats including Joe Biden and Barack Obama (who she said she wanted executed PPV on TV).
https://cnn.com/2024/03/14/pol
https://twitter.com/KFILE/status/1768371682891255908
edit:
more craziness
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1768371682891255908.html
Russia has hypersonic-missiles. Russia has them. China and USA want them.
The Houthi of Yemen claim they now have them, and yet Iran their supplier does not.
The first to report this is the Russian media.
If anyone has any doubt as to the purpose of the attacks on shipping (between Europe and Asia) – weaken Europe for supporting Ukraine, this dispels them.
The other factor is reward to Iran for supplying drones to Russia – enabling the Houthi to pose as fighting Israel while Iran is not involved in the attacks on shipping (because Hamas did not ask permission to attack Israel).
https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/03/15/red-sea-attacks-houthis-reportedly-have-hypersonic-missile/
Except her story didn't stand up to scrutiny. When the media started asking her questions that should have been forseen and answers prepared she basically made up a story. She was asked about the family of the father of her child and why did she not ask them for support to help her. She threw them under the bus by stating they did not support her. This was not the case. This is what eventually led to her demise.
[you narrowly escaped another ban, because I thought ‘she’ referred to the current GP MP. I’m also aware that the Reply buttons aren’t working properly.
You’ve been moderated three times this year already, including a ban. Pre-emptive warning going forward: don’t troll, don’t do FB-esque reckons, and if you are going to make claims of fact, provide some evidence and decent argument not just RW talking points – weka]
mod note.
I don't recall ever hearing Metiria say that the child's paternal family did not support her. If she did – it was not true. The Hartleys bought the house at 27 New Bond St (that was the cause of the "electoral fraud" accusation) for Metiria and Paul. She chose to not live there which was her right, but the Hartleys would have given their last cent for their first grandchild.
She blindsided the Hartleys absolutely with the revelations of benefit fraud. The Press pack were hiring helicopters to pursue them to Gt Barrier. Eventually, someone told John Campbell the truth and Metiria resigned.
Turei did indeed make the claim that the family support was 'not financial'
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/95624422/metiria-turei-says-support-from-her-childs-grandparents-wasnt-financial
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When fundies rule.
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@freemancrouch This sign is in Williamson County, Texas, and I don't think this is the usual highway signage boilerplate. What the heck? Any theories?
[…]
@thepoliticalcat@mastodon.social
@freemancrouch The road is under the direct authority of the state, i.e., police are empowered to restrict any attempt to flee the state along this road. This is to prevent Texan women from using this road to flee authorities in search of abortion.
https://mastodon.social/@thepoliticalcat/112095672531011171
From the sidebar.
https://www.kiwipolitico.com/2024/03/two-offenders-different-treatments/
One half unreported by the msm, or have I missed something?
”On the other hand there is a male Pakeha “senior political figure” in a rightwing party who during the course of a fraud investigation had people come forth accusing him of serial sexual offending. Eventually the number of victims grew to a half dozen or more. He resigned his senior party position once the fraud investigation heated up, and then he was charged with several sex offences. The offending is historical and related to a well known volunteer service organization in which he held senior leadership roles and was involved with young people in a mentoring role. The judge assigned to the case granted him and that of his party name suppression in 2023 because, among other things, disclosure of their identities might have a negative impact on his party’s chances in the 2023 election. The judge ordered that the suppression order be reviewed after the election.”
Amazing to see Chuck Schumer the Senate Majority Leader go full out calling for Israel's voters to remove Netanyahu, and to make all future aid to Israel conditional.
That's the primary Democleader after Biden breaking with AIPAC.
Both utterly inconceivable 4 months ago.
Very big ground shifting there.
Drowsy the comments are out of sync but if you see this I agree with you re our luck in the "Grace of God" department.
More so perhaps as I am a follower of Jesus. I realise that I won the lottery being born in NZ with opportunities not afforded to those living in countries with poverty and without the freedoms we enjoy.
The quote you provide about our young being locked out of home ownership is the biggest problem facing us. More important than education. We need more people OWNING homes and less renting or in social housing.
We need a clear path for everyone who willing to pay the price to own their own home to be able to achieve their goal.
Hi AB you comment:
"Indeed Michael @2.1. Passive income can give people financial freedom. However, in the case of residential rental properties, this passive income is partially extracted from someone else, and it increases property prices through the demand for this lucrative asset class. In effect, it makes other people less likely to achieve even meagre financial security, let alone develop a stream of passive income for themselves.
If your financial freedom is an impediment to other people's financial freedom, it poses an ethical problem – or at least it should do."
Of course the income is extracted from someone else. This is how capitalism works.
Every product you purchase at the supermarket extracts income from you.
Nearly 90% of all NZ houses are owned privately.
There should be no ethical problem. We rent until we can save a deposit and purchase our own home. We need investors to provide rental accommodation as no government can afford to do so.
The problem is that it has become increasingly difficult to save a 20% deposit for a house as house prices rise faster than peoples ability to save.
Property ownership is the answer to poverty and should be the priority of every government and citizen.
From Stephen @ No 14. Luckily the "senior political" man is innocent unless proven guilty. Oh no!
Unless you are in the Green Party whereby even an allegation is "proof" of a crime. Just as well David Farrar is busy pushing the guilt, otherwise we would have to wait for a possible exoneration. Farrar would have to dig into someone else. But damage done already.
Yes. ianmac @ 18, It is interesting this story should break within a day or two of Golriz Ghahranan's day in court. Coincidental I am sure. (sarc)
It seems like the Green Party is the target of the times. There will be no-one left at this rate.
I watched Maiki Sherman laying into them on the TV1 news. You would think they were all guilty listening to her. The hypocrisy of the MSM is astounding.
Further to 19 above:
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/one-news-at-6pm/live
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/03/green-mp-darleen-tana-s-husband-denies-her-involvement-in-migrant-exploitation-scandal.html
Note: Sherman accuses the Greens of hypocrisy. There's no right of reply to the accusation against the MP's husband,
Newshub at least makes an effort to balance the story by interviewing the husband.
Nothing much changes, does it? Almost 50 years ago there were two political scandals, one on each side of the spectrum, but with very different outcomes.
1976: Colin Moyle, tipped by some as a possible future leader of the Labour party, gets hounded out of Parliament on the basis of what later turns out to be a false accusation of homosexuality. An unsubstantiated accusation – nothing more. (But I'll own that Moyle did himself no favours over the way he dealt with it.)
1980: Duncan MacIntyre, senior cabinet minister, gets pinged for giving a substantial loan of government money to his daughter and son-in-law. Bang to rights – but he not only survives the inquiry, but gets a leg-up from the PM to become deputy PM. I heard at second hand that the general attitude among his colleagues was something like "poor old Duncan – how unfortunate he got found out".
https://e-tangata.co.nz/comment-and-analysis/how-crime-news-harms-us-all/
I totally agree with this article.
I have also sounded my concerns about the reality of our media