Open Mike 15/08/2018

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 6:00 am, August 15th, 2018 - 178 comments
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178 comments on “Open Mike 15/08/2018 ”

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AsleepWhileWalking 1

15 August 2018 at 6:34 am

https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/105933366/hundreds-of-rape-evidence-kits-never-get-tested–should-we-be-alarmed

Where to start?
- Patricia Bremner 1.1
  
  15 August 2018 at 7:28 am
  
  Part of the last Government’s silent cuts no doubt. The current Government will have to clean this cupboard as well!!!
- Sabine 1.2
  
  15 August 2018 at 8:22 am
  
  at the beginning.
  
  One at a time.
  Unless we want to do away the notion that this country actually gives a poop about rape, its victims and the damage it causes.
  
  Surely there is some property for some rich fuck that needs protecting. Policing is hard work, i hear.
Sanctuary 2

15 August 2018 at 6:35 am

LoL someone tell Fran O’Sullivan it isn’t the 1990s anymore… Jeez talk about rust never sleeping, have any of the old age duffers who seem the crew the Herald opinion pages these days had a new idea since 1984?

Talk about ageing neolib journalist waving a fist at the clouds!

First, privatisation was more or less a disaster in NZ. Secondly it is unpopular with voters thirdly it is wildly unpopular with Labour voters…
- dukeofurl 2.1
  
  15 August 2018 at 7:43 am
  
  Someone tell Fran its cheaper to use the income from the state assets to pay the interest.
  
  The other mistake she makes , which shows she has zero commercial nous, is that NSW can do deals because of the tax benefits, with the loss of tax revenue only affecting the Federal government revenue not the state government. In NZ we dont have a state government intermediary, any gains for business are losses from IRD.
  - Nic the NZer 2.1.1
    
    15 August 2018 at 8:16 am
    
    Why doesn’t she propose borrowing it from the RBNZ directly and paying any interest to them. RBNZ profits get rolled into the government accounts as profit.
    - dukeofurl 2.1.1.1
      
      15 August 2018 at 8:39 am
      
      Not going to be creating money.
      - Draco T Bastard 2.1.1.1.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 11:49 am
        
        Yes, because only the private banks are allowed to do that.
      - Nic the NZer 2.1.1.1.2
        
        15 August 2018 at 12:28 pm
        
        Well that can’t be the reason because the money gets created exactly the same even when the government borrows from the private sector.
        
        This happens during the spending of the money process which happens either way.
        
        Draco T Bastard 2.1.1.1.2.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 4:12 pm
        
        Well that can’t be the reason because the money gets created exactly the same even when the government borrows from the private sector.
        
        Actually, it’s not the same or shouldn’t be.
        
        If the government created the money they shouldn’t be paying interest on it whereas they will be if they borrow from the private sector.
        
        And that, of course, is why the private sector is always complaining about the government creating money. If the government did the private sector would lose a major part of its government guaranteed unearned income.
        
        Nic the NZer …
        
        15 August 2018 at 6:47 pm
        
        Right (well mostly) but obviously the question is why is she not proposing this? The implication is Fran doesn’t actually understand the stuff she is talking about.
        
        Mostly? Well obviously if the treasury borrows from the RBNZ they are still likely to pay some interest on that.
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        15 August 2018 at 11:22 pm
        
        Right (well mostly) but obviously the question is why is she not proposing this?
        
        Because we’ve had it drummed into us over the last few decades that a government creating money is evil. Meanwhile the fact that the private banks create money all the time and push hyper-inflation in assets (asset bubbles) and the fact of governments creating money has brought about prosperity is carefully hidden.
        
        Who benefits from those actions?
- SaveNZ 2.2
  
  15 August 2018 at 12:17 pm
  
  +1 Sanctuary
Jenny 3

15 August 2018 at 6:40 am

A No-Fly Zone Is Needed Around Idlib to Prevent “Unprecedented” Massacre
Moazzam Begg – Democracy Now, APRIL 19, 2018

And one thing I have to say, that whether it’s the United States, whether it’s Russia, whether it’s the Gulf states, whether it’s Britain or France, all have taken part in what I call the aerial gang rape of Syria. Everybody has bombed the opposition. And it’s only now twice that the United States government has bombed Syrian military positions, and this latest one with the chemical facilities.

Now, I’m completely against Western intervention, because I’ve tasted firsthand what that can do and what it’s done. But if you look at the strikes, literally, I think it’s the first time in history that the Americans have bombed over 150 missiles, together with the United States and France, and killed nobody. Now that’s great, but perhaps they could extend this kind of deathless aerial bombing campaign to everybody else that they’ve been bombing, because, thus far, it’s only the side of the rebels that the Americans have hit.

“Aerial gang rape”, exactly describes what has been done to the people of Syria by all the intervening powers, including the US, they have all piled on against the rebels. Moazzam Begg who himself was a victim of the CIA program of ‘Extraordinary Rendition’ and who went to Syria to investigate the Assad’s regime role in working with the CIA to carry out torture of CIA captives, is an Authoritative commentator on both the Assad regime and the superpowers’ motives and actions in Syria.

If there is one thing all these arrayed powers can’t stand; And that is, a people seeking their own independence and freedom out from under an autocratic tyranny, especially if those people live in an oil rich area of the Middle East.

Witness how in the First Iraq war the US pulled back and let Saddam Hussein put down a popular revolt by the Iraqi people.

On February 15, 1991, as the Desert Storm air campaign blasted Iraqi defenses in Kuwait, Bush flew to Andover, Mass., for a rally at the Raytheon plant, which manufactured the Patriot Air Defense System.

In the middle of a rousing speech, he noted, almost as an aside, “There’s another way for the bloodshed to stop, and this is for the Iraqi military and the Iraqi people to take matters into their own hands and force Saddam Hussein, the dictator, to step aside.”

This was a notion trumpeted by other Administration officials as well, but what they and Bush had in mind was encouraging senior leaders of the Iraqi army or Baath Party to revolt.

“We didn’t expect a general public uprising,” says a former Bush aide. It was the Shi’ites in southern Iraq and the Kurds in the north–both of whom had long been subjugated by Saddam–who took Bush’s words to heart.

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/04/07/timep.betray.tm/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1Gcz4pE4VI
- Ed 3.1
  
  15 August 2018 at 7:12 am
  
  Who wonders if we have one of those staged gas attacks any second now?
  Organised by the Jihadi headchopping gang known as the Whites Helmets to blame Syria for it.
  - Jenny 3.1.1
    
    15 August 2018 at 9:16 am
    
    Ed, You should really stop paying attention to Alex Jones.
    
    “ISIS Crisis Actors: White Helmets Aren’t White Hats”
    Infowars, Jul 26, 2018
    
    https://www.infowars.com/isis-crisis-actors-white-helmets-arent-white-hats/
    
    You would be better off listening to Amy Goodman
    
    https://www.democracynow.org/2016/10/13/the_white_helmets_as_syria_death
    - One Two 3.1.1.1
      
      15 August 2018 at 11:34 am
      
      Jenny, I didn’t read your thoughts on the Israeli ‘humanitarian rescue’ of the white helmets…
      
      Whose ‘assets’ were that group…at face value it raises many questions…
      
      Twice previously I raised it with you…
      - Jenny 3.1.1.1.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 12:55 pm
        
        One Two 3.1.1.1
        15 August 2018 at 11:34 am
        Jenny, I didn’t read your thoughts on the Israeli ‘humanitarian rescue’ of the white helmets…
        
        I recall making extensive comments on the white helmets being transitted through Israel on this site.
        
        Because many of my comments don’t get seen I have started keeping copies.
        
        For your benefit I will repost one made at the time in a reply to Bill.
        
        I think what you are missing here Bill, (either consciously or unconsciously) is all of this is going on behind a background of mass fascist style extermination being rained on the Syrian population by the Assad regime. Of which there is more than enough evidence of.
        
        As horrible as it is, the West’s preoccupation with gas weapons and their possession and use by the Assad regime, obscures the fact that most of the aerial genocide has been committed with high explosives dropped on civilian cities and towns.
        
        Zouhir Al Shimale, Middle East Eye – Thursday, 28 June 2018
        
        Tens of thousands flee as regime-allied airstrikes pound southern Syria
        The Japan Times – Friday, June 29, 2018
        
        At least 270,000 Syrians flee latest deadly regime offensive
        Kareem Khadder and Judith Vonberg, CNN – Monday, July 2, 2018
        
        The tens of thousands of civilians fleeing the Assad genocide piling up against the closed borders of Israel and Jordan represent a massive and building humanitarian crisis.
        
        In Jordan, in response to the emerging humanitarian disaster, ‘Open the borders’ has become a top trending hashtag on social media
        
        Jordanians urge government to take in Syrians fleeing Daraa
        Middle East Eye – Friday, 29 June, 2018
        
        No such public campaign has emerged in the racist Zionist state of Israel which has an understanding with the Assad regime, and a reputation for massacring civilians on its borders.
        
        More than 270,000 displaced by southern Syria fighting, UN says
        Times of Israel – Monday, 2 July, 2018
      - Jenny 3.1.1.1.2
        
        15 August 2018 at 3:36 pm
        
        One Two 3.1.1.1
        15 August 2018 at 11:34 am
        Jenny, I didn’t read your thoughts on the Israeli ‘humanitarian rescue’ of the white helmets…
        
        Whose ‘assets’ were that group…at face value it raises many questions…
        
        Twice previously I raised it with you…
        
        And though they didn’t appear, twice previously I have responded, which the admin knows.
        
        I have again just now tried to post my response to your queries but still keep getting blocked.
        
        I will again email them to the admin in the hope that they will be let through.
    - Ed 3.1.1.2
      
      15 August 2018 at 8:13 pm
      
      Never read or listened to Alex Jones.
      My sources are Cockburn, Fisk, Galloway, Bartlett and Beeley, as I’ve mentioned before.
      - Jenny 3.1.1.2.1
        
        16 August 2018 at 11:31 am
        
        Ed 3.1.1.2
        15 August 2018 at 8:13 pm
        Never read or listened to Alex Jones.
        My sources are Cockburn, Fisk, Galloway, Bartlett and Beeley, as I’ve mentioned before.
        
        What’s the difference?
        
        These people’s views (and yours), are pretty much interchangeable, with that of Alex Jones and Ron Paul, and other far Right and fascist groups.
        
        I dare you to say they aren’t
- Cemetery Jones 3.2
  
  15 August 2018 at 9:33 am
  
  I’m fine with Sunni jihadists getting aerially gang-raped. And the rebels in Idlib are Sunni jihadists. That’s what we invented air combat wings for. Soon they’ll be dead, or forced to bend the knee in acceptance that Allah willed their crushing defeat at the hands of Vladimir Putin, Bashar al-Assad, and Quassem Suleimani.
  
  “If there is one thing all these arrayed powers can’t stand; And that is, a people seeking their own independence and freedom out from under an autocratic tyranny, especially if those people live in an oil rich area of the Middle East.”
  
  Yeah, that describes the Kurdish perhaps – but these guys in Idlib were trying to annihilate them, not free them. A brigade or two of Syrian military may have genuinely been a ‘free’ and ‘Syrian’ army in the early days of the revolt. But Idlib today is full of foreign fanatics, not secular Syrians.
  - Jenny 3.2.1
    
    15 August 2018 at 11:41 am
    
    Cemetery Jones 3.2
    15 August 2018 at 9:33 am
    I’m fine with Sunni jihadists getting aerially gang-raped…..
    
    And are you are also fine with genocide and torture?
    
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQni3qn6GIU
    - One Two 3.2.1.1
      
      15 August 2018 at 12:03 pm
      
      Your comments have defended into farce…
      
      Perhaps you could address the points CJ made…
      
      Your confusion must be expanding, what with the ‘humanitarian resue’ of the WH’s….by you know…actual practitioners of genocide….
      
      Eh, Jenny!
      - Jenny 3.2.1.1.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 1:19 pm
        
        I could make a comment on why CJ thinks that; “…Idlib today is full of foreign fanatics, not secular Syrians.” And it might have some bearing on the genocide being carried out by the regime and obviously supported by him.
        
        ‘Crisis Actor’ Isn’t a New Smear. The Idea Goes Back to the Civil War Era.
        Niraj Chokshi – New York Times, February 24, 2018
        
        In his 1963 “Letter From a Birmingham Jail” defending nonviolent civil disobedience, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. described the tactic as an effort to silence African-American voices.
        
        “If our white brothers dismiss as ‘rabble rousers’ and ‘outside agitators’ those of us who employ nonviolent direct action, and if they refuse to support our nonviolent efforts, millions of Negroes will, out of frustration and despair, seek solace and security in black nationalist ideologies — a development that would inevitably lead to a frightening racial nightmare,” Dr. King wrote.
        
        Label the opposition “terrorists” and “Jihadis”, and it seems that some Western Leftists will support genocide and torture and mass disappearances, and even cheer it on. In that they are not too dissimilar to the extreme Right.
        
        What we do know is that Idlib has been the place where thousands of Sunni refugees ethnically cleansed from regime areas have sought refuge. Just as CJ has said he wants to see these people, “getting aerially gang-raped”.
        
        He may get his gory wish.
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoRdCbDd50o
    - Cemetery Jones 3.2.1.2
      
      15 August 2018 at 5:32 pm
      
      Unlike the Sunni jihadists (tourists or locals alike) I don’t really like those ideas. Neither did the Alawis, Yazidis or the Kurds – or the Christians of various local ethnicities. All of whom were fine under the old regime, but genocided by these Sunni extremists you seem to like so much.
      
      Not to worry, while the holy rollers are about to get BTFO hard, it seems that the Syrian, Russian, and Iranian command are trying to figure out how to do it with minimal civilian casualties, which is why the offensive on Idlib has yet to commence.
      
      https://maps.southfront.org/syrian-war-report-august-13-2018-tiger-forces-are-deploying-in-northern-latakia/
- mauī 3.3
  
  15 August 2018 at 10:31 am
  
  Of course what right minded “rebels” or “opposition” would make millions of their own citizens into refugees. Now it seems Syrians are returning to live under that “butcher” and dictator Assad. Makes no sense at all and shows up Begg.
  
  For some real coverage on Syria from 4:30 onwards,
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnqIqooSNN8
  - Jenny 3.3.1
    
    15 August 2018 at 11:50 am
    
    Tea Party founder Ron Paul – the sanitised version of Alex Jones, but just as nutty and extreme.
    
    Really Maui?
    
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bNiDx7qTjA
    - Jenny 3.3.1.1
      
      15 August 2018 at 11:57 am
      
      Ron Paul Liberty Report – The Climate Change Hoax
      
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOC_9Wgv5N8
    - One Two 3.3.1.2
      
      15 August 2018 at 12:19 pm
      
      TIME Magazine – 2006
      
      http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1571751,00.html
      
      The Bush Administration has been quietly nurturing individuals and parties opposed to the Syrian government in an effort to undermine the regime of President Bashar Assad. Parts of the scheme are outlined in a classified, two-page document that says that the U.S. already is “supporting regular meetings of internal and diaspora Syrian activists” in Europe
      
      The document bluntly expresses the hope that “these meetings will facilitate a more coherent strategy and plan of actions for all anti-Assad activists.”
      
      I’ve posted this to you previously…but it doesn’t fit your views on Syria…
      - Jenny 3.3.1.2.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 3:05 pm
        
        Hi One Two from the link you supplied:
        
        The document says that Syria’s legislative elections, scheduled for March 2007, “provide a potentially galvanizing issue for… critics of the Assad regime.” To capitalize on that opportunity, the document proposes a secret “election monitoring” scheme, in which “internet accessible materials will be available for printing and dissemination by activists inside the country [Syria] and neighboring countries.” The proposal also calls for surreptitiously giving money to at least one Syrian politician who, according to the document, intends to run in the election. The effort would also include “voter education campaigns” and public opinion polling, with the first poll “tentatively scheduled in early 2007.”
        
        Who-o-o-oh. Scary.
        
        Against this; is the record of the Assad regime being a foundation member of the US led ‘Coalition Of The Willing’ against Iraq. A war in which the Assad regime supplied the US with 19,000 Syrian soldiers.
        
        Also against the Regime Change conspiracy theory; is the fact that the Assad regime worked very closely with the CIA and let out their torture prisons to by used to torture CIA captives.
        
        Syrians explain how pro-Assad conspiracy theories are hurting them
        C.J. Werleman – TRT World, February 21, 2018
        
        …..pro-Assad/Russia loons and propagandists have been so effective in muddying the waters, casting aspersions on Assad’s victims, and deflecting criticism away from this century’s most brutal dictator that they undermine any coordinated and sustained international effort to protect the Syrian people from a genocide.
        
        So I asked a number of Syrians what damage these debunked conspiracy theories have imparted on the Syrian people and the pro-democracy revolution……
    - mauī 3.3.1.3
      
      15 August 2018 at 12:31 pm
      
      So you’d rather talk about climate change fair enough. That’s what some of the liberals do on here, switch topics and not address the point, and end up calling anyone with a differing point of view that they are alt-right.
      - Jenny 3.3.1.3.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 2:01 pm
        
        I put up the post on Ron Paul’s climate change denial piece to show how nutty the Tea Party founder is.
        
        But if you watch the whole video, near they end, you will see how Ron Paul ties up his climate change denial with his support for Basha Assad in one neat little package.
        
        P.S. It is well known that Ron Paul is close to the Alt-right.
        
        Personally I wouldn’t get my version of events in Syria from Ron Paul.
        
        You might as well get your views shaped by Alex Jones or RT.
        
        Top 10 Racist Ron Paul Friends, Supporters
        
        Ron Paul Neo-Conderate and slavery apologist;
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEC68vTQwP8
        
        Jenny 3.3.1.3.1.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 7:35 pm
        
        ‘
        
        The alternate reality that enables genocide in Syria
        Sam Hamad – April 30, 2018
        
        Streicher’s greatest weapon, his writing, was his ultimate downfall. He recorded his own crimes. Today, in the age of the internet, culpability for what we write is if anything potentially stronger – every moment of sneering dehumanisation, justification, obfuscation and enablement is documented for all to see.
        
        All those who have played a part in enabling this genocide ought to take heed.
      - Ed 3.3.1.3.2
        
        15 August 2018 at 8:18 pm
        
        Jenny has already done this to me on this thread.
        
        Jenny 3.3.1.3.2.1
        
        16 August 2018 at 10:56 am
        
        Hi Ed, because for some reason the link to the above article didn’t load up.
        
        I will post it again as a naked link
        
        https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/essay-the-alternate-reality-that-enables-genocide-in-syria-17104
        
        I really think you ought to read it.
        
        And just in case you are tempted to ignore the lesson it contains, and refuse to enlighten yourself….
        
        I will also provide you a quote from the source material:
        
        Streicher was found guilty of ‘crimes against humanity’ and was swiftly hanged by his neck until he was dead. During the entire course of the Third Reich and WWII, Streicher did not pick up a gun or physically command a death squad against Jews or any other innocent. He didn’t ever personally send a single soul to the gas chambers.
        
        On the contrary, his weapon was the printing press and his ammunition was poisonous words. Streicher was the owner and editor of the notorious Nazi tabloid Der Sturmer, which pumped out a constant stream of the most base, vicious antisemitism, utilising what is today called ‘fake news’ to demonise Jews as rapists, killers and alien demons seeking by conspiracy to destroy Germany.
        
        Streicher’s crime was to craft, through this tabloid propaganda and racist fabrications, the environment that made the Holocaust possible – through the stroke of his poison pen, ordinary Jews were agents of evil and thus legitimate targets for a host of crimes, ranging from pogroms to industrial mass murder.
        
        What sealed his fate with the charge of ‘crime against humanity’ was that he continued saturating the media with these murderous lies after he became aware of the Holocaust.
        
        Relating to Syria, and the crimes against humanity occurring there – crimes that include not just the deliberate targeting of civilians by military aircraft, whether with conventional or chemical weapons, but also mass extermination camps, mass rape, torture and ethnic cleansing, one finds an entire army of Streichers.*
        
        *My emphasis J.
Ed 4

15 August 2018 at 6:48 am

45 children killed in a bus by an air strike in Yemen.
Not even mentioned in the news.

45 people die due to a bridge collapse in Italy.
Headline news.

Our racist and imperialist corporate media sucks.
- dukeofurl 4.1
  
  15 August 2018 at 7:15 am
  
  But it has no ‘news value’ they say.
  
  What they mean is , ‘does it look like us ‘
  
  The news crews will be next looking for a grieving ‘Italian young mother of 3’, as thats the demographic the advertisers like.
  - Ed 4.1.1
    
    15 August 2018 at 8:03 am
    
    Less news value, according to RNZ, than the court case of a foreign cricketer in a drunken brawl.
    - dukeofurl 4.1.1.1
      
      15 August 2018 at 9:06 am
      
      Colonial cringe…. whats newsworthy in Britain must make it on the news here.
      
      Dont they realise we have computers and if we wanted to follow British news we would do so…at the horses mouth without waiting for them to replay it here
- te reo putake 4.2
  
  15 August 2018 at 8:06 am
  
  Do you not actually watch the news, Ed? The attack on the bus got wide coverage here in NZ and overseas.
  
  Use google. A search for ‘yemen bus attack’ brings up 36000 results in google’s news option, including the BBC, Al Jazeera, CNN, and many, many other sources.
  
  If you narrow the search to ‘yemen bus attack nz’ you get a mere 21000 hits, including just about every news outlet in Aotearoa on the very first page.
  
  None so blind …
  - Ed 4.2.1
    
    15 August 2018 at 8:08 am
    
    There was very little coverage in New Zealand.
    - marty mars 4.2.1.1
      
      15 August 2018 at 8:21 am
      
      Not true – you just didn’t see it. Perhaps try other news sources than msm.
      - McFlock 4.2.1.1.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 1:25 pm
        
        maybe he should try including the msm rather than believing his own obscure sources are always correct when they claim “not covered by msm”
      - Ed 4.2.1.1.2
        
        15 August 2018 at 8:19 pm
        
        I do.
    - Sabine 4.2.1.2
      
      15 August 2018 at 8:25 am
      
      funny, i read about it in the news. For a few days actually.
      
      Maybe you should increase the number or news outlet you look at. You seem to have boxed yourself into a corner where it seems you don’t get the information you think you need.
    - James 4.2.1.3
      
      15 August 2018 at 9:03 am
      
      That’s because Eddie – you (according to your own post a while back) stopped reading / watching most of NZ’s MSM.
      
      Just because the 2 conspirator YouTube channels and a mad bugger in the UK you watch didn’t mention it – dosnt mean the rest of the world didn’t.
      
      that’s the problem when your head is buried in the sand so far. And yet you still ignore all the people that tell you you are wrong.
      
      Sad.
    - joe90 4.2.1.4
      
      15 August 2018 at 12:40 pm
      
      There was very little coverage in New Zealand.
      
      Why do you lie?
      
      https://screenshots.firefox.com/QDv5uaQooAIPObuo/www.google.com
  - Siobhan 4.2.2
    
    15 August 2018 at 12:11 pm
    
    I just Googled ‘My Big Toe’ and got 421,000,000 results.
    25,200,000 results in Google News, but i doubt any of those results do justice to my big toe.
    
    Really you would have to search within a news site to ascertain whether the coverage was ‘equal’ or well covered or did justice to the event ie..timing of piece after event, length of piece, context/message in headline and article, position in the News order/cycle of the day, longevity in the News cycle.
    - Ed 4.2.2.1
      
      15 August 2018 at 9:45 pm
      
      Thank you Siobhan.
      The story was covered minimally.
      Maybe it was buried in websites ; it was nowhere near the headlines.
  - Ed 4.2.3
    
    15 August 2018 at 9:48 pm
    
    Did you listen to Mediawatch this week?
    
    “Media in the middle of free speech frenzies; echoes of the past in fake news row; Stormy Daniels vs Yemen – no contest.”
    
    https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018657725/mediawatch-for-12-august-2018
- Herodotus 4.3
  
  15 August 2018 at 8:40 am
  
  Ed, the children killed in the bus was a leading news item over the last few days.
  https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2018/08/saudi-airstrike-hits-bus-of-children-killing-dozens.html
  - james 4.3.1
    
    15 August 2018 at 10:30 am
    
    Facts – Proving Ed wrong yet again.
    - Bewildered 4.3.1.1
      
      15 August 2018 at 4:23 pm
      
      Ed is more interested in the daily views of a mad uk cat fancier
      - Ed 4.3.1.1.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 9:53 pm
        
        Shooting the messenger is a favourite right wing attack.
        It saves having an actual argument.
  - Ed 4.3.2
    
    15 August 2018 at 9:49 pm
    
    Did you listen to Mediawatch this week?
    They agree with me.
  - Ed 4.3.3
    
    15 August 2018 at 9:51 pm
    
    Mediawatch would beg to differ with your opinion.
- Andre 4.4
  
  15 August 2018 at 8:56 am
  
  As others have pointed out, this incident has in fact been covered by mainstream media in New Zealand. Meanwhile, I’m aware of other incidents in the last few days of similar impact or worse elsewhere in the world that actually aren’t in the local media, that you aren’t highlighting either.
  
  Could it be, Ed, that your concern isn’t so much with the people affected by these incidents, but maybe, just maybe, more in finding an angle you can use to whine about the media?
  - Ed 4.4.1
    
    15 August 2018 at 9:48 pm
    
    Mediawatch looked at the minimal coverage of the Yemen war this week.
Ed 5

15 August 2018 at 6:57 am

Somerset retirement homes boss whinging facts they’re finding it hard to recruit nurses and cares on RNZ business and bleating that the government should let more foreign workers in.

The key question.
Why didn’t media puppet Gules Beckworth ask the obvious question?

“Why don’t you pay your workers more?”

RNZ has become a tool of neoliberalism.
- Patricia Bremner 5.1
  
  15 August 2018 at 7:33 am
  
  Ed, according to a family member, they under employ lots of staff on a casual basis, and pay the least amount possible. They want staff who do not know their rights.
  - Ed 5.1.1
    
    15 August 2018 at 8:02 am
    
    Yes, that sounds about for the age ‘care’ profiteers.
    Richie McCaw invests heavily in this industry, doesn’t he?
    What a guy.
    - marty mars 5.1.1.1
      
      15 August 2018 at 8:25 am
      
      wtf your smearing sneering of people you know little about shows you are acting out of touch and nasty. Not cool.
      - mauī 5.1.1.1.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 10:45 am
        
        Well it seems Ed is correct that he is an investor. The sneer seems a valid one to me.
        
        marty mars 5.1.1.1.1.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 10:51 am
        
        But why bring him into it – there is no good reason. There isn’t even a connection other than the tenuous investor one – how many investors? Prob ed and you too if you’re in kiwisaver. All it did was dilute eds argument – he just shot his own foot off but its okay he’ll take the other one off tomorrow and they keep growing back.
        
        solkta …
        
        15 August 2018 at 8:40 pm
        
        they keep growing back
        
        he’s a fucking lizard.
        
        Ed 5.1.1.1.1.2
        
        15 August 2018 at 9:22 pm
        
        Evidence.
        McCaw is a heavy investor in a crooked underpaying industry.
        
        “All Black captain Richie McCaw has been planning for retirement by investing in the aged-care industry. McCaw has a sizeable portfolio in the aged-care sector, and owns between 1 and 5 per cent in around 13 aged-care homes around New Zealand.”
        
        “Companies Office records show McCaw first invested in retirement homes in the mid-2000s, jointly with a company called Banco Trustees Limited. He took out a 1 per cent stake in Oakwoods Lifecare and Ashwood Park Lifecare in 2012, before taking a stake in Bainlea House retirement facility in Rangiora last year. McCaw’s manager, Dean Hegan, told the Herald on Sunday the player preferred not to speak about his personal investments.”
        
        https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11203208
        
        mauī …
        
        16 August 2018 at 8:07 am
        
        Thank you Ed, your points are always relevant. If only we had a great leader on the pitch who would call out these horrid corporates…
    - James 5.1.1.2
      
      15 August 2018 at 9:05 am
      
      What a guy indeed. Richie for PM !
      - Bewildered 5.1.1.2.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 4:29 pm
        
        Yep certainly done more for nz than Ed raging and raving on his keyboard, and not just services to rugby
        
        Ed 5.1.1.2.1.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 9:15 pm
        
        When I say something that enrages James and Belidered, I must be saying something correct.
        Happy to amend my statement if you can disprove my assertion about McCaws heavy investment in the retirement industry?
        Or is McCaw God and cannot be critiqued.
        Our irrational fawning of sports players is an embarrassment.
- Gabby 5.2
  
  15 August 2018 at 1:12 pm
  
  Sniggering Guyno asked the GoBus guy what their profits were last year. ‘Commercially sensitive’ spluttered GoBusGuy.
Sanctuary 6

15 August 2018 at 7:17 am

“…The key question.
Why didn’t media puppet Gules Beckworth ask the obvious question?

“Why don’t you pay your workers more..?”

Gullible Giles is a bit of a lightweight.
- Ed 6.1
  
  15 August 2018 at 7:20 am
  
  He is a careerist. He is ambitious for Giles Beckworth.
  So he won’t ask any difficult questions.
  He won’t bite the hand that feeds him.
  He is a corporate lackey.
  - Bewilderd 6.1.1
    
    15 August 2018 at 4:27 pm
    
    Get out of Wrong side of bed this morning Edward, breath deep and chill
Adrian Thornton 7

15 August 2018 at 8:01 am

Corbyn hatchet job rolls on and on and on….

Thankfully Corbyn is finally pushing back, and getting pissed off (in his mild way)…about time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-95TdSUG_k
- Ed 7.1
  
  15 August 2018 at 8:04 am
  
  Netanyahu tweeting against Corbyn shows up how corrupt the 100 Labour MPs are.
  - indiana 7.1.1
    
    15 August 2018 at 4:38 pm
    
    After watching the video, If he was there for the conference – imbalanced as it was by the description of who the attendees were – he could have politely refused attending the reef laying ceremony. As much as he tries to sugar coat it by saying he is paying respect the Tunisia incident, he didn’t do anything to disassociate the Black September members from the reef laying event.
    - Ed 7.1.1.1
      
      15 August 2018 at 8:21 pm
      
      Attacked by Indiana and Netanyahu.
      Corbyn’s position gets stronger and stronger.
      - indiana 7.1.1.1.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 11:01 pm
        
        Define attacked. Are the people mocking him twitter also attacking him?
- marty mars 7.2
  
  15 August 2018 at 9:00 am
  
  His enemies have found a seam to dig or unpick depending upon your simile. I hope he weathers the course and keeps his powder dry for when it will be most useful.
Carolyn_Nth 8

15 August 2018 at 8:12 am

Some jaw-dropping neo-fashism from an Australian Senator. He invokes the “final solution” in a speech calling for European immigrants only, and especially NOT Muslims.

An Australian crossbench senator has invoked the term “the final solution” in an inflammatory speech calling for a plebiscite asking voters whether they want to end all immigration by Muslims and non-English speaking people “from the third world”.

Fraser Anning, formerly of the far-right Pauline Hanson One Nation party, and now a member of the Katter’s Australia party, used his maiden speech in the Senate to call for “a plebiscite to allow the Australian people to decide whether they want wholesale non-English speaking immigrants from the third world, and particularly whether they want any Muslims”.

He also invoked the white Australia policy, suggesting Australians may want “to return to the predominately European immigration policy of the pre-Whitlam consensus”.
…
“The final solution to the immigration problem, of course, is a popular vote.”
AsleepWhileWalking 9

15 August 2018 at 8:27 am

Submission deadline for TPPA / ISDS or whatever they call it now.

From https://mailchi.mp/3d55f13eca4f/stop-the-spread-of-isds-the-trade-for-all-agenda-and-a-hui-in-october?e=cd0f40e640

“Please make a submission to the select committee before Friday 17 August in support of an amendment to stop the spread of ISDS beyond the current 11 signatories. Already several countries have expressed interest in joining, so Parliament must prevent New Zealand from backsliding deeper into this discredited system by transforming the anti-ISDS policy of the present Government into a binding commitment under domestic law.

Tell the select committee: “I continue to oppose the TPPA, no matter what it is called, and I support an amendment to stop the spread of ISDS.”

https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/document/52SCFD_SCF_BILL_78569/trans-pacific-partnership-agreement-cptpp-amendment-bill
marty mars 10

15 August 2018 at 8:29 am

Kia kaha teachers – good luck to all today, stay safe. BEEP BEEP beep beep beeeep!!!
- Carolyn_Nth 10.1
  
  15 August 2018 at 8:30 am
  
  Yep.
- Ed 10.2
  
  15 August 2018 at 8:32 am
  
  Beep! Beep!
marty mars 11

15 August 2018 at 8:35 am

This will be trouble I think – hot and bothered trouble.

“Several more warm years could be on the way, if a new statistical temperature forecasting system turns out to be accurate.

The system predictsi it’ll be unusually warm from this year until 2022, even without including the impact of climate change.”

https://i.stuff.co.nz/science/106247117/get-ready-nz-for-a-yearslong-warm-spell
dV 12

15 August 2018 at 8:36 am

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/106213327/woman-fired-after-speaking-out-about-rough-sleeper-assault-at-work

This woman was badly injured in a pharmacy she worked at by a rough sleeper.

She talked to the press about her ordeal.

Then she was FIRED because she was bringing the company into disrepute!!!

When contacted by phone, Tominari the owner hung up. He and Lo later responded to an email request for comment with the threat of legal action.

“If you mention any of our details on your news outlet, we will be taking legal action against you and Nikki Denley. (The person attacked)

Who brought their company into disrepute by NOT supporting their worker.

I wonder if they should be prosecuted for not providing a safe place to work!!
- dukeofurl 12.1
  
  15 August 2018 at 9:01 am
  
  What low life, not supporting an employee.
  I see they thought they could heavy the local newspaper too.
  Thats not going to work.
- marty mars 12.2
  
  15 August 2018 at 9:04 am
  
  Yeah I saw that – hopefully the law and the natural justice, of choosing to give business or not to those shops, will prevail.
- Jimmy 12.3
  
  15 August 2018 at 9:46 am
  
  I hope she ends up getting a good payout from the Pharmacy for wrongful dismissal as she wouldn’t want to work for them again. The pharmacy will hopefully get a public back lash as well for the way they treated her. Just wrong.
  - dukeofurl 12.3.1
    
    15 August 2018 at 11:20 am
    
    Older customers are staples of any pharmacys prescription business.
    Just set up a car outside with a few signs in the windows and presto an instant settlement of her medical costs and personal grievance.
  - greywarshark 12.3.2
    
    15 August 2018 at 1:32 pm
    
    From the link:
    The Christchurch woman received a broken finger, post-traumatic stress disorder and later suffered a heart attack. She was dismissed from her job at ….o Pharmacy on Colombo St after she shared her story with Stuff.
    
    Nikki Denley, who was the retail manager at the store, was working one June day when a large man entered the store a couple hours before closing time.
Tricledrown 13

15 August 2018 at 8:50 am

Round up maker wheels out same old false science to protect its poison.
While internal memos admitting rounddup causes cancer and corruption of govt officials tabled at trials.
Deflecting and Bullying is how they deal with the real science
- greywarshark 13.1
  
  15 August 2018 at 1:33 pm
  
  I thought it sold to Bayer?
Kevin 14

15 August 2018 at 8:58 am

Now that the hysteria has died down a bit. A more balanced take on the Jeremy Corbyn ‘antisemitism’ furore…

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/14/corbyn-wreath-terror-victims-memorial-israel-palestinian
- marty mars 14.1
  
  15 August 2018 at 9:09 am
  
  Strong article showing the blatant hypocrisy of the atacks on Jeremy.
- Bearded Git 14.2
  
  15 August 2018 at 10:07 am
  
  The Corbyn interview video above says it all-well worth watching.
Gosman 15

15 August 2018 at 9:21 am

Apparently Socialism isn’t about improving the material well being of the poor but their ‘dignity’. Good to know that. I wonder if improved dignity helps with coping with hyperinflation….

https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/13999
- KJT 15.1
  
  15 August 2018 at 2:41 pm
  
  Paula Bennett giving the poor, the “dignity” of benefit sanctions to force them into McJobs, working better. Eh?
Muttonbird 16

15 August 2018 at 9:35 am

The trout is now going after Tova O’Brien. What happened to all this bluster from the Nats about the sanctity of the media and how they must not be politically pressured?

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/08/a-pathetic-attack-judith-collins-wants-to-know-who-leaked-simon-bridges-expenses.html

The hypocrisy is strong in the trout.
- Puckish Rogue 16.1
  
  15 August 2018 at 9:54 am
  
  Well she (of course) has a point:
  
  “You guys are great – you come along and ask us who did it when you know who did it,” Ms Collins said when Garner asked if she knew who had leaked the information.
  
  “I don’t know who did it,” Garner said, to which Ms Collins replied, “Tova does”.
  
  Garner later asked O’Brien if she knows who leaked the information to her, to which she said “no comment”.
  
  The media are very important for democracy but they also need to be held to account like anyone else
  - arkie 16.1.1
    
    15 August 2018 at 10:00 am
    
    The media weren’t given the information by no-one, and they have a right to keep their sources secret. If they have been given information why would they not publish it? The question is who gave it to them, and trying to turn it on the journo’s isn’t a great look ‘for democracy’.
    - Puckish Rogue 16.1.1.1
      
      15 August 2018 at 10:10 am
      
      The media have a lot of power so they also need their own checks and balances
      - McFlock 16.1.1.1.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 1:34 pm
        
        Which they have.
        
        Collins almost persuaded me it probably wasn’t her – although she’s ballsy enough to put O’Brien on the spot – and to then make a complaint if it results in her being outed as the source, lol
        
        Puckish Rogue 16.1.1.1.1.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 2:02 pm
        
        I still go with human error in this case
        
        McFlock …
        
        15 August 2018 at 2:30 pm
        
        if everyone in caucus got everyone’s info, how does only Bridges’ stuff accidentally end up with a reporter?
        
        Puckish Rogue …
        
        15 August 2018 at 3:15 pm
        
        Thats why I like investigations, we’ll know what happened then
        
        McFlock …
        
        15 August 2018 at 4:06 pm
        
        And they buy time to forget the more optious likelihoods
        
        Puckish Rogue …
        
        15 August 2018 at 4:07 pm
        
        Well more like it’ll (hopefully) stop rumours spreading about what may, or may not, have happened 🙂
        
        McFlock …
        
        15 August 2018 at 4:24 pm
        
        That’ll only happen if someone gets pinged red-handed.
        
        I’d like to think whomever it was will have learned from previous instances (just out of general principle), but, well…
        
        Puckish Rogue …
        
        15 August 2018 at 4:27 pm
        
        Thats why I don’t think Jude, who is by all accounts a pretty good lawyer, was involved…or at least it won’t be able to be proven
        
        McFlock …
        
        15 August 2018 at 4:33 pm
        
        never underestimate the power of hubris to be one’s downfall
  - Sabine 16.1.2
    
    15 August 2018 at 10:03 am
    
    so someone in the National Party has a hard time keeping their mouth shut, and don’t like to fall in line behind a expensive and incompetent leader and it is the media that needs to be held to account.
    
    bless your cotton socks.
    - Puckish Rogue 16.1.2.1
      
      15 August 2018 at 10:09 am
      
      Could just as easily be human error as well but you don’t think the media needs to have the spotlight on them every now and then?
      - Sabine 16.1.2.1.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 10:32 am
        
        of course it is human error. Someone in the National Party erred err went to a journalist and said :oh lookit here, the incompetent, boring as, good for nothing Leader of the No Mates Party has traveled the country for three month, costing over 1000$ a day, racking up 100.000 $ for his three month tax paid vacation while achieving fuck all.
        
        I can see why you would want to blame the media for reporting this.
        
        Puckish Rogue 16.1.2.1.1.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 11:32 am
        
        Ackshully I want a through investigation done so if someone did leak it they can be punished appropriately
        
        Sabine …
        
        15 August 2018 at 11:34 am
        
        yep, lets waste some more taxpayer money because the Party with no Mates can’t keep its own people to behave.
        
        Vote National, cause someone has to waste Taxpayers Dollars.
        
        bwaghorn …
        
        15 August 2018 at 12:09 pm
        
        We’re you concerned about leeks when Winstons over payments were leaked.
        
        Puckish Rogue …
        
        15 August 2018 at 12:22 pm
        
        I want that thoroughly investigated as well
        
        Sabine …
        
        15 August 2018 at 12:29 pm
        
        bwahahahahahahahahah hahahahahahah
        
        Puckish Rogue …
        
        15 August 2018 at 12:30 pm
        
        Why is that funny to you? I’ve been pretty up front about my belief that things should be investigated and the appropriate punishments meted out, to anyone
        
        Bewildered []
        
        15 August 2018 at 4:36 pm
        
        Don’t worry about old Sabine it’s her stock response, she seem to think it is funny or a withering insult, yes dear is her other one , Just hold on a little longer the latter won’t be far away, she really is a bore and yawn, with a few anger issues
        
        bwaghorn …
        
        15 August 2018 at 12:31 pm
        
        Fortunately Winstons lawyers are searching the dark heart of national as we speak then a?
        
        Puckish Rogue …
        
        15 August 2018 at 12:33 pm
        
        How exactly is that going, its been a bit quiet don’t you think
        
        Robert Guyton …
        
        15 August 2018 at 12:43 pm
        
        National has a heart ?
        
        Puckish Rogue …
        
        15 August 2018 at 4:13 pm
        
        Don’t know about National but St Jude the Lovely has a massive heart, a heart so full it overflows with all the love and joy anyone could ever want and all you have to do to recieve this love is accept her as your saviour and then you too can walk in the light and love of J.C and all your sins (and there are many Robert) will be washed away and you”l be reborn a better person, a more intelligent person…a National voter
        
        Praise the Jude, praise her!
  - Gabby 16.1.3
    
    15 August 2018 at 1:18 pm
    
    How does Big Judee know Tova does puckers?
    - Puckish Rogue 16.1.3.1
      
      15 August 2018 at 1:32 pm
      
      Well Tova broke the story so presumably she knows who passed on the information.
      - McFlock 16.1.3.1.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 1:37 pm
        
        unless it came in an envelope, maybe.
        
        Really, all a reporter needs to know is “does the source have a good record” and “does the information check out”. The leaker could have a consistent handle rather than be exchanging spreadsheets over lunch.
        
        Puckish Rogue 16.1.3.1.1.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 2:02 pm
        
        Well that is a possibility, best be checking any and all CCTVs then 🙂
        
        Robert Guyton …
        
        15 August 2018 at 2:17 pm
        
        Yes. Jude has a very distinctive gait.
        
        OnceWasTim …
        
        15 August 2018 at 2:43 pm
        
        And makeup that even the worst facial recognition teknoljy couldn’t wink the hood off going forward.
        Now, as for Pulla Bent, that’s a different story. There’s a total re-imaging and re-imagining. I’m wondering whether the gNatz are thinking of an automaton swapout going forward. Soimon out Pulla in. The logic circuits aren’t that different. Swap a NAND for a NOR and Bob’s your auntie
        
        McFlock …
        
        15 August 2018 at 2:32 pm
        
        could nat paranoia be why all the post boxes are being taken away? lol
        
        Puckish Rogue …
        
        15 August 2018 at 3:14 pm
        
        Its not paranoia if they really are out to get you…
- marty mars 16.2
  
  15 August 2018 at 10:11 am
  
  Lol she doth protest too loudly (d) methinks next she’ll be wailing, gnashing her teeth and pulling wildly at her hair. Oscar contender for sure.
- bwaghorn 16.3
  
  15 August 2018 at 12:06 pm
  
  Garner is as thick as two short planks some days . collins played him like a fiddle this morning letting the eye brows spread suspicion in every direction .
marty mars 17

15 August 2018 at 9:35 am

Who’s singing this song in the gnats today?

‘Friends all tried to warn me
But I held my head up high
All the time they warned me
But I only passed them by
They all tried to tell me
But I guess I didn’t care
I turned my back and
Left them standing there
All the burning bridges that have fallen after me
All the lonely feelings and the burning memories
Everyone I left behind each time I closed the door
Burning bridges lost forevermore..’
Bill 18

15 August 2018 at 9:43 am

So, on the one hand we have researchers from the French National Centre for Scientific Research producing a model (paper here) that seems very good at predicting the occurrence of natural cycles that boost or dampen the general upward trend of global temperature.

As the principal researcher puts it (from The Guardian)-

“Natural variability is a wriggle around the freight train that is global warming,” he says. “On a human scale, it is what we feel. What we don’t always feel is global warming. As a scientist, this is frightening because we don’t consider it enough. All we can do it give people information and let them make up their own mind.”

[…] Sévellec says the statistical upward nudge from natural variation this year is twice as great of that of long-term global warming. Next year, it is likely to be three times higher.

There is no “other hand”…

This is the deal we’ve dealt ourselves.

Meanwhile, NOAA is throwing around a 70% chance of El Nino* conditions becoming dominant within the coming months

*La Niña is sometimes referred to as the cold phase of ENSO and El Niño as the warm phase of ENSO
- Exkiwiforces 18.1
  
  15 August 2018 at 5:15 pm
  
  Did have a look at this article from the ABC News website which I posted late last night?
  
  http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-14/southern-annular-mode-and-how-it-affects-our-weather/10106134
Bearded Git 19

15 August 2018 at 10:15 am

This is why the Conservatives are scared witless of an election any time soon in the UK-spontaneous Oh Jeremy Corbyn chant a few days ago.

https://www.thecanary.co/uk/2018/08/14/the-mainstream-media-would-probably-rather-you-didnt-see-this-clip-of-thousands-chanting-for-jeremy-corbyn/

Bojo and Brexit may conspire to see Corbyn as PM before the end of the year hopefully.
- KJT 19.1
  
  15 August 2018 at 2:44 pm
  
  Sounds like the “left” wing establishment in the UK are even more terrified.
  
  End of the cosy tweedledum tweedledee of right wing and less right wing which ensures nothing really changes. And the roll back of a functional society continues.
Ad 20

15 August 2018 at 10:46 am

President Trump is dumber than a sack of hammers.

Now that he has put steel and aluminium tariffs on Turkey and as a result tanked their currency, he has also stopped the transfer of 100 F-35 fighter jets.

Now sure I have no time for Turkey’s autocratic and militant Erdogan, but surely even Trump would understand these actions are going to put Turkey straight into the arms of Iran and Russia?

I cannot believe that even Trump would willingly seek to get a NATO member to leave and join the opposition.

Turkey jailed the American pastor, Andrew Brunson, almost two years ago in a widespread crackdown that followed a military coup attempt. Ankara maintains that Brunson, who has lived in Turkey for more than 20 years, had ties to the plotters.

Cue catastrophic overreaction.

Trump is just flat stupid.
- Sabine 20.1
  
  15 August 2018 at 11:11 am
  
  What about Trump would make you believe that he would
  
  not get a Nato member to leave and Join Russia?
  not do something that would benefit Russia?
  not fuck up every system, process, and alliance in place to day to replace it with something bigly bigly and tremendously beautiful?
  
  what precisely do you think they discussed in Helsinki? Borscht and Russian Tea? Tolstoy? The availability of pretty young girls to old creepy farts like they are?
  
  oh dear!
  - Ad 20.1.1
    
    15 August 2018 at 11:54 am
    
    Russia, Iran, and Turkey have a close and growing diplomatic relationship.
    
    https://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2018/04/09/turkey-russia-iran-determined-to-retain-alliance-at-all-costs
    - Sabine 20.1.1.1
      
      15 August 2018 at 11:57 am
      
      yes.
      
      And i did not say anything contrary to it. So what was your point again?
      - Ad 20.1.1.1.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 12:21 pm
        
        Your comment was a series of purely rhetorical questions with no apparent content.
        
        So it was simply best to add an actual fact in there.
        
        Sabine 20.1.1.1.1.1
        
        15 August 2018 at 12:36 pm
        
        no my comment was a series of options to your comment.
        
        Options.
        
        and you know as little about actual facts then anyone else considering that Trump can’t speak the truth, but will only speak what he considers the truth of the day.
        You can’t offer facts in regards to the meeting in Helsinki unless you were one of the translators.
        You can’t offer facts in regards to what Trump is doing re Turkey, he might as well only be in this pissing match for shits n giggles.
        
        So again, i gave you some options as to why Trump is doing what Trump does.
        
        AS for your facts – Russia, Turkey, Iran, you forgot the elephant in the room, China. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/08/13/trump-risks-creating-unholy-axis-sanctioned-turkey-iran-china/
        
        Dennis Frank …
        
        15 August 2018 at 2:54 pm
        
        Trump “will only speak what he considers the truth of the day.” Technical correction required here: moment. Big difference tween day & moment.
        
        Sabine …
        
        15 August 2018 at 4:26 pm
        
        🙂
        
        Ad …
        
        15 August 2018 at 3:10 pm
        
        The facts provided in my link covered an actual meeting that occurred recently, about an actual alliance, with three real leaders from named countries.
        
        The US has put steel and aluminium sanctions on Turkey.
        The US has stopped the transfer of the F-35s to Turkey.
        The US is stepping up diplomatic pressure on Turkey.
        The US has caused the tanking oft he Turkish currency.
        
        Those are actual facts.
        
        Whatever your “options” are meant to be , they don’t help any meaningful conversation.
        
        There is simply no evidence that China is intervening in Turkey.
        
        Sabine …
        
        15 August 2018 at 4:34 pm
        
        Iran, China is very interested in Iran.
        
        https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/12/01/asia-pacific/chinas-investments-iran-surge-coming-western-nations-flounder/
        
        https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2146768/china-tipped-profit-after-donald-trump-quits-iran
        
        https://thediplomat.com/2017/02/us-sanctions-on-iran-good-or-bad-news-for-china/
        
        https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/08/china-a-major-iran-oil-importer-would-resist-any-us-sanctions.html
        
        http://www.iran-daily.com/News/209117.html
        
        https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/25/world/middleeast/iran-china-business-ties.html
        
        and you still have not provided one fact as to why D. Trump would not want to see Turkey leave Nato.
        You have not provided one fact as to why Trump would not want an alignment of Russia, Turkey, Syria, etc and if only to fuck over the European Union.
        Heck he would like to align the US with Russia or at least pretend he would like it.
        
        You also believe that Trump does the shit he does because he is stupid. I would not do that. I consider Trump to be a hostage taker. He is in it for his own reasons, and he will use the office to hold other nations hostage until they give him in full what he wants for himself and his family. He could absolutly not give one poo about the shit hole US of A. Point being the company he keeps.
        That priest is just another grifter point towards the evangelic crowd. After all he needs people to vote for him again.
        
        Your facts and your imagination are lacking.
- Andre 20.2
  
  15 August 2018 at 11:14 am
  
  Or maybe you don’t understand the 53-dimensional chess he’s playing.
  
  Or maybe he really is in Pootee’s pocket.
  
  But yeah, Occam’s Razor strongly suggests the sack of hammers thing.
  - One Two 20.2.1
    
    15 August 2018 at 11:54 am
    
    OR doesn’t apply…
    
    The 53D chess game, is represented by variables which can’t be known…
    
    Trump is part of that chess game…by you…
    
    But sure…reckon he’s stupid…makes you feel smarter perhaps…
    - Andre 20.2.1.1
      
      15 August 2018 at 11:59 am
      
      “Hidden meaning exists as total acceptance of reality”
    - joe90 20.2.1.2
      
      15 August 2018 at 12:44 pm
      
      “Perceptual reality embraces an expression of mysteries”
- dukeofurl 20.3
  
  15 August 2018 at 11:17 am
  
  Arms of Iran and Russia ?
  First a Sunni and Turkish country isnt going to get close to a Shiite and persian country. The enmity goes back centuries. They are just as likey to get closer to Christian Greece…which is never.
  Russia is small cheese economically compared to ‘the west’ so maybe Putin will get some kudos but not much bigger than that. Putins whip hand is he can next support the Kurds after having saved Assads sorry ass, that would really scare Turkey.
  - Ad 20.3.1
    
    15 August 2018 at 12:25 pm
    
    Iran, Russia, and Turkey have been negotiating the rebuild and carve-up of Syria for a while. They did a three-day conference on it in April this year.
    
    So apart from oil, armaments, and rejection of US middle east influence, they have plenty of common ground to work on.
- KJT 20.4
  
  15 August 2018 at 2:46 pm
  
  If the USA had any principles left, they would not be supporting Erdogan, at all.
  
  Then they would have to withdraw support for Saudi Arabia, Haiti, and the many other repressive regimes, they have had a hand in installing.
veutoviper 21

15 August 2018 at 12:28 pm

Yesterday, Tues 14 August, the PM faced three questions rather than the normal one only usually from Simon Bridges, the Leader of the Opposition, namely:

Q1 Hon SIMON BRIDGES to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government’s statements and actions?

Q7 Hon PAULA BENNETT to the Prime Minister: Does her Government expect high standards from all Government departments and Ministers?

Q8 DAVID SEYMOUR to the Prime Minister: Is she aware of any Ministers in her Cabinet that support reducing the number of members of Parliament and removing the Māori seats; if so, who are those Ministers?

Today, Wednesday, 15 August, she again faces the same two questions from Bridges and Bennett – this time at Q2 and Q8 respectively.

IMO Bridges’ performance yesterday was pretty lacklustre as usual, and again his supplementary questions focused on the rights (or not) of union people to go into businesses to see union members as his questions last week did in relation to changes to employment law currently before the House. However, he did in fact actually manage one ad lib question as a result of a question raised by Winston Peters re police officers in hot pursuit of murderers:
https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/ondemand?itemId=202100 (7 mins)

Bennett’s supplementary questions yesterday focused on the inquiry into the appointment of the Deputy Commisioner of Police. Much as I am no fan of Bennett, her performance was professional and measured, with well thought out questions – eg on the TORs for the inquiry, whether the PM had confidence in Haumaha, and if she would not or could not express confidence in him, whether he should be stood down temporarily while the inquiry was carried out. There was no extravagant faces or waving hands etc. Bridges watched from alongside Bennett.
https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/ondemand?itemId=202108

But then less than half an hour later, Bennett put on the performance of her life as second speaker in the debate on the Appropriations (2018/19) Estimates Bill!

As I reported in this comment at 4.1.1.1.2.3 on OM yesterday, it was an absolute hoot – and I could not decide whether it was aimed at “I want to be Leader of the Opposition” or whether she is hoping for an Oscar!

The posing and confidence is OTT. LOL. Smacking the hands, hammering, counting off on her fingers, hands on hips – shes did it all. It smacks of some form of recent (theatrical) training. Its worth watching with or without sound! In fact without sound is best. ROFL.

I intended putting up the link last night but was otherwise occupied but marty mars’ comment at 16.2 above reminded me. Sorry marty mars, Collins would be hard pressed to beat this performance by Bennett. Well worth the few minutes it takes to watch it.

https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/ondemand?itemId=202114

Quite looking forward to seeing how she (and Bridges) perform again today.
- Janice 21.1
  
  15 August 2018 at 4:04 pm
  
  Thanks for that tip to watch with no sound, best laugh I have had for a while. I wonder how much training and learning she had to go through for that. Pity her party’s benches were so empty when she put on such an audition for leader. She seemed to have two lots of notes, one for speech and one for gestures, because she appeared to have lost her place at one point and kept thumping her fist into her hand while she frantically turned over pages.
  - veutoviper 21.1.1
    
    16 August 2018 at 5:49 pm
    
    I am pleased you enjoyed it too. LOL. And welcome as I don’t recall seeing you comment here before,
Pat 22

15 August 2018 at 12:38 pm

“Because Don Brash is not an abstraction. He is, to the consternation of many, very real. At least one of your grandparents probably voted for him to be the Prime Minister of our country. (Ed’s note: Grandparents? It was only 2005! And National got 39.1%, only a feather’s width behind Labour on 41.1%, so it may have been several family members)”

https://www.pundit.co.nz/content/is-don-brash-really-different-from-those-canadians

Ouch!
- veutoviper 22.1
  
  15 August 2018 at 1:09 pm
  
  Oh but look who it is – Liam Hehir, former Nat Party activist and now reporter for the Manawatu Stranded. LOL.
  
  He was on the Q & A Panel a week or so ago with John Tamihere and Dr Jennifer Curtin when I took a rare decision to watch Q & A, but was pretty forgettable.
  
  Hehir’s references to Mickysavage’s posts here on Molyneux and Southern may be of interest to some here.
  
  Which reminds me – did anyone see this where these two con artists are now asking the ticket holders to their non-event to not seek refunds and donate the money to S&M, as their favourite charity.
  
  https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/364039/stefan-molyneux-calls-for-donations-after-financial-blow-from-new-zealand-trip
  
  Also – http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/stefan-molyneux-lauren-southern-ask-kiwis-to-donate-money-after-cancelled-event/
  
  By the way, Russell Brown has had a post up at Public Address for about a week which provides a bit more information about the cancellation by the Powerstation of its use as a venue for the two Canadians and about various members of their entourage for anyone interested. These aspects are covered in the post itself and a couple of comments in the first one – two pages of the comments.
  https://publicaddress.net/hardnews/on-joining-the-international-troll-circuit/
  - Pat 22.1.1
    
    15 August 2018 at 1:39 pm
    
    well as you have noted the mention of MS in the article I have to assume you have read it so you will understand my confusion when you continue on in some detail about venues and donations when they are not the substance of the article nor address that substance….guess it may have been a bit much to expect
Fireblade 23

15 August 2018 at 1:45 pm

What a shocker. Calling a woman a crazed crying lowlife dog on twitter is a new low for the orange orangutan.

Donald J. Trump
@ realDonaldTrump 14h
When you give a crazed, crying lowlife a break, and give her a job at the White House, I guess it just didn’t work out. Good work by General Kelly for quickly firing that dog!
- Sabine 23.1
  
  15 August 2018 at 4:21 pm
  
  why would anyone be shocked?
  
  Was that not the reason all those people with economic anxiety voted for him?
- Andre 23.2
  
  15 August 2018 at 4:56 pm
  
  It’s just part of the show.
  
  “Though the explosive fight between these two heels may have a nugget of genuine, reciprocal anger and betrayal in the center, the cautious money is that it is almost entirely boob-bait for the easily gulled Trumpentariat, mere mummery and distraction from the widening gyre of legal, political, and economic trouble looming for the star of our national reality TV show.
  
  This week’s episode consists of the usual kayfabe, with secret recordings, presidential shitter-tweeted rage, and the apparatus of the president’s media sycophants turning their fire on another of Donald’s once-beloved now-reviled ex-besties.”
  
  https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-is-in-such-deep-sht-omarosa-is-almost-a-relief?ref=home
greywarshark 24

15 August 2018 at 1:56 pm

The Lord giveth and the Lord chooses to take away.
Waikato University started Maori tikanga as a separate study but now wants to merge it. More efficient no doubt. Better productivity. Students say it is unique.

2/12/2014 Actors pakeha ex PM Nat Jim Bolger and pakeha Prof [Neil] Quigley who has worldwide credentials so must be good, “to formulate and implement meaningful strategies to lift organisational performance.”” Where do old National Party politicians go to die? In elephants graveyeards? Is that what our universities are becoming,
where humans take second place to Science. Maori to go Humanities to go. People are so boring and unprofitable unless they are on sweatshop handouts.

University of Waikato Chancellor Rt Hon Jim Bolger says Professor Quigley has a real passion and enthusiasm for his work. “He’s held many senior roles at Victoria University and comes to us with an impressive track-record of academic and strategic leadership, and ability to formulate and implement meaningful strategies to lift organisational performance.”

Mr Bolger says Professor Quigley is well-placed to continue to build on the University of Waikato’s strong foundations. “We intend our next 50 years to cement the University of Waikato as a force in the region, the tertiary sector and the nation. Professor Quigley understands all the challenges facing the higher education sector and he will be a vital part of our future.”…

He holds several board and expert advisory group memberships; in particular he is a Director of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and also a Director of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority….

“I see even more potential for the University to develop its distinctive combination of partnership with iwi, commitment to an outstanding student experience, and excellence in teaching and research.”
https://www.waikato.ac.nz/news-events/media/2014/new-vice-chancellor-to-take-the-reins-at-university-of-waikato

te ao Maori
Waikato University staff, students protest plan to scrap Māori faculty
From Morning Report, 8:43 am today
Listen duration 3′ :21″
Students and staff at the University of Waikato are calling a proposal to scrap the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies a “white-streaming” of Māori issues. More than 80 people gathered in a peaceful protest yesterday over a re-structure which will see the faculty lose its status and fall under the Arts and Social Sciences division.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018658160/waikato-university-staff-students-protest-plan-to-scrap-maori-faculty
cleangreen 25

15 August 2018 at 4:08 pm

Using just a blood test to find evidence of chemical exposure is a false test and the chemicals can leave the blood within a little as 10 days to two weeks so no trace is then found as it has been stored in our (fat) ‘adipose’ tissues.

The adipose chemical analysis is the gold standard for ‘toxic tort’ chemical litigation; – and a blood test will fail to find the toxins the patient was exposed to.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018658159/toxic-foam-officials-back-down-allow-blood-testing

Radio New Zealand
RNZ

HEALTH 8:20 am today
Toxic foam: Officials back down, allow blood testing
From Morning Report, 8:20 am today
Share this
“Community pressure has pushed officials into a backdown on blood testing for people caught up in the firefighting foam contamination in Manawatu. Not only will locals get easier access to testing for the chemicals PFOS and PFOA but now their blood will be stored if they give the OK, to enable long-term research.”

This is a false test that will show little toxins in any blood test.

I was poisoned also in Canada and to prove the same chemicals were in my body they first did a blood test which showed no poisoning of the same chemical in my blood.

Then two toxoclogists recommended to my Doctor to get “a tisue sample test for this chemical and they took a small square piece of my adipose fat tissue around my thigh and the chemicl that I was poiisoned with was found to be stored in my fat tissues and not in my blood as most chemicals leave the blood within 14 days to six weeks the toxicologists said so this ‘blood test’ will be a meaningless waste of time and hope.

I recomend that these folks all ask for a ‘adipose tissue’ (fat) chemical analysis done at “Accucem Laboratory in Texas the same laboratory that proved my chemical poisoning had occurred.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00216-004-2558-5

Abstract
“Test systems to screen for estrogenicity and appropriate biomarkers of human exposure are required for epidemiological studies of endocrine disruption. We addressed these issues by developing and standardising a method to assess the total estrogenic xenobiotic burden in human adipose tissue. In this study, which is the continuation of a previous work, we have improved the protocol for extensive fractionation of a higher number of tissue samples in order to investigate bioaccumulated xenoestrogens that are candidates for estrogenicity and to assess their combined estrogenic effect. This was achieved by extensive HPLC separation of xenoestrogens from endogenous hormones followed by testing of individual fractions in the E-Screen test for estrogenicity. Organochlorine pesticides, PCBs and halogenated bisphenols and alkylphenols were collected in the most lipophilic fractions, followed by progestins, androgens and estradiol esters, and then by steroidal estrogens; phyto- and myco-estrogens were collected around the end of the run. These results were confirmed by exhaustive chemical analysis. In 458 human adipose tissue samples, the total effective xenoestrogen burden was positive in 75% of samples in the pooled fraction that contained organohalogenated xenoestrogens (mean 515.3 pM Eeq/g lipid; range 0–14.5 nM) and in 82% of samples in the pooled fraction where natural estrogens eluted (mean 696.6 pM Eeq/g lipid; range 0–12.9 nM). Organochlorine pesticides emerged as candidate chemicals for the estrogenicity of the first pooled fraction, because DDT and derivatives were present in 98.3% of the samples. However, no correlation was found between the concentration of any single chemical and the estrogenicity determined in the bioassay. There may be several reasons for this lack of concordance: (i) the estrogenic effects depicted in the E-Screen bioassay are a consequence of the combined effect of several organohalogens or (ii) the proliferative effect is due to other chemicals not measured. Because additive, synergistic or antagonistic mechanisms may account for the final effect observed in the pooled fractions, the approach proposed in this work is more appropriate for exposure assessment in epidemiological studies than the determination of individual chemicals in human samples.”
eco maori 26

16 August 2018 at 8:30 am

Good morning Newshub The professor John is correct we need to slow down OUR alcohol consumption down teach te mokopuna’s that its ok to have a couple of drinks and that its stupid to have 12 drinks this will save a lot of lives and mone .
Many thank’s to the Government for passing a law making it so only Kiwi’s can buy houses or property the stats are not showing the true foreign amout of foreign buy’s%
also tangata whenua would be exclude from buying house’s in 20 years if there were no changes . This law change is part on national security Big mone could shut most Kiwi’s out of the market they pay more for the property than Kiwi farmers can earn from the property to service a mortgage viably even with capital gain’s include in the math Many Thanks to OUR government .
I’m staying out of the teacher’s debate .
Getting ride of single use plastic bag’s is just the start of OUR movement to a environmentally sustainable Aotearoa and Papatuanuku we have to change OUR whole way of thinking and life . Ka kite ano .
eco maori 27

16 August 2018 at 9:50 am

This is amazes me we have all the evangelicals that hold onto there bible’s and they back a society systems that doesn’t care for all the people in there society .
The wealthy have impunity they can basically do what ever break laws and use the mountains of money to get off crimes and bend the laws of the land to give them more money .Im sure that there Bibles have scripts that say that that behavior is a sin in the bibles values .They think its ok to have people dying on the streets or being killed by armies around the world . Eco Maori tau toko
Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts senator tiped Democratic presidential candidate in 2020, has unveiled new plans for legislation aimed at reining in big corporations, redistributing wealth, and giving workers and local communities a bigger say. The link is below

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/15/elizabeth-warren-accountable-capitalism-act-richest-companies Ka kite ano
eco maori 28

16 August 2018 at 12:50 pm

I dissagree with this person’s distraction on the real issue’s of human obesity he is most likely payed from someone who is part of the sugar industry for his distorted reality. So be it that’s the way of Papatuanuku at the minute .
The Big Picture is that sugar is the main cause of OUR obesity problems full stop .
Look at all the negative storys on salt about it beening bad for heart problem’s.
The thing about the salt industry is 2 to 3 company’s can not take control of salt why because we can just get seawater evaporate the water and walar we have salt and because of this fact we get to hear all the true facts about salt .
With the sugar industry 2 to 3 players control the product and control the fact’s and story’s that get published about sugar its a bad product that should be taxed out of reach of the common poor tangata of Papatuanuku link below ka kite ano
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/15/age-of-obesity-shaming-overweight-people

We’re in a new age of obesity. How did it happen? You’d be surprised
George Monbiot
George Monbiot P.S Its about how easy it is to consume 2200 calories now with all the sugar in our food and drinks compared to yesteryear’s
eco maori 29

16 August 2018 at 5:06 pm

Look’s like the Judges hand out warrants to the{ undercover sandfly YEA RIGHT ] at there wim I just sent a email to the ceo of the Rotorua hosptial and got 1 phone call and nothing I will forward my complaint to the Health & Disability Commissioner and Eco Maori will see how second class people are treated in New Zealand this will all go towards my Waitangi Tribunal court case thank you sandflys for more evidance muppets
Ka kite ano P.S mean while my moko is still in pain I just want the Rotorua Hosptial to do there Job and scan her kidneys
eco maori 30

16 August 2018 at 5:35 pm

A link to back up my claims of warrents being handed out to cover there m8 ass the 00.1 % and the sandflys link below Ka kite ano

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/106019115/jonathan-milne-why-this-gagging-order-is-a-bridge-too-far Ana to kai
eco maori 31

16 August 2018 at 5:51 pm

More links about the 00.1 % making the laws to protect them first and for most’s
Link Below Ka kite ano

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/105975362/law-society-superinjunction-overturned-allowing-disclosure-of-sexual-harassment-case ana to kai
eco maori 32

16 August 2018 at 6:41 pm

Good evening Newshub I agree that the government and Opposition party should work together to fix our construction industry .
Wow some people have know morels or respect of our old people the assault of people in rest homes is shocking .
Lets hope we don’t get a bad fire season like what our Australian cousin are fighting at the minute hope no people are lost .
That was a good out come for the Whale in Chilly it got cut free of the ropes that were tangled in free willy from Chilly was it there Navy diver’s that did that great job ka pai.
Eco say’s that all the Navy’s and armed forces around Papatuanuku should be turned into conservationist and humanitarian work.
Ka kite ano P.S I try to keep my difficulties with the undercover sandfly’s tone down but this has been brewing all day
eco maori 33

16 August 2018 at 7:23 pm

The Crowd Goes Wild James & Makere That’s awesome that Steven Adam’s has a charity that looks after alot of mokopuna’s sports future aspirations Ka pai.
That’s cool wahine Rugby the fastest growing sport on Papatuanuku
Wairangi that was cool you and Steven playing basketball with the mokopuna’s
sports is good for there wairua .
P.S I thought Mark & Mull’s were going to start wrestling lol

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PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
2 days ago

Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
2 days ago

Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
2 days ago

Long Tunnel or Long Con?
Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
Greater AucklandBy Matt L
2 days ago

Smoke And Mirrors.
You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
2 days ago

What is Mexico doing about climate change?
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
Skeptical Science
2 days ago

State of humanity, 2024
2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
3 days ago

Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
3 days ago

The case for cultural connectedness
A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
3 days ago

Useful context on public sector job cuts
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated. While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
3 days ago

Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
3 days ago

Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
3 days ago

True Blue.
True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
3 days ago

Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
PolitikBy Richard Harman
3 days ago

2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
Skeptical Science
4 days ago

Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts
Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...
Gareth’s WorldBy admin
4 days ago

Or is that just they want us to think?
Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
4 days ago

Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
Skeptical Science
5 days ago

Arguing over a moot point.
I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading → ...
KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
5 days ago

No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
Turning Point: “What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
Bowalley Road
5 days ago

Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
5 days ago

Sad tales from the left
Michael Bassett writes – Have you noticed the odd way in which the media are handling the government’s crackdown on surplus employees in the Public Service? Very few reporters mention the crazy way in which State Service numbers rocketed ahead by more than 16,000 during Labour’s six years, ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
5 days ago

In Whose Best Interests?
On The Spot: The question Q+A host, Jack Tame, put to the Workplace & Safety Minister, Act’s Brooke van Velden, was disarmingly simple: “Are income tax cuts right now in the best interests of lowering inflation?”JACK TAME has tested another MP on his Sunday morning current affairs show, Q+A. Minister for Workplace ...
Bowalley Road
5 days ago

Don’t Question, Don’t Complain.
It has to start somewhereIt has to start sometimeWhat better place than here?What better time than now?So it turns out that I owe you all an apology.It seems that all of the terrible things this government is doing, impacting the lives of many, aren’t necessarily ‘bad’ per se. Those things ...
Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
5 days ago

Auckland faces 25% water inflation shock
Three Waters became a focus of anti-Government protests under Labour, but its dumping by the new Government hasn’t solved councils’ funding problems and will eventually hit the back pockets of everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 8:06 am today are:The Government ...
The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
5 days ago

Small accomplishments and large ironies
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Share Read more ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
5 days ago

The Song of Saqua: Volume VII
In order to catch up to the actual progress of the D&D campaign, I present you with another couple of sessions. These were actually held back to back, on a Monday and Tuesday evening. Session XV Alas, Goatslayer had another lycanthropic transformation… though this time, he ran off into the ...
A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
6 days ago

Accelerating the Growth Rate?
There is a constant theme from the economic commentariat that New Zealand needs to lift its economic growth rate, coupled with policies which they are certain will attain that objective. Their prescriptions are usually characterised by two features. First, they tend to be in their advocate’s self-interest. Second, they are ...
PunditBy Brian Easton
6 days ago

The only thing we have to fear is tenants themselves
1. Which of these acronyms describes the experience of travelling on a Cook Strait ferry?a. ROROb. FOMOc. RAROd. FMLAramoana, first boat ever boarded by More Than A Feilding, four weeks after the Wahine disaster2. What is the acronym for the experience of watching the government risking a $200 million break ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
6 days ago

Peters talks of NZ “renewing its connections with the world” – but who knew we had been discon...
Buzz from the Beehive The thrust of the country’s foreign affairs policy and its relationship with the United States have been addressed in four statements from the Beehive over the past 24 hours. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters somewhat curiously spoke of New Zealand “renewing its connections with a world ...
Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
6 days ago

Muldoonism, solar farms, and legitimacy
NewsHub had an article yesterday about progress on Aotearoa's largest solar farm, at "The Point" in the Mackenzie Country. 420MW, right next to a grid connection and transmission infrastructure, and next to dams - meaning it can work in tandem with them to maximise water storage. Its exactly the sort ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
6 days ago

NZTA does not know how much it spends on cones
Barrie Saunders writes – Astonishing as it may seem NZTA does not know either how much it spends on road cones as part of its Temporary Traffic Management system, or even how many companies it uses to supply and manage the cones. See my Official Information Act request ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
6 days ago

If this is Back on Track – let's not.
I used to want to plant bombs at the Last Night of the PromsBut now you'll find me with the baby, in the bathroom,With that big shell, listening for the sound of the sea,The baby and meI stayed in bed, alone, uncertainThen I met you, you drew the curtainThe sun ...
Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
6 days ago

Welfare: Just two timid targets from the National government
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The National Government has announced just two targets for the Ministry of Social Development. They are: – to reduce the number of people receiving Jobseeker Support by 50,000 to 140,000 by June 2029, and – (alongside HUD) to reduce the number of households in emergency ...
Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
6 days ago

The Hoon around the week to April 12
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale, along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, Merja Myllylahti on AUT’s trust in news report, Awhi’s Holly Bennett on a watered-down voluntary code for lobbyists, plus special guest Patrick Gower ...
The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
6 days ago

A Dead Internet?
Hi,Four years ago I wrote about a train engineer who derailed his train near the port in Los Angeles.He was attempting to slam thousands of tonnes of screaming metal into a docked Navy hospital ship, because he thought it was involved in some shady government conspiracy theory. He thought it ...
David FarrierBy David Farrier
6 days ago

Weekly Roundup 12-April-2024
Welcome back to another Friday. Here’s some articles that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Wednesday Matt looked at the latest with the Airport to Botany project. On Thursday Matt covered the revelation that Auckland Transport have to subsidise towing illegally parked cars. ...
Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
6 days ago

Weekly Roundup 12-April-2024
Welcome back to another Friday. Here’s some articles that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Wednesday Matt looked at the latest with the Airport to Botany project. On Thursday Matt covered the revelation that Auckland Transport have to subsidise towing illegally parked cars. ...
Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
6 days ago

Antarctic heat spike shocks climate scientists
A ‘Regime Shift’ could raise sea levels sooner than anticipated. Has a tipping point been triggered in the Antarctic? Photo: Juan Barreto/Getty Images TL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above that was recorded yesterday afternoon between and ...
The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
6 days ago

Skeptical Science New Research for Week #15 2024
Open access notables Global carbon emissions in 2023, Liu et al., Nature Reviews Earth & Environment Annual global CO2 emissions dropped markedly in 2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, decreasing by 5.8% relative to 2019 (ref. 1). There were hopes that green economic stimulus packages during the COVD crisis might mark the beginning ...
Skeptical Science
7 days ago

Everything will be just fine
In our earlier days of national self-loathing, we made a special place for the attitude derided as she’ll be right.You don't hear many people younger than age Boomer using that particular expression these days. But that doesn’t mean there are not younger people in possession of such an attitude.The likes of ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
7 days ago

Farmers and landlords are given news intended to lift their confidence – but the media must muse o...
Buzz from the Beehive People working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Todd McClay and his associates have been in recent days. But if they check out the Beehive website for a list of Melissa Lee’s announcements, pronouncements, speeches and what-have-you ...
Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
1 week ago

National’s war on renters
When the National government came into office, it complained of a "war on landlords". It's response? Start a war on renters instead: The changes include re-introducing 90-day "no cause" terminations for periodic tenancies, meaning landlords can end a periodic tenancy without giving any reason. [...] Landlords will now only ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
1 week ago

Drawn
A ballot for two Member's Bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Repeal of Good Friday and Easter Sunday as Restricted Trading Days (Shop Trading and Sale of Alcohol) Amendment Bill (Cameron Luxton) Consumer Guarantees (Right to Repair) Amendment Bill (Marama Davidson) The ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
1 week ago

At last some science
Ele Ludemann writes – Is getting rid of plastic really good for the environment? Substituting plastics with alternative materials is likely to result in increased GHG emissions, according to research from the University of Sheffield. The study by Dr. Fanran Meng from Sheffield’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
1 week ago

Something important: the curious death of the School Strike 4 Climate Movement
The Christchurch Mosque Massacres, Covid-19, deep political disillusionment, and the jealous cruelty of the intersectionists: all had a part to play in causing School Strike 4 Climate’s bright bubble of hope and passion to burst. But, while it floated above us, it was something that mattered. Something Important. ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
1 week ago

Release: Dark day for Kiwi kids as a third of Govt cuts affect them
News that 1000 jobs at the Ministry of Education and Oranga Tamariki could go is devastating for future generations of New Zealanders. ...
Labour Blog
1 day ago

Release: Alarm as Government signals further blow to school lunches
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Labour Blog
1 day ago

Release: Quick, submit – stop Govt’s dodgy approvals bill
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Labour Blog
2 days ago

Government throws coal on the climate crisis fire
The Government’s policy announced today to ease consenting for coal mining will have a lasting impact across generations. ...
Greens
2 days ago

Release: Public transport costs to double as National looks at unaffordable roading project instead
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
Labour Blog
3 days ago

Release: Cost of living in Auckland still not a priority
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Labour Blog
3 days ago

Greens look to fast-track submissions on harmful law
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
Greens
6 days ago

Release: Govt should stop making people’s lives harder and build more homes
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Labour Blog
7 days ago

Release: Melissa Lee missing in action on media
The action Melissa Lee promised to protect democracy and the media sector is missing, Media and Communications spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Landlord Government leaves little hope for renters
The Government’s announcement on tenancy rules prove that it does not care about renters. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Opportunity to build a more sustainable economy
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Significant step forward in fixing cruel and unjust past
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Missed opportunity but NZ will surely one day recognise the right to a sustainable environment
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Release: Don’t cut our lunches – clear message sent to Government
Tens of thousands of people are demanding the Government commits to fully funding free and healthy school lunches. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Release: Govt makes U-turn on Suicide Prevention Office
Labour welcomes the Government’s U-turn on the closure of the Suicide Prevention Office, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

CCC issues warning over further climate delay
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Luxon targets lame and lousy example of leadership
If talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Luxon targets are lousy example of leadership
If talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Release: Commitment to disability communities missing from Govt priorities
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Methane target review is dangerous duplication
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Release: Government must commit to school building project for disabled students
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Release: National must take mental health seriously
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Referendums for Māori wards a racist step backwards
The Government's imposed referendum on Māori wards is a racist step backwards for Māori representation, and disregards Te Tiriti o Waitangi. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Release: Job losses at Health not worth it for tax cuts
New Zealand will feel the harm of the National Government’s reckless cuts to jobs at the health ministry for generations, says Ayesha Verrall. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Press release: No Māori initiatives in Government’s nothing plan
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Thirty six point PR spin
The Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Thirty six point PR spin
The Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Thirty six point PR spin
The Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Release: Social housing off Government’s to-do list
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Release: Less money in most people’s pockets this April
Changes to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...
Labour Blog
3 weeks ago

Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 hours ago

Government backing mussel spat project
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 hours ago

Government focused on getting people into work
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 hours ago

Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 hours ago

Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
11 hours ago

Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
23 hours ago

Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

Inflation coming down, but more work to do
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 days ago

Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 days ago

RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 days ago

McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 days ago

Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 days ago

PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 days ago

Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 days ago

Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 days ago

Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 days ago

Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 days ago

New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Roads of National Significance planning underway
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Navigating an unstable global environment
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Joint US and NZ declaration
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
The Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
7 days ago

Focus on outstanding minerals permit applications
New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “While there are no set timeframes for ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research Call
The New Zealand and Irish governments have today announced that applications for the 2024 New Zealand-Ireland Joint Research Call on Agriculture and Climate Change are now open. This is the third research call in the three-year Joint Research Initiative pilot launched in 2022 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Tenancy rules changes to improve rental market
The coalition Government has today announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to encourage landlords back to the rental property market, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The previous Government waged a war on landlords. Many landlords told us this caused them to exit the rental market altogether. It caused worse ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with China
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will visit China next week, to strengthen relationships, support Kiwi exporters and promote New Zealand businesses on the world stage. “China is one of New Zealand’s most significant trade and economic relationships and remains an important destination for New Zealand’s products, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of our good and ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Freshwater farm plan systems to be improved
The coalition Government intends to improve freshwater farm plans so that they are more cost-effective and practical for farmers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay have announced. “A fit-for-purpose freshwater farm plan system will enable farmers and growers to find the right solutions for their farm ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

New Fast Track Projects advisory group named
The coalition Government has today announced the expert advisory group who will provide independent recommendations to Ministers on projects to be included in the Fast Track Approvals Bill, say RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones. “Our Fast Track Approval process will make it easier and ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Pacific and Gaza focus of UN talks
Foreign Minister Winston Peters says his official talks with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York today focused on a shared commitment to partnering with the Pacific Islands region and a common concern about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. “Small states in the Pacific rely on collective ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Government honours Taranaki Maunga deal
The Government is honouring commitments made to Taranaki iwi with the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its first reading Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the commitment the Crown made to the eight iwi of Taranaki to negotiate ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Enhanced partnership to reduce agricultural emissions
The Government and four further companies are together committing an additional $18 million towards AgriZeroNZ to boost New Zealand’s efforts to reduce agricultural emissions. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says the strength of the New Zealand economy relies on us getting effective and affordable emission reduction solutions for New Zealand. “The ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Abortions Increase 25% Since Law Change
Family First says that the latest abortion statistics make grim and upsetting reading, with a 25% increase in abortions since the decriminalisation of abortion in March 2020. According to an Official Information Act request received by Right to Life ...
Scoop politics
57 mins ago

Over Half Of New Zealanders Feel That The Country Is In Decline And That Our Society Is Broken
Ipsos New Zealand's inaugural participation in a global study on populism reveals a pervasive sense of societal and economic decline among New Zealanders. MORE DETAILS AND FULL REPORT HERE Ipsos New Zealand's inaugural participation in a global study ...
Scoop politics
60 mins ago

Australia’s new defence strategy is big on ideas, but lacks one key ingredient: well-trained soldi...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Layton, Visiting Fellow, Strategic Studies, Griffith University There have been a lot of defence announcements recently about buying new equipment, building up Australia’s manufacturing capabilities, creating local jobs, new legislation to support AUKUS and even a new defence chief. In ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
2 hours ago

What does Steve Smith’s Stateside signing mean for cricket in the US – and Australia?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Harcourt, Industry Professor and Chief Economist, University of Technology Sydney Steve Smith, one of this generation’s finest batters, has conquered much of the cricketing world during his career, and he now has set his sights on a new frontier: the United ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
2 hours ago

A love letter to Wellington: when i open the shop by romesh dissanayake, reviewed
Madeleine Ballard reviews the debut novel from romesh dissanayake. when I open the shop, the debut novel by Naarm-based Aotearoa writer romesh dissanayake (Sri Lankan, Koryo Saram), is a narrative of grief. Devendra loses his mother, opens a noodle shop on The Terrace, grieves, and emerges changed. But just as ...
The SpinoffBy Madeleine Ballard
2 hours ago

Minister Concedes Contractors Will Be Hired To Do Work Of Axed Ministry Of Education Staff
The PSA can’t believe that the Minister of Education is happy for her ministry to hire contractors at the same time it is dismissing 565 workers. ...
Scoop politics
2 hours ago

Attempt to bar diplomat from Myanmar military junta fails
Myanmar community members applied to the courts to bar the diplomat from attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 hours ago

LGNZ Welcomes Govt Earthquake-prone Buildings Decision
LGNZ has advocated for this decision as part of a remit led by Manawatū District Council. ...
Scoop politics
2 hours ago

AUKUS Pillar 2 a 'fragrant, methane-wrapped bull***' – Bob Carr
The former Australian Foreign Minister has continued to warn New Zealand against joining the defence pact. ...
Radio NZ – political
3 hours ago

Enforceable undertaking issued to abc accounting services limited after continued non-compliance.
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has accepted an enforceable undertaking agreement from ABC Accounting Services Limited (ABC) under section 81 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 (AML/CFT Act). ...
Scoop politics
3 hours ago

REVEALED: RNZ’s Hypocrisy Over Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill
The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that Radio New Zealand (RNZ) spent $71,842.53 on Facebook advertising over the past 12 months, despite earlier this year coming out in support of the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill , which would force the likes ...
Scoop politics
3 hours ago

Police rejected 'very good offer' – Mark Mitchell
Police Minister Mark Mitchell says the pay offer rejected by police was the best the government could put forward under difficult financial circumstances. ...
Radio NZ – political
4 hours ago

How can we have truth-telling without the Voice? Our research shows a way forward
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Heidi Norman, Professor, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, Convenor: Indigenous Land & Justice Research Group, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock The Uluru Statement from the Heart set out the aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for “Voice, Treaty, Truth”, in ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
4 hours ago

NZ education scores must improve – but another polarising ideological pivot isn’t the answer
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bronwyn E Wood, Associate Professor in Education, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Getty Images You don’t need to look hard right now to see concerns about Aotearoa New Zealand’s education system. Declining performance in international testing has been ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
4 hours ago

An updated tally of the public sector job cuts
The coalition government has made it well known it expects departments to cut roles. We break down the numbers as they currently stand. Updated: 12pm, April 18 Before last year’s election, both National and Act made it clear that the public service was squarely in their crosshairs. Both parties, now ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
4 hours ago

Confessions of an unlikely petrolhead
Checkered Flag director Natalie Wilson on her lifelong love of motorsport, and the allure of Pukekohe Park Raceway. One childhood summer when my world revolved around winning stuff off the radio, I bagged tickets to Western Springs Speedway and then to Waikaraka Park in what was a dream season for ...
The SpinoffBy Natalie Wilson
4 hours ago

'Ambitious' trade pledge headlines Luxon's Thailand stop
The Prime has announced a commitment to triple two-way trade with Thailand by 2045, but it only requires maintaining current growth. ...
Radio NZ – political
4 hours ago

‘The right person’: What did Solomon Islanders vote for?
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara After a relatively well organised and peaceful day of voting in Solomon Islands yesterday, the electoral commission is working with donor partners to safely transport ballot boxes from polling stations all over the country to centrally located counting venues. It is a ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
4 hours ago

What it’s like to be made redundant by the Ministry of Education
I was one of hundreds of people who lost my government job this week. Here’s exactly how it played out. It is a Friday. I’m in the middle of an online Teams hui working out the finer details of a series of workshops we’ll be presenting next week. It’s a ...
The SpinoffBy Anonymous
5 hours ago

What are ‘Ozempic babies’? Can the drug really increase your chance of pregnancy?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karin Hammarberg, Senior Research Fellow, Global and Women’s Health, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University Joshua Rodriguez/Unsplash Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are taking drugs like Ozempic to lose weight. But what do we actually know about ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
6 hours ago

Why the kookaburra’s iconic laugh is at risk of being silenced
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Diana Kuchinke, Lecturer in Ecology, Federation University Australia Linda Robertus/Shutterstock Once, while teaching a class of environmental science students in China’s Hebei University of Science and Technology, I asked who knew what a laughing kookaburra was. There were many blank faces. ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
6 hours ago

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claire Breen, Professor of Law, University of Waikato smolaw11/Getty Images School truancy has been a concern across the political spectrum for years. But proposed solutions have largely failed to address the core reasons for unexplained school absences. Despite the apparent ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
6 hours ago

‘Listening is the most important part’: 10 things students with disability and their families wa...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Melissa Cain, Senior Lecturer in Inclusive Education and Arts Education, Australian Catholic University Agence Olloweb/Unsplash, CC BY About 90% of Australian students with disability attend mainstream schools. Equitable access and participation in education is a fundamental human right. But as last ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
6 hours ago

Will global oil supply be at risk if Iran and Israel pull the Middle East into war?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flavio Macau, Associate Dean – School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University Tensions in the Middle East have escalated following Iran’s weekend missile and drone attacks on Israel, heightening concerns of a wider conflict. As with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
6 hours ago

No, getting your boyfriend to peel an orange won’t prove his loyalty. Why TikTok relationship ‘t...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edith Jennifer Hill, Associate Lecturer, Learning & Teaching Innovation, Flinders University Shutterstock Have you ever wondered if your partner really loves you? Well apparently so have thousands of TikTok users, who are testing their theories for the world to see. In ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
6 hours ago

New Zealand’s Annual Emissions Fell In 2022, For Third Successive Year
This is the third successive decrease year-on-year. New Zealand’s gross emissions for 2022 were 78.4 Mt CO2-e. ...
Scoop politics
6 hours ago

Oranga Tamariki job cuts: 'We can't establish what their endgame is'
Oranga Tamariki has failed to explain how hundreds of job cuts will achieve a better outcome for children, a children's advocate says. ...
Radio NZ – political
6 hours ago

Help Me Hera: My parents won’t help out with my kids
They pressured me to have children, and I had two. Now they won’t lift a finger. Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nz Hi Hera, I suspect it’s a familiar pattern. Back in the day, as a single gal, I was plagued with questions from my parents about when I would find ...
The SpinoffBy Hera Lindsay Bird
7 hours ago

Care Workers Call For Fairness On Pay Equity Anniversary
“The Government has an opportunity here to really correct the course for the care and support workforce, and the people they look after. This cannot be just another area left in the cold, we need real leadership to ensure the proper quality of care ...
Scoop politics
7 hours ago

First evidence of ancient human occupation found in giant lava tube cave in Saudi Arabia
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mathew Stewart, Research Fellow, Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University The western passage of the Umm Jirsan lava tube. Green Arabia Project If you look from above, you can see thousands of stone structures dotting the landscape of the Arabian ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
7 hours ago

Teachers worry about curriculum, NCEA changes amid staff cuts
More than 500 jobs are likely to be cut at the Education Ministry with concerns about how the curriculum and NCEA changes will now be managed. ...
Radio NZ – political
8 hours ago

Government IT systems need a $800m overhaul
The government is facing a bill of more than $800 million to overhaul back-office IT systems, and attempts to lessen its impact have hit delays. ...
Radio NZ – political
8 hours ago

Over 3,000 public service jobs now proposed to go
The Ministry of Education confirmed a proposal to reduce headcount by 565, while Oranga Tamariki’s proposal would result in a loss of 447 jobs, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Ministry of ...
The SpinoffBy Anna Rawhiti-Connell
8 hours ago

Kāinga Ora delays building projects ahead of review
Kāinga Ora is unable to say how many new KiwiBuild developments have been delayed as it waits for the outcome of the government's independent review of the state housing agency. ...
Radio NZ – political
8 hours ago

Owners of earthquake prone buildings given four extra years to complete strengthening
A review into the regulations was also being brought forward. ...
Radio NZ – political
9 hours ago

Corrections Accepts Recommendations Following Auckland Prison Inspection
The Inspectorate made three overarching recommendations following the inspection, all of which have been accepted in full by Corrections. ...
Scoop politics
9 hours ago

Auckland’s dumped Commonwealth Games bid has lessons for Christchurch
The crippling cost and complexity of Christchurch’s Commonwealth Games ambitions have become clearer The post Auckland’s dumped Commonwealth Games bid has lessons for Christchurch appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy David Williams
10 hours ago

Oranga Tamariki services for at-risk children will get better after job cuts, minister says
"We need to make sure that every dollar we're spending is actually for the benefit of our young people," says Children's Minister Karen Chhour. ...
Radio NZ – political
10 hours ago

How the coalition plans to replace the quickly scrapped Māori Health Authority
The coalition government got rid of the Māori Health Authority in a hurry. What is it doing now instead? ...
Radio NZ – political
10 hours ago

How to tell if your child is well enough to go to school or is in fact sick
David Seymour announced new guidelines this week for sending your kids to school with symptoms. Emily Writes sums them up. Parents knee deep in snotty tissues and buckets of vomit were granted a much-welcome reprieve by associate education minister David Seymour on Wednesday with the announcement that he will advise ...
The SpinoffBy Emily Writes
11 hours ago

We’re asking the wrong questions about treaty settlements
When the Crown is the self-appointed ultimate authority over a process to deal with Crown misconduct, we run into big issues, writes Tina Ngata. “What’s it going to take for Ngā Puhi to settle” was the headliner statement on Q&A last weekend, as Ngā Puhi chair Mana Tahere was interviewed ...
The SpinoffBy Tina Ngata
11 hours ago

Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 18 April
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 18 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Newsroom Puzzles
11 hours ago

Police briefings show finances at ‘tipping point’
There is a forecast deficit of $120m only brought down to $56m through cost-cutting measures The post Police briefings show finances at ‘tipping point’ appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Emma Hatton
11 hours ago

Pharmac and the keys to the drug cupboard
Close to 3,500,000 prescriptions for paracetamol are written in New Zealand every year. It’s just one of the treatments funded by Pharmac, the drug agency that barters with pharmaceutical companies to get medicines for us at the lowest cost possible. Currently its yearly budget is about $1.5 billion, but apparently ...
NewsroomBy Davina Zimmer
11 hours ago

Book of the Week: Mothering in late-stage capitalism
I think a capitalist patriarchy that relies on monogamous heterosexuality and gender essentialism is the worst system to ensure the survival of our species. Just watch an episode of MAFS Australia. I don’t think there’s anything natural or normal about this system, instead I think it’s a construct kept in ...
NewsroomBy Pip Adam
11 hours ago

Luxon spreads his wings in Thailand
Luxon touched down in Thailand late on Tuesday night, before launching into a packed day of business breakfasts and bilateral meetings in the kingdom’s capital. The visit to Thailand comes after Luxon’s Singapore swing – somewhat of a love-in for the Kiwi Prime Minister, where he shmoozed high-net worth individuals, ...
NewsroomBy Laura Walters
11 hours ago

New Zealand’s crisis of confidence
Three in five New Zealanders say our country is in decline and our society is broken, exclusive new polling reveals The post New Zealand’s crisis of confidence appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Marc Daalder
11 hours ago

Daily crossword, Thursday 18 April
The post Daily crossword, Thursday 18 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Newsroom Puzzles
11 hours ago

New Zealand broken and in decline, Kiwis say
A global wave of disillusionment and disenfranchisement has not spared New Zealand, with a majority of respondents to a survey here agreeing that New Zealand society is broken and the country is in decline. Ipsos New Zealand asked 1001 Kiwis about their hopes for the future and their views of ...
NewsroomBy Marc Daalder
11 hours ago

Labour all at sea against Govt’s legislative blitzkrieg
Opinion: The embittered negativity of Labour’s prominent spokespeople is preventing political exploitation of rapid Government change The post Labour all at sea against Govt’s legislative blitzkrieg appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Peter Dunne
11 hours ago

Staff shortages key to Auckland Prison’s failure to uphold inmates’ rights
Opinion: At a time when government departments are shedding workers to fund budgetary cuts, the news that staff shortages have caused prisoners to be in solitary confinement for periods longer than eight months is frightening. This revelation is one of several in the Prison Inspectorate’s most recent report, published ...
NewsroomBy Christine McCarthy
11 hours ago

A montage of West Papuan everyday life from hip-hop to protest songs
I came to this evening of short films not sure what to expect. I have a history with West Papua (here referring to the Indonesian part of the island of New Guinea, which comprises five provinces, one named “West Papua”) from my days fronting the legendary West Papuan band Black ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
15 hours ago

Ministry of Education plans to cut 565 roles
It makes the proposal the biggest single slash to a public service agency so far. ...
Radio NZ – political
19 hours ago

Oranga Tamariki proposes to cut more than 400 jobs
About 1900 roles would be affected overall - either changed or disestablished - in the "scope of restructuring work". ...
Radio NZ – political
19 hours ago

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Independent MP Dai Le on the church attack in her electorate
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra After the stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in an Assyrian Orthodox Church in Wakeley on Monday, and the killings in Bondi Junction shopping centre just two days earlier, many people in Sydney and in ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
20 hours ago

Government issues guidelines for when sick children should be kept home from school
Covid-19? Symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhoea or head lice? Your children should be at home, new government guidelines say. ...
Radio NZ – political
21 hours ago

Australia’s long-sought stronger environmental laws just got indefinitely deferred. It’s back to...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University We’ve long known Australia’s main environmental protection laws aren’t doing their job, and we know Australians want better laws. Labor was elected promising to fix them. ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
21 hours ago

AI is making smart devices – watches, speakers, doorbells – easier to hack. Here’s how to stay...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chao Chen, Deputy Director, Enterprise AI and Data Analytics Hub, RMIT Univeristy, RMIT University Ivan Bandura/Unsplash From asking our smart speakers for the weather to receiving personalised advice from smartwatches, devices powered by artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly streamlining our routines ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
22 hours ago

Police Association members reject latest government pay offer
Police Association says members are looking for a sincere effort by the government to address the cost of living crisis and recognise the increasing dangers officers faced. ...
Radio NZ – political
22 hours ago

Global coral bleaching caused by global warming demands a global response
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Britta Schaffelke, Manager International Partnerships and Co-ordinator of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), Australian Institute of Marine Science Bleached coral at the Keppel Islands in the southern Great Barrier Reef in early March 2024. © AIMS | Eoghan Aston ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
22 hours ago

The beginnings of modern science shaped how philosophers saw alien life – and how we understand it...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philip C. Almond, Emeritus Professor in the History of Religious Thought, The University of Queensland Wikipedia Speculation about extraterrestrials is not all that new. There was a vibrant debate in 17th-century Europe about the existence of life on other planets. ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
23 hours ago

Families including someone with mental illness can experience deep despair. They need support
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda Cole, Lead, Mental Health, Edith Cowan University In the aftermath of the tragic Bondi knife attack, Joel Cauchi’s parents have spoken about their son’s long history of mental illness, having been diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 17. They said they were ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
23 hours ago

How Fast-track Consenting Might Impact The Environment – Expert Reaction
Submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill close at the end of Friday. The law would allow major infrastructure projects to bypass lengthy resource consenting processes – being assessed instead by an expert panel , with Ministers ultimately having ...
Scoop politics
23 hours ago

Changes To ECE Regulations
In QPEC's view, the Coalition changes to ECE announced mid-April are exactly the opposite of what is needed The Issue David Seymour is loosening regulations and qualifications for Early Childhood Centres, removing government signoff for new ...
Scoop politics
24 hours ago

NZDSN Opinion: Organisations Must Do Better For Disabled New Zealanders
We at New Zealand Disability Support Network applaud the Commerce Commission for filing proceedings against One NZ for their latest failure on 111 Contact Code. It doesn’t take much to think of harmful or fatal scenarios for people with disabilities ...
Scoop politics
24 hours ago

Caviar Before Children
"Caviar before children is what has happened today!” says Pat Newman spokesperson for Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association "The cuts to day to both the Ministry of Education and Oranga Tamariki, point to a government hell bent on delivering tax ...
Scoop politics
24 hours ago

Gone By Lunchtime: Aukus ruckus reveals division on foreign policy direction
Is New Zealand’s trumpeted independent foreign policy in peril? Helen Clark has raised the alarm over New Zealand inching towards a pillar two status with Aukus, warning of a “profoundly undemocratic” direction of travel away from the independent foreign policy forged over four decades. Peters, foreign minister today and for ...
The SpinoffBy The Spinoff
24 hours ago

Inspectorate Report Shows Prisoners Denied Entitlement To Daily Time Out Of Cells
A report from the Office of the Inspectorate shows that prisoners in three units at Auckland Prison were not able to leave their cells every day for many months. For up to nine months (until mid-July 2023), prisoners in three units were denied ...
Scoop politics
1 day ago

'I thought we were friends': Dave Letele reveals falling out with PM Christopher Luxon
Community leader Dave Letele considered Christopher Luxon a friend - until the PM reacted badly to an open letter he signed decrying racism. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

Watch: Luxon defends hosting Myanmar officials at ASEAN conference
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the government condemns outright the Myanmar coup, and NZ is simply following the policy set by ASEAN. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

You could help minimise harm in a public attack. Here’s what it means to be a ‘zero responder’
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Senior Lecturer of Urban Mobility, Public Safety & Disaster Risk, UNSW Sydney The tragic Westfield attack in Sydney highlights the vulnerability of crowded public spaces. Six people were killed and many were injured by a knife-wielding attacker in a short ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Could not getting enough sleep increase your risk of type 2 diabetes?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giuliana Murfet, Casual Academic, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock Not getting enough sleep is a common affliction in the modern age. If you don’t always get as many hours of shut-eye as you’d like, perhaps you were concerned ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Ministry of Education to cut 565 roles, more than 400 to go at Oranga Tamariki
The announcement comes hours after Oranga Tamariki announced it was axing 400 roles. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

Ministers announce plan to extend port permits by 20 years
Ports are having their permits for pre-RMA activities extended so they won't need to obtain new ones before September 2026. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

‘Coffee table books or Dune’: Secrets from the bookshop floor
Welcome to The Spinoff Bookseller Confessional, in which we get to know Aotearoa’s booksellers. This week: Lisa Jean O’Reilly, bookseller at Unity Books Auckland. The weirdest question/request you’ve had on the shop floor Last week a couple came into the store, holding hands, and asked if we stock any practical ...
The SpinoffBy The Spinoff Review of Books
1 day ago

Open Mike 15/08/2018

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