I suppose over the years I've seen hundreds of press conferences by politicians. This morning might have been the very worst (and I even watched some of Trump's!).
Every idiot who has grumbled about our PM's press conferences ("Jessica, Tova") should see the British PM in action. Compare and contrast. Seriously, words can't describe how bad it was. And she gave up after 4 questions.
There's no question that Ardern is a far far better communicator than Liz Truss.
She does however provide similar inane and down right nonsense in response to questions which is an all too familiar trait of politicians throughout the world.
I'd also suggest that the UK media are considerably tougher, more well informed and less star struck by politicians than virtually all of their counterparts in NZ.
Higherstandard, yet those hard headed British journalists rate Jacinda Ardern. You're dissing her while she was pointing out that although some Mayors had changed many had not, and voters were disadvantaged by late receipt of papers, and a patchy mail service. Now that may or may not be pertinent.
Some contests were very close (Gore) and others a name draw between two candidates. So to say there was a wide spread swing away is hyperbole. Auckland showed a big swing back to their usual BAU. No surprise there.
If anything has changed after the Pandemic, it is support for the far right Act and silent support. It is alarming to see this, and see notice given by the group who wish to "make NZ ungovernable" that they intend to infiltrate the Councils and Boards. Some now have members with some mighty strange affiliations.
Yet you still talk as though Jacinda Ardern is responsible for this, when a wish for "different outcomes" is shaking a right wing British government and Left wing parties appear to be favoured by a 30% majority in Britain, Truss has thrown a friend to the wolves, as she discovers that people feel angry and threatened, inside her team and countrywide.
The inflation Genie and War is wreaking havoc. Change will come ready or not imo. The Fire economy begins again? I hope we realise letting the rich mop up mortgagee sales is the wrong medicine. Otherwise it is back to BAU.
Perhaps you should listen to Ardern's response to questions from Espiner about a certain ex minister moving into the public relations field …from about the 6 minute mark.
the question has been so outrageously biased and wrong in its conception, that it surprises me she doesn't respond in much stronger terms. Perhaps its time to roll back at the questioner in a similar mode.
Not just about being a better communicator. It's about basic respect and accountability.
Ardern's Beehive press conferences last up to an hour, minimum 30 mins. Count the number of questions taken, with follow-ups allowed.
You can go back through 5 years of these, and you will be hard pressed to find any instances of Ardern walking out after 4 minutes of questions.
Whether you like the answers will obviously depend on our various political leanings, that's inevitably subjective. But measuring time and numbers is not a matter of opinion, it's measurable maths. She fronts up, and the reporters – all of them – have every chance to ask whatever they want, and do.
If you refute the premise of a question, which is reasonable position to take, is it best to say "I refute the premise of that question" or "You are talking crap, I'm not going to dignify it with an answer"? Especially when it is patently obvious the questioner is grandstanding, playing games trying to put the person under pressure, not seeking some grand elucidation.
Or maybe the response, rather than a rejection of the premise, is a churlish "You journalists are all the same." Which would be followed by the adoring supporters saying, "God, that Muldoon showed them who was boss."
Nope. She moves onto the next question because the previous question is either disingenuous or the questioner is attempting to undermine her by way of introducing a clearly false premise.
The vindictive shit journalist, Barry Soper is renowned for the latter.
A highly edited political hit job doesn't prove your opinion Jester. Looks like you have never watched question time, nor media standups in their entirety,
Yeah, it was a terrible speech. The Tories made a mistake with that one. She has the personality of a brick wall, and not much else. But Tony, when you say: ''Jacinda is in a different class to any bumbling tory,!'' you are showing
the type of political blindness that is sending our Labour Party to the opposition benches for a very long time. Why are you worried about Liz Truss? If the recent forced maniacal laughter from Jacinda when asked a question recently is anything to go by, we have more pressing issues closer to home. And let's not forget we have the leaders debates coming up. Luxon is spoilt for options to attack Jacinda with. Much is made of Luxon's ignorance and bumblings during interviews. That's all true. But the reality is, Luxon only needs to put on a half decent show. Jacinda needs to put on a performance that would rival the Gettysburg Address.
"If the recent forced maniacal laughter from Jacinda when asked a question recently…."
Oh dear, so because Jacinda Ardern laughed out loud about something she is "maniacal"? Well I suggest this descriptive term is in the eyes/ears of only the commenter. Infectious laughing on TV or anywhere else is acceptable and not the least bit "maniacal".
This commenter seems to have a malevolent attitude towards anything associated with the Prime Minister and her government which does not bode well for reasoned debate.
Anne, you should read up on psychology. In particular the body cues people use when stressed, especially when reality is at odds with a persons narrative. I have never seen Jacinda laugh like this before. But maybe you are right – maniacal may be too stronger word. How about a dignified cackle?
I would like to draw your attention to Megan Woods who seems to be more observant than you and others. Maybe she wants the top job?
''I could count the droplets of sweat forming on her eyebrows.''
I couldn't. But I can index her behaviour to past behaviour. Hence my comment. I'm only one of many who observed that strange laugh when related to the question posed.
''People see, hear, and believe what they want, as deftly demonstrated by the prosaic language in your comments.''
That is true to a certain degree. So we should go looking for facts and collaboratingevidence. My evidence is political polls, Megan Woods and other commentators who observed her laugh and commented in a similar vain. In fact there is common descriptor for that laugh Jacinda gave.
''Nervous laughter:
Nervous laughter happens for a number of reasons. Some research suggests that your body uses this sort of mechanism to regulate emotion. Other research has found that nervous laughter may be a defense mechanism against emotions that may make us feel uncomfortable. Either way, it's pretty weird to experience.''
''Ardern has dealt with much bigger fires than numpty questions that are based on trying to connect dots in a speculative manner to extract a comment.''
Again you may be right. She could have been laughing at the questioner because someone had told her the questioner was a 3 second wonder in bed. But I think that nervous laugh is going to become more common in coming months.
''Actually, I was referring to Megan Woods, and you again proved my point that you see what you want to see.''
Oh, thanks for telling me. But she's not the PM yet. Of course your hint that subjective perceptions can mean anything was addressed with objective factors to back up the many of us who, funnily enough, had the same subjective perceptions. Megan woods was auxiliary to the main actor. Sometimes you have to assume a commentator will stay with the argument without resorting to parlour tricks.
As for the rest of your comments, they are of little value. In fact they are very well crafted inanities that would lead some apparatchiks to think you are a very witty and intelligent man. I think you are, but your reply is the written equivalent of a nervous laugh against a narrative that has merit, but isn't wanted on this blog.
You asked us to direct our attention to Woods, so I did.
I personally don’t know any “parlour tricks”, unless it involves tickling.
Obviously, I’m pushing back on your narrative into more objective territory with a less biased perspective, but the Force is strong with you.
As to what is wanted on this blog, I cannot answer this; what do you want on this blog? Your user name is not as self-explanatory as you might think and there are very few actual mind readers on this site.
The kaupapa of this site is robust debate, preferably informed and rich with some original thinking and imaginative input. You have a long way to go still.
Nope, not anything means anything. If you think or believe that you’ve lost your grip on reality and you might as well wear virtual-reality googles 24/7 – we’re not as far away from that as you might think, which is why there’s so much gaslighting happening.
Which is why we [have to] do reality checks all the time, individually-collectively, by pinching others and ourselves.
She's still the most popular politician in the country. People have seen Luxon, and they don't like him. At least Key was pretty good at hiding his contempt for 70% of the public.
No need for sarcasm. I was just covering my arse in case someone accuses me of nastiness masquerading as a question. The question was genuine.
I don't think RA has thought things through. What's the point of crowing about Jacinda being the most popular polly in the country when according to polls the Tories and ACT could form a gummint if an election was held tomorrow? Of course all political parties have problems at the moment:
1- Labour – Jacinda's fading popularity and voter backlash.
2- National – ACT and their bottom line for coalition. Luxon's unlikeablity.
3-The Greens – Voter backlash and internal ructions. The rise of Chlöe Swarbrick. The decline of James Shaw.
4- The Maori Party. Voter backlash against Maori coming. Some from Maori. Allegations against John Tamihere for having his fingers in a forbidden cookie jar.
Does this chess board of moves not excite you, Incognito?
You have no sense of humour or a very short & selective memory, or both. Anywho, covering your arse is moot when you’re showing your true colours.
You say that your question was genuine, but it was followed with this:
The next question is ''so what?'' I mean that seriously.
Seriously? Do you have discussions with your parsnip? By candlelight?
You appear to live in an alternate reality judging by your 4 bullet points. Stop smoking your own dope and the fog may lift, eventually. I’m not into gaming and virtual reality, so no, it does not ‘excite’ me the slightest, but it seems to work for you!? I do like a good game of chess though, where B & W pieces mean something.
You certainly drifted a long way from the first comment in this thread about the train wreck that was the speech appearance by Liz Truss.
PS I actually like Luxon a lot, but he’s utterly shit terrible at being a politician and LOTO. He would be a shambolic PM, which is what Seymour and ACT are counting on.
Jeepers. Talking about showing ones true colours. I tried to expand on the question I asked. Your reply was filled with invective. Ironically the PS was the only decent thing you wrote. I'm sorry about straying from the topic. I thought anything went in open mike. Next time I will start a new thread.
Much and all as I truly loathe the UK Conservative Party and all they stand for, Truss must get her show together and her team must help her.
They have been elected into power until 2025.
The UK needs a strong financial industry to have a strong economy, and if that gets seriously worse it will affect trade with both Australia and New Zealand.
Also the destabilisation of about 20 million pensioners livelihoods is not cool and looks like it will continue for months.
"New Zealand’s main goods exports to the UK include meat, wine, fruit, some machinery, eggs, honey and wool – a total of NZ$1.5 billion.
The main goods imports from the UK include vehicles and parts, machinery, equipment, and pharmaceuticals – a total of NZ$1.7 billion.
There is also substantial services trade, worth NZ$2.8 billion. New Zealand services exports to the UK are dominated by travel, transport and business services."
In power to 2025. This is the problem. In a perfect world enough tories would have the courage to rebel and force another election for the good of the country. Let the public decide. No, they won't, it will never happen and that ship is sinking.
Truss had a very short list of who she was going to allow questions from – Telegraph, Sun, BBC and ITV. Shame for her that they still asked tricky questions! They all got the same scripted stilted response which bore no relation to the question – energy payments, growth, global situation… and then she scurried off.
Less tax more unemployed, what national stands for.
Although I'm on the fence on the farming tax , 8 billion people need all the food grown out on the farm at this stage ,and it's clear the left don't get it!
The only reason that the world can feed its population (not so much here in NZ, but in the first world economies) is industrial farming.
Malthus was right (for the agricultural environment in which he lived) – it is only the industrialized farming and food preservation technologies which have enabled us to support our world population with sufficient reserves to support our lifestyle. [All those XR protesters only have the resources to protest because of industrialized farming – including oil for energy – something few of them are willing to acknowledge.]
You can't shy away from it. Moving away from industrialized farming will result in food shortages, increased prices, and eventually starvation for some of the population.
Moving to sustainable industrialized farming, is another matter.
bwaghorn.8 billion people won't be feed if global warming continues to wreek havoc floods droughts and wars. Not doing anything about climate change is going to mean more people going hungry .The right continue to bury their head in the sand and blame the left for bringing it to our attention and doing something about it.
Slam frivolous emissions like tourism, would sporting fixtures, any shit people consume that isn't related to survival, destroying rural nz so we can be leaders(although I doubt any one will follow) is ridiculous
Relevant news at a time when Groundswell remains anchored in the 1950's. It's never been better for farmers. Never a nod in the direction of the government for helping prop up the trading conditions leading to these results.
‘’We’ve never been more profitable – we’ve seen increases year-on-year,’’ Surveyor said.
Groundswell remains anchored in the 1950's.
Absolutely. Only the Tractors have changed ! And they are organising yet another Tractor protest. Probably with accompaniment anti Jacinda ( pretty communist etc etc) placards
People should read your…and other links, and, well…just look at the Tractors, not hard to see who is doing well.
FYI…of course there is a separate group of Farmers..who dont support the groundswell dino's. And clearly see the Future. Our Earth's heating !…and they are trying to change others mindset. Problem is the aforesaid groundswellers mind.. set is in concrete.
Farming culture is the ultimate echo chamber. Generally the only social contact a farmer has is his family (generally farmers) and other farmers. It's rare that someone without a farming background will be employed on a farm so it goes on. It's a world quite separate to the rest of society. Agreement and conformity are prioritised over rational thought, or even just thought.
When that insular, but also rather secure world is questioned by wider society, and the environment they rely on keep farming, it is a direct threat to their wellbeing.
Don't expect a rational response.
There's also a huge international industry that's dependant on the individual farmer's cashflow to supply their tractors, irrigators, fertiliser, seed, feed, genetics and the myriad of other inputs that go in to a farm. On this side it's a bit more intelligent and rational, but the money is huge and international, most inputs aren't in $NZ.
I hear you. I've worked Urban and Rural. Quite varied jobs. With the Rural…a lot of VERY Nice people. And mostly.. pretty laidback. But definitely when its "them" against Us (Rural folk), Stand Together becomes the prime directive. And in times of strife absolutely ..prime. However those times include drought…which is only going to get worse as we continue Earth heating. Farmers need to see this. Pouring water on grass , to make milk…is so past its use by.
I do see some of their bewilderment ? frustration? but I still think they need to see a big picture.
Got a feeling the protest will be a bit of a shitshow. Last time round the organisers had to impose a list of approved messages for participants, and that was before the Wellington riot. There's a lot of maniacs out there looking to latch onto the next thing, so expect to see them trying to worm their way into this latest Groundswell tantrum.
For sure. Hitchin' their anti: Guvmint/Maori/Three Waters/5G/Vaccination/U.N./etc etc; wagons to the flash tractors.
And yea re "the "list of approved messages for participants" thats only a fob…IMO it'll be full on for sure. Hopefully they are seen for what they are.
One of Auckland mayor Wayne Brown's resignation targets has pushed back, telling staff of the council development arm Eke Panuku that any call for change will have to come from the full council.
Thats the way of these bullies. Hopefully all those being "pressured" to resign (and DON'T want to) can get the support they need to hang in there. Council's, along with ALL NZ workplaces have anti bully systems set in law. Sadly never much adhered to….BUT. Still there to be used.
The Chair of Panuku is himself a bully, who has wielded his power over iwi and other groups for too long. The entire Board of Panuku is under investigation for conflicts of interest. Brown is taking on powerful corporate interests and not before time.
"The chair countered Brown's line that the agency was a "property developer".
"The nature of urban regeneration, as opposed to property development, is to invest in the future of Tāmaki Makaurau which is why we have a Wynyard Quarter and emerging centres such as Northcote, Avondale, Takapuna, Panmure and Manukau," he said.
"The creation of thriving town centres and support for the Council group has never been more important following the ongoing impacts of the Covid years," he said."
Anyone who thinks that either Takapuna or Northcote are 'thriving town centres' is invited to visit them. Apart from the large number of restaurants in Takapuna (anecdotally, hearing that many of them are struggling), business is dire. Central Northcote is one massive building site – as high-rise apartment buildings are constructed all around the existing scruffy town centre (plans for revitalizing this are still on the drawing board – and may never eventuate with a different council with different priorities).
No doubt people who are familiar with the other Auckland suburbs quoted can comment on the truthfulness of that remark, where they are concerned.
The opportunity to make submissions on this proposal runs until 18 November.
It's important that we have our say, but if the depth of the submission process intimidates the Greens have a guide:
The Government wants feedback on its proposal to:
Price emissions at the farm-level from 2025, with a levy on methane output. The levy price would be set by Cabinet, informed by the advice of the Climate Change Commission
If the farm-level levy is not operational in time for 2025, use an interim processor-level levy for likely no more than two years
The Government also wants public views on some aspects of emissions pricing, including:
Whether it should investigate tradable methane quotas, where the market would be determined by the total amount of pollution permitted each year (the preferred option of Minister for Climate Change, James Shaw)
Whether nitrogen fertiliser should be part of the ETS, or covered by the levy system
How to account for on-farm sequestration within a system for pricing agricultural emissions
How it can best protect the interests of iwi, hapū and Māori, and honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi, during the development of agricultural emissions pricing
I really don't get why we have a capitalist solution i.e. trading schemes to solve what essentially is market failure to protect our environment.
Regulation to simply restrict seems much more sensible and straight forward.
Limit the areas you can dairy in, reduce the herd sizes, set maximum herd sizes per land area linked to land quality, reduce irrigation required to make dairying viable in previously non dairying areas and so on. Imagine if we had taken such an approach to abolishing slavery. For every slave you have you can employ someone else to offset them. Yep that would work.
I really don't get why we have a capitalist solution i.e. trading schemes to solve what essentially is market failure to protect our environment.
Because of the Labour party. In 2014 the Greens campaigned on phasing out the ETS for a carbon tax:
Labour, the Greens' prospective coalition partner, introduced emissions trading in the first place, and its finance spokesperson David Parker wants the scheme retained.
"We're happy to consider (the Green Party's) alternative but we do note we favour an Emissions Trading Scheme as opposed to a carbon tax."
Since Labour remain adhered to the 'market-based' solutions the Greens have to push them to make that market system as effective as is possible. I'm sure your comment would be an appropriate general comment in a submission.
New Zealand’s arts council has pulled funding for a Shakespeare festival that has been running in secondary schools for roughly three decades, after questioning its relevance to the country and because it focuses on “a canon of imperialism”.
Dog forbid they should have to apply to a different funding programme.
The rejection letter said the centre would be able to apply for funding under Creative NZ’s annual arts grants programme, and it may “do better financially” under that scheme.
Yes Joe 90, but it was the reason for cutting the funding. Shakespeare's genre is apparently located in a "canon of imperialism". FFS. Politicizing the greatest playright of all times. Someone who wrote so very meaningfully about human nature. The irony.
Also there is nothing to say applying to another branch of Creative NZ will be successful.
They are making NZ look like a cultural backwater.
It has not been funded because it is competing against other requests for funding and has this time missed out.
Is there an expectation it gets funded forever and others miss out? The overall context is missing – how many applications were received, what was the oversubscription, what actually did get funded? Do we expect that their is competition for limited funding or the same organisations get funded every year?
There is a good point in the commentary.
“Wouldn’t it be great if young people could come home and say, ‘Hey, Mum, Dad, I just found this story and it’s really similar to Hinemoa and Tūtānekai. It’s Romeo and Juliet’.”
I love Shakespeare and think it should continue to be taught in schools but don't believe it has any right to be so taught – any more than while I love the education I got at school on the Edwardian era or WWII or on asplenium ferns or The Bluebird of Happiness has any right to continue.
Management-speak and over justifying is a problem in this country – just say that the requests for funding were oversubscribed and you missed out. Adding gobbledy-gook to the explanation leads to this sort of nonsense.
I'm much more interested in what was funded instead of. Might be some really cool innovative stuff in there.
So, you found old news from a month ago in an overseas rag that set off your woke detector and decided to be outraged. Clearly, you haven’t studied Shakespeare enough:
To be outraged, or not to be outraged, that’s no question
You must've missed the bit a couple of the members of the arts council commented that the organisation was “quite paternalistic” and that the genre was “located within a canon of imperialism and missed the opportunity to create a living curriculum and show relevance”.
One assessor said the application made them “question whether a singular focus on an Elizabethan playwright is most relevant for a decolonising Aotearoa in the 2020s and beyond”.
Frankly whenever I read such trite nonsense I'm left with the impression that the people populating these public funded councils are a pack if asshats.
I know how much it grates when your application is turned down and you received feedback that contains irksome comments. Most if not all Public Good funders have a complaint process; constructive criticism is generally welcomed with positive response.
According to data released in August, Creative NZ received a total of 13 complaints in the 2021/22 year, one of which was upheld. Two complaints were upheld in the 2020/21 year, and none were upheld in 2019/20.
Top Ak University Professor of English slams Creative NZ's Shakespeare decision. And apparently criticism from abroad too. Embarrasing.
Actually its not that some groups that apply for funding are turned down, that is all part of the process. Its the embarrasing rationale for cutting the funding. I mean the canon of imperialism? FFS
Is it just coincidence that geopolitically we have two major actors trying to replicate the past?
Putin wants to rebuild the Russian empire and be tsar.
Xi in China seems to be wanting to rebuild the hierarchy to the days of the Emperor. Total control over every aspect of life handed down from the court.
In both cases control over the local population is relatively easy as neither have a history of any form of democratic governance.
Western society may well just have to watch this play out internally. And use the rules based order to mitigate the worst effects on neighbours.
Former President Donald Trump is calling on the Pulitzer Prize Board to revoke prizes awarded to the New York Times and Washington Post in 2018 for their coverage of the Russia investigation, threatening legal action if they do not comply.
In a letter to Pulitzer administrator Marjorie Miller, Trump noted that he twice previously made the request, stating that the reporting on the years-long probe was based on false information.
"There is no dispute that the Pulitzer Board's award to those media outlets was based on false and fabricated information that they published," the former president said. "The continuing publication and recognition of the prizes on the Board's website is a distortion of fact and a personal defamation that will result in the filing of litigation if the Board cannot be persuaded to do the right thing on its own."
AP report on fascists doing what fascists always do; abducting kids, sending them to Russia or Russian-held territories, telling them they weren’t wanted by their parents and giving them to Russian families.
Disgusting.
Thousands of children have been found in the basements of war-torn cities like Mariupol and at orphanages in the Russian-backed separatist territories of Donbas. They include those whose parents were killed by Russian shelling as well as others in institutions or with foster families, known as “children of the state.”
[…]
The investigation is the most extensive to date on the grab of Ukrainian children, and the first to follow the process all the way to those already growing up in Russia. The AP drew from dozens of interviews with parents, children and officials in both Ukraine and Russia; emails and letters; Russian documents and Russian state media.
Both top tax brackets raise little actual revenue in the wider scheme of things, as they have been set so high as to capture only a small slice of the population who can comfortably be described as “rich” without anyone raising their heckles. (my emph.)
Now is he making a rather straightforward pun or a cryptic gag at the NZ accent's expense? Because as we all know, the G woudn't allow such a malapropism to pass without some deeper reason.
I am not sure why this has been directed at me….but here goes…..
I don't think he is being clever or punny. I do think he is ungrammatical or not using the phrase as it is used normally used and I cannot make sense of what he is trying to say. Some writers have trouble with the passive voice, and with using commonplace phrases, he has struggled with he/she/their.
It would make more sense quite apart from the heckles/hackles mistake if he used the phrase in its normal way.
without anyone raising their heckles.
without raising anyone's hackles Correct.
'or cause someone or some people to be upset ' MerriamWebster Dictionary
And I don't agree with his premise. I think if we taxed the higher rates more then we could lower the rates for those on lower incomes. Any kind of extra income given to those on lower incomes allows a better lifestyle. It also stimulates the economy as it is often spent. Any kind of extra income given to those on higher incomes often leads to more being spent on trips overseas where someone else's economy benefits etc.
I saw someone describing ‘a shot across the boughs’ recently which had me thinking of people firing into trees…..why?
The Waitakere Licensing Trust is a useful foray into governance experience of a really large local asset. Mark is on the Green side of the Labour-Green ticket, and was previously Council staff, and also runs a welfare organisation on the North Shore. He will be a good fit for the Trusts.
Sometimes the determinant in politics is: who shows up. Mark did.
It was no reflection on Mark but one on the Trusts, which I have mixed feelings about. I think he’ll do a better than average job, which is a rare bonus nowadays. Genuine political engagement seems to be on a downward slide on all levels but particularly on the so-called lower ones 🙁
Talking of things British. This take on the real Winston Churchill, and the cult of Churchill, by Tariq Ali, is apt. Of course Ali being coloured, and some of his hypocrisy's must be taken into consideration. But for the most part he nails it. Churchill was probably one of the most reviled men of his times. I could never understand why he was so lauded in the colonies. At least that's the impression I have. It's funny how Churchill’s blatant racism is condemned nowdays. And even decades before. But modern racism is acceptable by all except that perpetrated by white men.
"What is the use of living, if it not be to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone?” – Sir Winston Churchill
Empty words? Maybe, but laudable empty words nevertheless, spoken by a man of his time who was no less complex than me and thee.
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Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Carereport in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquirypublished its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone iconon the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive:Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloittereport for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’sOliver LewisScoop:Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announcedthe Board of Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Orderimage, ...
Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
Waiting In The Wings:For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSAannounced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
Te Rangi e tu nei (The sky above us) Te Papa e takoto nei (The land beneath us) Tatou katoa te hunga ora (To us all the living) Tena koutou katoa (Greetings) ...
A late change to charter school legislation will cheat educators out of fair pay and negotiating power proving charter schools are just a vehicle to make profit out of our education system. ...
In 2004 te iwi Māori rallied against the Crown’s attempt to confiscate our coastlines and moana with the Foreshore and Seabed Act. This led to the largest hīkoi of a generation and the birth of Te Pāti Māori. 20 years later, history is repeating itself. Today the government has announced ...
It has been five and a half years since the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care was established to investigate the abuse of children, young people, and vulnerable adults within state and faith-based institutions. Yesterday, the final report - Whanaketia through pain and trauma, from darkness to light ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to take action off the back of the International Court of Justice ruling on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. ...
On Friday the International Court of Justice reaffirmed what Palestinian’s have been telling us for decades: that the occupation and colonisation of Palestinian lands by Israel is illegal and must end immediately. They also called for reparations for Palestinian’s who have lived under Israeli occupation since it began in 1967. ...
Labour calls on the Government to act after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territories is illegal. ...
The 53.7 percent rise in benefit sanctions over the last year is more proof of this Government’s disdain for our communities most in need of support. ...
Aotearoa could be a country where every child grows up feeling safe, loved and with a sense of belonging in their whānau and community. But for some of our children, this is far from reality. Instead, they are trapped in a maze of intergenerational harm that they can’t escape on ...
Te Pāti Māori are calling for David Seymour to resign as Associate Health Minister in response to his call for Pharmac to ignore the Treaty of Waitangi. “This announcement is just another example of the government’s anti-Tiriti, anti-Māori agenda.” Said Co-leader and spokesperson for health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. “Seymour thinks it ...
The soaring price of renting is driving the rise of inflation in this country - with latest figures from Stats NZ showing rents are up 4.8 per cent on average while annual inflation is at 3.3 per cent. ...
National’s Emissions Reduction Plan will take New Zealand further from the economy we need to ensure the next generation has a stable climate and secure livelihoods. ...
Following consultation with named parties and thorough consideration of privacy interests, the Green Party is in a position to release the Executive Summary of the final report from the independent investigation into Darleen Tana. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon should be asking serious questions of his Minister for Resources Shane Jones now it’s been revealed he misled the public about a dinner with mining companies that he didn’t declare and said wasn’t pre-arranged. ...
Te Pāti Māori have submitted to the Justice Select Committee against the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill. The bill will further entrench racism in our justice system and fails to focus on rehabilitation. “Reinstating Three Strikes will empower a systematically racist system and exacerbate the overrepresentation of Māori in ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee is set to make a determination on the Residential Tenancies Amendment (RTA) Bill in the coming weeks. “This legislation will give landlords the power to kick our whānau out onto the street for no reason” said Housing spokesperson, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “Their solution to the housing ...
“National’s campaign was about tackling crime and the best they can do is a two-year long Ministerial Advisory Group,” Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
“There are more examples of charter schools failing their students than there are success stories. The coalition Government is driving to dismantle our public school system and instead promote a privatised, competitive structure that puts profits before kids,” Jan Tinetti said. ...
“This government is choosing to deliberately mislead and withhold information, keeping our people in the dark about this government’s agenda and the future of our mokopuna,” said co-leader and spokesperson for Health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. The call comes after the demand from the Chief Ombudsman that Associate Minister of Health, Casey ...
“Today’s climate announcement by Simon Watts makes clear the National Government is simply paying lip service to meeting its climate change targets,” Megan Woods said. ...
National is choosing to make life harder for workers by taking away the rights our communities have fought hard for. Here's how they’re taking workers backwards. ...
Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue. We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views. “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
Tēnā tātou katoa, Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts. “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet. “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks. “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. At the heart of this report are the ...
For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024. “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane. “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says. “This will be our third visit to ...
Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today. “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum. While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation. “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan. “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests. Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone. Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
This month marks two years since the most powerful telescope ever built sent its first pictures back to earth. From its lofty vantage point, beyond the moon in orbit around the sun, the James Webb Space Telescope was tuned to observe the first stars and galaxies being born soon after ...
Comment: After Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ preview several weeks ago, I had some optimism about the Government’s emissions reduction plan. Now I’ve read the discussion document, that hope has been dashed. How can the Government propose a plan that wants to take New Zealand taxpayers’ hard-earned money, and spend ...
Christopher Luxon: hurdles The little man from National jumps hurdles in his sleep. He’s quite good at it in his dreams and even though the reality doesn’t quite match up you have to give him credit for getting up every morning and crashing into the very first hurdle of the ...
Comment: It was a good two hours into the conversation when Tyrone Marks raised the most basic of questions when I first spoke to him in 2017. “They didn’t explain the things they did to me. They never told me why. And they still haven’t. There’s no explanation for it. ...
Last summer when Matairangi burned, Ginny and Tom stood at the window of their lounge, watching kākā shoot skyward from the burning trees. From the distance, they looked to Ginny like pages torn from books and thrown into a bonfire. It was Tom, voice tight, who told her it was ...
Opinion: The Canadian short story writer Alice Munro – winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013 – died in May at the age of 92. Her work was about “the damage people inflict on one another in the name of love”, Deborah Treisman wrote in the New Yorker. ...
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I suppose over the years I've seen hundreds of press conferences by politicians. This morning might have been the very worst (and I even watched some of Trump's!).
Every idiot who has grumbled about our PM's press conferences ("Jessica, Tova") should see the British PM in action. Compare and contrast. Seriously, words can't describe how bad it was. And she gave up after 4 questions.
Train wreck? No. People can survive train wrecks.
She also gave virtually the same non-answer to each question.
Jacinda is in a different class to any bumbling tory!
There's no question that Ardern is a far far better communicator than Liz Truss.
She does however provide similar inane and down right nonsense in response to questions which is an all too familiar trait of politicians throughout the world.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/476386/local-body-elections-pm-jacinda-ardern-on-left-s-losses
I'd also suggest that the UK media are considerably tougher, more well informed and less star struck by politicians than virtually all of their counterparts in NZ.
Higherstandard, yet those hard headed British journalists rate Jacinda Ardern. You're dissing her while she was pointing out that although some Mayors had changed many had not, and voters were disadvantaged by late receipt of papers, and a patchy mail service. Now that may or may not be pertinent.
Some contests were very close (Gore) and others a name draw between two candidates. So to say there was a wide spread swing away is hyperbole. Auckland showed a big swing back to their usual BAU. No surprise there.
If anything has changed after the Pandemic, it is support for the far right Act and silent support. It is alarming to see this, and see notice given by the group who wish to "make NZ ungovernable" that they intend to infiltrate the Councils and Boards. Some now have members with some mighty strange affiliations.
Yet you still talk as though Jacinda Ardern is responsible for this, when a wish for "different outcomes" is shaking a right wing British government and Left wing parties appear to be favoured by a 30% majority in Britain, Truss has thrown a friend to the wolves, as she discovers that people feel angry and threatened, inside her team and countrywide.
The inflation Genie and War is wreaking havoc. Change will come ready or not imo. The Fire economy begins again? I hope we realise letting the rich mop up mortgagee sales is the wrong medicine. Otherwise it is back to BAU.
Perhaps you should listen to Ardern's response to questions from Espiner about a certain ex minister moving into the public relations field …from about the 6 minute mark.
The PM's comments are frankly absurd.
Start a new thread if you have something to say about another topic.
"I refute the premise of that question" = I do not want to answer that.
When the basis of a question is loaded or flawed… why would the PM go there? Are you denying her a human right to not answer?
Every time I have heard Ardern use the response:
"I refute the premise of that question"
the question has been so outrageously biased and wrong in its conception, that it surprises me she doesn't respond in much stronger terms. Perhaps its time to roll back at the questioner in a similar mode.
Oops: Peter beat me to it. 🙂
Jacinda is a far better communicator than Liz Truss. She is far better at saying a lot without answering the question asked.
Not just about being a better communicator. It's about basic respect and accountability.
Ardern's Beehive press conferences last up to an hour, minimum 30 mins. Count the number of questions taken, with follow-ups allowed.
You can go back through 5 years of these, and you will be hard pressed to find any instances of Ardern walking out after 4 minutes of questions.
Whether you like the answers will obviously depend on our various political leanings, that's inevitably subjective. But measuring time and numbers is not a matter of opinion, it's measurable maths. She fronts up, and the reporters – all of them – have every chance to ask whatever they want, and do.
If you refute the premise of a question, which is reasonable position to take, is it best to say "I refute the premise of that question" or "You are talking crap, I'm not going to dignify it with an answer"? Especially when it is patently obvious the questioner is grandstanding, playing games trying to put the person under pressure, not seeking some grand elucidation.
Or maybe the response, rather than a rejection of the premise, is a churlish "You journalists are all the same." Which would be followed by the adoring supporters saying, "God, that Muldoon showed them who was boss."
To refute an accusation is to prove it is false.
To deny an accusation is to merely assert it is false.
[Usage and Abusage, Penguin Reference Books, 1947 p 262.]
JA confuses the two, as do many reporters,
@Jester. Whenever the PM refutes the premise of a question, she explains why and often in detail.
No she doesn't. She refutes it and moves to the next question to avoid it.
Nope. She moves onto the next question because the previous question is either disingenuous or the questioner is attempting to undermine her by way of introducing a clearly false premise.
The vindictivejournalist, Barry Soper is renowned for the latter.
shitThe PM does nothing of the sort, you're incorrect Jester. Suggest you watch question time.
How many times has Jacinda Ardern rejected the premise of the question? – YouTube
A highly edited political hit job doesn't prove your opinion Jester. Looks like you have never watched question time, nor media standups in their entirety,
Yeah, it was a terrible speech. The Tories made a mistake with that one. She has the personality of a brick wall, and not much else. But Tony, when you say: ''Jacinda is in a different class to any bumbling tory,!'' you are showing
the type of political blindness that is sending our Labour Party to the opposition benches for a very long time. Why are you worried about Liz Truss? If the recent forced maniacal laughter from Jacinda when asked a question recently is anything to go by, we have more pressing issues closer to home. And let's not forget we have the leaders debates coming up. Luxon is spoilt for options to attack Jacinda with. Much is made of Luxon's ignorance and bumblings during interviews. That's all true. But the reality is, Luxon only needs to put on a half decent show. Jacinda needs to put on a performance that would rival the Gettysburg Address.
Oh dear, so because Jacinda Ardern laughed out loud about something she is "maniacal"? Well I suggest this descriptive term is in the eyes/ears of only the commenter. Infectious laughing on TV or anywhere else is acceptable and not the least bit "maniacal".
This commenter seems to have a malevolent attitude towards anything associated with the Prime Minister and her government which does not bode well for reasoned debate.
"Maniacal" ? Ya gotta wonder….must be very dark inside that part of the rabbit warren.
It's the new shrill.
Anne, you should read up on psychology. In particular the body cues people use when stressed, especially when reality is at odds with a persons narrative. I have never seen Jacinda laugh like this before. But maybe you are right – maniacal may be too stronger word. How about a dignified cackle?
I would like to draw your attention to Megan Woods who seems to be more observant than you and others. Maybe she wants the top job?
https://twitter.com/dahmenaaron/status/1579256374172602369
I could count the droplets of sweat forming on her eyebrows![crying crying](https://cdn2.thestandard.org.nz/wp-content/plugins/ark-wysiwyg-comment-editor/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/cry_smile.png?x42494)
People see, hear, and believe what they want, as deftly demonstrated by the prosaic language in your comments.
Ardern has dealt with much bigger fires than numpty questions that are based on trying to connect dots in a speculative manner to extract a comment.
''I could count the droplets of sweat forming on her eyebrows.''
I couldn't. But I can index her behaviour to past behaviour. Hence my comment. I'm only one of many who observed that strange laugh when related to the question posed.
''People see, hear, and believe what they want, as deftly demonstrated by the prosaic language in your comments.''
That is true to a certain degree. So we should go looking for facts and collaborating evidence. My evidence is political polls, Megan Woods and other commentators who observed her laugh and commented in a similar vain. In fact there is common descriptor for that laugh Jacinda gave.
''Nervous laughter:
Nervous laughter happens for a number of reasons. Some research suggests that your body uses this sort of mechanism to regulate emotion. Other research has found that nervous laughter may be a defense mechanism against emotions that may make us feel uncomfortable. Either way, it's pretty weird to experience.''
''Ardern has dealt with much bigger fires than numpty questions that are based on trying to connect dots in a speculative manner to extract a comment.''
Again you may be right. She could have been laughing at the questioner because someone had told her the questioner was a 3 second wonder in bed. But I think that nervous laugh is going to become more common in coming months.
Actually, I as referring to Megan Woods, and you again proved my point that you see what you want to see.
I missed the comment of Woods on that interview, BTW. Or were you mind-reading her too?
Are you a laughing expert by any chance? Nice quote, but no link![angry angry](https://cdn2.thestandard.org.nz/wp-content/plugins/ark-wysiwyg-comment-editor/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/angry_smile.png?x42494)
Never met a “3 second wonder in bed”; is that about tickling?
I will watch out for nervous laughter in coming months and let it
cloudguide my thinking and ultimately my vote.''Actually, I was referring to Megan Woods, and you again proved my point that you see what you want to see.''
Oh, thanks for telling me. But she's not the PM yet. Of course your hint that subjective perceptions can mean anything was addressed with objective factors to back up the many of us who, funnily enough, had the same subjective perceptions. Megan woods was auxiliary to the main actor. Sometimes you have to assume a commentator will stay with the argument without resorting to parlour tricks.
As for the rest of your comments, they are of little value. In fact they are very well crafted inanities that would lead some apparatchiks to think you are a very witty and intelligent man. I think you are, but your reply is the written equivalent of a nervous laugh against a narrative that has merit, but isn't wanted on this blog.
You asked us to direct our attention to Woods, so I did.
I personally don’t know any “parlour tricks”, unless it involves tickling.
Obviously, I’m pushing back on your narrative into more objective territory with a less biased perspective, but the Force is strong with you.
As to what is wanted on this blog, I cannot answer this; what do you want on this blog? Your user name is not as self-explanatory as you might think and there are very few actual mind readers on this site.
The kaupapa of this site is robust debate, preferably informed and rich with some original thinking and imaginative input. You have a long way to go still.
You, sir (?) are a concern troll. Your non de plume should be better as Ex Socialist.
Concern troll is very apt. Labour has blown a gift bestowed on us from Winston Peters. We forgot how lucky we were.
''Your non de plume should be better as Ex Socialist.''
I decided to leave the the E out for brevity. However as Incognito has shown – anything can mean anything.
Nope, not anything means anything. If you think or believe that you’ve lost your grip on reality and you might as well wear virtual-reality googles 24/7 – we’re not as far away from that as you might think, which is why there’s so much gaslighting happening.
Which is why we [have to] do reality checks all the time, individually-collectively, by pinching others and ourselves.
Do "body cues" include eyebrows? Imho, your comment reads like sour grapes. 'Critiquing' our PM for having a laugh is weak ‘dirt‘ – Nanny next?
Just dire…
Given some of the non-Labour people who won in the local body elections, I would say it is to Labour's advantage for the next election.
She's still the most popular politician in the country. People have seen Luxon, and they don't like him. At least Key was pretty good at hiding his contempt for 70% of the public.
Three taut true sentences![yes yes](https://cdn2.thestandard.org.nz/wp-content/plugins/ark-wysiwyg-comment-editor/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/thumbs_up.png?x42494)
''She's still the most popular politician in the country''
That's a fact according to the polls. But, her popularity is declining along with that of Luxons. Is there a common denominator?
The next question is ''so what?'' I mean that seriously.
Oh, how we laughed!
No need for sarcasm. I was just covering my arse in case someone accuses me of nastiness masquerading as a question. The question was genuine.
I don't think RA has thought things through. What's the point of crowing about Jacinda being the most popular polly in the country when according to polls the Tories and ACT could form a gummint if an election was held tomorrow? Of course all political parties have problems at the moment:
1- Labour – Jacinda's fading popularity and voter backlash.
2- National – ACT and their bottom line for coalition. Luxon's unlikeablity.
3-The Greens – Voter backlash and internal ructions. The rise of Chlöe Swarbrick. The decline of James Shaw.
4- The Maori Party. Voter backlash against Maori coming. Some from Maori. Allegations against John Tamihere for having his fingers in a forbidden cookie jar.
Does this chess board of moves not excite you, Incognito?
You have no sense of humour or a very short & selective memory, or both. Anywho, covering your arse is moot when you’re showing your true colours.
You say that your question was genuine, but it was followed with this:
Seriously? Do you have discussions with your parsnip? By candlelight?
You appear to live in an alternate reality judging by your 4 bullet points. Stop smoking your own dope and the fog may lift, eventually. I’m not into gaming and virtual reality, so no, it does not ‘excite’ me the slightest, but it seems to work for you!? I do like a good game of chess though, where B & W pieces mean something.
You certainly drifted a long way from the first comment in this thread about the train wreck that was the
speechappearance by Liz Truss.PS I actually like Luxon a lot, but he’s
utterly shitterrible at being a politician and LOTO. He would be a shambolic PM, which is what Seymour and ACT are counting on.Jeepers. Talking about showing ones true colours. I tried to expand on the question I asked. Your reply was filled with invective. Ironically the PS was the only decent thing you wrote. I'm sorry about straying from the topic. I thought anything went in open mike. Next time I will start a new thread.
Link:
Much and all as I truly loathe the UK Conservative Party and all they stand for, Truss must get her show together and her team must help her.
They have been elected into power until 2025.
The UK needs a strong financial industry to have a strong economy, and if that gets seriously worse it will affect trade with both Australia and New Zealand.
Also the destabilisation of about 20 million pensioners livelihoods is not cool and looks like it will continue for months.
Truss must get her show together.
what's the main trade between NZ and the UK?
"New Zealand’s main goods exports to the UK include meat, wine, fruit, some machinery, eggs, honey and wool – a total of NZ$1.5 billion.
The main goods imports from the UK include vehicles and parts, machinery, equipment, and pharmaceuticals – a total of NZ$1.7 billion.
There is also substantial services trade, worth NZ$2.8 billion. New Zealand services exports to the UK are dominated by travel, transport and business services."
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements-concluded-but-not-in-force/new-zealand-united-kingdom-free-trade-agreement/key-facts-on-new-zealand-united-kingdom-trade/
In power to 2025. This is the problem. In a perfect world enough tories would have the courage to rebel and force another election for the good of the country. Let the public decide. No, they won't, it will never happen and that ship is sinking.
The pommie rags are brutal.
https://twitter.com/dailystar/status/1580830837331087361
Just started watching and couldn't get past,
because I started laughing.
I did better than that – got as far as the next few words,
before hitting the stop button.
Truss had a very short list of who she was going to allow questions from – Telegraph, Sun, BBC and ITV. Shame for her that they still asked tricky questions! They all got the same scripted stilted response which bore no relation to the question – energy payments, growth, global situation… and then she scurried off.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/130076736/here-are-the-economic-policies-national-says-it-will-cull
Less tax more unemployed, what national stands for.
Although I'm on the fence on the farming tax , 8 billion people need all the food grown out on the farm at this stage ,and it's clear the left don't get it!
We should only sell our food to the highest priced buyer.
More Waitrose and a whole less Aldi.
Mass industrial agricultural anything is no use to New Zealand.
So the rest compete with the wealthy for the food? Come again!!
I do agree about industrial farming, but not for the above reason.
The only reason that the world can feed its population (not so much here in NZ, but in the first world economies) is industrial farming.
Malthus was right (for the agricultural environment in which he lived) – it is only the industrialized farming and food preservation technologies which have enabled us to support our world population with sufficient reserves to support our lifestyle. [All those XR protesters only have the resources to protest because of industrialized farming – including oil for energy – something few of them are willing to acknowledge.]
You can't shy away from it. Moving away from industrialized farming will result in food shortages, increased prices, and eventually starvation for some of the population.
Moving to sustainable industrialized farming, is another matter.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-malthus-predicted-1798-food-shortages/
Most compete already for our food, and that competition is how our country has paid for most of our social democracy for a century.
Welcome to the world of sales.
bwaghorn.8 billion people won't be feed if global warming continues to wreek havoc floods droughts and wars. Not doing anything about climate change is going to mean more people going hungry .The right continue to bury their head in the sand and blame the left for bringing it to our attention and doing something about it.
I never said we shouldn't do anything about cc,
Slam frivolous emissions like tourism, would sporting fixtures, any shit people consume that isn't related to survival, destroying rural nz so we can be leaders(although I doubt any one will follow) is ridiculous
Relevant news at a time when Groundswell remains anchored in the 1950's. It's never been better for farmers. Never a nod in the direction of the government for helping prop up the trading conditions leading to these results.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/130159725/alliance-group-records-most-profitable-year-to-date
Absolutely. Only the Tractors have changed ! And they are organising yet another Tractor protest. Probably with accompaniment anti Jacinda ( pretty communist etc etc) placards
People should read your…and other links, and, well…just look at the Tractors, not hard to see who is doing well.
FYI…of course there is a separate group of Farmers..who dont support the groundswell dino's. And clearly see the Future. Our Earth's heating !…and they are trying to change others mindset. Problem is the aforesaid groundswellers mind.. set is in concrete.
Farming culture is the ultimate echo chamber. Generally the only social contact a farmer has is his family (generally farmers) and other farmers. It's rare that someone without a farming background will be employed on a farm so it goes on. It's a world quite separate to the rest of society. Agreement and conformity are prioritised over rational thought, or even just thought.
When that insular, but also rather secure world is questioned by wider society, and the environment they rely on keep farming, it is a direct threat to their wellbeing.
Don't expect a rational response.
There's also a huge international industry that's dependant on the individual farmer's cashflow to supply their tractors, irrigators, fertiliser, seed, feed, genetics and the myriad of other inputs that go in to a farm. On this side it's a bit more intelligent and rational, but the money is huge and international, most inputs aren't in $NZ.
Going to be a bit of a ride.
I hear you. I've worked Urban and Rural. Quite varied jobs. With the Rural…a lot of VERY Nice people. And mostly.. pretty laidback. But definitely when its "them" against Us (Rural folk), Stand Together becomes the prime directive. And in times of strife absolutely ..prime. However those times include drought…which is only going to get worse as we continue Earth heating. Farmers need to see this. Pouring water on grass , to make milk…is so past its use by.
I do see some of their bewilderment ? frustration? but I still think they need to see a big picture.
There's nothing quite like a Taranaki cockie telling you about how
farm succession planninghard work got him into his prime >350ha dairy unit.On his stolen peppercorn lease land.
Got a feeling the protest will be a bit of a shitshow. Last time round the organisers had to impose a list of approved messages for participants, and that was before the Wellington riot. There's a lot of maniacs out there looking to latch onto the next thing, so expect to see them trying to worm their way into this latest Groundswell tantrum.
For sure. Hitchin' their anti: Guvmint/Maori/Three Waters/5G/Vaccination/U.N./etc etc; wagons to the flash tractors.
And yea re "the "list of approved messages for participants" thats only a fob…IMO it'll be full on for sure. Hopefully they are seen for what they are.
The King…….Ah MAYOR , Wayne Brown,stymied.
Awesome. Nothing better than bullies getting…pushback : )
Wonder if Ol' Wayne has any urinal pictures planned for him?
I'm sure Wayne will be….fuming.
He will use this interregnum moment to the full until the committee structure is formed
Thats the way of these bullies. Hopefully all those being "pressured" to resign (and DON'T want to) can get the support they need to hang in there. Council's, along with ALL NZ workplaces have anti bully systems set in law. Sadly never much adhered to….BUT. Still there to be used.
The Chair of Panuku is himself a bully, who has wielded his power over iwi and other groups for too long. The entire Board of Panuku is under investigation for conflicts of interest. Brown is taking on powerful corporate interests and not before time.
lol.
I support what Eke Panuku is doing. Strong Towns.
Anyone who thinks that either Takapuna or Northcote are 'thriving town centres' is invited to visit them. Apart from the large number of restaurants in Takapuna (anecdotally, hearing that many of them are struggling), business is dire. Central Northcote is one massive building site – as high-rise apartment buildings are constructed all around the existing scruffy town centre (plans for revitalizing this are still on the drawing board – and may never eventuate with a different council with different priorities).
No doubt people who are familiar with the other Auckland suburbs quoted can comment on the truthfulness of that remark, where they are concerned.
Most smart politicians do.
The Government has a published a consultation document: Te tātai utu o ngā tukunga ahuwhenua Pricing agricultural emissions.
The opportunity to make submissions on this proposal runs until 18 November.
It's important that we have our say, but if the depth of the submission process intimidates the Greens have a guide:
https://action.greens.org.nz/submission_guide_he_waka_eke_noa
I really don't get why we have a capitalist solution i.e. trading schemes to solve what essentially is market failure to protect our environment.
Regulation to simply restrict seems much more sensible and straight forward.
Limit the areas you can dairy in, reduce the herd sizes, set maximum herd sizes per land area linked to land quality, reduce irrigation required to make dairying viable in previously non dairying areas and so on. Imagine if we had taken such an approach to abolishing slavery. For every slave you have you can employ someone else to offset them. Yep that would work.
Because of the Labour party. In 2014 the Greens campaigned on phasing out the ETS for a carbon tax:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/246114/greens-sticking-with-carbon-tax-policy
Since Labour remain adhered to the 'market-based' solutions the Greens have to push them to make that market system as effective as is possible. I'm sure your comment would be an appropriate general comment in a submission.
Best comedy ever.
#RIPRobbieColtrane
very good.
https://twitter.com/hughlaurie/status/1580991212118429696
https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/trans-activist-trolls-target-robbie-28243779
TRA's troll Robbie Coltrane after his tragic death because he supported J K Rowling.
Not nice people
Some woke nonsense for a Saturday morning.
New Zealand’s arts council has pulled funding for a Shakespeare festival that has been running in secondary schools for roughly three decades, after questioning its relevance to the country and because it focuses on “a canon of imperialism”.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/14/new-zealand-pulls-funding-for-school-sheilah-winn-shakespeare-festival-citing-canon-of-imperialism
Dog forbid they should have to apply to a different funding programme.
The rejection letter said the centre would be able to apply for funding under Creative NZ’s annual arts grants programme, and it may “do better financially” under that scheme.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/arts/129904808/to-fund-or-not-to-fund-shakespeare-centres-funding-axed-by-creative-nz
Yes Joe 90, but it was the reason for cutting the funding. Shakespeare's genre is apparently located in a "canon of imperialism". FFS. Politicizing the greatest playright of all times. Someone who wrote so very meaningfully about human nature. The irony.
Also there is nothing to say applying to another branch of Creative NZ will be successful.
They are making NZ look like a cultural backwater.
It has not been funded because it is competing against other requests for funding and has this time missed out.
Is there an expectation it gets funded forever and others miss out? The overall context is missing – how many applications were received, what was the oversubscription, what actually did get funded? Do we expect that their is competition for limited funding or the same organisations get funded every year?
There is a good point in the commentary.
“Wouldn’t it be great if young people could come home and say, ‘Hey, Mum, Dad, I just found this story and it’s really similar to Hinemoa and Tūtānekai. It’s Romeo and Juliet’.”
I love Shakespeare and think it should continue to be taught in schools but don't believe it has any right to be so taught – any more than while I love the education I got at school on the Edwardian era or WWII or on asplenium ferns or The Bluebird of Happiness has any right to continue.
Management-speak and over justifying is a problem in this country – just say that the requests for funding were oversubscribed and you missed out. Adding gobbledy-gook to the explanation leads to this sort of nonsense.
I'm much more interested in what was funded instead of. Might be some really cool innovative stuff in there.
So, you found old news from a month ago in an overseas rag that set off your woke detector and decided to be outraged. Clearly, you haven’t studied Shakespeare enough:
To be outraged, or not to be outraged, that’s no question
You must've missed the bit a couple of the members of the arts council commented that the organisation was “quite paternalistic” and that the genre was “located within a canon of imperialism and missed the opportunity to create a living curriculum and show relevance”.
One assessor said the application made them “question whether a singular focus on an Elizabethan playwright is most relevant for a decolonising Aotearoa in the 2020s and beyond”.
Frankly whenever I read such trite nonsense I'm left with the impression that the people populating these public funded councils are a pack if asshats.
Once the smoke in front of your eyes has cleared and the brain fog has lifted, you could have a quick look at how grant applications are assessed:
https://creativenz.govt.nz/Funds-and-opportunities/Find-opportunities/Arts-Grants#how-applications-are-assessed
I know how much it grates when your application is turned down and you received feedback that contains irksome comments. Most if not all Public Good funders have a complaint process; constructive criticism is generally welcomed with positive response.
https://creativenz.govt.nz/About-Creative-NZ/Making-a-complaint
From the link in joe90’s comment @ 7.1.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/top-auckland-uni-english-professor-slams-move-to-defund-shakespeare-festival/XUVOXKLOKEB6BG5IFKNANXY4EQ/?c_id=1&objectid=12558920
Top Ak University Professor of English slams Creative NZ's Shakespeare decision. And apparently criticism from abroad too. Embarrasing.
Actually its not that some groups that apply for funding are turned down, that is all part of the process. Its the embarrasing rationale for cutting the funding. I mean the canon of imperialism? FFS
A Stuff reporter (no doubt with a grant application in the offing) is celebrating the decision.
I guess they all think they're more insightful than Kurosawa. Casuals.
Argh Stuff. The Wolsey of the woke
Is it just coincidence that geopolitically we have two major actors trying to replicate the past?
Putin wants to rebuild the Russian empire and be tsar.
Xi in China seems to be wanting to rebuild the hierarchy to the days of the Emperor. Total control over every aspect of life handed down from the court.
In both cases control over the local population is relatively easy as neither have a history of any form of democratic governance.
Western society may well just have to watch this play out internally. And use the rules based order to mitigate the worst effects on neighbours.
Which is what we are doing.
So much whining..
Former President Donald Trump is calling on the Pulitzer Prize Board to revoke prizes awarded to the New York Times and Washington Post in 2018 for their coverage of the Russia investigation, threatening legal action if they do not comply.
In a letter to Pulitzer administrator Marjorie Miller, Trump noted that he twice previously made the request, stating that the reporting on the years-long probe was based on false information.
"There is no dispute that the Pulitzer Board's award to those media outlets was based on false and fabricated information that they published," the former president said. "The continuing publication and recognition of the prizes on the Board's website is a distortion of fact and a personal defamation that will result in the filing of litigation if the Board cannot be persuaded to do the right thing on its own."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-threatens-pulitzer-committee-legal-action-russia-probe-coverage
AP report on fascists doing what fascists always do; abducting kids, sending them to Russia or Russian-held territories, telling them they weren’t wanted by their parents and giving them to Russian families.
Disgusting.
Thousands of children have been found in the basements of war-torn cities like Mariupol and at orphanages in the Russian-backed separatist territories of Donbas. They include those whose parents were killed by Russian shelling as well as others in institutions or with foster families, known as “children of the state.”
[…]
The investigation is the most extensive to date on the grab of Ukrainian children, and the first to follow the process all the way to those already growing up in Russia. The AP drew from dozens of interviews with parents, children and officials in both Ukraine and Russia; emails and letters; Russian documents and Russian state media.
https://apnews.com/article/ukrainian-children-russia-7493cb22c9086c6293c1ac7986d85ef6?
Kazakhstan told him to jam it. Nek minit….
https://twitter.com/Peter__Leonard/status/1581017812264398848
3 million Tajiks living and working in Russia because conditions are so much better than their home country may have a different take
Poots' mana has slipped. He looks weaker and it's like blood in the water.
Here's one for Shanreagh and Swordfish.
Henry Cooke writes in the Guardian:
Now is he making a rather straightforward pun or a cryptic gag at the NZ accent's expense? Because as we all know, the G woudn't allow such a malapropism to pass without some deeper reason.
Sorry to ruin your weekends.
I am not sure why this has been directed at me….but here goes…..
I don't think he is being clever or punny. I do think he is ungrammatical or not using the phrase as it is used normally used and I cannot make sense of what he is trying to say. Some writers have trouble with the passive voice, and with using commonplace phrases, he has struggled with he/she/their.
It would make more sense quite apart from the heckles/hackles mistake if he used the phrase in its normal way.
without anyone raising their heckles.without raising anyone's hackles Correct.
'or cause someone or some people to be upset ' MerriamWebster Dictionary
And I don't agree with his premise. I think if we taxed the higher rates more then we could lower the rates for those on lower incomes. Any kind of extra income given to those on lower incomes allows a better lifestyle. It also stimulates the economy as it is often spent. Any kind of extra income given to those on higher incomes often leads to more being spent on trips overseas where someone else's economy benefits etc.
I saw someone describing ‘a shot across the boughs’ recently which had me thinking of people firing into trees…..why?
It might just be a pun on hackles and heckles, because of the heckling of the government since.
Come on now. He didn't know the phrase and the G missed it. No pun, no irony. Makes one pissed.
4/2 for Future West, congratulations MickySavage!
Things were tight in Waitākere.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/476727/final-auckland-council-election-results-released
Mark Allen you tinny bastard. Nice.
He was also the only candidate for the ward of the Waitākere Licensing Trust and was elected unopposed. Cosy little job, that is.
The Waitakere Licensing Trust is a useful foray into governance experience of a really large local asset. Mark is on the Green side of the Labour-Green ticket, and was previously Council staff, and also runs a welfare organisation on the North Shore. He will be a good fit for the Trusts.
Sometimes the determinant in politics is: who shows up. Mark did.
It was no reflection on Mark but one on the Trusts, which I have mixed feelings about. I think he’ll do a better than average job, which is a rare bonus nowadays. Genuine political engagement seems to be on a downward slide on all levels but particularly on the so-called lower ones 🙁
I noticed a few of the reform candidates made it onto the Trusts. How is the dynamic looking now?
I assume that you’re referring to the successful candidates of the Trusts Action Group; they have doubled their elected members to 4 in this election.
Ta. Is that enough to make any difference to direction?
Talking of things British. This take on the real Winston Churchill, and the cult of Churchill, by Tariq Ali, is apt. Of course Ali being coloured, and some of his hypocrisy's must be taken into consideration. But for the most part he nails it. Churchill was probably one of the most reviled men of his times. I could never understand why he was so lauded in the colonies. At least that's the impression I have. It's funny how Churchill’s blatant racism is condemned nowdays. And even decades before. But modern racism is acceptable by all except that perpetrated by white men.
Lauded more by some Gnat MPs than by the Greens.
Empty words? Maybe, but laudable empty words nevertheless, spoken by a man of his time who was no less complex than me and thee.
Thanks for the reminder. I had completely forgot about the parliamentary portrait incident.