In his new book, Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus: How Growth Became the Enemy of Prosperity, noted media theorist and author Douglas Rushkoff takes on the failure of the digital economy to make things better for more people. At the core of Rushkoff’s critique is what he calls the “obsolete economic operating system that emphasizes growth” and the abandonment of core values that occur once companies go public and succumb to short-term thinking.
Rushkoff suggests a shift away from the growth pressures of publicly traded markets and platform monopolies — and toward collaborative models that build on the contributions and add to the wealth of their workers, communities, and consumers.
Some interesting points about how the old capitalist business forms are proving even more destructive in the new digital age.
If put your head up and show ‘the government that it has holes in its social housing policy and that Paula Bennett has not been doing her job in terms of fixing these problems”, expect trouble.
Marae has fears of ‘smear campaign’
The Auckland-based marae which opened its doors to the homeless is worried it is the victim of a smear campaign by the staff of the Social Housing Minister.
Hasn’t Bennett more or less acknowledged that in her debriefing with her staff she imparted the knowledge Mr Dennis had very honourably given her ? If that’s the story the trashy thing is as guilty as sin, if one step removed. As someone said she has “form”.
That effete fuck Key then comes on and says – “Paula wears her heart on her sleeve……she wouldn’t lie to me”.
FFS ! There’s no such thing as a lie in the culture of their fetid, corrupt world so what’s that assurance worth ?
Donald Trump and his supporters are mimicking H1tler.
100%
The USA is today in about the place late 1920’s Germany was in just before they elected H1tler, with all his rhetoric blaming the muslims, I mean the jews, for everything
why did 25% of Germans vote for Hitler? Because they were sick of seeing their country and their lives being humiliated and broken by the powerful and the rich.
Agreed … Trump is only succeeding because the left has been put out of business, mainly by the elites imposing their self-serving zombie ideologies, and partly by our own divisiveness and failures.
The spectacle of the Democrats closing out the only authentically left-wing and popular candidate for generations, in favour of their own insider … will not be lost on many US voters. The message is loud and clear “this way lies no hope”.
I don;t disagree at all and those factors are very real..
still scary though as to where such rhetoric leads…… it is this which is scary…. and i dont think Trump even understands any of that… or perhaps he does …
Then to have Winston Peters come out the last two days with all of his rhetoric trying to out-pimp Trump – well, say no more…. Peters is again becoming populist with no care for the truth of his mutterances or positions and the effect those could have on encouraging hate and divisiveness ..
.. Peters claiming “we have it here too”… what a load of complete bullshit. If this carries on then Peters will be back to his previous Clark-years form of lies and bullshit, the wanker
placing NATO forces, including German military units FFS, right on the borders of Russia is not only assanine of the west, it is damn provocative and dangerous. Russia has already announced that it now has to add targets in Romania and Poland to their standard military plans.
Imagine Russia stationing 30,000 troops, missile batteries and fighter bomber squadrons in Cuba under the guise of a training exercise.
Anyone know what are the likely voting preferences of immigrants arriving since the last election. Would it be the same makeup as the population at large? If they are mostly low skilled is that a euphemism for Labour voters? If however they are ambitious and hard working is that a euphemism for National voters? I wonder how those with Chinese sounding names will vote? Perhaps a clue is that Asian membership of the National Party has doubled in the last two years.
If they parasite and leech off society, is that a euphemism for National voters? If they want to fight for basic employment rights in their jobs, is that a euphemism for Labour voters?
Take off the blinkers. National have increased benefits, extended free GP care and prescriptions to children, assisted beneficiaries into employment. increased operations, doctors, nurses and funded more medications. Sometimes the visceral venom of the Left defies credulity. In every portfolio there has been progress. Would a new immigrant want to support a winning succesful team or take a punt on a dispirite bunch of economically illiterate whingers.
fisiani, Nztional have been in power for eight ‘long’ years. So all of these should have increased- it’s called reacting, and properly so, to inflation.
Cameron and Carrick finally getting called out on their lies, perfect timing, someone’s using their head and timing it to keep him out of the election.
Microbes discovered that eat and poo electricity, microbes that could revolutionize energy and at the same time clean up the planets pollution. Good to see their is a glimmer of hope for this planet.
Christ on a stick. An author at the standard has proposed a viable, inter connected, well reasoned alternative to current practises rather than just blindly criticising then coming up with an ill-thought through, impractical ideological alternative with no connection to reality. Well done Weka.
Nice post too
[moved to OM for being off topic and looks like an old argument too. You are all welcome back in the sustainable fishing thread if you can put your comments in context of the post. Nessalt, thanks for the ups but it would have been better without slagging off other authors – weka]
I think I can remember two other plausible, workable, alternatives presented on the standard.
One by Lprent in relation to something computer / network related and how it could be used to further societal cohesion.
Then something by Bill, also on mitigating harm to the environment while sustaining society in all it’s functions. including the bits you don’t like. That pay for you to sit around on a computer. which was developed and nurtured by capitalism and free market ideology. And without which no one would listen to you.
which was developed and nurtured by capitalism and free market ideology.
Capitalism has always been against the welfare state and democracy. Just need to look at the actions of this government to see that.
Also, it wasn’t capitalism that developed the computer but heavy state intervention. Apple and its products would not exist without government funding and research.
Capitalism destroys. Always has done, always will do.
Just remember that large, upfront and early Federal Gov investment was what made the transistor and computer networking possible. Private companies have been leveraging off that for many years now, but they never had to take the initial risk or expense of doing the early investment themselves.
And the government never would have made any grants if it wasn’t perfectly suited for growing the economy and improve the access of millions to information and capitalism in a short space of time. capitalist imperatives have nurtured more societal improvements than any other form of ism has. look how globalism combined with capitalism have raised more than 90% of the worlds population out of actual poverty. not the relative poverty that is an ephemeral concept and is routinely trotted out as a “valid” argument.
And the government never would have made any grants if it wasn’t perfectly suited for growing the economy and improve the access of millions to information and capitalism in a short space of time.
Back in the 1950s I really doubt any one was dreaming of the WWW or even individuals having computers.
capitalist imperatives have nurtured more societal improvements than any other form of ism has.
Nope. It always destroys them because the capitalists take all the wealth for themselves. That’s what cutting government spending and taxes is about.
look how globalism combined with capitalism have raised more than 90% of the worlds population out of actual poverty.
I’m pretty sure if you went to the people before capitalism introduced them to poverty and asked if they were in poverty they’d say no. And you probably wouldn’t find any either as those societies worked together to ensure that everyone lived well.
Now you know that public money was used in the development of much of the computer industry and internet, will you simply go on telling the same lies as before? I think so, because it suits your personal belief system, too much of which is based on lies for you to change.
You can’t even acknowledge the successes of social-democratic mixed economies, ffs.
what lies? it’s all true. capitalistic imperatives to provide a free market are essential to a government performing it’s duty to society. Government can never provide the kind of planning and distribution to make some thing like the uptake of personal computers work. and they certainly can’t bludgeon anyone into making a sustainable fishing farm like the one proposed. it’s success will be judged by the notion that it’s owners can make a profit based off low barriers to entry. boom- free market.
understand this, government intervention is successful when it’s propagating just causes like free market capitalism is a once off. it’s only when they guarantee bank and finance company deposits etc that it becomes a problem. purely because the government is now involved and markets are distorted.
capitalistic imperatives to provide a free market are essential to a government performing it’s duty to society.
The government has always done that far better when it wasn’t done through capitalism. In fact the last thirty years have shown a decrease in the ability of our government to do right by our people – as the increasing poverty and homelessness proves.
Government can never provide the kind of planning and distribution to make some thing like the uptake of personal computers work.
Actually, the PC you’re using is proof that they can. Read The Entrepreneurial State to get an idea of how the entire process was planned over decades by a small government office. An office that researched what was needed and then chose the research to fund to bring about that end. If that small government office hadn’t done that planning there’d be no way that we’d have the computers that we have today.
and they certainly can’t bludgeon anyone into making a sustainable fishing farm like the one proposed.
No. What they’d do is fund the research into producing such sustainable farms and then make that research publicly available. Just like the US government did and does with computers in fact.
it’s success will be judged by the notion that it’s owners can make a profit based off low barriers to entry.
Have you noted climate change and our polluted cities and water ways?
That’s the result of capitalism and the profit motive. Capitalism is unsustainable and always destroys the society that tries it as history proves.
What lies? You’re still telling them. Are you going to read The Entrepreneurial State as suggested, or are you happy to wallow in ignorance and dishonesty?
I bet you invent some strawman instead. Go on, pretend you’re arguing with a Communist, that’ll work 🙄
Auckland is booming but it’s the struggling regions that contribute most exports and tourist destinations – the critical determinants of living standards.
o Excessive, low value immigration is a disaster. It boosts GDP, so is politically attractive, but increases housing demand and prices, is causing serious social problems, puts pressure on Government spending AND, most importantly, reduces the living standards of New Zealanders. Building more houses for more people who don’t add economic value just digs a deeper hole!
o Immigration inflates house prices but much of the increase in house prices reflects the large tax subsidy to investors in housing, compared with savers.
o High volume – low value tourism is destructive. It adds little economic value but puts serious pressure on the environment and fundamentally erodes New Zealand’s desirable features.
o Deliberate policy targeting of savers and savings is politically expedient but bad policy, and damaging, economically and socially.
o Low productivity is a critical weakness, contributing to low incomes, low tax payments and low living standards – and welfare dependency.
o The windfall gains from Auckland house prices should be substantially taxed, to fund critical National projects, such as restoring river water quality and more effective social programs. River water quality is a disgrace!
o The Public Service needs to be sorted, urgently. It has too many serious policy and performance failures. It has too many weaknesses and is too much a lap dog rather than a source of leadership and free and frank advice and information. “Better Public Service” is dead in the water!
So how come in 9 hard years of Labour they never made huge increases in benefits, increased operations or doctors or nurses and refused to fund Herceptin. Take off the blinkers and come over to the Force.
St Matthew-in-the-City
(187 Federal St) (Corner of Wellesley and Hobson Sts)
Doors open at 6pm. LIMITED CAPACITY. $5 Koha. Thanks.
Public Meeting
Talks and discussion on the TPPA (Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement) and the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership). These are two massive international treaties that spell Double Trouble.
Find out more!
The TPPA is being steamrolled through Parliament against the wishes of the majority of New Zealanders, but it is in deep trouble in the US and other countries. It may never be ratified and may never come into force. We need to keep up the pressure.
Meanwhile, the RCEP, led by China contains many of the same dangerous provisions as the TPPA. It is still in negotiation and the next round of talks is being held in Auckland on 12-18 June. If the TPPA doesn’t go through, it will be the RCEP that sets the rules for trade and investment, and for New Zealand’s laws and democratic rights.
Like the TPPA, the RCEP negotiations are shrouded in secrecy. We need to know what the New Zealand government is saying on our behalf. We need transparency.
Featured speakers:
Dr. Jomo Kwame Sundaram – former senior UN official, researcher on the TPPA
Dr. Jane Kelsey – Law Professor, University of Auckland
Sanya Reid Smith – Senior Researcher, Third World Network Malaysia
Dr. Joshua Freeman – Doctors for Healthy Trade
Barry Coates – Spokesperson, It’s Our Future
Dr. Sundaram is a prominent Malaysian economist, who has served as the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) from 2005 until 2012. He was founder chair of International Development Economics Associates (IDEAs), and sat on the Board of the United Nations Research Institute For Social Development (UNRISD), Geneva. In 2007, he was awarded the Wassily Leontief Prize for Advancing the Frontiers of Economic Thought.
A prominent critic of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), Dr. Sundaram has co-authored a report, published by the Global Development and Environment Institute at Tufts University, entitled Trading Down: Unemployment, Inequality and Other Risks of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. Dr Sundaram’s research indicates that the economic models used to legitimise such treaties do not take into account that they work to increase unemployment and inequality.
Dr. Jane Kelsey is one of New Zealand’s best-known critical commentators on issues of globalisation and neoliberalism. She is an active member of a number of international coalitions of academics, trade unionists, NGOs and social movements working for social justice.
Sanya Reid Smith is a Legal Advisor and Senior Researcher at the Third World Network, an international coalition specializing in North-South policy issues. Sanya travels the world in tireless advocacy for social justice, on topics including access to medicines, womens’ rights and environmental sustainability.
Dr. Josh Freeman is a Clinical Microbiologist at Auckland City Hospital and an honorary academic at the University of Auckland School of Molecular Medicine and Pathology.Doctors for the Protection of Health in Trade Agreements (known as Doctors for Healthy Trade) is a growing coalition of New Zealand doctors and colleagues in health in New Zealand and elsewhere, with a core group of predominantly full-time clinicians.
Barry Coates is spokesperson for It’s Our Future and former Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand. He has played a prominent role in campaigning on trade and climate change internationally and in New Zealand, and is a passionate advocate for sustainability and social justice. It’s Our Future is the leading coalition in New Zealand opposing the TPPA and similar treaties.
When the race started Sandars did not get the press, well maybe in the US, but i have not heard him speak, let alone understand his platform. Now sure r you can argue that he was new and took time to catch Clinton incumbant establishment name recognition. Though Trump branding long ago has been drummed into us all.
But that just democracy when media hold the keys to who gets airtime.
Sandars is still in because hes got leverage to get Clinton concessions. No problem with that. Question is really for me, will Republicians vote for Trump and have him define their party, like George junior, in the hopes he is a Ronald, even though both are now historically patsy establishment Presidents who created the mire that is western democracy.
I first saw Sanders many many years ago on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and it WAS complimentary.
You know what? Sanders went down so well he was given a huge round of applause and whistling by the audience. Jon Stewart was really impressed too and he said something along the lines of “Hey America, take a look at our future President!” Uncanny eh.
As for aerobubble’s question, I can’t reply to that. I’m barely following the American Presidential campaigns this time around. I’m just too tired.
Like any 2.5 mill’ Lotto winner. Of course it wouldn’t have anything to do with what I suspect to be your subliminal sense that he’s a lobotomised brown boy in a sea of equally unworthy brown people. Which sense was the problem right from the start of course.
I read somewhere there’s a still serving Auckland cop who was involved in his persecution from day one whom to this day still angrily maintains that Teina Pora’s as guilty as sin. May karma hunt that bastard cop down.
Paula Trash aye ? The staffer loses his/her job there could be some uncontrolled talking. Of course Paula Trash is gonna publicly decline the invented offer of resignation. Makes the trashy lying thing look the magnanimous non-bully she is not.
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More Thwaites This past week we heard disturbing news about Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier. Helping to fill in the longer term history of Thwaites' behavior and especially helpful in interpreting results of the recent drilling project and what it may say about the future of this unstable mass of ice is Revealing the ...
Inaccuracies are very common in scientific paper abstracts. Image credit:Science in the Abstract: Don’t Judge a Study by its Cover I have come to accept anti-fluoride campaigners will never stop cherry-picking research and findings ...
“The scene is set, the players met…”. And what players they are in this farce of an Election coming up in the United States this year. There is a multi-faceted anger in the broader situation the world finds itself in, in which the false promises of so-called “moderates” find themselves ...
A few years ago, a company lowballed a contract to dispose of toxic waste from the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter. So, they dumped it in a disused paper mill in Mataura, then went into liquidation - effectively dumping the problem on local councils. The waste is dangerous - it releases ...
Unhappy with the demonisation of Iran in Western media, I was fortunate to have the Australian Institute of International Affairs invite me to write an alternative analysis for their on-line journal Australian Outlook. I did, and they serialised it into two parts. The essays are short, so I did not ...
Over on The Good Society, Max Rashbrooke suggests that its time to start directly taxing wealth:A wealth tax would be levied on net wealth – that is, the value of people’s assets once their debts have been subtracted. Such a tax would be highly redistributive. Levied at 1% on wealth ...
The quarterly labour market statistics have been released, and unemployment has dropped to 4%. There are now 111,000 unemployed - 15,000 fewer than when Labour took office. Its not the performance we had under Clark (when unemployment was ~3.3%), but its still a reasonable improvement over prevailing conditions under National. ...
Prof Michael Baker, Prof Nick Wilson, Louise Delany, Prof Richard Edwards, Prof Philippa Howden-ChapmanThe current national measles epidemic in New Zealand is amongst the largest we have experienced in the last 40 years. It can be linked to the problems created by long-term erosion and fragmentation of national public health ...
I’m about to start teaching science communication to tertiary students, which is equally hilarious and terrifying to me. (Hi to my students who have Googled me and found this post.) I loved English at high school, but we spent most of our time reading The Outsiders, discussing the differences between metaphors and ...
Space-X has started launching its Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit with a plan to use some tens of thousands of these to deliver 5G wifi to the whole globe. Chains of these satellites can be seen in the evening or before-dawn skies, through the sunlight they scatter. Here I provide ...
New Zealand was the first country to decriminalise prostitution and it was promoted as a progressive move. Yet survivors of the sex trade say that pimps and johns are emboldened operating within the law, and that the women are treated more like a piece of property to be used and ...
A dairy owner in St Kilda, Dunedin was delighted to hear that an attempted robbery of his establishment was foiled by a government-funded security system. Sean Lee was delighted at how well the anti-theft smoke system worked. When a knife-wielding man entered the store, the shop assistant immediately pressed a ...
Customs says it stopped more than three tonnes of illegal drugs coming into New Zealand last year. This includes 1,180kg of methamphetamine, 329kg of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine precursors, which could have been converted into 246kg of methamphetamine, 739kg and 6469 pills of MDMA or Ecstasy and 60kg of cocaine. Offshore, ...
Hon. Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development Up to $2 million will be allocated from the Provincial Growth Fund to set up temporary water supplies in Kaikohe and Kaitaia where drought is biting hard, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. Drought conditions in Northland have led to ...
Darroch Ball, Spokesperson for Law and Order New Zealand First welcomes the deployment of an Eagle Police helicopter in Christchurch in what is a step towards fulfilling its long-standing goal to increase the use of police helicopters for the front line, particularly in addressing the scourge of fleeing drivers. Christchurch leads ...
It may have been the first sitting week of 2020, but our Government is already in full-swing - managing a strong economy, investing in infrastructure, and working to break the cycle of homelessness. Read below for all that, and more... ...
In a heated debate in Parliament, National's Deputy Leader Paula Bennett claimed that “nearly 1600 patched gang members have been added” since the Coalition Government took power. To illustrate her point, she altered a chart used by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to show her government’s progress in housing to instead ...
Speech by the Rt Hon Winston Peters at Parliament’s Opening 2020 "We all need insurance" This year New Zealanders are going to have a clear choice to make That choice is between: Optimism versus pessimism; More progress versus back to the future; Investment versus divestment; Unity versus division. New Zealand ...
Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones has slammed the Board of Auckland Airport following the airport's runway closing twice within two weeks due to maintenance. Around 2,000 passengers were affected by last week’s runway closures, according to 1NEWS. Another maintenance closure on January 24 saw two international flights and three domestic flights ...
Jenny Marcroft, Spokesperson for Broadcasting New Zealand First supports the commissioning of a business case to assess the viability of a new public media entity. “A strong media environment is critical for a healthy democracy. New Zealand First is a strong supporter of a diverse, independent media,” New Zealand First broadcasting spokesperson ...
Pounamou and technology industries in the West Coast region are set to receive more than $2 million in Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) funding. This was announced by the Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau during Waitangi Day commemorations in Hokitika. He said $800,000 would be given to Development West ...
Clayton Mitchell MP, New Zealand First spokesperson for Labour and Industrial Relations Unemployment and wage growth numbers released by Stats NZ today demonstrate a labour market in good shape with unemployment falling to 4.0%, the underutilisation rate falling to an 11 year low, and wage growth at a 10-year high ...
Hon. Ron Mark, New Zealand First Spokesperson for Defence New Zealand First Spokesperson for Defence Ron Mark, welcomes the official opening of Te Rau Aroha, a new museum at Waitangi Treaty Grounds as part of our Coalition Agreement. “It is a great honour to be part of an effective Government ...
Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, Deputy Prime MinisterGood morning,Let us start with important acknowledgements.First, this special day, in remembrance of the 28th Maori Battalion, is also to honour all those men and women who have risked their lives in the service of our country.Second, special guest Robert ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand will look to build on its relationship with the United Kingdom and recommit to the European Union, after the country officially left the continental union recently. The Minister said New Zealand already cooperates closely with Britain on defence and security issues and has ...
New Zealanders are increasingly better off under this Government as wages rise and families have more disposable income, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. Stats NZ reported today that average household disposable incomes after housing costs rose 4.9% in 2019. This was the highest rise in four years and came as ...
All New Zealanders need to have their voices heard at work to ensure we have an inclusive and productive economy. Today we introduce a Bill to do this for workers in the New Zealand screen industry, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says. “The Screen Industry Workers Bill will ...
The Government has announced further help for the Southland and Otago regions to speed up recovery efforts from the floods. “I’ve approved Enhanced Taskforce Green (ETFG), making $500,000 available to help with the clean-up in Fiordland, Southland, and the Clutha district in Otago,” Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni said. ...
Following the announcement that more than 340 schools will be funded to run events promoting vocational education, the Government has announced it will fund a further 257 events to be run by employers and industry. “These industry-run events will allow more than 30,000 students to connect with more than 2,000 ...
Today the Government is making progress on a fairer and more secure rental market for renters and landlords with the introduction of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill in Parliament. “This Bill includes a series of reforms to improve the wellbeing of the 609,700 households that live in rented homes, and ...
A Government programme to wipe out pea weevil has achieved a world first, with Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor today announcing the successful eradication of the noxious pest from Wairarapa. This means the nearly four-year ban on pea plants and pea straw was lifted today. Commercial and home gardeners can again grow ...
Southland residents hit by flooding caused by heavy rainfall can now access help finding temporary accommodation with the Government activating the Temporary Accommodation Service, Minister of Civil Defence Peeni Henare announced today. “The Temporary Accommodation Service (TAS) has been activated by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to help ...
“Is that it?” That’s Finance Minister Grant Robertson’s response to Simon Bridges’ much-hyped economic speech today. “Simon Bridges just gave the most over-hyped and under-delivered speech that I can remember during my time in politics,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s not surprising. Simon Bridges literally said on the radio this morning ...
A trial deployment of the Police Eagle helicopter in Christchurch will test whether the aircraft would make a significant difference to crime prevention and community safety. “The Bell 429 helicopter will be based in Christchurch for five weeks, from 17 February to 20 March,” said Police Minister Stuart Nash. “The ...
The Government has kept up the pace of its work to promote New Zealand’s trade interests and diversify our export markets, with visits to Fiji and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker. Building momentum to bring the PACER Plus trade and development agreement ...
The Coalition Government’s investment in a strong border and disrupting transnational organised crime produced record results for stopping drugs in 2019, says Minister of Customs Jenny Salesa. The illegal drugs were seized at the New Zealand border by Customs, and overseas by Customs’ international border partners before the drugs could ...
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today kicked off construction of a separated cycleway alongside Tamaki Drive. A two-way separated cycleway will be built along the northern side of Tamaki Drive, between the Quay Street Cycleway extension and Ngapipi Road. There will be a separate walking path alongside. Phil Twyford said giving ...
Owner-occupiers of unit and apartments living in earthquake-prone buildings will have certainty about the financial support they’ll be eligible for with the release of criteria for an upcoming assistance scheme, Minister for Building and Construction Jenny Salesa says. The Residential Earthquake-Prone Building Financial Assistance Scheme will help unit owners facing ...
Temporary restrictions on travel from China will remain in place as a precautionary measure to protect against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The restrictions which prevent foreign nationals travelling from, or transiting through, mainland China from entering New Zealand have been extended for a further 8 days. This position ...
Employment Minister Willie Jackson announced today that Tairāwhiti rangatahi will benefit from an investment made by the Government’s He Poutama Rangatahi (HPR) scheme. The funding will go to the Tautua Village, Kauneke programme and the Matapuna Supported Employment Programme which will fund 120 rangatahi over two years. “Both programmes work ...
All parents and caregivers need to ensure that their children go to school unless they are sick, Associate Education Minister Tracey Martin said today. “The school attendance results for 2019 show, across the board, a drop in the number of students going to school regularly,” the Minister says. “Apart from ...
A Deed of Settlement agreeing redress for historical Treaty claims has been signed by the Crown and Moriori at Kōpinga Marae on Rēkohu (Chatham Islands) today, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little has announced. Moriori have a tradition of peace that extends back over 600 years. This settlement ...
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today with Māori King Tuheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII officially opened the country’s newest road, the $384 million Huntly section of the Waikato Expressway. The 15km four-lane highway with side and central safety barriers takes State Highway 1 east of Huntly town, across lowlands and streams ...
The rapid uptake of life-saving new hepatitis C medicine Maviret since it was funded by PHARMAC a year ago means the elimination of the deadly disease from this country is a realistic goal, Health Minister David Clark says. Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus which attacks the liver, proving fatal ...
Kaupapa Māori will underpin the Government’s new plan to deal with homelessness announced by the Prime Minister in Auckland this morning. “Māori are massively overrepresented among people experiencing homelessness, so, to achieve different outcomes for Māori, we have to do things very differently,” says the Minister of Māori Development ...
1000 new transitional housing places delivered by end of year to reduce demand for emergency motel accommodation. Introduce 25% of income payment, after 7 days, for those in emergency motel accommodation to bring in line with other forms of accommodation support. Over $70m extra to programmes that prevents those at ...
Clear requirements for ensuring customers are treated fairly by banks, insurers and other financial service providers are included in new financial conduct legislation that passed its first reading today. “The recent reviews, by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) and Reserve Bank of New Zealand, into the conduct of banks and ...
Applications are now open for the fifth round of the Regional Culture and Heritage Fund Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Grant Robertson announced today. “I am delighted to open this year’s fund which has some $7 million available to support performing arts venues, galleries, museums and whare ...
The Minister of Māori Development, Hon Nanaia Mahuta today congratulated Associate Professor Amokura Kawharu on her appointment as the next President of the Law Commission. “Amokura Kawharu will be a standout in her new role, leading in an innovative and forward looking approach to the law reform process. She will ...
Auckland University legal academic Amokura Kawharu has been appointed as the next President of the Law Commission, Justice Minister Andrew Little announced today. Associate Professor Kawharu will take up her new appointment on 11 May 2020. “I would like to congratulate Associate Professor Kawharu on her appointment,” Andrew ...
A programme for employers to help them engage effectively with younger employees was launched today by Minister of Employment, Willie Jackson. The Youth Ready Employer Programme contains a range of on-line templates that employers can easily access to help with employing and retaining young people in their businesses. The programme ...
Budget 2020 will be delivered on Thursday 14 May, Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced today. “This year’s Budget will continue the Coalition Government’s focus on tackling the long-term challenges facing New Zealand while also preparing the economy for the future. “Those challenges and opportunities cannot be resolved in one budget, ...
I move, That this House place on record its appreciation and thanks for the devoted and distinguished service to New Zealand by the late Rt Hon Michael Kenneth Moore, member of the Order of New Zealand, a member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, an Honorary Member of the ...
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has today classified the drought conditions in Northland as an adverse event for the primary sector, unlocking $80,000 in Government support. “This is recognition that the extreme and prolonged nature of this dry spell is taking its toll on our farmers and growers and additional support ...
The Minister of Police says an operation to smash a trans national drug smuggling ring today will make a significant impact on the methamphetamine trade fuelling harm in our communities. Police have announced 10 arrests and the seizure of up to five million dollars’ worth of illicit drugs after an ...
The Government’s books are in a strong position to withstand global headwinds, with the accounts in surplus and expenses close to forecast, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. The Treasury today released the Crown accounts for the six months to December. The operating balance before gains and losses (OBEGAL) was above ...
Race courses can improve safety with this year’s second round of funding from the Racing Safety Development Fund. Minister for Racing Winston Peters has announced the second funding round of 2019/20 is open with $347,875 available for distribution. “The racing industry is integral to the economic and social fabric of ...
The Government is committing $300,000 to fund research to update behavioural information to make sure HIV and STI prevention services are targeted appropriately in New Zealand. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Finance Minister Grant Robertson made the announcement at today’s Big Gay Out in Auckland. “There is much talk about ...
The Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media has announced work will begin on a business case to assess the viability of forming a new public media entity. “The Government must ensure New Zealanders have a strong independent public media service for decades to come, which means ensuring public ...
Minister of Civil Defence Hon Peeni Henare announced today that the Government will contribute $100,000 to the Southland regional Mayoral Relief Fund, to support communities impacted by the recent flooding in Southland. Mr Henare says this week’s flooding has caused significant disruption to communities in the lower South Island. ...
Heritage buildings throughout New Zealand will benefit from the $1.1 million in Heritage EQUIP funding grants announced today. “These grants for seismic strengthening projects help private building owners get the advice they need to start building work or to get the work completed,” Grant Robertson says. “Timaru’s Grosvenor Hotel has ...
A new survey has found New Zealand’s game development sector has grown beyond expectations and is on track to becoming a billion dollar industry in 2025, Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford says. “New Zealand’s interactive media sector grew by 42 per cent in last financial year to $203.4 million, according ...
Te Tii, the lower marae at Waitangi, is among more than 70 marae now connected to broadband internet thanks to the Provincial Growth Fund’s marae connectivity scheme, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones said today. In February 2019, the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) allocated $21 million to connect rural towns ...
The West Coast has had a funding injection of over $1.2 million from the Provincial Growth Fund, Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced at Waitangi Day commemorations in Hokitika today. The PGF projects announced are: $800,000 to Development West Coast for a Grey District Regional Digital Hub ...
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has declared an adverse event for the Southland and Otago regions, unlocking Government support for farmers and growers. “Widespread flooding has resulted in severe disruption, with many people evacuated from their homes and many farms being affected by flood waters. It’s putting pressure on our farmers, ...
Eamonn Marra’s debut novel makes a study of the mundane: sanding a fence, heating baked beans, three pizzas for $29.99 delivered. Alie Benge reckons it belongs somewhere between Sally Rooney and Elena Ferrante. It was about page three of 2000ft Above Worry Level. A feeling burst inside me: the joy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzie Gibson, Senior Lecturer in English Literature, Charles Sturt University The gothic developed as a European architectural phenomenon in 12th-century France, where awe-inspiring cathedrals reflected a world drenched in religious piety and superstition. Its veneration was revisited in 18th-century English literature, when ...
Financial services company Heartland Bank has reported a solid lift in its first-half profit driven by increased lending despite a squeeze on margins and rising costs. ...
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today, e-bikes are now just a tap away! Josie Adams reviews the latest disruption in transport culture.When Lime launched in 2018, New Zealand’s transport culture got the electric shock it needed. For too long we’d ...
Ministers love to bray about the seizing of illegal drugs. Customs statistics on seizures last year – albeit “preliminary” statistics – therefore were irresistible to Customs Minister Jenny Salesa. They gave her a platform to remind us of her existence as a Minister while acknowledging the work of her officials. ...
The rise of ‘plant-based’ diets seems like a win for those who decry eating meat. But some vegan groups claim the halfway step of vegetarianism is ineffectual if you really care about animal cruelty, climate change, or your own personal health.An article in the Guardian last year asked “Why do ...
FIRST Union General Secretary Dennis Maga says that this morning’s comments from National Party Finance spokesperson Paul Goldsmith that the party would consider scrapping the Government’s proposed minimum wage increases if elected ...
The State Housing Action Network (SHAN) is deeply disappointed that the Government’s recently announced Aotearoa Homelessness Action Plan fails to provide for increases in the state housing stock which are essential for addressing the homelessness crisis. ...
Electricity retailers will no longer be able to entice former customers with steep and exclusive discounts, the Electricity Authority has announced. ...
The National Party leader Simon Bridges says it came as a surprise to him that the Serious Fraud Office prosecution relates to two $100,000 donations to the party. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Denis Muller, Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Advancing Journalism, University of Melbourne The federal court’s rejection of the ABC case against the Australian Federal Police raid on its Sydney headquarters in June 2019 reveals two issues of great importance to ...
Zero waste campaigners are petitioning the Government to take a more active stance in tackling Aotearoa New Zealand’s waste crisis, with a comprehensive ban on single-use disposable plastic food and drink serviceware, and a phasing in of accessible, reusable ...
“Callaghan Innovation’s $440,000 grant for an electric ferry design is pure corporate welfare,” says New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke. “If EV Maritime’s ferries present such good value, then why didn’t it get private ...
President Rodrigo Duterte takes legal action to shut down the biggest broadcaster in the Philippines in what is being described as the most severe attack on media freedom in the country. Video: Al JazeeraPacific Media Watch More than 500 journalists have gathered to protest threats to the survival ...
Pacific Media Centre Papua New Guinea’s Minister for State Enterprises Sasindran Muthuvel has reassured the nation that Air Niugini is taking all necessary steps to protect the country against the spread of coronavirus, reports EMTV News. “The airline has instituted a wide range of measures to minimise the risk ...
Our writers celebrate the best performances you can watch right now on NEON. Basically? They’re iconic.We all love a good story, and a great plot twist can turn a mediocre TV show into addictive weekly viewing. But what really keeps us coming back are the characters, and seeing actors at ...
National finance spokesperson Paul Goldsmith has refused to give details on the party's planned tax cut policy announced in a speech by leader Simon Bridges yesterday. ...
The owners of three properties in Twizel will have to sell-up after they failed to seek consent from the Overseas Investment Office (OIO). Vanessa Horne, Group Manager for the OIO, says a group of overseas investors bought the three properties, which ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s contentNZ First donations scandal Guyon Espiner and Kate Newton (RNZ): NZ First Foundation trustee was lobbying for donor Bryce ...
A Southland school has been criticised for requiring girls to see a counsellor before opting to wear shorts as their uniform. It’s merely a symptom of a bigger problem, Madeleine Chapman writes.On Sunday, Stuff reported that James Hargest College in Southland would soon allow girls to wear shorts or pants ...
The Manawatu Tenants’ Union’ (MTU) celebrates yesterday’s release of the Residential Tenancies Act Reform Bill, but challenges the Minister to stil go further to improving tenancy rights. The Bill would remove the ability for landlords to terminate a tenancy ...
The Government is putting together an $11 million package to offset the fallout from coronavirus and attract tourists from countries other than China. ...
Friends of Sherwood are asking that the following question be put to all voters: “ Should New Zealand stop using all cruel and inhumane poisons, such as 1080, brodifacoum, and PAPP, to kill wildlife because these toxic substances inflict intense and prolonged, ...
Organise Aotearoa will be joining rallies for abortion law reform, scheduled today in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin. The National Day of Action is hosted by Fem Force - Feminist Action Aotearoa. “Nobody should be pressured to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By S. Anna Florin, PhD candidate, The University of Queensland Australia’s first people ate a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts and other plant foods, many of which would have taken considerable time and knowledge to prepare, according to our analysis of charred ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicholas Biddle, Associate Professor, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University Last month, the Australian National University contracted with the Social Research Centre (SRC) to survey more than 3,000 Australian adults about their experiences and attitudes related to the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Megan Davis, Professor of Law, UNSW In his Closing the Gap speech to parliament last week, the prime minister injected some order and transparency back into the constitutional recognition process. The PM anchored his government’s work on the co-design of a Voice ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Woods, Professor of Health Economics, University of Technology Sydney Heavily subsidised aged care services used to be seen as a right and entitlement for all older Australians. But as aged care demand grows and costs rise, it’s becoming increasingly clear the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carla Liuzzo, Sessional Lecturer, School of Business, Queensland University of Technology As a parent, I find it so frustrating to take my children shopping, reusable bags in hand, only to be offered plastic toys at the checkout. It’s an incredibly confusing message ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gary Mortimer, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, Queensland University of Technology The jingle used to tell us we loved “football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars”. These days we love Japanese utes and small Toyotas, Hyundais and Mazdas more. Monday’s announcement ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Donna Mazza, Senior Lecturer in Creative Arts, Edith Cowan University Warning: this piece features frequent coarse language that may offend some readers. Since Adam Mansbuch’s 2011 bestseller, Go the Fuck to Sleep, book titles have been swearing profusely to grab audience attention. ...
Simon Bridges says National would cut taxes and invest much more than Labour in infrastructure, and with less waste. But he's holding back the detail, and got a key figure wrong. ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Creative accounting around the ETS explored, Ardern goes to ground on Peters, and ACT criticised for keeping donation from extremist.Often when reporting on technical and thorny pieces of legislation, it helps to have a specialist reporter looking into it. Stuff’s Charlie Mitchell ...
Planners and hazard experts talk to Newsroom’s Eloise Gibson about how climate change will impact Auckland, and how good planning can help the city adapt. ...
No matter how you measure it, science remains systematically biased against women – and ethnically diverse women even more so, writes Dr Hinemoa Elder.Women and girls in science, this is a public health announcement. You are entering unfriendly territory.Kia mataara, be vigilant. Keep your wits about you.There is irrefutable data ...
When it signed onto the Paris Climate Agreement, New Zealand pledged to increase its net greenhouse gas emissions by 10% across the 25 years to 2030. The latest government report shows with current policy settings it is on track to increase them by more than 20%. The challenge is acute ...
How are the children and grandchildren of Asian immigrants treading the line between immersion in a kiwi culture, and holding on to family traditions? ...
The $11 million tourism package announced after today’s Cabinet is a positive response. Auckland Business Chamber head Michael Barnett said possibly more important in the Prime Minister’s announcement was that further support was possible, as ...
By Joenner Paulo L. Enriquez and Ma. Alena O. Castillo in Manila Thomasian Jesuit priests Fr Albert Alejo and Fr Flaviano Villanueva have posted P10,000 (NZ$310) bail each after a judge issued a warrant of arrest in connection with their sedition case. “Nag-piyansa na kami Fr Flavie at sumama ...
Labour and NZ First are delaying a painful call on either lifting or cutting the annual residency visa limit, while the Greens want the limits removed completely. ...
Tame Impala’s new album The Slow Rush dropped over the weekend to universal acclaim. Jordan Hamel talked to the band’s frontman, Kevin Parker, about the five year gap between albums, and where the band fits into riock music in 2020.Kevin Parker’s musical baby Tame Impala steadily rose to indie prominence in the ...
Dr Bryce Edwards.NZ First is facing the boot at this year’s election, especially as it’s now embroiled in an unfolding donations scandal, which comes on top of low poll ratings. But what effect will the scandal have on NZ First’s government coalition colleagues? And is Labour and the Greens’ ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Jones, Climate Scientist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology After the intensely dry conditions of 2019, January and February have brought much-needed rain. Dams in many cities and towns were replenished and some farmers may be able to grow a crop for the ...
New Zealand’s trusted service for ageing well, Age Concern New Zealand, is receiving a New Year boost after inking an agreement with Perpetual Guardian to have the nation’s largest and most dominant trustee services company as the platinum sponsor of Age ...
The boundaries of free speech were at issue in two recent court cases, one in Britain, the other in New Zealand. In the British case, a judge ruled that the police response to an ex-officer’s tweets (allegedly transphobic) was a “disproportionate interference” with his right to freedom of expression. The ...
The Tauranga-based power company Trustpower has cut its earnings expectations by as much as 14 percent because of lower power prices and pressure on margins. ...
It’s not worth putting much credence in Simon Bridges’s complaints about the current Government’s piling on hikes in petrol taxes until he commits to reversing them, says the Taxpayers’ Union . Spokesman Louis Houlbrooke said, “It’s not ...
Researchers say councils need to be doing much more to ensure homes and buildings aren't wiped out when a mega-tsunami eventually strikes the east coast of the North Island. ...
Water utilities right across the country face major challenges to upgrade and maintain their underground three waters network. Water New Zealand’s Technical Manager, Noel Roberts says Wellington’s waste water woes are not unique to the capital city. ...
With more than a thousand locations in 250 cities worldwide, UK company Stasher is allowing travellers to store their luggage while offering local businesses a way to earn extra cash. Having recently launched in New Zealand, co-founder and CEO Jacob Wedderburn-Day explains how the business works. How did Stasher start and ...
National's deputy leader Paula Bennett says if Winston Peters had any involvement in covert photographs of journalists meeting a source, he is not fit to be deputy prime minister. ...
ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa is co-sponsoring a National Day of Action – Our Bodies, Our Choices, with Fem Force, Victoria University Feminists Organisation, NCW, and HELP. “Now is the time for people who care about women and pregnant people ...
Open mike 15/06/2016 
Open mike is your post.
The Herald reported over the weekend that an Auckland business owner is being targeted with asset forfeiture laws over a workplace death:A workplace fatality has seen police use a law usually associated with drugs and organised crime to seize millions of dollars in assets from a business owner because of ...26 mins ago
Nobody thinks about the next century anymore. That at least is Sci-Fi writer William Gibson’s observation (in this BBC 4 short interview, starting at 1:43:50 ). He calls it “Futures Fatigue”, but isn’t judgemental about it. Gibson notes that in the 20th century speculation about the 21st (and beyond) was common. Now ...4 hours ago
So the Serious Fraud Office has another secret $100,050 National Party donation before the Courts in a major scandal that looks set to quash any chances Simon Bridges had of winning the 2020 election.Yesterday, Newsroom reported:The Serious Fraud Office prosecution of four people over donations to the National Party involves ...11 hours ago
Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Claim Review... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... Story of the Week... Iceberg twice the size of Washington, D.C., breaks off Pine Island glacier in Antarctica Story Highlights: The Pine Island ...23 hours ago
I am among the most pro-free speech people I know. I don’t doubt there are others more strident than me, but I’m certainly up there. And my support for freedom of expression isn’t limited to opposition to government-imposed restrictions. It extends to a belief that employers should have limited powers ...1 day ago
Sprung! Former NZ First president, Lester Gray, chats with RNZ's Guyon Espiner in the carpark of a Tauranga shopping centre. (Photo supplied anonymously to NZ First and The BFD.)IT’S CLEAR THAT an important aspect of Jacinda Ardern’s political success is her willingness to seek – and take – advice. This ...3 days ago
by Philip Ferguson Last month B’Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, reported: “In 2019, Israeli security forces killed 133 Palestinians, including 28 minors. Of the casualties, 104 were killed in the Gaza Strip, 26 in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and three within ...6 days ago
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Jonathan Freedland of the Guardian has penned a column which chastises the left wing of the Labour party for daring to retain principles and ideals, qualities - it seems - that should be jettisoned in pursuit of power.Never mind that Freedland was an ardent Remainer, that is to say, one ...1 week ago
We are confronted with the spectre of Simon Bridges making clear he cannot, will not, trust Winston Peters – the oft-cited “King Maker” in New Zealand politics. Supporters are lauding it as a master stroke, naturally, because in their eyes, it prevents him being the tail that wags the dog. ...2 weeks ago
Inaccuracies are very common in scientific paper abstracts. Image credit: Science in the Abstract: Don’t Judge a Study by its Cover I have come to accept anti-fluoride campaigners will never stop cherry-picking research and findings ... 2 weeks ago
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Douglas Rushkoff on How Growth Became the Enemy of Prosperity – and How To Fix It
Some interesting points about how the old capitalist business forms are proving even more destructive in the new digital age.
Remember when Google was on a bender about digitizing books, and being some information depository, it aint anymore.
Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.
Cruel, uncaring
If put your head up and show ‘the government that it has holes in its social housing policy and that Paula Bennett has not been doing her job in terms of fixing these problems”, expect trouble.
Marae has fears of ‘smear campaign’
The Auckland-based marae which opened its doors to the homeless is worried it is the victim of a smear campaign by the staff of the Social Housing Minister.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/306393/marae-has-fears-of-'smear-campaign‘
Maybe they can get the Maori party to sort it out being besties with national and voting to sell state houses. /sarc
How did the staffer know about the police investigation, who told her or did she dig it up.
Bennet was told by Hurimoana Dennis.
Then the staffer told the media.
i wonder how the staffer got to know?
Implausible deniability has been de rigueur for this government for most of its term.
Hasn’t Bennett more or less acknowledged that in her debriefing with her staff she imparted the knowledge Mr Dennis had very honourably given her ? If that’s the story the trashy thing is as guilty as sin, if one step removed. As someone said she has “form”.
That effete fuck Key then comes on and says – “Paula wears her heart on her sleeve……she wouldn’t lie to me”.
FFS ! There’s no such thing as a lie in the culture of their fetid, corrupt world so what’s that assurance worth ?
Thanks for the link, Paul.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/florida-nightclub-shooting/81076654/obama-clinton-lay-into-trump-for-proposed-muslim-ban
Donald Trump and his supporters are mimicking H1tler.
100%
The USA is today in about the place late 1920’s Germany was in just before they elected H1tler, with all his rhetoric blaming the muslims, I mean the jews, for everything
There is no difference
Trump is exactly like H1tler
100%
scary
ignorant
just scary
why did 25% of Germans vote for Hitler? Because they were sick of seeing their country and their lives being humiliated and broken by the powerful and the rich.
Agreed … Trump is only succeeding because the left has been put out of business, mainly by the elites imposing their self-serving zombie ideologies, and partly by our own divisiveness and failures.
The spectacle of the Democrats closing out the only authentically left-wing and popular candidate for generations, in favour of their own insider … will not be lost on many US voters. The message is loud and clear “this way lies no hope”.
I don;t disagree at all and those factors are very real..
still scary though as to where such rhetoric leads…… it is this which is scary…. and i dont think Trump even understands any of that… or perhaps he does …
Then to have Winston Peters come out the last two days with all of his rhetoric trying to out-pimp Trump – well, say no more…. Peters is again becoming populist with no care for the truth of his mutterances or positions and the effect those could have on encouraging hate and divisiveness ..
.. Peters claiming “we have it here too”… what a load of complete bullshit. If this carries on then Peters will be back to his previous Clark-years form of lies and bullshit, the wanker
Like what is happening in our country under National
placing NATO forces, including German military units FFS, right on the borders of Russia is not only assanine of the west, it is damn provocative and dangerous. Russia has already announced that it now has to add targets in Romania and Poland to their standard military plans.
Imagine Russia stationing 30,000 troops, missile batteries and fighter bomber squadrons in Cuba under the guise of a training exercise.
Dont they have troops on the wests borders?
Yes Russia has been aggressively placing its country closer and closer to increasing numbers of NATO bases
Anyone know what are the likely voting preferences of immigrants arriving since the last election. Would it be the same makeup as the population at large? If they are mostly low skilled is that a euphemism for Labour voters? If however they are ambitious and hard working is that a euphemism for National voters? I wonder how those with Chinese sounding names will vote? Perhaps a clue is that Asian membership of the National Party has doubled in the last two years.
If they parasite and leech off society, is that a euphemism for National voters? If they want to fight for basic employment rights in their jobs, is that a euphemism for Labour voters?
Take off the blinkers. National have increased benefits, extended free GP care and prescriptions to children, assisted beneficiaries into employment. increased operations, doctors, nurses and funded more medications. Sometimes the visceral venom of the Left defies credulity. In every portfolio there has been progress. Would a new immigrant want to support a winning succesful team or take a punt on a dispirite bunch of economically illiterate whingers.
fisiani, Nztional have been in power for eight ‘long’ years. So all of these should have increased- it’s called reacting, and properly so, to inflation.
Well, if they vote National then they do both, so I don’t really know what the point of your little false dichotomy is.
Hey Zealot read what this guy has to say about this shower of shit running the country
http://www.interest.co.nz/opinion/82115/kerry-mcdonald-analyses-many-challenges-country-faces-and-concludes-we-need-effective
Good News Stories this morning
Cameron and Carrick finally getting called out on their lies, perfect timing, someone’s using their head and timing it to keep him out of the election.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/health/health-advocates-accuse-whale-oil-of-defamation-2016061507#axzz4BWVpjCuN
Microbes discovered that eat and poo electricity, microbes that could revolutionize energy and at the same time clean up the planets pollution. Good to see their is a glimmer of hope for this planet.
http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160613-there-are-microbes-that-eat-and-poo-nothing-but-electricity
A shocking development 🙂
Christ on a stick. An author at the standard has proposed a viable, inter connected, well reasoned alternative to current practises rather than just blindly criticising then coming up with an ill-thought through, impractical ideological alternative with no connection to reality. Well done Weka.
Nice post too
[moved to OM for being off topic and looks like an old argument too. You are all welcome back in the sustainable fishing thread if you can put your comments in context of the post. Nessalt, thanks for the ups but it would have been better without slagging off other authors – weka]
+1
Actually, there’s been several workable solutions posted on here. You just refuse to accept them because of your own failed ideology.
I think I can remember two other plausible, workable, alternatives presented on the standard.
One by Lprent in relation to something computer / network related and how it could be used to further societal cohesion.
Then something by Bill, also on mitigating harm to the environment while sustaining society in all it’s functions. including the bits you don’t like. That pay for you to sit around on a computer. which was developed and nurtured by capitalism and free market ideology. And without which no one would listen to you.
Capitalism has always been against the welfare state and democracy. Just need to look at the actions of this government to see that.
Also, it wasn’t capitalism that developed the computer but heavy state intervention. Apple and its products would not exist without government funding and research.
Capitalism destroys. Always has done, always will do.
Just remember that large, upfront and early Federal Gov investment was what made the transistor and computer networking possible. Private companies have been leveraging off that for many years now, but they never had to take the initial risk or expense of doing the early investment themselves.
And the government never would have made any grants if it wasn’t perfectly suited for growing the economy and improve the access of millions to information and capitalism in a short space of time. capitalist imperatives have nurtured more societal improvements than any other form of ism has. look how globalism combined with capitalism have raised more than 90% of the worlds population out of actual poverty. not the relative poverty that is an ephemeral concept and is routinely trotted out as a “valid” argument.
you’re retrospectively assigning motivation half a century after the fact.
Bell Labs for instance, was funded as a non profit research centre, within an entity that was entirely government owned.
It’s a bit contrived of you to start giving capitalism credit for socialist tax payer funded activities.
Back in the 1950s I really doubt any one was dreaming of the WWW or even individuals having computers.
Nope. It always destroys them because the capitalists take all the wealth for themselves. That’s what cutting government spending and taxes is about.
I’m pretty sure if you went to the people before capitalism introduced them to poverty and asked if they were in poverty they’d say no. And you probably wouldn’t find any either as those societies worked together to ensure that everyone lived well.
Now you know that public money was used in the development of much of the computer industry and internet, will you simply go on telling the same lies as before? I think so, because it suits your personal belief system, too much of which is based on lies for you to change.
You can’t even acknowledge the successes of social-democratic mixed economies, ffs.
what lies? it’s all true. capitalistic imperatives to provide a free market are essential to a government performing it’s duty to society. Government can never provide the kind of planning and distribution to make some thing like the uptake of personal computers work. and they certainly can’t bludgeon anyone into making a sustainable fishing farm like the one proposed. it’s success will be judged by the notion that it’s owners can make a profit based off low barriers to entry. boom- free market.
understand this, government intervention is successful when it’s propagating just causes like free market capitalism is a once off. it’s only when they guarantee bank and finance company deposits etc that it becomes a problem. purely because the government is now involved and markets are distorted.
The government has always done that far better when it wasn’t done through capitalism. In fact the last thirty years have shown a decrease in the ability of our government to do right by our people – as the increasing poverty and homelessness proves.
Actually, the PC you’re using is proof that they can. Read The Entrepreneurial State to get an idea of how the entire process was planned over decades by a small government office. An office that researched what was needed and then chose the research to fund to bring about that end. If that small government office hadn’t done that planning there’d be no way that we’d have the computers that we have today.
No. What they’d do is fund the research into producing such sustainable farms and then make that research publicly available. Just like the US government did and does with computers in fact.
Have you noted climate change and our polluted cities and water ways?
That’s the result of capitalism and the profit motive. Capitalism is unsustainable and always destroys the society that tries it as history proves.
What lies? You’re still telling them. Are you going to read The Entrepreneurial State as suggested, or are you happy to wallow in ignorance and dishonesty?
I bet you invent some strawman instead. Go on, pretend you’re arguing with a Communist, that’ll work 🙄
zerohedge
anyone read this? Not sure if the link will work, as I am link challenged, but it’s hiding away on zerohedge about guess what, our real estate boom
And this on Interest.co
http://www.interest.co.nz/opinion/82115/kerry-mcdonald-analyses-many-challenges-country-faces-and-concludes-we-need-effective
Here is a taster
In the US 136 Mass shootings in 164 days
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/13/health/mass-shootings-in-america-in-charts-and-graphs-trnd/
So how come in 9 hard years of Labour they never made huge increases in benefits, increased operations or doctors or nurses and refused to fund Herceptin. Take off the blinkers and come over to the Force.
Fisi had an epiphany last night woke at 3 am all sweaty, I finally found a good one to post on that bloody lefty standard, he thinks to himself.
the standard snores in shock.
“the standard snores in shock.”
Too true. fisiani bores me to tears so it’s always a scroll through when he’s around. Fastest scroll through ever in fact.
Have you heard of the RCEP?
It’s the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
It’s like the TPPA – but with China and without the USA.
But RCEP – like the TPPA is looking after BIG business and investor interests – under the cover of secrecy.
But there is a Public Meeting happening this Friday night, in Auckland, which YOU can attend, with expert speakers who will explain and enlighten you!
Please come if you can and SHARE this event?
https://m.facebook.com/events/1036071006486196?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A3%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D&aref=3
TPP + RCEP = Double Trouble – Auckland
Friday 17 June 2016 at 6:30 PM
St Matthew-in-the-City
(187 Federal St) (Corner of Wellesley and Hobson Sts)
Doors open at 6pm. LIMITED CAPACITY. $5 Koha. Thanks.
Public Meeting
Talks and discussion on the TPPA (Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement) and the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership). These are two massive international treaties that spell Double Trouble.
Find out more!
The TPPA is being steamrolled through Parliament against the wishes of the majority of New Zealanders, but it is in deep trouble in the US and other countries. It may never be ratified and may never come into force. We need to keep up the pressure.
Meanwhile, the RCEP, led by China contains many of the same dangerous provisions as the TPPA. It is still in negotiation and the next round of talks is being held in Auckland on 12-18 June. If the TPPA doesn’t go through, it will be the RCEP that sets the rules for trade and investment, and for New Zealand’s laws and democratic rights.
Like the TPPA, the RCEP negotiations are shrouded in secrecy. We need to know what the New Zealand government is saying on our behalf. We need transparency.
Featured speakers:
Dr. Jomo Kwame Sundaram – former senior UN official, researcher on the TPPA
Dr. Jane Kelsey – Law Professor, University of Auckland
Sanya Reid Smith – Senior Researcher, Third World Network Malaysia
Dr. Joshua Freeman – Doctors for Healthy Trade
Barry Coates – Spokesperson, It’s Our Future
Dr. Sundaram is a prominent Malaysian economist, who has served as the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) from 2005 until 2012. He was founder chair of International Development Economics Associates (IDEAs), and sat on the Board of the United Nations Research Institute For Social Development (UNRISD), Geneva. In 2007, he was awarded the Wassily Leontief Prize for Advancing the Frontiers of Economic Thought.
A prominent critic of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), Dr. Sundaram has co-authored a report, published by the Global Development and Environment Institute at Tufts University, entitled Trading Down: Unemployment, Inequality and Other Risks of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. Dr Sundaram’s research indicates that the economic models used to legitimise such treaties do not take into account that they work to increase unemployment and inequality.
Dr. Jane Kelsey is one of New Zealand’s best-known critical commentators on issues of globalisation and neoliberalism. She is an active member of a number of international coalitions of academics, trade unionists, NGOs and social movements working for social justice.
Sanya Reid Smith is a Legal Advisor and Senior Researcher at the Third World Network, an international coalition specializing in North-South policy issues. Sanya travels the world in tireless advocacy for social justice, on topics including access to medicines, womens’ rights and environmental sustainability.
Dr. Josh Freeman is a Clinical Microbiologist at Auckland City Hospital and an honorary academic at the University of Auckland School of Molecular Medicine and Pathology.Doctors for the Protection of Health in Trade Agreements (known as Doctors for Healthy Trade) is a growing coalition of New Zealand doctors and colleagues in health in New Zealand and elsewhere, with a core group of predominantly full-time clinicians.
Barry Coates is spokesperson for It’s Our Future and former Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand. He has played a prominent role in campaigning on trade and climate change internationally and in New Zealand, and is a passionate advocate for sustainability and social justice. It’s Our Future is the leading coalition in New Zealand opposing the TPPA and similar treaties.
Because I loves me some political scanda, is this the reason Bernie Saunders is still staying in the race and not conceding defeat:
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jun/12/wikileaks-to-publish-more-hillary-clinton-emails-julian-assange
When the race started Sandars did not get the press, well maybe in the US, but i have not heard him speak, let alone understand his platform. Now sure r you can argue that he was new and took time to catch Clinton incumbant establishment name recognition. Though Trump branding long ago has been drummed into us all.
But that just democracy when media hold the keys to who gets airtime.
Sandars is still in because hes got leverage to get Clinton concessions. No problem with that. Question is really for me, will Republicians vote for Trump and have him define their party, like George junior, in the hopes he is a Ronald, even though both are now historically patsy establishment Presidents who created the mire that is western democracy.
The first time I came across Saunders was on the John Oliver show, it wasn’t complimentary as I recall
I first saw Sanders many many years ago on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and it WAS complimentary.
You know what? Sanders went down so well he was given a huge round of applause and whistling by the audience. Jon Stewart was really impressed too and he said something along the lines of “Hey America, take a look at our future President!” Uncanny eh.
As for aerobubble’s question, I can’t reply to that. I’m barely following the American Presidential campaigns this time around. I’m just too tired.
SANDERS
Mr Teina Pora, wrongfully imprisoned for 21 years.
“awarded” $2,520,949.42 compensation?
$13.70 per hour…… Less than the minimum wage. Shameful.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11657075
Tax free?
I hope its put in trust for him, I’m guessing he’ll be making a lot of new “friends” right about now
I agree with you there Puckish. I am sure his lawyers are giving him good sound advice in that area.
Yep at current rates he should be able to get at least 60k pa, and have some walking around money.
Like any 2.5 mill’ Lotto winner. Of course it wouldn’t have anything to do with what I suspect to be your subliminal sense that he’s a lobotomised brown boy in a sea of equally unworthy brown people. Which sense was the problem right from the start of course.
I read somewhere there’s a still serving Auckland cop who was involved in his persecution from day one whom to this day still angrily maintains that Teina Pora’s as guilty as sin. May karma hunt that bastard cop down.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11657048
so fkn arrogant this Bennett. read the last line!
Paula Trash aye ? The staffer loses his/her job there could be some uncontrolled talking. Of course Paula Trash is gonna publicly decline the invented offer of resignation. Makes the trashy lying thing look the magnanimous non-bully she is not.
Government turned dictator – even the Fed farmers call Nationals proposed power grab on RMA excessive!!!
Kleptocracy Grab elert!
https://blog.greens.org.nz/2016/06/15/government-needs-to-start-again-with-rma-changes/
extract..
“Federated Farmers, for example, described the proposed Ministerial powers as “excessive” and the provisions which allow central Government to intervene directly in local council plans as “heavy handed”. Sir Geoffrey Palmer, presenting evidence for Fish and Game, described the powers as a “constitutional outrage”.