@ Tory. I don’t think ‘liberal policies’ are the problem, France are targeted because of their airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.
“They attacks came despite France – one of the founding members of the US-led coalition carrying out airstrikes against Islamic State positions in Iraq and Syria – being on a high state of alert for possible terrorist attacks in the run-up to a global climate conference later this month.”
Those defensive advantages, however, have now evaporated. “We can’t close our eyes to it,” Trevidic said. “We are now in the eye of the hurricane. The worst is yet to come.”
+100 “France are targeted because of their airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.”
…and what about Sarkozy, Cameron , NATO and Libya?…a once economically thriving Libya with a very good standard of living for all Libyans is now a disaster area…with floods of refugees leaving the country
“The failed state of Libya has become easy prey for ISIS. The terrorist organization has announced that it is planning to use Libya as a gateway to Europe…
The whole of Libya is in danger of being overrun by ISIS”
…”As a failed state, Libya has become easy prey for ISIS, which so far only controlled territory in Syria and Iraq. Libyan military sources say that the terrorist organization also has a huge training camp of up to 4,000 jihadists near Sabratha, just 45 kilometers from the border with Tunisia, and less than 70 kilometers west of Tripoli, the Libyan capital. The fact that ISIS has managed to secure coastal territory in Sabratha in the west, in Sirte along Libya’s central coast, and in Derna in the east, indicates that the whole of Libya is in danger of being overrun by ISIS.
( now why did NATO bomb Libya again?….and why was Sarkozy so keen to support this bombing?…and get rid of Gaddafi?)
@ Tory (4) – you state the following – “So the liberal policies that have seen mass immigration into Europe have resulted in direct related terrorism.”
WHAT??
So what you are saying is that desperate migrants, escaping a war zone, have been crossing border after border with their families, including young children and babies in Europe, loaded with weapons of mass destruction tucked away in their paltry possessions?
ONE Syrian passport found in close proximity of a dead suicide bomber in Paris this weekend is not enough evidence to support your statement!
It seems as more information is emerging, this was an inside job, with the Da’esh stamp all over it!
What many commentators here in NZ do not understand is the increasing level of distrust and anger that residents of Western European countries are feeling. This is highlighted in articles such as this, http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/editorial-on-anti-refugee-sentiment-in-germany-a-1062442.html
While the liberal left sit here in the safe comfort of their quarter acre section and bungalows, calling for open boarders in Europe, residents in countries such as Switzerland, Germany and Denmark are seeing massive influxes of refugees that are bringing huge social problems and anxiety not seen for decades.
The outcome of what we are seeing will be similar to the crusades where east verses west will result in bloody conflict for decades. There is no answer as both sides are diametrically opposed to each other’s values so get used to it. The only bright light through all of this is the increase in arms manufacturing and the war machine will keep us all out of recession.
A Belgian citizen and a French citizen have been implicated in the murders. How many refugees were trying to get into Europe when the staff at Charlie Hebdo were murdered?
No, what we have here is a racist, who will twist any event to his racist narrative. MI5 have made it plain: racists like Tory are part of the problem.
These Belgian and French citizens were Belgian and French in citizenship only. It’s similar to when UK media reports about “Britons” fighting for Da’esh – mostly they’re referring to Pakistanis who were raised in the UK but are about as British as chipotle. Allowing mass immigration into Europe by people who consider themselves Muslims first, whatever their ethnicity is second, and citizens of whatever country they end up in a very poor third, can be seen in hindsight to have been a recipe for trouble. Much as it pains me to agree with the fascist commenter above, the current doubling-down on mass immigration by Muslims is suicidally stupid.
…looking for a better life, and being harrassed and discriminated against by people like Tory while doing so, which fosters more bigotry. It’s the bigotry and personal character of the Tories of this world that is the problem: religion is a convenient excuse.
You are wrong, it is true that the Europeans will close the boarders as you need to understand that this conflict between the east and west, between different religions and cultures, is 100’s of years old.
NZ had the Moa roaming whilst the Islamist stood at the walls of Vienna, having made it further into central Europe with every attack. There was no ambivalence there, they wanted to conquer Europe. Full Stop. This desire has not abated.
This is not to say that today’s asylum seekers are not also victims of radical behavior.
However, what is happening now is the precursor of a defense mechanism that works every time and everywhere. To presume that Kiwis “would be above this” is plainly not true. I know that we all belief that we are better educated, intellectually on a better approach but alas – if you and your family is being threatened, you will defend. I am certain of that.
As for the citizen of Brussels and France, it would be interesting to know, whether they were originally immigrants from Africa or Middle East or descendant? Because every asylum seeker and immigrant is taking up citizen ship to gain access to the welfare system – this you need to understand.
By the way, it was just confirmed that ISIS has taken responsibility for the attack.
That may very well be so: it wouldn’t be the first time. That said, your comment doesn’t address the point I made at all: bigots and wingnuts on both sides are the problem.
I doubt any of us will ever be able to. What we do know is that in times of relative prosperity dialog prospers. The question is in whose interest it is not to have this taking place.
On the contrary: democracy, human rights and the rule of law – modern progressive values – are the only things that have ever succeeded in reigning in the atavistic instincts of the Right.
Enlightenment certainly will do that but look around the globe and tell me, how much democracy has been established with all the war that is going on? How many times will the Amnesty International or UN reports be ignored as human rights become less important than the political bonds. In relation to NZ Australia, ref the current Christmas Island issues.. As for the rule of law, every country has their own laws but this does not mean justice is being done.
So I wish that the atrocities, injustices and inequalities would go away but it is not in the interest of the money moguls. The first world is only the first world because there is a second and third…
I think this could be the E.U.’s defining hour. It will make or break under the refugee crisis, which will test the patience of its member states to the limits and possibly beyond. Will they be able to hold it together as a bloc or will internal rifts tear it to bits?
I think the E.U. might be in the early stages of coming apart. Its member nations need to accept their colonial past and the horrors that they inflicted on their former colonies, especially those in the Middle East and north Africa. Unless and until they do, the atrocities of the last few years caused by I.S.I.S. and Boko Haram in Africa, will continue.
I think you need to come to grips with History. Most of the Euro countries were once Monarchies and 2 WW have done away with them. France had their own gruesome revolution taking care of the “guilty” of colonization via the guillotine.
Under TPP is you are worried about ‘opening borders’ – what do you think massive immigration and buying up of land here in NZ is going to do? It is not the ‘liberals’ that are advocating immigration here in NZ it is the Torys, while also advocating sending NZ military over to Iraq to be ‘part of the club’. Saudi Arabia, Russia and many others are keen to ‘invest’ here and our government can’t wait to welcome anybody in here, no questions asked (just bring your cheque book). The joke is that Saudi Arabia is probably funding a lot of the terrorist operations and our government is giving them 11 million in sheep bribes and are a ‘friend’ of the US. Inspite of most of the 9/11 terrorists being from Saudi. Guess those Charter schools have a lot of answer for in the US. Saddam was against the Muslims and ISIL never existed before the US invaded.
Meanwhile here in NZ, SIS is busy with Dotcom and Hager smearing Phil Goff, and probably targeting environmental groups like Greenpeace and the Unions who might want a ‘living’ wage. Now that is a Crime, certainly many in Wellington seem to think so by suing the council.
Having mass surveillance does not work – if anything it makes security forces complacent, being used politically and not going back to basics. Likewise you should be encouraging public discourses from any suspected terrorists instead of sending them underground where they are harder to watch.
On this sad day, I think we all need some good news.
Pip Keane, former producer of Campbell Live, is rejoining John Campbell at RNZ; along with Catherine Walbridge, producer of Nine to Noon for four years and more recently a producer for The Nation.
Though on Media RNZ this morning the new program won’t start until January 18th. There is hope yet with such a great team. But will Key find a way to cut the funding or fire some key people?
That is GREAT NEWS!! I can’t wait for his programme to start!! My mother will be listening to John and watching the captioned “The Chase” quiz show at the same time – Ladies do multi-task so well – the knitting might even come out too! – Boy, how TV3 has sunk like a stone since John left! Who watches that channel now?
I know it’s of much lessor importance at the moment but looks like the local body elections are off and running. There are a steady flow of articles in the MSM dissing non right wingers.
In weekend Stuff-Dompost Duncan Garner has written an opinion about how Wellington has not been well served by its current mayor.
Trouble is Duncan G appears to live in Auckland not Wellington- so just why is he doing this? Why does he suddenly have this huge negative opinion about someone he would rarely encounter and no doubt does not pay rates for?
DG could also have added but didn’t “and this legal scrap has eminated from a group whose directorate includes someone from Westpac bank and other similar large organisations” not yer local corner dairy then. Plus
“A group prepared to waste other ratepayers money on legal fees which will doubtless top anything that will ever paid over on the living wage”
But I do feel that there is a certain lack of shall we say equality of opportuniy here. The council resolution could perhaps have gone on to say “and no other employee of the contractor can be charged to the contract at a rate exceeding say 10 times the living wage rate” and then they would have to argue both legs in court.
Trotsky or not – it would have been interesting watching the justification lines:
“increase to living wage may cost ratepayers more”
“but there are large savings on executive salaries ”
“that doesn’t count ratepayers need to pay the executive wage.”
I ask myself just how popular would be a move to cap local body, CCO, CEO and government salaries at say $350k right across NZ. I’m guessing it would be about 80% yes!
You have apparently come up with an interesting complaint.
Should we have a rule precluding anyone who does not live in an area from commenting about the things that go on there?
May we take it that when Kelvin Davis, who I believe to be a resident of New Zealand, comments on Australia and Christmas Island the only appropriate comment we should make is –
“You don’t live there so STFU!”
Knowing a pawn is a piece on the board manipulated by an invisible hand, misled by loyalty to it’s ruler in no way reduces the pawns threat.
Opposing Pawns are the immediate enemy, you don’t hug them and expect them to hug you back. They are the enemy of the day, and must be addressed.
Those that see the game, place the blame with the 1 percent, but even they still only see the game as being on the board, focusing only on the pieces presented to them.
In reality all pieces on the board are pawns.
The trick is to stop looking down at the chess board, the enemy is a little higher up.
They seek to control the board, to finally become safe and untouchable, as gods.
In Chess if both sides don’t move and stay on their squares there is no conflict to be exploited, the hidden hand is powerless and any move it makes becomes visible to all.
Anyone who seeks to impose their will on others does the work of the hidden hand.
Anyone who transgresses against another does the work of the hidden hand.
Those that render themselves defenseless and make themselves victims do the work of the hidden hand.
They want the board, a one world government, I say no, stand your ground, defend your square, retain sovereignty, Fuck the TTP and Fuck John Key and Fuck liberal traitors.
In other news Kelvin Davis denounced the management and staff at Paremoremo Prison.
“All the employees there should be dismissed. Serco are completely incompetent and none of their staff should be retained. They should be prosecuted for failing to protect the saintly persona of a man from my electorate.
It is a total disgrace and the people running the prison should be prosecuted”.
When it was pointed out to him that the prison was run by the Corrections Department he immediately complained that he had been misquoted and that everything at the prison was being run superbly and the prisoner must be a rat-bag trying to frame the prison officers.
Me? Make it up?
How could you possibly think such a thing? I am truly hurt that you could even consider such a possibility.
Am I not to be allowed a little bit of creative writing?
It is only a tiny little bit exaggerated, surely?
Alwyn…..give us the link which confirms what you say Davis said. It would be extraordinary were he to truly understand that Paremoremo is run by Serco. You can assist here.
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Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
Analysis - Nicola Willis is holding firm on tax cuts despite the economic outlook being worse than forecast and critics urging her to wait, writes Peter Wilson for The Week In Politics. ...
Opposition MPs and unions are criticising a proposal by New Zealand’s Ministry of Pacific Peoples to cut staff by 40 percent. The country’s largest trade union — The Public Service Association — says the ministry has informed staff that it is looking to shed 63 of 156 positions. Opposition MPs ...
A poem by Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook 2024 featured poet Carin Smeaton. Daughtr of the 90s when she gets promoted to usherette a baby blu eel carries her all the way up to mothership she’s hovering high she lets the underaged in to see keanu reeves she lets the only lonely ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. My earlier article – Can ‘Good’ be the Greater Evil? – looked at the issue of how wars should end, and how Good versus Evil ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 AMMA by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press, $38)A stunning debut novel reviewed by Brannavan ...
From Steve Martin to Ricky Stanicky, a pick’n’mix of things worth watching and listening to this long weekend. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If you’re at a loss for something to occupy yourself with this Easter, don’t panic: The Spinoff’s got ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Miller-Jones, Professor, Curtin University Nuclear explosions on a neutron star feed its jets. Danielle Futselaar and Nathalie Degenaar, Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, CC BY-SA How fast can a neutron star drive powerful jets into space? The answer, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Shutterstock The federal government has bowed to pressure from the car industry, announcing it will relax proposed emissions rules for utes and vans and delay enforcement of the new standards ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Rutland, Professor Emerita, University of Sydney In his latest book, Jewish Life in Medieval Spain, Jonathan Ray focuses on the tumult of the 14th century in Spain – a time of the plague, civil strife and war between the two largest ...
While creating a slate of world-class shows, Whakaata Māori also developed a generation of world-class creatives. Television is an odd word. It mixes the Ancient Greek and Latin languages, and its most literal meaning is “far-off sight”. In the contemporary and living language of te reo Māori, “whakaata” as a ...
Yesterday the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. This significant step and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza prompted an urgent debate in the New Zealand Parliament. Leader ...
The Government’s decision to reduce access to continuous glucose monitors (CGM) not only threatens the lives of children with type 1 diabetes and increases the potential for ‘Dead in Bed’ syndrome, but also threatens the health of their parents an ...
Apples are available year-round, but the wide variety on offer involves intensive scientific research – and large-scale commercialisation. What’s beautiful, red, sweet and crunchy? Tony Martin’s favourite kind of apple: Sassy. The CEO of apple and pear breeding organisation Prevar, Martin’s fondness for Sassy represents professional success as well as ...
Family violence specialist service Shine is calling on employers to stop asking for proof of domestic violence in order for employees to access domestic violence leave. The call comes five years after the introduction of the Domestic Violence ...
The Deputy Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for public submissions on the Budget Policy Statement 2024. The Budget Policy Statement 2024 (BPS) sets out the Government's priorities for the 2024 Budget. It explains the approach ...
Brutal government spending cuts that will see the size of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples slashed by 40% will hit Pasifika communities hard, the PSA says. The Ministry has told staff that it is seeking voluntary redundancies, and to redeploy and reassign ...
I live with five people I mostly love, but our different ideas about generosity are starting to really irk me.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,This is a bit of a random one but here goes. I’m 22 and work an OK job (OK meaning I get paid ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria Nicholas, Senior Lecturer in Language and Literacy Education, Deakin University Earlier this month, the New South Wales government announced it would roll out programs for gifted students in every public school in the state. This comes amid concerns gifted school ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Rudge, Law lecturer, University of Sydney Massachusetts General Hospital In a world first, we heard last week that US surgeons had transplanted a kidney from a gene-edited pig into a living human. News reports said the procedure was a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Tombs, Howard Paterson Chair of Theology and Public Issues, University of Otago The 5th-century Maskell panel showing Jesus in a loincloth.British Museum, CC BY-NC-SA When Jesus is shown on the cross, he is almost always depicted wearing a loincloth around ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University Shutterstock When you think about a red object, you might picture a red carpet, or the massive ruby in the Queen’s crown. Indeed, Western monarchies and marketing from brands such ...
COMMENTARY:Jewish Voice for Peace The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Monday — and for the first time since the beginning of the Israeli military’s genocide of Palestinians, the United States abstained rather than vetoing it. Security Council resolutions are legally binding, ...
Asia Pacific Report A New Zealand investigative journalist and author says the US spy system hosted by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) appears to be a controversial intelligence system used in global capture-kill operations. Writing a commentary for RNZ News today, Nicky Hager, author of Secret Power, a 1996 ...
While Nicola Willis wouldn’t give any details on its size, she said a package of tax cuts is definitely still coming in this year’s budget, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the investigation into the Department of Internal Affairs after it was revealed that the Department’s Chief Executive personally reached out to expedite a DJs passport application. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns ...
Finance minister Nicola Willis delivers her first budget statement, and unwittingly helps Joel MacManus save his relationship. Nicola Willis strode into the Beehive Theatrette. Around me, on the green foldout seats, were the country’s top business and political journalists. They were all here to see her announce the Budget Policy ...
Twenty years ago today, Māori Television launched after much controversy. Jamie Tahana looks back on its survival and impact across two decades. Chad Chambers stepped onto the stage, the brim of his cap casting a shadow across his face. His smile beamed as bright as his white freezing works gumboots, ...
Tauranga, Rotorua, Wellsford, Onehunga, Westhaven marina – Gavin Strawhan walks the meanish streets of New Zealand in his entertaining debut novel The Call, almost sure to roar into the number 1 position on the Nielsen bestseller chart, its front cover bearing a rave from somebody: “A really good and genuinely ...
On a Thursday in February, at Wellington’s Conservation House, the Conservation Authority, a statutory body advising the eponymous department and minister, Tama Potaka, opened its 195th meeting. Under consideration that afternoon was an agenda item written by Tim Bamford, chief advisor in the Department of Conservation’s biodiversity, heritage and visitors ...
Deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those killed in Paris and indeed our thoughts are with all of France.
This reads like a plot from ‘Day of the Jackal’ by Frederick Forsythe.
DeGaulle reputedly survived ~50 assassination attempts when he
took France out of NATO and Algeria, all thwarted by the French services.
Hollande is not DeGaulle – but the common factor is large defence establishments facing defeat in colonial wars.
Frederick Forsythe could not publish all he knew at the time ..
Can we expect rights and freedom to be lost in the state retaliation to this attack?
+1. Exactly.
Note that yet again mass surveillance has failed in its stated purpose.
+100
So the liberal policies that have seen mass immigration into Europe have resulted in direct related terrorism.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/14/paris-attacks-european-leaders-link-terror-threats-to-immigration
Rightly or wrongly and in the words of Maximus Decimus Meridus ‘ On my command unleash hell’.
@ Tory. I don’t think ‘liberal policies’ are the problem, France are targeted because of their airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.
“They attacks came despite France – one of the founding members of the US-led coalition carrying out airstrikes against Islamic State positions in Iraq and Syria – being on a high state of alert for possible terrorist attacks in the run-up to a global climate conference later this month.”
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/14/syrian-greece-refugee-paris-attacks-killers
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/14/french-intelligence-under-scrutiny-paris-attacks
“A further reason for the lack of violence in France was the success of its political class in distancing the country from the US-led war on terror and its almost universal opposition to the war in Iraq.
Those defensive advantages, however, have now evaporated. “We can’t close our eyes to it,” Trevidic said. “We are now in the eye of the hurricane. The worst is yet to come.”
+100 “France are targeted because of their airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.”
…and what about Sarkozy, Cameron , NATO and Libya?…a once economically thriving Libya with a very good standard of living for all Libyans is now a disaster area…with floods of refugees leaving the country
http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/1983/france-libya-attack
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/nigel-farage/11548171/Nigel-Farage-David-Cameron-directly-caused-Libyan-migrant-crisis.html
https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/02/libya-intervention-nato-imperialism/
“The failed state of Libya has become easy prey for ISIS. The terrorist organization has announced that it is planning to use Libya as a gateway to Europe…
The whole of Libya is in danger of being overrun by ISIS”
‘ISIS Sets Sights on the Mediterranean’
by Peter Martino
http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/5301/islamic-state-libya
…”As a failed state, Libya has become easy prey for ISIS, which so far only controlled territory in Syria and Iraq. Libyan military sources say that the terrorist organization also has a huge training camp of up to 4,000 jihadists near Sabratha, just 45 kilometers from the border with Tunisia, and less than 70 kilometers west of Tripoli, the Libyan capital. The fact that ISIS has managed to secure coastal territory in Sabratha in the west, in Sirte along Libya’s central coast, and in Derna in the east, indicates that the whole of Libya is in danger of being overrun by ISIS.
( now why did NATO bomb Libya again?….and why was Sarkozy so keen to support this bombing?…and get rid of Gaddafi?)
worth remembering that France and Hollande have been major funders of the fighting in Syria, financing groups attacking Assad’s government.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/dec/07/france-funding-syrian-rebels?CMP=twt_gu
@ Tory (4) – you state the following – “So the liberal policies that have seen mass immigration into Europe have resulted in direct related terrorism.”
WHAT??
So what you are saying is that desperate migrants, escaping a war zone, have been crossing border after border with their families, including young children and babies in Europe, loaded with weapons of mass destruction tucked away in their paltry possessions?
ONE Syrian passport found in close proximity of a dead suicide bomber in Paris this weekend is not enough evidence to support your statement!
It seems as more information is emerging, this was an inside job, with the Da’esh stamp all over it!
What many commentators here in NZ do not understand is the increasing level of distrust and anger that residents of Western European countries are feeling. This is highlighted in articles such as this,
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/editorial-on-anti-refugee-sentiment-in-germany-a-1062442.html
While the liberal left sit here in the safe comfort of their quarter acre section and bungalows, calling for open boarders in Europe, residents in countries such as Switzerland, Germany and Denmark are seeing massive influxes of refugees that are bringing huge social problems and anxiety not seen for decades.
The outcome of what we are seeing will be similar to the crusades where east verses west will result in bloody conflict for decades. There is no answer as both sides are diametrically opposed to each other’s values so get used to it. The only bright light through all of this is the increase in arms manufacturing and the war machine will keep us all out of recession.
God you’re full of shit.
A Belgian citizen and a French citizen have been implicated in the murders. How many refugees were trying to get into Europe when the staff at Charlie Hebdo were murdered?
No, what we have here is a racist, who will twist any event to his racist narrative. MI5 have made it plain: racists like Tory are part of the problem.
Yup tory gets a new angle to fan the fire from. Expect more.
These Belgian and French citizens were Belgian and French in citizenship only. It’s similar to when UK media reports about “Britons” fighting for Da’esh – mostly they’re referring to Pakistanis who were raised in the UK but are about as British as chipotle. Allowing mass immigration into Europe by people who consider themselves Muslims first, whatever their ethnicity is second, and citizens of whatever country they end up in a very poor third, can be seen in hindsight to have been a recipe for trouble. Much as it pains me to agree with the fascist commenter above, the current doubling-down on mass immigration by Muslims is suicidally stupid.
Prejudicial nonsense – the same sort of prejudicial nonsense that blames “cultural norms” for sexual assault by Afghani cops.
Refugees, for the most part, are fleeing people like Tory.
+ 1 Exactly!
True but irrelevant. The refugees are mostly fleeing people like Tory, and it constitutes mass immigration by Muslims.
…looking for a better life, and being harrassed and discriminated against by people like Tory while doing so, which fosters more bigotry. It’s the bigotry and personal character of the Tories of this world that is the problem: religion is a convenient excuse.
You are wrong, it is true that the Europeans will close the boarders as you need to understand that this conflict between the east and west, between different religions and cultures, is 100’s of years old.
NZ had the Moa roaming whilst the Islamist stood at the walls of Vienna, having made it further into central Europe with every attack. There was no ambivalence there, they wanted to conquer Europe. Full Stop. This desire has not abated.
This is not to say that today’s asylum seekers are not also victims of radical behavior.
However, what is happening now is the precursor of a defense mechanism that works every time and everywhere. To presume that Kiwis “would be above this” is plainly not true. I know that we all belief that we are better educated, intellectually on a better approach but alas – if you and your family is being threatened, you will defend. I am certain of that.
As for the citizen of Brussels and France, it would be interesting to know, whether they were originally immigrants from Africa or Middle East or descendant? Because every asylum seeker and immigrant is taking up citizen ship to gain access to the welfare system – this you need to understand.
By the way, it was just confirmed that ISIS has taken responsibility for the attack.
You are wrong…
That may very well be so: it wouldn’t be the first time. That said, your comment doesn’t address the point I made at all: bigots and wingnuts on both sides are the problem.
I doubt any of us will ever be able to. What we do know is that in times of relative prosperity dialog prospers. The question is in whose interest it is not to have this taking place.
I doubt any of us will ever be able to.
On the contrary: democracy, human rights and the rule of law – modern progressive values – are the only things that have ever succeeded in reigning in the atavistic instincts of the Right.
Enlightenment certainly will do that but look around the globe and tell me, how much democracy has been established with all the war that is going on? How many times will the Amnesty International or UN reports be ignored as human rights become less important than the political bonds. In relation to NZ Australia, ref the current Christmas Island issues.. As for the rule of law, every country has their own laws but this does not mean justice is being done.
So I wish that the atrocities, injustices and inequalities would go away but it is not in the interest of the money moguls. The first world is only the first world because there is a second and third…
The rule of law is not a matter of having laws, it is a matter of who is required to obey them.
The Kurds in Northern Iraq established democracy during wartime. Likewise in Syria.
If the money moguls have any sense of history they know that peace is more profitable than war.
I think this could be the E.U.’s defining hour. It will make or break under the refugee crisis, which will test the patience of its member states to the limits and possibly beyond. Will they be able to hold it together as a bloc or will internal rifts tear it to bits?
I think the E.U. might be in the early stages of coming apart. Its member nations need to accept their colonial past and the horrors that they inflicted on their former colonies, especially those in the Middle East and north Africa. Unless and until they do, the atrocities of the last few years caused by I.S.I.S. and Boko Haram in Africa, will continue.
I think you need to come to grips with History. Most of the Euro countries were once Monarchies and 2 WW have done away with them. France had their own gruesome revolution taking care of the “guilty” of colonization via the guillotine.
Under TPP is you are worried about ‘opening borders’ – what do you think massive immigration and buying up of land here in NZ is going to do? It is not the ‘liberals’ that are advocating immigration here in NZ it is the Torys, while also advocating sending NZ military over to Iraq to be ‘part of the club’. Saudi Arabia, Russia and many others are keen to ‘invest’ here and our government can’t wait to welcome anybody in here, no questions asked (just bring your cheque book). The joke is that Saudi Arabia is probably funding a lot of the terrorist operations and our government is giving them 11 million in sheep bribes and are a ‘friend’ of the US. Inspite of most of the 9/11 terrorists being from Saudi. Guess those Charter schools have a lot of answer for in the US. Saddam was against the Muslims and ISIL never existed before the US invaded.
Meanwhile here in NZ, SIS is busy with Dotcom and Hager smearing Phil Goff, and probably targeting environmental groups like Greenpeace and the Unions who might want a ‘living’ wage. Now that is a Crime, certainly many in Wellington seem to think so by suing the council.
Having mass surveillance does not work – if anything it makes security forces complacent, being used politically and not going back to basics. Likewise you should be encouraging public discourses from any suspected terrorists instead of sending them underground where they are harder to watch.
+100 savenz
On this sad day, I think we all need some good news.
Pip Keane, former producer of Campbell Live, is rejoining John Campbell at RNZ; along with Catherine Walbridge, producer of Nine to Noon for four years and more recently a producer for The Nation.
A formidable team.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/289592/keane-joins-checkpoint-with-john-campbell
Though on Media RNZ this morning the new program won’t start until January 18th. There is hope yet with such a great team. But will Key find a way to cut the funding or fire some key people?
That is GREAT NEWS!! I can’t wait for his programme to start!! My mother will be listening to John and watching the captioned “The Chase” quiz show at the same time – Ladies do multi-task so well – the knitting might even come out too! – Boy, how TV3 has sunk like a stone since John left! Who watches that channel now?
So, we have the Paris attacks, and the whole world is reporting it.
But months ago we had the Garissa University attack which killed as many people and barely a word was said.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-32169080?SThisFB
And nary a word has been said about an attack in Lebanon hours before the Paris attacks.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34805466
The media clearly have a pro-western bias.
I know it’s of much lessor importance at the moment but looks like the local body elections are off and running. There are a steady flow of articles in the MSM dissing non right wingers.
In weekend Stuff-Dompost Duncan Garner has written an opinion about how Wellington has not been well served by its current mayor.
Trouble is Duncan G appears to live in Auckland not Wellington- so just why is he doing this? Why does he suddenly have this huge negative opinion about someone he would rarely encounter and no doubt does not pay rates for?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/74003038/duncan-garner-on-yer-bike-celia-the-city-needs-a-bolder-better-mayor
“Now her council is embroiled in an unnecessary and expensive legal scrap over a ridiculous decision to pay a living wage to council contractors.”
Question….Is Duncan Garner being paid the minimum wage or living wage when he writes propaganda like this?
DG could also have added but didn’t “and this legal scrap has eminated from a group whose directorate includes someone from Westpac bank and other similar large organisations” not yer local corner dairy then. Plus
“A group prepared to waste other ratepayers money on legal fees which will doubtless top anything that will ever paid over on the living wage”
But I do feel that there is a certain lack of shall we say equality of opportuniy here. The council resolution could perhaps have gone on to say “and no other employee of the contractor can be charged to the contract at a rate exceeding say 10 times the living wage rate” and then they would have to argue both legs in court.
” “and no other employee of the contractor can be charged to the contract at a rate exceeding say 10 times the living wage rate””
But that would have made the Council dirty little Trotskyites…:-)
Why is there so much opposition to paying all workers a living hourly rate?
(That’s a rhetorical question by the way….before the protagonists on the right leap in to answer. Are they paid by the word by any chance?)
Trotsky or not – it would have been interesting watching the justification lines:
“increase to living wage may cost ratepayers more”
“but there are large savings on executive salaries ”
“that doesn’t count ratepayers need to pay the executive wage.”
I ask myself just how popular would be a move to cap local body, CCO, CEO and government salaries at say $350k right across NZ. I’m guessing it would be about 80% yes!
You have apparently come up with an interesting complaint.
Should we have a rule precluding anyone who does not live in an area from commenting about the things that go on there?
May we take it that when Kelvin Davis, who I believe to be a resident of New Zealand, comments on Australia and Christmas Island the only appropriate comment we should make is –
“You don’t live there so STFU!”
I play chess, game of kings you know.
Knowing a pawn is a piece on the board manipulated by an invisible hand, misled by loyalty to it’s ruler in no way reduces the pawns threat.
Opposing Pawns are the immediate enemy, you don’t hug them and expect them to hug you back. They are the enemy of the day, and must be addressed.
Those that see the game, place the blame with the 1 percent, but even they still only see the game as being on the board, focusing only on the pieces presented to them.
In reality all pieces on the board are pawns.
The trick is to stop looking down at the chess board, the enemy is a little higher up.
They seek to control the board, to finally become safe and untouchable, as gods.
In Chess if both sides don’t move and stay on their squares there is no conflict to be exploited, the hidden hand is powerless and any move it makes becomes visible to all.
Anyone who seeks to impose their will on others does the work of the hidden hand.
Anyone who transgresses against another does the work of the hidden hand.
Those that render themselves defenseless and make themselves victims do the work of the hidden hand.
They want the board, a one world government, I say no, stand your ground, defend your square, retain sovereignty, Fuck the TTP and Fuck John Key and Fuck liberal traitors.
In other news Kelvin Davis denounced the management and staff at Paremoremo Prison.
“All the employees there should be dismissed. Serco are completely incompetent and none of their staff should be retained. They should be prosecuted for failing to protect the saintly persona of a man from my electorate.
It is a total disgrace and the people running the prison should be prosecuted”.
When it was pointed out to him that the prison was run by the Corrections Department he immediately complained that he had been misquoted and that everything at the prison was being run superbly and the prisoner must be a rat-bag trying to frame the prison officers.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/74047341/stabbing-in-auckland-prison-at-paremoremo
Hmmm, a false quote and an inconsequential link. It’s almost like you’re making it up, Alwyn.
Me? Make it up?
How could you possibly think such a thing? I am truly hurt that you could even consider such a possibility.
Am I not to be allowed a little bit of creative writing?
It is only a tiny little bit exaggerated, surely?
Alwyn…..give us the link which confirms what you say Davis said. It would be extraordinary were he to truly understand that Paremoremo is run by Serco. You can assist here.