Lol gws. I did think the hoe thing looked appropriate for some reason. Tilling the soil and all that. However, *goes it is*. I thought no1 son was toddling off to Harvard to a double in maths and economics? You know, so it would look good on his cv and all. Lord luv a duck. I’m sure he would knock it all off in a couple of weeks, supposing he has his father’s IQ of 131 I believe it is. Same as Helen Clark’s he has said. Oops!!………… ‘Scuse me. Just got knocked off my chair by a flying pig.
Ffloyd
You obviously have a very agile brain that feeds satire through your fingers, and also sparks it in others. For instance, you refer to tilling the soil, soil makes me think of sod. So appropriate don’t you think.
Of course he would ‘go’ to Harvard, where they run equality courses for ‘hos’. That’s where all NZs go to get their embedded economic and political propaganda. (Harvard can work with all classes and persuasions so they all get persuaded to The Right Way and Efficiency – think Shane Jones who went there and see how successful he has become.) Such a noble and august university and place of re-education. Better conditions than were provided to intellectuals in China and other places not as well-furnished as having walls papered with redundant banknotes.
A lot of emphasis is (rightly) placed on family members’ being off limits in terms of using them to get at politicians in the public arena – or, perhaps more accurately, publishing stories about those family members that may reflect poorly on themselves or their politician relatives, and that would not have been deemed newsworthy had they not been related to a public figure. To be fair, there have been exceptions in the past (smears on Peter Davis purely because he was the husband of Helen Clark spring to mind).
The recent spate of gossip and human-interest fluff about Max Key makes me rather uncomfortable, since it essentially means that, if he is involved (or is even rumoured to be involved) in anything embarrassing or stupid, but essentially private in nature, that must be fair game for all in the media – in fact, balanced reporting would demand that the media provide prominent coverage of it.
In case you are thinking of me Hanswurst. I feel the same about all politicians and their families and their wealthy fellow travellers or drivers for that matter. Going to Harvard is not a slip to be put down, it’s a hoist and if it’s on his own petard that is a side issue.
Harvard is the castle of the rich magicians – the others go to Hogworts where they have to learn the difference between good and evil. At Harvard only part of their alumni (female?) are exposed to such philosophical matter.
That’s all very well Hanswurst, and normally I would agree with you – politicians families should be kept out of the media.
But its his father who keeps pushing him into the media, right in our faces, and for nothing else but extra publicity for himself – keeping the Key name in front of the voters.
Its a dangerous game Key is playing …. his son is young and so many young people get into trouble along the way, why will his son be any different, and what will he do when that happens.
As I said, the media should be obliged to make an absolute smorgasbord of any embarrassment that comes Max Key’s way, and I shall have absolutely no sympathy for Mr. Key and only slightly more for his son if and when that does happen. What I would suggest is that the media should have largely ignored Max Key until such time as he did something inherently newsworthy, and if any publicity agents for the Keys came to them looking for media attention for Max Key, they should have been told to go f*** thenselves.
I’m with Jenny on this one. Both Keys have used their fame to put the younger one in the spotlight. Celebrity’s get celebrity exposure (which is separate issue in terms of appropriate media attention). Key junior has already ceded his right to ‘family political’ privacy.
“I thought no1 son was toddling off to Harvard to a double in maths and economics?” – no, he got a job advising/mentoring young high achievers helping them go to Harvard, the fact that he has no qualifications or higher education doesn’t mean he only got the job because he’s the PMs son, oh no no no. Has any other politician exposed their children to the public like Key? They mostly keep that stuff private don’t they?
Will there be a red carpet from the steps of the aircraft and does he inspect the troops on the tarmac before embarking on his first state visit? Most important of all , will the Chinese Premier be there to greet him and did we send a posse of fawning journos to record this historic event?
Please let us know what the tyke was wearing… we’re all ears.
Gawd – his dad will do anything for publicity ! Did you see him (the freaky Dad) posing as an outdoorsy type on the newshub night before last ….. it was creepy !
It clearly doesn’t worry Key that his son is near emblematic of ‘let them eat cake’. Nor that it’s his photo-op whoring on top of the publicity seeking of the surly, entitled wee boy that contribute to this.
In the US during Depression years Barbara Hutton’s private railcar would be stoned by angry starving poor as it motored through countryside rail stations.
“Every invocation of Lord Keynes is an admission of failure. To propose Keynesian solutions to the crises of the 21st century is to ignore three obvious problems. It is hard to mobilise people around old ideas; the flaws exposed in the 70s have not gone away; and, most importantly, they have nothing to say about our gravest predicament: the environmental crisis. Keynesianism works by stimulating consumer demand to promote economic growth. Consumer demand and economic growth are the motors of environmental destruction.
What the history of both Keynesianism and neoliberalism show is that it’s not enough to oppose a broken system. A coherent alternative has to be proposed. For Labour, the Democrats and the wider left, the central task should be to develop an economic Apollo programme, a conscious attempt to design a new system, tailored to the demands of the 21st century.”
The problem is not Keynesianism but all the ersatz copies of it. Government spending to support soft economies is sensible – but you can’t be stupid about it – if you have a car industry like Leyland it must remain state of the art or it will perish. Same goes for dairy or fishing – you need light-footed adaptive operators, not crude commodity mills.
The same can be said of neo-liberalism – there can be social savings from private sector involvement – but if they don’t turn up, as in the case of Max Bradford’s insane ‘reforms’, the government must reverse them or apply penalties until they do.
What we have in NZ now is fake government, it is unconcerned with whether its actions work at all. Large corporates like Serco simply rip off gormless governments like this. Key has reduced us to the economic version of Hobbes’ dystopia, the war of all against all – which is what you get when there is no government. They’ve abdicated.
there can be social savings from private sector involvement
No, actually, there can’t. The private sector is less efficient than the public sector and on top of that you’ve also got the dead-weight loss of profit.
but if they don’t turn up, as in the case of Max Bradford’s insane ‘reforms’, the government must reverse them or apply penalties until they do.
Far simpler to renationalise or, in some instances, actually nationalise. Many banking services such as EFT-POS would certainly suit being a state monopoly.
Korea runs neoliberalism successfully. Companies accepting government contracts will be restructured or dissolved if they fail to achieve objectives. In fact government departments need similar performance incentives from time to time – the worst example I knew being the Chatams shipping service back in the day – ultra costly and underperforming.
Current NZ neo-liberalism is simply fraud – Serco underperforms, the minister (Collins) doesn’t punish, either for a gratuity or some other benefit. If the bimbo did her job it could work – since she won’t it can’t.
The same laxity and corruption dooms state enterprises equally – Bill the numpty destroying solid energy.
You can have a black cat or a white cat, either will catch mice – unless it’s a fat cat, which is simply useless.
The freedom that neoliberalism offers, which sounds so beguiling when expressed in general terms, turns out to mean freedom for the pike, not for the minnows.
Some might feel that it is hopeless to fight the economic juggernaut, that once the market economy escaped the boundaries of morality it would be impossible to bring the economy back under the dictates of morality and the common good. I am told time and time again by the rich and powerful, and the mainstream media that represent them, that we should be “practical,” that we should accept the status quo; that a truly moral economy is beyond our reach. Yet Pope Francis himself is surely the world’s greatest demonstration against such a surrender to despair and cynicism. He has opened the eyes of the world once again to the claims of mercy, justice and the possibilities of a better world. He is inspiring the world to find a new global consensus for our common home.
And I like this bit – he certainly doesn’t pull any punches
Over a century ago, Pope Leo XIII highlighted economic issues and challenges in Rerum Novarum that continue to haunt us today, such as what he called “the enormous wealth of a few as opposed to the poverty of the many.”
And let us be clear. That situation is worse today. In the year 2016, the top one percent of the people on this planet own more wealth than the bottom 99 percent, while the wealthiest 60 people – 60 people – own more than the bottom half – 3 1/2 billion people. At a time when so few have so much, and so many have so little, we must reject the foundations of this contemporary economy as immoral and unsustainable.
I thought “economy” was all about limited resources and, if so, it must be linked to ethics to be optimal. Similarly, politics ought to contain a strong ethical component. However, the current yardsticks appear to be GDP and legality – pretty legal will suffice.
A society that has no or does not follow clear ethical principles is doomed; ethical conduct is paramount in democracies and economies. By extension, regard for the environment and the whole planet rely on strong ethical foundations.
I’d suggest that Max studies ethics & economics rather at Harvard but Hooton studying philosophy hasn’t done him much good either as far as I can tell – that’s as far I wish to take it, even on OM.
A society that has no or does not follow clear ethical principles is doomed; ethical conduct is paramount in democracies and economies.</blockquote.
QFT
And this is why our society is failing badly. Our entire system, being based upon greed and selfishness, has become psychopathic.
On a more serious subject –
“ The most recent issue to get the “more to Kiwi than iwi” treatment – from a disaffected group of extreme, right-wing, former politicians – is water rights. “
Good comments in story by Lizzie Marvelly in the Herald this morning – suggesting its about time rightwing Pakeha got over their gripes with Maori having a say in what needs to happen with our fresh waterways. Totally endorse these – up here in the north, its the tangata whenua complaining about the disgusting state of fresh waterways which might finally get some action from the authorities on them.
Yes Jenny. That full page ad in our paper annoyed me. I care about water but the ad seems to say don’t back concerns about clean water and the selling of it because I would be supporting Iwi. Instead I should be supporting the Government position that “No one owns the water.”
Bullshit!
Iwi/Kiwi was a Don Brash thing that should stay in the era of Brash. It won him a lot of National supporters who must have been wondering what to do after the 2002 election pounding, but Iwi/Kiwi was ultimately what cost them the election too – by turning off the very centrist people needed to get National into office.
Also in today’s Herald : this guy will do/say anything to get media attention.
Now he’s jumping on Helen’s bandwagon. Who can compete with that ! I bet we’ll hear about this non-stop when he talks to the UK PM et al, as well.
“Prime Minister John Key and Foreign Minister Murray McCully will start campaigning in force for former rival Helen Clark this week, travelling overseas to push her case for the United Nations Secretary-General role.”
This morning on Radionz – gold. Informative, incisive, humorous analyst of Middle East politics. Someone to follow and listen to if we want a clearer picture of what drives that side of the world.
He made a point about Hussein and about Libya that added insight to me. I was getting going with my morning cuppa but something stuck and that was that one of the leaders, I think Hussein, was in power for decades and aimed to stamp out every free thinker, every intellectual, every NGo, every social assistance group, and when he went there was nothing to replace him. The people had been oppressed so long that they had been forced into silence and suppression of ideas. And I think he said that is the space that tyrants can move into.
We are said to have been reasonably well treated by this right wing government. They have not been as harsh as they could have been! But they are moving to shut down dissent, socially and environmentally concerned groups. The Method is under way. http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201797316
This is the summary of the talk.
8:12 Iyad el-Baghdadi
Iyad El-Baghdadi is a writer, human rights activist, and entrepreneur who became prominent for tweeting and commenting on the Arab spring. A stateless Palestinian born and raised in the United Arab Emirates, from which he was expelled in 2014, he became well-known for The Arab Tyrant’s Manual, a collection of satirical tweets that has been translated into 13 languages, and is working on a two-volume book, The Arab Spring Manifesto, which is due to be completed this year.
This morning on Radionz – gold. Informative, incisive, humorous analyst of Middle East politics. Someone to follow and listen to if we want a clearer picture of what drives that side of the world.
He made a point about Hussein and about Libya that added insight to me. I was getting going with my morning cuppa but something stuck and that was that one of the leaders, I think Hussein, was in power for decades and aimed to stamp out every free thinker, every intellectual, every NGo, every social assistance group, and when he went there was nothing to replace him. The people had been oppressed so long that they had been forced into silence and suppression of ideas. And I think he said that is the space that tyrants can move into.
We are said to have been reasonably well treated by this right wing government. They have not been as harsh as they could have been! But they are moving to shut down dissent, socially and environmentally concerned groups. The Method is under way. http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201797316
This is the summary of the talk.
8:12 Iyad el-Baghdadi
Iyad El-Baghdadi is a writer, human rights activist, and entrepreneur who became prominent for tweeting and commenting on the Arab spring. A stateless Palestinian born and raised in the United Arab Emirates, from which he was expelled in 2014, he became well-known for The Arab Tyrant’s Manual, a collection of satirical tweets that has been translated into 13 languages, and is working on a two-volume book, The Arab Spring Manifesto, which is due to be completed this year.
Third time try to get comment up. What is going on with levers, bells and whistles in the background?
This is first part of longer comment. Maybe I can get it up in two pieces. Maybe there were too many links in first one.
This morning on Radionz – gold. Informative, incisive, humorous analyst of Middle East politics. Someone to follow and listen to if we want a clearer picture of what drives that side of the world.
He made a point about Hussein and about Libya that added insight to me. I was getting going with my morning cuppa but something stuck and that was that one of the leaders, I think Hussein, was in power for decades and aimed to stamp out every free thinker, every intellectual, every NGo, every social assistance group, and when he went there was nothing to replace him. The people had been oppressed so long that they had been forced into silence and suppression of ideas. And I think he said that is the space that tyrants can move into.
We are said to have been reasonably well treated by this right wing government. They have not been as harsh as they could have been! But they are moving to shut down dissent, socially and environmentally concerned groups. The Method is under way. http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201797316
This is the summary of the talk.
8:12 Iyad el-Baghdadi
Iyad El-Baghdadi is a writer, human rights activist, and entrepreneur who became prominent for tweeting and commenting on the Arab spring. A stateless Palestinian born and raised in the United Arab Emirates, from which he was expelled in 2014, he became well-known for The Arab Tyrant’s Manual, a collection of satirical tweets that has been translated into 13 languages, and is working on a two-volume book, The Arab Spring Manifesto, which is due to be completed this year.
“He made a point about Hussein and about Libya that added insight to me. I was getting going with my morning cuppa but something stuck and that was that one of the leaders, I think Hussein, was in power for decades and aimed to stamp out every free thinker, every intellectual, every NGo, every social assistance group, and when he went there was nothing to replace him. The people had been oppressed so long that they had been forced into silence and suppression of ideas. And I think he said that is the space that tyrants can move into.”
This is utterly fucking bullshit western imperialism interpretation.
Those countries became destroyed states because that is what the USA wanted, and what the USA implemented.
lprent
I am having trouble getting comments up. I have had a medium length comment not go up twice. Tried refreshing F5 and also Home, and restarted but no result.
I hope this short one will get through. There was a link to cloud in last attempt. There was something about earth in one before. I have to go and do some real work now so can’t wait around to pass on some good links on Radionz. Bye for the weekend.
lprent
Thanks. In last one I tried shortening by putting half only – to see if system was rejecting multiple links.
So there should be a top and bottom bit – the last comment put up was on Arab writer only, I think. The other two had that, plus short piece on Tibet with link to that on Radionz.
If you have time you could check and remove the one just up and replace it with earlier complete one. But don’t worry if you don’t have time there are no earthshaking revelations dredged from deep in my intellect on there!
Also nice heading. I have yet to read all about its formation but looks good, and no doubt is an indication of how the blog will go strongly into future, with small improvements that enhance its reputation. (End of PR announcement!)
It’s not fun. I’m over it, seriously. I feel poor,” confessed French teacher Cecile Bourgeois, 39, about her attempts to find a $500,000 home on her $74,000-a-year salary.
“It’s just the increase in the prices in Auckland … I can’t save enough if it keeps increasing.”
How is Auckland going to have enough teachers, nurses to supply the needs, let alone minimum wage workers.
At Prime Minister’s Questions today Jeremy Corbyn accused Conservative MEPs in the European Parliament of voting against measures to stop tax avoidance.
The vote in question was the European Parliament’s annual tax report which included plans to make companies report where they make their profits and pay taxes.
It took place on 25 March this year; across Europe it was backed by 444 MEPs to just 110 who voted against.
From Britain, Conservative, Ukip, and DUP MEPs voted against the report, though many did not show up or not vote.
David Cameron says the UK backed the plans at the Council level despite the way his MEPs voted on the tax report.
So February was 1.04°C above the 20th C average for the month of February and…March has come in at 1.07°C above the 20th C average for the month of March.
Wider context?
2014 was the hottest year on record (data from 1850 to present)… until 2015 came along. And now it looks as though this year will be even hotter again.
I think these are two different earthquakes rather than aftershocks (big ones in Souther Japan yesterday), but it is time to give up the idea that the big one always happens first? I don’t mean from a science perspective, I mean from the perspective of people living in a quake zone.
This is good, I hear someone in NZ had developped an app for here as well (people get a warning txt/noise that the quake is on its way), but it requires lots of people to sign up for it to work. Haven’t heard how that’s going,
It is through bitter experience that Japan has learnt the strategies to mitigate damage, injury and death. Not only does it implement some the best building construction practices but it has also established an early warning network.
This system relies on the lightning analysis of the developing quake, establishing its location and strength. Alerts are then broadcast that can give people more distant from the epicentre vital seconds’ notice.
Just 10 seconds is more than sufficient to drop and get under a sturdy table or open the doors of a fire station.
But from an American perspective, the report’s most salient features pertain to anti-Americanism among young Arabs abroad.
“For years, many have argued that Muslims and Arabs, like other humans, don’t appreciate being bombed or occupied,” says Haroon Moghul, a fellow at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. “Finally, we have a study to confirm this suspicion.”
So glad to see William and Kate swanning around Bhutan and doubtless mingling with royalty there. Wonder if Will and Kate are aware that several thousands of Southern Bhutanese have been imprisoned, and more than 2000 tortured, according to Amnesty International. Very few of them were formally charged. Thousands fled to India and Nepal and after many many years some made it to New Zealand…..Great opportunities for the fawning media but I doubt they can think past the photo ops. I wonder what the Bhutan refugees in NZ think about it… just saying…
“Colombia: there’s no place for clean water under ’free trade’”
The latest country to be hooked under ’free trade’ agreements is Colombia, writes Pete Dolack, sued for tens of billions of dollars by US and Canadian gold mining companies for valuing its national parks and the high-altitude Andean wetlands that provide 70% of the nation’s water above the profits of foreign corporations. Free trade or clean water? You can’t have both.
Yet another standoff between clean drinking water and mining profits has taken shape in Colombia.
Two corporations are insisting their right to pollute trumps human health and the environment. As is customary in these cases, it is clean water that is the underdog here.
Two million people are dependent on water from a high-altitude wetlands, which is also a refuge for endangered species, that a Canadian mining company, Eco Oro Minerals Corporation, wants to use for a gold mine.
The wetlands, the Santurbán páramo in the Andes, has been declared off-limits for mining by Colombia’s highest court due to the area’s environmental sensitivity. Eco Oro is suing the Colombian government because of this under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement.
The dispute will likely be heard by a secret tribunal that is an arm of the World Bank, even though the World Bank has provided investment capital for Eco Oro to develop the mine.
Its ok TMM it won’t happen here. Tim and John have said so!
That is the whole crappy thing about these isds tribunals – there is no appeal.
John and Tim and the rest of the Nats and Act and the dunny and Goff are intent on signing away what little sovereignty we have left.
as Bernie said at the Vatican
“Over a century ago, Pope Leo XIII highlighted economic issues and challenges in Rerum Novarum that continue to haunt us today, such as what he called “the enormous wealth of a few as opposed to the poverty of the many.”
And let us be clear. That situation is worse today. In the year 2016, the top one percent of the people on this planet own more wealth than the bottom 99 percent, while the wealthiest 60 people – 60 people – own more than the bottom half – 3 1/2 billion people. At a time when so few have so much, and so many have so little, we must reject the foundations of this contemporary economy as immoral and unsustainable.”
But the Greaves’ application for that was turned down and Ms Greaves says she was only told recently that the reason was simply that WINZ lost some of her documents.
Yeah, all those paper documents that WINZ supplicants have to fill in are, apparently, just so easy to lose.
/sarc
I’ve just been informed that I’ve been over paid $8.58 on my Accommodation Supplement and so they’ll be taking that back. When I enquired as to why I was informed that they had made an error at their end. They also told me that they don’t claim back amounts for less than $10 when it’s their error.
They’re still going to be taking the money off of me.
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
While Anzac Day has experienced a resurgence in recent years, our other day of remembrance has slowly faded from view.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Hope McConnell.First published in 2022.The high school’s head girl and ...
Australian and New Zealand volunteers fought together in the Waikato War, yet still its place in the Anzac tradition is unacknowledged by our defence forces or Returned Services Association.First published in 2018.When I was a boy cub I attended Anzac Day services in the South Auckland suburb of ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 25 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Wilmot, Senior Lecturer, Film, Deakin University Among the many Australian who served during the second world war, there is a small group of people whose stories remain largely untold. These are the Muslim men and women who, while small in number, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
A leaked document shows the Canterbury/Waitaha arm of health agency Te Whatu Ora is scurrying to save $13.3 million by July. The “financial sustainability target”, which was “allocated” to Waitaha, is consistent with what’s happening in other districts, says Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. ...
A look at the state of the previous government’s affordable housing scheme, and what could come next.Remind me: What’s KiwiBuild again?First announced in 2012, KiwiBuild was a flagship policy of the Labour Party heading into both its 2014 and 2017 election campaigns. With Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, ...
Labour in opposition will be shocked to learn which party had six years in power but squandered any chance to make real change. Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech was a predictably entertaining trip down memory lane. The acid-tongued incoming Otago University chancellor administered a sick burn to the coalition government. He ...
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is seen some as its ‘silicon shield’ against invasion – but how will overseas expansion affect that protection? The post The state of Taiwan’s silicon shield appeared first on Newsroom. ...
There’s relief for building owners bending under the weight of earthquake strengthening rules – and costs – that came into force seven years ago. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a scheduled 2027 review of the earthquake-prone building regulations will now start this year. Owners will also get ...
Opinion: It has been announced that nine percent of roles at Oranga Tamariki will be disestablished, presumably to help fund the tax cuts promised by the coalition Government. I am reminded of the graphics used to illustrate pandemic events, where five thousand people are standing in a field and then ...
After more than two sleepless days, running through savage terrain, Greig Hamilton didn’t know if he was going to finish one of the most gruelling psychological assaults in sport. He was metres away from the finish line, a yellow gate made famous in a Netflix documentary; a race he’d dreamed ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 24 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The following interview with former Green Party MP Sue Kedgley came about because she features in the new memoir Hine Toa by activist Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku; the two knew each other at the University of Auckland in the early 70s, when they were both took on leadership roles in the ...
COMMENTARY:By Murray Horton New Zealand needs to get tough with Israel. It’s not as if we haven’t done so before. When NZ authorities busted a Mossad operation in Auckland 20 years ago, the government didn’t say: “Oh well, Israel has the right to defend itself.” No, it arrested, prosecuted, ...
NEWSMAKERS:By Vijay Narayan, news director of FijiVillage Blessed to be part of the University of Fiji (UniFiji) faculty to continue to teach and mentor those who want to join our noble profession, and to stand for truth and justice for the people of the country. I was privileged to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Lowry, Ice Sheet & Climate Modeller, GNS Science Hugh Chittock/Antarctica New Zealand, CC BY-SA As the climate warms and Antarctica’s glaciers and ice sheets melt, the resulting rise in sea level has the potential to displace hundreds of millions of ...
The government's plan to reintroduce a three strikes regime is being strongly opposed by lawyers, who argue there is no evidence it reduces crime or helps people rehabilitate. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Jerker B. Svantesson, Professor specialising in Internet law, Bond University Do Australian courts have the right to decide what foreign citizens, located overseas, view online on a foreign-owned platform? Anyone inclined to answer “yes” to this question should perhaps also ask ...
BREAKING NEWS!! First son Max Key hoes to China. And the world cares WHY???
I like the vision of the PM’s son showing solidarity with Chinese peasants, hoe in hand in the fields. Go for it you NZ entrepreneur. Gung ho, hoe.
Lol gws. I did think the hoe thing looked appropriate for some reason. Tilling the soil and all that. However, *goes it is*. I thought no1 son was toddling off to Harvard to a double in maths and economics? You know, so it would look good on his cv and all. Lord luv a duck. I’m sure he would knock it all off in a couple of weeks, supposing he has his father’s IQ of 131 I believe it is. Same as Helen Clark’s he has said. Oops!!………… ‘Scuse me. Just got knocked off my chair by a flying pig.
Ffloyd
You obviously have a very agile brain that feeds satire through your fingers, and also sparks it in others. For instance, you refer to tilling the soil, soil makes me think of sod. So appropriate don’t you think.
Of course he would ‘go’ to Harvard, where they run equality courses for ‘hos’. That’s where all NZs go to get their embedded economic and political propaganda. (Harvard can work with all classes and persuasions so they all get persuaded to The Right Way and Efficiency – think Shane Jones who went there and see how successful he has become.) Such a noble and august university and place of re-education. Better conditions than were provided to intellectuals in China and other places not as well-furnished as having walls papered with redundant banknotes.
A lot of emphasis is (rightly) placed on family members’ being off limits in terms of using them to get at politicians in the public arena – or, perhaps more accurately, publishing stories about those family members that may reflect poorly on themselves or their politician relatives, and that would not have been deemed newsworthy had they not been related to a public figure. To be fair, there have been exceptions in the past (smears on Peter Davis purely because he was the husband of Helen Clark spring to mind).
The recent spate of gossip and human-interest fluff about Max Key makes me rather uncomfortable, since it essentially means that, if he is involved (or is even rumoured to be involved) in anything embarrassing or stupid, but essentially private in nature, that must be fair game for all in the media – in fact, balanced reporting would demand that the media provide prominent coverage of it.
In case you are thinking of me Hanswurst. I feel the same about all politicians and their families and their wealthy fellow travellers or drivers for that matter. Going to Harvard is not a slip to be put down, it’s a hoist and if it’s on his own petard that is a side issue.
Harvard is the castle of the rich magicians – the others go to Hogworts where they have to learn the difference between good and evil. At Harvard only part of their alumni (female?) are exposed to such philosophical matter.
That’s all very well Hanswurst, and normally I would agree with you – politicians families should be kept out of the media.
But its his father who keeps pushing him into the media, right in our faces, and for nothing else but extra publicity for himself – keeping the Key name in front of the voters.
Its a dangerous game Key is playing …. his son is young and so many young people get into trouble along the way, why will his son be any different, and what will he do when that happens.
As I said, the media should be obliged to make an absolute smorgasbord of any embarrassment that comes Max Key’s way, and I shall have absolutely no sympathy for Mr. Key and only slightly more for his son if and when that does happen. What I would suggest is that the media should have largely ignored Max Key until such time as he did something inherently newsworthy, and if any publicity agents for the Keys came to them looking for media attention for Max Key, they should have been told to go f*** thenselves.
I’m with Jenny on this one. Both Keys have used their fame to put the younger one in the spotlight. Celebrity’s get celebrity exposure (which is separate issue in terms of appropriate media attention). Key junior has already ceded his right to ‘family political’ privacy.
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11623391
“I thought no1 son was toddling off to Harvard to a double in maths and economics?” – no, he got a job advising/mentoring young high achievers helping them go to Harvard, the fact that he has no qualifications or higher education doesn’t mean he only got the job because he’s the PMs son, oh no no no. Has any other politician exposed their children to the public like Key? They mostly keep that stuff private don’t they?
GOES! China very excited.
Will there be a red carpet from the steps of the aircraft and does he inspect the troops on the tarmac before embarking on his first state visit? Most important of all , will the Chinese Premier be there to greet him and did we send a posse of fawning journos to record this historic event?
Please let us know what the tyke was wearing… we’re all ears.
Gawd – his dad will do anything for publicity ! Did you see him (the freaky Dad) posing as an outdoorsy type on the newshub night before last ….. it was creepy !
It clearly doesn’t worry Key that his son is near emblematic of ‘let them eat cake’. Nor that it’s his photo-op whoring on top of the publicity seeking of the surly, entitled wee boy that contribute to this.
In the US during Depression years Barbara Hutton’s private railcar would be stoned by angry starving poor as it motored through countryside rail stations.
Monbiot gets a lot into one well-crafted nutshell:
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/apr/15/neoliberalism-ideology-problem-george-monbiot
as usual Monbiot doesn’t pull any punches..
“Every invocation of Lord Keynes is an admission of failure. To propose Keynesian solutions to the crises of the 21st century is to ignore three obvious problems. It is hard to mobilise people around old ideas; the flaws exposed in the 70s have not gone away; and, most importantly, they have nothing to say about our gravest predicament: the environmental crisis. Keynesianism works by stimulating consumer demand to promote economic growth. Consumer demand and economic growth are the motors of environmental destruction.
What the history of both Keynesianism and neoliberalism show is that it’s not enough to oppose a broken system. A coherent alternative has to be proposed. For Labour, the Democrats and the wider left, the central task should be to develop an economic Apollo programme, a conscious attempt to design a new system, tailored to the demands of the 21st century.”
Sadly I fear we lost our chance in 2009….
The problem is not Keynesianism but all the ersatz copies of it. Government spending to support soft economies is sensible – but you can’t be stupid about it – if you have a car industry like Leyland it must remain state of the art or it will perish. Same goes for dairy or fishing – you need light-footed adaptive operators, not crude commodity mills.
The same can be said of neo-liberalism – there can be social savings from private sector involvement – but if they don’t turn up, as in the case of Max Bradford’s insane ‘reforms’, the government must reverse them or apply penalties until they do.
What we have in NZ now is fake government, it is unconcerned with whether its actions work at all. Large corporates like Serco simply rip off gormless governments like this. Key has reduced us to the economic version of Hobbes’ dystopia, the war of all against all – which is what you get when there is no government. They’ve abdicated.
both logical observations….however….
“Consumer demand and economic growth are the motors of environmental destruction.”
…we have a minor complicating factor
No, actually, there can’t. The private sector is less efficient than the public sector and on top of that you’ve also got the dead-weight loss of profit.
Far simpler to renationalise or, in some instances, actually nationalise. Many banking services such as EFT-POS would certainly suit being a state monopoly.
Korea runs neoliberalism successfully. Companies accepting government contracts will be restructured or dissolved if they fail to achieve objectives. In fact government departments need similar performance incentives from time to time – the worst example I knew being the Chatams shipping service back in the day – ultra costly and underperforming.
Current NZ neo-liberalism is simply fraud – Serco underperforms, the minister (Collins) doesn’t punish, either for a gratuity or some other benefit. If the bimbo did her job it could work – since she won’t it can’t.
The same laxity and corruption dooms state enterprises equally – Bill the numpty destroying solid energy.
You can have a black cat or a white cat, either will catch mice – unless it’s a fat cat, which is simply useless.
QFT
In the same vein, Bernie’s speech at the Vatican:
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/04/15/towards-common-good-mr-sanders-goes-vatican
Notice how it’s a proper speech; not broken up into staccato little sound-bites as has become the custom from our local pollies.
And I like this bit – he certainly doesn’t pull any punches
Now imagine that coming from almost any pollie in Australia or NZ. Or the tired cynical yawn that would greet it if they did.
I know. It makes me weep.
And at the same time that Bernie was delivering that speech, Hillary was chatting to the fat cats of Wall Street. But we won’t get to see what she said – because if we did that would be the end of her bid for the presidency.
I thought “economy” was all about limited resources and, if so, it must be linked to ethics to be optimal. Similarly, politics ought to contain a strong ethical component. However, the current yardsticks appear to be GDP and legality – pretty legal will suffice.
A society that has no or does not follow clear ethical principles is doomed; ethical conduct is paramount in democracies and economies. By extension, regard for the environment and the whole planet rely on strong ethical foundations.
I’d suggest that Max studies ethics & economics rather at Harvard but Hooton studying philosophy hasn’t done him much good either as far as I can tell – that’s as far I wish to take it, even on OM.
Secular intellectual lefties worked hard to kill the value of spiritual and religious pursuit, so you reap what you sow.
WTF has religion, the cause of a hell of a lot of wars, got to do with it?
On a more serious subject –
“ The most recent issue to get the “more to Kiwi than iwi” treatment – from a disaffected group of extreme, right-wing, former politicians – is water rights. “
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11623343
Good comments in story by Lizzie Marvelly in the Herald this morning – suggesting its about time rightwing Pakeha got over their gripes with Maori having a say in what needs to happen with our fresh waterways. Totally endorse these – up here in the north, its the tangata whenua complaining about the disgusting state of fresh waterways which might finally get some action from the authorities on them.
Yes Jenny. That full page ad in our paper annoyed me. I care about water but the ad seems to say don’t back concerns about clean water and the selling of it because I would be supporting Iwi. Instead I should be supporting the Government position that “No one owns the water.”
Bullshit!
Iwi/Kiwi was a Don Brash thing that should stay in the era of Brash. It won him a lot of National supporters who must have been wondering what to do after the 2002 election pounding, but Iwi/Kiwi was ultimately what cost them the election too – by turning off the very centrist people needed to get National into office.
+1 Jenny, good article
Also in today’s Herald : this guy will do/say anything to get media attention.
Now he’s jumping on Helen’s bandwagon. Who can compete with that ! I bet we’ll hear about this non-stop when he talks to the UK PM et al, as well.
“Prime Minister John Key and Foreign Minister Murray McCully will start campaigning in force for former rival Helen Clark this week, travelling overseas to push her case for the United Nations Secretary-General role.”
A bit worrying though. The punters might think anything Key says is a joke.
This morning on Radionz – gold. Informative, incisive, humorous analyst of Middle East politics. Someone to follow and listen to if we want a clearer picture of what drives that side of the world.
He made a point about Hussein and about Libya that added insight to me. I was getting going with my morning cuppa but something stuck and that was that one of the leaders, I think Hussein, was in power for decades and aimed to stamp out every free thinker, every intellectual, every NGo, every social assistance group, and when he went there was nothing to replace him. The people had been oppressed so long that they had been forced into silence and suppression of ideas. And I think he said that is the space that tyrants can move into.
We are said to have been reasonably well treated by this right wing government. They have not been as harsh as they could have been! But they are moving to shut down dissent, socially and environmentally concerned groups. The Method is under way.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201797316
This is the summary of the talk.
8:12 Iyad el-Baghdadi
Iyad El-Baghdadi is a writer, human rights activist, and entrepreneur who became prominent for tweeting and commenting on the Arab spring. A stateless Palestinian born and raised in the United Arab Emirates, from which he was expelled in 2014, he became well-known for The Arab Tyrant’s Manual, a collection of satirical tweets that has been translated into 13 languages, and is working on a two-volume book, The Arab Spring Manifesto, which is due to be completed this year.
Meantime, till audio is up here is something that looks and sounds good called Field work in Tibet. A number of great Lincoln scientists are over there doing something with grasslands research, and there is a great photo of the team there. Sounds a positive good project by NZs to slot into the brain over the other crap that tends to swamp us.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/countrylife/audio/201797231/fieldwork-in-tibet
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201797231
This morning on Radionz – gold. Informative, incisive, humorous analyst of Middle East politics. Someone to follow and listen to if we want a clearer picture of what drives that side of the world.
He made a point about Hussein and about Libya that added insight to me. I was getting going with my morning cuppa but something stuck and that was that one of the leaders, I think Hussein, was in power for decades and aimed to stamp out every free thinker, every intellectual, every NGo, every social assistance group, and when he went there was nothing to replace him. The people had been oppressed so long that they had been forced into silence and suppression of ideas. And I think he said that is the space that tyrants can move into.
We are said to have been reasonably well treated by this right wing government. They have not been as harsh as they could have been! But they are moving to shut down dissent, socially and environmentally concerned groups. The Method is under way.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201797316
This is the summary of the talk.
8:12 Iyad el-Baghdadi
Iyad El-Baghdadi is a writer, human rights activist, and entrepreneur who became prominent for tweeting and commenting on the Arab spring. A stateless Palestinian born and raised in the United Arab Emirates, from which he was expelled in 2014, he became well-known for The Arab Tyrant’s Manual, a collection of satirical tweets that has been translated into 13 languages, and is working on a two-volume book, The Arab Spring Manifesto, which is due to be completed this year.
Meantime, till audio is up here is something that looks and sounds good called Field work in Tibet. A number of great Lincoln scientists are over there doing something with grasslands research, and there is a great photo of the team there. Sounds a positive good project by NZs to slot into the brain over the other crap that tends to swamp us.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/countrylife/audio/201797231/fieldwork-in-tibet
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201797231
(This is the second time I have put this up. I don’t know what I did. If it turns up in a few minutes again, my apologies.)
Third time try to get comment up. What is going on with levers, bells and whistles in the background?
This is first part of longer comment. Maybe I can get it up in two pieces. Maybe there were too many links in first one.
This morning on Radionz – gold. Informative, incisive, humorous analyst of Middle East politics. Someone to follow and listen to if we want a clearer picture of what drives that side of the world.
He made a point about Hussein and about Libya that added insight to me. I was getting going with my morning cuppa but something stuck and that was that one of the leaders, I think Hussein, was in power for decades and aimed to stamp out every free thinker, every intellectual, every NGo, every social assistance group, and when he went there was nothing to replace him. The people had been oppressed so long that they had been forced into silence and suppression of ideas. And I think he said that is the space that tyrants can move into.
We are said to have been reasonably well treated by this right wing government. They have not been as harsh as they could have been! But they are moving to shut down dissent, socially and environmentally concerned groups. The Method is under way.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201797316
This is the summary of the talk.
8:12 Iyad el-Baghdadi
Iyad El-Baghdadi is a writer, human rights activist, and entrepreneur who became prominent for tweeting and commenting on the Arab spring. A stateless Palestinian born and raised in the United Arab Emirates, from which he was expelled in 2014, he became well-known for The Arab Tyrant’s Manual, a collection of satirical tweets that has been translated into 13 languages, and is working on a two-volume book, The Arab Spring Manifesto, which is due to be completed this year.
In 2011 Iyad el-Baghdadi called the Syrian shit fight.
Iyad El-Baghdadi
@iyad_elbaghdadi
A warning I direct to the world: If you don’t do something soon to help #Syria’s people, it will become a jihadist magnet. Big time.
2:01 PM – 20 Dec 2011
https://twitter.com/iyad_elbaghdadi/status/149248118859370496
https://twitter.com/iyad_elbaghdadi
http://www.el-baghdadi.com/
“He made a point about Hussein and about Libya that added insight to me. I was getting going with my morning cuppa but something stuck and that was that one of the leaders, I think Hussein, was in power for decades and aimed to stamp out every free thinker, every intellectual, every NGo, every social assistance group, and when he went there was nothing to replace him. The people had been oppressed so long that they had been forced into silence and suppression of ideas. And I think he said that is the space that tyrants can move into.”
This is utterly fucking bullshit western imperialism interpretation.
Those countries became destroyed states because that is what the USA wanted, and what the USA implemented.
lprent
I am having trouble getting comments up. I have had a medium length comment not go up twice. Tried refreshing F5 and also Home, and restarted but no result.
I hope this short one will get through. There was a link to cloud in last attempt. There was something about earth in one before. I have to go and do some real work now so can’t wait around to pass on some good links on Radionz. Bye for the weekend.
I saw that. Just released the last one. Do you want the other two? They looked identical at a cursory scan.
There was a new security system added in yesterday. But it is currently in ‘learning mode’. I will have a look at that
lprent
Thanks. In last one I tried shortening by putting half only – to see if system was rejecting multiple links.
So there should be a top and bottom bit – the last comment put up was on Arab writer only, I think. The other two had that, plus short piece on Tibet with link to that on Radionz.
If you have time you could check and remove the one just up and replace it with earlier complete one. But don’t worry if you don’t have time there are no earthshaking revelations dredged from deep in my intellect on there!
Also nice heading. I have yet to read all about its formation but looks good, and no doubt is an indication of how the blog will go strongly into future, with small improvements that enhance its reputation. (End of PR announcement!)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11623505
It’s not fun. I’m over it, seriously. I feel poor,” confessed French teacher Cecile Bourgeois, 39, about her attempts to find a $500,000 home on her $74,000-a-year salary.
“It’s just the increase in the prices in Auckland … I can’t save enough if it keeps increasing.”
How is Auckland going to have enough teachers, nurses to supply the needs, let alone minimum wage workers.
I guess we can go back to the state providing homes at a reasonable rent for it’s workers close to the work location.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5W45Va0cPE
Expect Nats to run the following lines for NZ GE2017?? Are Labour and Greens prepared for these lines?
“Our economy is transitioning. It is well synchronised with what is happening” to our main trading partners and around the world.
“You can trust the government to manage the transition”
“You cannot trust Labour and Greens with the transition”
Ahem … Crosby Textor?
Read more:
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/malcolm-turnbulls-election-pitch-stamped-made-in-china-20160415-go7jt3.html
Yeah, let’s do something,….nah…
/
At Prime Minister’s Questions today Jeremy Corbyn accused Conservative MEPs in the European Parliament of voting against measures to stop tax avoidance.
The vote in question was the European Parliament’s annual tax report which included plans to make companies report where they make their profits and pay taxes.
It took place on 25 March this year; across Europe it was backed by 444 MEPs to just 110 who voted against.
From Britain, Conservative, Ukip, and DUP MEPs voted against the report, though many did not show up or not vote.
David Cameron says the UK backed the plans at the Council level despite the way his MEPs voted on the tax report.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/these-are-the-british-meps-who-voted-against-plans-to-crack-down-on-corporate-tax-evasion-a6982271.html
Britain – party should have the acronym DUPE MPs.
oh joy
So February was 1.04°C above the 20th C average for the month of February and…March has come in at 1.07°C above the 20th C average for the month of March.
Wider context?
2014 was the hottest year on record (data from 1850 to present)… until 2015 came along. And now it looks as though this year will be even hotter again.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/15/march-temperature-smashes-100-year-global-record
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IOuDX7YsYHM
De Niro interview about Tribeca
I think these are two different earthquakes rather than aftershocks (big ones in Souther Japan yesterday), but it is time to give up the idea that the big one always happens first? I don’t mean from a science perspective, I mean from the perspective of people living in a quake zone.
This is good, I hear someone in NZ had developped an app for here as well (people get a warning txt/noise that the quake is on its way), but it requires lots of people to sign up for it to work. Haven’t heard how that’s going,
It is through bitter experience that Japan has learnt the strategies to mitigate damage, injury and death. Not only does it implement some the best building construction practices but it has also established an early warning network.
This system relies on the lightning analysis of the developing quake, establishing its location and strength. Alerts are then broadcast that can give people more distant from the epicentre vital seconds’ notice.
Just 10 seconds is more than sufficient to drop and get under a sturdy table or open the doors of a fire station.
edit, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36045140
Young Iraqis Overwhelmingly Consider U.S. Their Enemy, Poll Says
So glad to see William and Kate swanning around Bhutan and doubtless mingling with royalty there. Wonder if Will and Kate are aware that several thousands of Southern Bhutanese have been imprisoned, and more than 2000 tortured, according to Amnesty International. Very few of them were formally charged. Thousands fled to India and Nepal and after many many years some made it to New Zealand…..Great opportunities for the fawning media but I doubt they can think past the photo ops. I wonder what the Bhutan refugees in NZ think about it… just saying…
“Colombia: there’s no place for clean water under ’free trade’”
http://isds.bilaterals.org/?colombia-there-s-no-place-for
This is so wrong! Where does the accountability for these tribunals lie?
Its ok TMM it won’t happen here. Tim and John have said so!
That is the whole crappy thing about these isds tribunals – there is no appeal.
John and Tim and the rest of the Nats and Act and the dunny and Goff are intent on signing away what little sovereignty we have left.
as Bernie said at the Vatican
“Over a century ago, Pope Leo XIII highlighted economic issues and challenges in Rerum Novarum that continue to haunt us today, such as what he called “the enormous wealth of a few as opposed to the poverty of the many.”
And let us be clear. That situation is worse today. In the year 2016, the top one percent of the people on this planet own more wealth than the bottom 99 percent, while the wealthiest 60 people – 60 people – own more than the bottom half – 3 1/2 billion people. At a time when so few have so much, and so many have so little, we must reject the foundations of this contemporary economy as immoral and unsustainable.”
There isn’t any which is what the corporations wanted and got.
Mum fuming after disability allowance turned down
Yeah, all those paper documents that WINZ supplicants have to fill in are, apparently, just so easy to lose.
/sarc
I’ve just been informed that I’ve been over paid $8.58 on my Accommodation Supplement and so they’ll be taking that back. When I enquired as to why I was informed that they had made an error at their end. They also told me that they don’t claim back amounts for less than $10 when it’s their error.
They’re still going to be taking the money off of me.
And WINZ have the F**king audacity to classify over payments as fraud for statistical purposes – even when its their fault!
‘Thousands to descend on London to demand David Cameron’s resignation’
https://www.rt.com/uk/339755-cameron-resignation-protest-london/