“However, while Mr Joyce has released a detailed financial report on the deal prepared by corporate advisers KordaMentha, he has yet to release official advice about the social impact of allowing SkyCity an additional 230 pokie machines and 52 more gaming tables as well as ticket-in, ticket-out technology which increases gambling profits…….
Questioned by Greens co-leader Metiria Turei, Mr Joyce told Parliament those effects had not been quantified. Mr Joyce said the department’s advice would be released in time for the public to consider it before changes to the Gambling Act were made.
Ms Turei cited a 2010 Australian Productivity Commission gambling study which put the cost to society of each problem gambler as high as A$30,000 ($36,000).”
And a quote
“A corporation is an externalizing machine in the same way that a shark is a killing machine. Each one is designed in a very particular way to accomplish certain objectives. In the achievement of those objectives there isn’t any question of
malevolence or will. The enterprise has within it, and the shark has within it, thosecharacteristics that enable it do that for which it was designed.”
at least put her on Permanent Stand By status on all future bookings 🙂
might allow her time to think on life if her freedom of movement is handicapped for a change
Which might be simply to say that it’s unusual for the deserving “Gold Elite” to exhibit such cowish behaviour. The point made by Paul at 2.1 about “entitlement” transcending decency remains.
Improving Rob, but you still need to try harder. You probably just lost your honorary membership in the Blubber Army by mentioning Jacinda without the compulsory comments about teeth. Put your photo up, arsewipe.
Must say that prospect occurred to me immediately but I dismissed it on account of Judy’s related sense of “noblesse oblige”.
Further question – how did Ms “Gold Elite” obtain her status ? Frequent flying in performance of a public or quasi-public role ? A “consultant” (or spouse of ) to ShonKey Python’s Flying Circus, savouring good old troughing perhaps ?
I well recall the media uproar when Charles Chauvel got hoha with the in-flight ill-behaviour of the entitled spawn of an ACT Party official.
This needs investigation. To be entrusted to no less a figure than the award-winning John Armstrong !
I would have thought that if Ms gold Elite was an MP, it would have been hinted at. Also, the woman in the wheel chair is a TV spokesperson for disability rights, and probably quite politically aware. My guess is she would have known if the elitist woman was an MP.
I was thinking Jooolie Christie at first, but then an Attitude producer should have known the extent of her self-aggrandisement, and would not have been surprised.
Besides, I’m not sure if she has kuds, and if she does – my deepest sympathy to them
It wasn’t Winston who thought of her. It was an explicit statement by someone who posts under the identifier Adrian. Why not have a go at him (or her).
I commented yesterday about Angelina Jolie getting the double mastectomy, and followed up by saying I wasn’t sure if it was covered under the public system in NZ or not.
Turns out it is. The (expensive, patented) test for the BRCA gene mutations are covered, the mastectomy is covered and the follow-up reconstructive surgery is covered. Heard from a clip of an interview replayed at ~10:20pm last night on National Radio with the creator of the Gift Of Knowledge website who try to increase awareness of the BRCA gene defects.
I initially had the thought that if the gene was patented, then may be bearer of the the gene could sue those that held the patent. But sadly it was the test that is patented.
Well it now seems that, that nasty little mutation has screwed up her chances of living to a ripe old age, unless out come the Ovaries and other associated bits.
Approached with a massive dollop of skeptism, not a little cynicism and….thanks for the link. Need to look at it a bit more, but it looks, from a cursory run through, like it could be a very powerful tool for organising. Cheers. 😉
In support (apparently) of this headline Chapman and Watkins furnish comments from four separate quarters. THREE of FOUR comments unmistakeably give the lie to the headline for God’s Sake.
Only ONE of FOUR comments (from the Khandallah mother with kids – replete with smiling photograph) goes anywhere near supporting the soundbite headline. “Overall I would say things are better……” ????
Chapman and Watkins – is it standard in your joint journalistic brilliance to engage the clanging non-sequitur ?
The headline risibly misrepresents the article’s very terms. What’s this about please ?
Typical: government spin lines in the headlines and at the top of the article; the alternative views and evidence buried at the bottom of the article. This is what counts as balance in the MSM these days.
Actually WS most of them are deluded and will never acquire the wealth they think they are destined to have. Like Amway salesmen in a pyramid that traps them into subservient deference to those above them they aint going anywhere.
So what Winston ? What does that prove ? Akin to saying that your experience of life is conclusively reflective of the experience of life of the rest of the world.
You must develop the maturity to forgive others the rank temerity of not focusing on you and you alone. Hopeless case you are.
The problem being that most people are worse off while a selfish few are better off. The fact being that those few are better off because the rest of the population is worse off.
More likely he doesn’t have kids. From his statements here, you’d have to wonder why anyone (especially a woman with any self-respect) would care to breed with him.
from recent Q.Ts;
English-“our debts are relatively high”
Robertson- from the HLFS (supported by Key); “40,000 jobs behind target; above the worst-case scenario of the last budget”.
Joyce,- “not growing them (jobs) as fast as we would like to”.
Parker- “current account deficit amongst worst in the world; non-tradeables down 6.4%; unemployment above 7% in Auckland”.
Brent Edwards- “current account deficit will get worse”.
Norman- “sceptical NAct will use key (macro-economic) tools”.
Ardern- “material deprivation risen from 15-21%”.
ON HOUSE PRICES;
IMF- “overvalued by 25%; sudden economic shock could damage (modest) recovery, damage banks financial positions; low savings rates persist”- Patrick O’Mara.
factors behind high house prices
-supply
-high building costs; materials and compliance costs.
-earthquake; as an aside, heard a commentary “imagine what sort of economy NZ would have without the rebuild stimulus???
English- “they threaten the economy; more affordability in TWO YEARS time”!
Corin Dann- lying shill.
Darien Fenton- speaking to the Electronic Transactions (Contract Formation) Amendment Bill- flustered; “I may have the wrong bill”. Goodness gracious me Nana, easy to appreciate the criticism of sitting Labour MPs at times, still, correct assertion that the govt. should be bringing bills to the house that DO have a real impact on IT.
All-Blacks assault-on-female charge withdrawn.
McDonalds- Police “heavy-handed” towards protesters; perceived conflict of interest as 11,000 Police Association members receive discounted fast-food; 10-50% from various franchisees.Corruption?
More anonymous social-media bullying; ask.fm.
The average age of a New Zealand truck-driver is 51 years of age; shakes head.
48 women in New Zealand die of a heart-attack every week.
Dementia rates likely to double in the next 30 years.
17:9 He who covers over an offense promotes love yet whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
17:10 A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool.
17:17 A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.
The interview panel consisted of Defence Ministry chief, Helene Quilter, NZ Post Group chief, Brian Roche and Secretary for Justice, Andrew Bridgman.
Who selected, or caused to be selected, this panel? – Judith Collins?
Why were they chosen? – because they knew what Judith Collins expected of them?
Why did they describe Susan Devoy in such over the top glowing language? – because they knew there were far better qualified candidates available, but because they weren’t former sports stars and didn’t fulfil the National Party affiliation test, they were not going to be acceptable to the minister?
In other words, they were ministerial ‘grease’ balls?
Indeed, Anne. With the Aaron Gilmore business, we have seen how nasty National can be to its own. Many right wingers seem so self unaware, and/or devious. They spend a lot of time projecting their own faults and weaknesses onto the left.
So Pop-Soap you’re saying that identifying the ugliness of “Gold Elite”, self-obssession, a defiant lack of broad social awareness, and ShonKey Python cargo-cultism – that’s sanctimony is it ?
Get a grip. Pick up your mate Winston Myth and off to Slater Porn. Your natural habitat.
I was thinking (in my entra – preen- urial dreams) that I might try a new summertime thirst quencher – one of those iced delicacies that satisfies the immediate desire, but has no nutritional value.
It’ll be called a Populuxicle. It’ll have a vast surface area one can suck on, but it’s longer term content and structure will be as useful as the last time I had to point Percy at the parquet. The populuxicle will of course feel the ultimate pleasure in its being devoured by its cast of thousands seeking to quench their thirst.
I admit my Popsicle competitors might unleash all hell to ensure their market has a superior product, but the Populuxicle – if only by virtue of its better labelling will provide the market with ‘choice’. Something we’ve been sadly lacking over recent times.
There’ll be various versions of the Populuxicle with appropriate labelling, but esentially based on the flavours used.
I aniticipate that Populuxicle 1 will be based on the humble mango, though later there’ll be 1.1 (with a coriander addition), a 1.2 (with a hint of capsicum) …. and so on
Populuxicle 2 will be based on the humble strawberry, and 3 – the banana
No, simply that there’s plenty of bullshit on both sides, so take your pick: the greedy neoliberal tories of the right or the sanctimonious career bureaucrats of the left.
The difference being that Gilmore left reasonably quickly whereas Labours erstwhile coilition partner NZfirst don’t seem to be able to convince horan to move on and of course MPs called Carter and Field seemed to hang around for an eternity…
Rubbish. Both Gilmore and Horan hung around for a couple of weeks. The difference is that NZF showed some spine and chucked him out of their party. National just relied on the dirty tricks brigade to destroy Gilmore’s reputation further to the point where he had no option but too resign from Parliament. He’s still a loyal, card carrying Nat.
ps, erstwhile coalition partner? I thought it was National sucking up to NZF last week. Desperate times for lil Johnny Sparkles.
Fact is Gilmore caused his own grief, Horan family is causing his, and so in order to protect MPs from those who would bully and use their knowledge of a particular MP to influence and so parliament, it stands to reason why Horan must not leave, least it becomes open session on the rest of them. Duh. In the week that the government offers up the biggest gambler pork in history of this country, its hard to beat Horan over the head over any alleged issues. Duh. It would certainly be opportune if the govt gave Horan a nice job outside parliament and take the smell away but that would require Key having some smarts. But I bet most MPs could quite easily find themselves hassled by family if the cards fell differently.
“I think you’ll find that Horan didn’t hang around for weeks rather that hes still there”
Not as a member of NZ First.
And at least Peters actually met with Horan and put the difficult questions to him directly. Key, being a gutless wonder, didn’t even speak to Gilmore. Just left it to Slater and Lusk.
Gilmore was staying till Lusk et al started blackmailing him into leaving
Meanwhile the PM was saying it was all up to Gilmore, and hesitated to start proceedings against him because it was expensive and took ages. The National party’s rules are like the USSR’s constitution; a pretty piece of paper with no relation to how the thing actually operates.
Wasn’t John Key claiming he was talking to Winston about cooperation over several things including the next term a few weeks ago? Before NZ First refuted it…
Bearing in mind the imminent death of Act and Tainted Future, the failing health of the Maori party, and what currently looks like the 1-3% abortion of Colin Craig’s ego party. National desperately needs a coalition party with some voting muscle in the next parliament. They are quite likely to wind up as being the biggest minority party – unable to form a viable government.
Which is why they get more and more desperate as Labour + Greens (mostly because of the Greens) edge closer to being able to govern together.
I’m going to be amused by the abrupt change of heart by National fools like yourself over the next 18 months as the electoral realities slowly chisel their way into your (alleged but never sighted) intelligence..
The free market doesn’t work in many most situations..
Latest example being Bill English’s admission that the free market is incapable of providing for the demand of low cost housing in Auckland.
“Free market can’t do it”, says Bill English, “hence we need central government intervention. In fact it is the same with dairy farmers who also need big government intervention. Oh and also the sharemarket the NZX who last week we gave MRP.”….. Bill English was wearing a red tie at the press conference..
A youngnster many years ago I dreamt, I also dreaded, I read about adventures in North America, South America, Middle East and more. I loved adventrure books, and despite of them being largely fictitious, they taught me heaps. There is a world out there, and I can tell a lot about it. But we have now a society, also in NZ, where all this does NOT matter, at least it seems that way.
We have overseas investors and others take away our rights and what we used to believe in. we are mere servants in our own country, more or less. The government wil l never admit this, but we are, and day to day busines will let you all know. It is time to call an end to this selling out, this self discapacitating nonsense, and to take hold again of your own affairs and country, that is NZ!
I have no answers at this stage, but offer a vague comment of a revolution of a sorts attached:
That is not what most of you want, but offer ideas and deliver, we are on the brink!!!
[lprent: corrected your email typo as i released from moderation. ]
Dare I say, the “left” in NZ is virtually non existent, you guys need to blod wake yup and get a damned life, as what I see is a total failure to deal with a “budget” of a “benevolent” “right wing” type. Yes, it is a bad budget, and it is full of hatred to the poor, but it serves most in middle class, and is this not the honest failure of Labour and the Left, to not have a better answer to cater for the middle class???
I declare to ALL of YOU, being Labour, National, or any party slightly a bit towards the “centre” MY WAR, and that is THE WAR, of many others, that are at the BOTTOM, the very BOTTOM, the LOSERS, in this society, that BOTH of your ROTTEN parties try to cater for, the rot, the betrayal, the lies we had for so damned long, that is against THE TRULY LEFT, that you spread, has to take and be an bloody END.
WE had bloody ENOUGH, of this crap, and no matter whether it is a shallow dealer like Shearer, or another right wing, attempted populist like Key, we hate and despise you both and all.
YOU are LIARS, TRAITORS, convenient servers to economic self serving key operators. There is NO TRUST many, if not most, have in YOU.
So get a LIFE, get off your target and carpet, YOU do NOT deserve TRUST and CREDIT to be part of AnY GOVERNMENT!
Go and go to HELL, Key, Shearer and ALL LIARS!
[lprent: Corrected your email typo as I released it from moderation. Since I had the comment open in an editor, I also fixed your excessive capitals, a type and an example of poor grammer. The former in a better type size making the max height of the characters of affected paragraphs the same as the expected average height, and the latter in bold and a strikeout. Perhaps you shouldn’t give me an opportunity to do so in the future? ]
Admittedly a bit over the top, but get to the facts, and caps are not really all that much of the post made. But then again, I will not bother arguing about nitty gritty. I will in future write everything in tiny letters then so it will not offend and will not even be noticed, I suppose.
nor was a protest outside vector arena in auckland city noticed today, by most, ahem, well, most media were there, even all tv stations, did film, and simon collins, useless social affairs journo from granny nz herald was there, but no reports, as if it did not take place.
democracy in nz is a sick joke, it does not exist, and being lectured about sizes of letters does not encourage. i indeed want to sign off for good from this unintelligent society called nz, where most do not give a shit for each other, and it is everyone for their own aggrandisement.
I think someone needs to have some time out on the naughty seat until they calm down. Democracy works here just fine, some of the parties need to sort their shit out.
I contest democracy works just fine here.
It can’t when peter jackson and sky city can buy laws.
It can’t when party members are denied a vote by at least 22 of caucus.
It can’t when ministers of the crown get off scot free for lying about receiving anonymous donations.
The worms will live in every hostIt's hard to pick which one they eat the mostThe horrible people, the horrible peopleIt's as anatomic as the size of your steepleCapitalism has made it this wayOld-fashioned fascism will take it awaySongwriter: Twiggy Ramirez Read more ...
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The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...
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I don't knowHow to say what's got to be saidI don't know if it's black or whiteThere's others see it redI don't get the answers rightI'll leave that to youIs this love out of fashionOr is it the time of yearAre these words distraction?To the words you want to hearSongwriters: ...
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Sparse offerings outside a Te Kauwhata church. Meanwhile, the Government is cutting spending in ways that make thousands of hungry children even hungrier, while also cutting funding for the charities that help them. It’s also doing that while winding back new building of affordable housing that would allow parents to ...
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In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...
On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...
The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...
This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...
And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...
Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...
Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...
This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate.I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...
A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...
The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...
Kiwis planning a swim or heading out on a boat this summer should remember to stop and think about water safety, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop and ACC and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “New Zealand’s beaches, lakes and rivers are some of the most beautiful in the ...
The Government is urging Kiwis to drive safely this summer and reminding motorists that Police will be out in force to enforce the road rules, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“This time of year can be stressful and result in poor decision-making on our roads. Whether you are travelling to see ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...
The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...
A separate passport, citizenship and membership of the United Nations are only available to fully independent nations, Winston Peters' office says. ...
By Emma Andrews, Henare te Ua Māori Journalism Intern at RNZ News The New Zealand fuel company Z Energy is swapping out street names for “correct” kupu on service stops around the country, with the help of local hapū. When Z took over 226 fuel sites from Shell in 2010, ...
Summer reissue: Was it a false measurement, a full-blown conspiracy or just some mild incompetence? Mad Chapman uncovers the truth of Maddi Wesche’s final throw. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Old, Associate Professor, Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Western Sydney University Dmitry Chulov, Shutterstock At this time of year, images of reindeer are everywhere. I’ve had a soft spot for reindeer ever since I was a little girl. Doesn’t everyone? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grozdana Manalo, Career Services Manager (Education), University of Sydney hedgehog94/Shutterstock Getting casual work over summer, or a part-time job that you might continue once your tertiary course starts, can be a great way to get workplace experience and earn some extra ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ty Ferguson, Research associate in exercise, nutrition and activity, University of South Australia Peera_Stockfoto/Shutterstock It’s never been easier to stay connected to work. Even when we’re on leave, our phones and laptops keep us tethered. Many of us promise ourselves we ...
The NZ Media Council upheld the complaint under principle four: comment and fact On 5 September 2024, The Spinoff published a brief article titled Made in Palestine, found in 1970s Hastings, which highlighted an upcoming art exhibition featuring photographs of vintage cosmetic products labelled “Made in Palestine.” The piece, described ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kasey Symons, Lecturer of Communication, Sports Media, Deakin University We are well and truly in cricket season. The Australian men’s cricket team is taking centre stage against India in the Border Gavaskar Trophy series while the Big Bash League is underway, as ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Woods, Lecturer, Nursing, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University FTiare/Shutterstock Summer is here and for many that means going to the beach. You grab your swimmers, beach towel and sunscreen then maybe check the weather forecast. Did you think to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Saman Khalesi, Senior Lecturer and Discipline Lead in Nutrition, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity Australia Dean Clarke/Shutterstock The holiday season can be a time of joy, celebration, and indulgence in delicious foods and meals. However, for many, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ari Mattes, Lecturer in Communications and Media, University of Notre Dame Australia Late Night With The Devil. Maslow Entertainment Marketing is critical to the success of commercial films, and companies will often spend half as much again on top of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Francisco Jose Testa, Lecturer in Earth Sciences (Mineralogy, Petrology & Geochemistry), University of Tasmania The Conversation As a kid, it was tough for me to grasp the massive time scale of Earth’s history. Now, with nearly two decades of experience as ...
Te Pāti Māori has had to adopt a new way of debating, operating and even thinking in Parliament in response to the Government’s “onslaught” against te ao Māori, co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says.In an end-of-year interview with Newsroom, the Te Tai Hauauru MP reflected on how 2024 has differed from her ...
Opinion: The latest Trends in International Mathematics and Science report was announced earlier this month, yet it didn’t get the flurry of media attention and political hand-wringing that typically accompanies these announcements. This might be because it presented good news, or you could argue, no news; the results paint a ...
NewsroomBy Dr Lisa Darragh, Dr Raewyn Eden and Dr David Pomeroy
At long last, The Spinoff shells out for a nut ranking. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today.It recently came to The Spinoff’s attention ...
I was one of hundreds of people who lost my government job this week. Here’s exactly how it played out. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a ...
Summer reissue: One anxiously attentive passenger pays attention to an in-flight safety video, and wonders ‘Why can’t I pick up my own phone?’ The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up ...
Summer reissue: Why do those Lange-Douglas years cast such a long shadow 40 years on? The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today. First published June ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('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, Monday 23 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The Government’s social housing agency has backed out of a billion-dollar infrastructure alliance that would have built about 6000 new homes in Auckland – less than 18 months after signing a five-year extension.Labour says the decision to rip up the contract and sell off existing state houses could lead to ...
An unrelenting faith in “swift transition” has driven Tauranga Whai to their first Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship. At a boisterous Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre, the visiting Tokomanawa Queens were blown away 90-71 in the final.Whai led by 20 points at halftime as their urgent movement and unflinching faith in three-point shooting from anywhere ...
ByKoroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor New Zealand’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) says impending bad weather for Port Vila is now the most significant post-quake hazard. A tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to move into Vanuatu waters, bringing heavy rainfall. Authorities have issued warnings to people ...
Cosmic CatastropheThe year draws to a close.King Luxon has grown tired of the long eveningsListening to the dreary squabbling of his Triumvirate.He strolls up to the top floor of the PalaceTo consult with his Astronomer Royal.The Royal Telescope scans the skies,And King Luxon stares up into the heavensFrom the terrestrial ...
Spinoff editor Mad Chapman and books editor Claire Mabey debate Carl Shuker’s new novel about… an editor. Claire: Hello Mad, you just finished The Royal Free – overall impressions? Mad: Hi Claire, I literally just put the book down and I would have to say my immediate impression is ...
Christmas and its buildup are often lonely, hard and full of unreasonable expectations. Here’s how to make it to Jesus’s birthday and find the little bit of joy we all deserve. Have you found this year relentless? Has the latest Apple update “fucked up your life”? Have you lost two ...
Despite overwhelming public and corporate support, the government has stalled progress on a modern day slavery law. That puts us behind other countries – and makes Christmas a time of tragedy rather than joy, argues Shanti Mathias. Picture the scene on Christmas Day. Everyone replete with nice things to eat, ...
Asia Pacific Report “It looks like Hiroshima. It looks like Germany at the end of World War Two,” says an Israeli-American historian and professor of holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University about the horrifying reality of Gaza. Professor Omer Bartov, has described Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza as an ...
The New Zealand government coalition is tweaking university regulations to curb what it says is an increasingly “risk-averse approach” to free speech. The proposed changes will set clear expectations on how universities should approach freedom of speech issues. Each university will then have to adopt a “freedom of speech statement” ...
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone New York prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione with “murder as an act of terrorism” in his alleged shooting of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month. This news comes out at the same time as ...
Pacific Media Watch The union for Australian journalists has welcomed the delivery by the federal government of more than $150 million to support the sustainability of public interest journalism over the next four years. Combined with the announcement of the revamped News Bargaining Initiative, this could result in up to ...
MONDAY“Merry Xmas, and praise the Lord,” said Sheriff Luxon, and smiled for the camera. There was a flash of smoke when the shutter pressed down on the magnesium powder. The sheriff had arranged for a photographer from the Dodge Gazette to attend a ceremony where he handed out food parcels to ...
The Sky city deal..negative externalities
The Herald mentions these side effects
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10883937
“However, while Mr Joyce has released a detailed financial report on the deal prepared by corporate advisers KordaMentha, he has yet to release official advice about the social impact of allowing SkyCity an additional 230 pokie machines and 52 more gaming tables as well as ticket-in, ticket-out technology which increases gambling profits…….
Questioned by Greens co-leader Metiria Turei, Mr Joyce told Parliament those effects had not been quantified. Mr Joyce said the department’s advice would be released in time for the public to consider it before changes to the Gambling Act were made.
Ms Turei cited a 2010 Australian Productivity Commission gambling study which put the cost to society of each problem gambler as high as A$30,000 ($36,000).”
From the film, the Corporation, an explanation of Externalities.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=aCGTD5Bn1m0&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DaCGTD5Bn1m0
And a quote
“A corporation is an externalizing machine in the same way that a shark is a killing machine. Each one is designed in a very particular way to accomplish certain objectives. In the achievement of those objectives there isn’t any question of
malevolence or will. The enterprise has within it, and the shark has within it, thosecharacteristics that enable it do that for which it was designed.”
Be interesting to know whom Ms “Gold Elite” is ?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10883942
Firstly to ask Ms “Gold Elite” whether this Herald report is accurate.
Secondly, if she were to confirm the bare facts, to pose a reverse Gilmore enquiry – “Who the fuck are you – bitch ?”
Facebook please assist.
That’s what happens in society when you tell people they’re ‘gold elite’.
A sense of entitlement.
Ah yes, some rich prick, willing to not just inconvenience a disabled woman reliant on a wheelchair, but 150 other people on a plane.
Make ’em news, and ask them to justify their self-centred shittiness.
Oh and please mention to them that National needs a new list candidate, this “Gold Elite” biyarch seems to have the qualifications to apply.
+1
In addition, it’s a statutory requirement to follow the instructions of flight crew if you are a passenger on a plane.
Charges should be considered.
at least put her on Permanent Stand By status on all future bookings 🙂
might allow her time to think on life if her freedom of movement is handicapped for a change
It’s the result of the me me me society that we’ve built over the last few decades.
Definite National supporter got that mememememe down pat!
The description points to Judith Collins.
They know it was a flight from Auckland to Wellington yesterday. Shouldn’t be too hard to find out which flight it was on. Just needs one tweet!
The Herald article provides the answer in the second to last paragraph:
“There was no issue with the availability of aisle chairs and the problem experienced on flight NZ247 did not occur often.”
Which might be simply to say that it’s unusual for the deserving “Gold Elite” to exhibit such cowish behaviour. The point made by Paul at 2.1 about “entitlement” transcending decency remains.
probably Jacinda
“well turned out” 40-something blonde -”
Rob, reading articles before commenting on them is a long accepted method of aiding comprehension
What, is she not well turned out in your opinion?
She doesn’t have the required personality type.
What made you bring up her name, Rob?
Probably the same thing that gives him the impression Ardern is blonde.
My bet is long-term and excessive drug use.
“Rob, reading articles before commenting on them is a long accepted method of aiding comprehension”
Improving Rob, but you still need to try harder. You probably just lost your honorary membership in the Blubber Army by mentioning Jacinda without the compulsory comments about teeth. Put your photo up, arsewipe.
Must say that prospect occurred to me immediately but I dismissed it on account of Judy’s related sense of “noblesse oblige”.
Further question – how did Ms “Gold Elite” obtain her status ? Frequent flying in performance of a public or quasi-public role ? A “consultant” (or spouse of ) to ShonKey Python’s Flying Circus, savouring good old troughing perhaps ?
I well recall the media uproar when Charles Chauvel got hoha with the in-flight ill-behaviour of the entitled spawn of an ACT Party official.
This needs investigation. To be entrusted to no less a figure than the award-winning John Armstrong !
I would have thought that if Ms gold Elite was an MP, it would have been hinted at. Also, the woman in the wheel chair is a TV spokesperson for disability rights, and probably quite politically aware. My guess is she would have known if the elitist woman was an MP.
I was thinking Jooolie Christie at first, but then an Attitude producer should have known the extent of her self-aggrandisement, and would not have been surprised.
Besides, I’m not sure if she has kuds, and if she does – my deepest sympathy to them
Judith Collins:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Collins
In her 50s and has one son so probably not her
Interesting you thought it could have been though.
It wasn’t Winston who thought of her. It was an explicit statement by someone who posts under the identifier Adrian. Why not have a go at him (or her).
“In her 50s and has one son so probably not her”
I repeat it, in the hope you might think about it this time.
I wasn’t there so I can’t say for certain it wasn’t her, like I can’t say for certain it wasn’t Jacinda Adern (it probably wasn’t)
Fair enough, it was a good call. Given she failed the replicant test today I certainly wouldn’t assume she was any better than this either.
:shocked:
many more where she came from
I commented yesterday about Angelina Jolie getting the double mastectomy, and followed up by saying I wasn’t sure if it was covered under the public system in NZ or not.
Turns out it is. The (expensive, patented) test for the BRCA gene mutations are covered, the mastectomy is covered and the follow-up reconstructive surgery is covered. Heard from a clip of an interview replayed at ~10:20pm last night on National Radio with the creator of the Gift Of Knowledge website who try to increase awareness of the BRCA gene defects.
I initially had the thought that if the gene was patented, then may be bearer of the the gene could sue those that held the patent. But sadly it was the test that is patented.
Well it now seems that, that nasty little mutation has screwed up her chances of living to a ripe old age, unless out come the Ovaries and other associated bits.
So why is the waiting list for reconstruction after mascectomies very, very long?
Presumably because life-saving and essential surgeries take precedence? Just a guess.
I’ve said before that modern technology can allow us to make collaborative decisions. It appears that other have been thinking the same way:
https://www.loomio.org/about
Approached with a massive dollop of skeptism, not a little cynicism and….thanks for the link. Need to look at it a bit more, but it looks, from a cursory run through, like it could be a very powerful tool for organising. Cheers. 😉
Kate Chapman and Tracy Watkins on Stuff – What the hell are you up to ?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8677608/Gains-after-five-years-of-pain
The headline is “Gains after five years of pain”.
In support (apparently) of this headline Chapman and Watkins furnish comments from four separate quarters. THREE of FOUR comments unmistakeably give the lie to the headline for God’s Sake.
Only ONE of FOUR comments (from the Khandallah mother with kids – replete with smiling photograph) goes anywhere near supporting the soundbite headline. “Overall I would say things are better……” ????
Chapman and Watkins – is it standard in your joint journalistic brilliance to engage the clanging non-sequitur ?
The headline risibly misrepresents the article’s very terms. What’s this about please ?
Typical: government spin lines in the headlines and at the top of the article; the alternative views and evidence buried at the bottom of the article. This is what counts as balance in the MSM these days.
I’m doing much better now than when Labour was last in power and I expect I’ll do better now after this budget then last year
Are you one of the 2%?
Working my way towards being the 1% through long hours, discipline and smart investing…
Ambitious for yourself, not for New Zealand.
Ahhh another randian self made super hero.
WS
Well, if aaron gilmore can do it…….
Smart Investing – SNORT!
“Working my way towards being the 1% through long hours, discipline and smart investing…”
Bully for you. Do you want a fucking medal or something?
Probably wants, and expects, a knighthood for being such a selfish arse-hole.
Newsflash Winston: life in NZ isn’t all about you.
No but I bet theres more people like me than you…like at the last two election results
You see that’s your mistake. Even the most self centred of those people would agree with me that life in NZ is not all about you Winston.
Some statistics for you, WS – not from Kiwiblog or Whaleoil
Duty rightie, WS, came on duty at 10.03am this morning and filed 8 comments in the 17 minutes, 10.03am to 10.20am.
Veuto……the dick Winston’s just showing off, or trying to.
He’ll be down New World by 12.00 midday, ostentatiously heaving premium brand products onto the checkout conveyor belt. “Look at Me Look at Me…….”
A thick Two-Bob-Tory I’d suggest.
Probably be stacking them on the shelves more like.
Is there something wrong with stacking shelves?
No, there’s something wrong with pretending you’re one of the elite while they eat you alive.
Maybe if you give them another pound of flesh they’ll let you join their club
Actually WS most of them are deluded and will never acquire the wealth they think they are destined to have. Like Amway salesmen in a pyramid that traps them into subservient deference to those above them they aint going anywhere.
“I’m doing much better now than when Labour……”
So what Winston ? What does that prove ? Akin to saying that your experience of life is conclusively reflective of the experience of life of the rest of the world.
You must develop the maturity to forgive others the rank temerity of not focusing on you and you alone. Hopeless case you are.
Its as valid a statement as other people saying they’re worse off
The problem being that most people are worse off while a selfish few are better off. The fact being that those few are better off because the rest of the population is worse off.
Well under Labour I was worse off (no WFF for me) and under National I’m better off
Didn’t we decide that governing a country is not all about you, Winston?
No WFF? So you are a top 2%er earning clear over $100K.
More likely he doesn’t have kids. From his statements here, you’d have to wonder why anyone (especially a woman with any self-respect) would care to breed with him.
And you’re better off because this government has, purposefully, made the majority of people worse off.
The prevaricating fool Winston Myth aye ?
Valid as to you maybe, you clever wee master of the universe, or so you claim.
That’s no proof of any other reality. Who’s interested in your Two-Bob-Tory reality anyway. Hardly a proud thing.
Corporate media ..what did you expect?
from recent Q.Ts;
English-“our debts are relatively high”
Robertson- from the HLFS (supported by Key); “40,000 jobs behind target; above the worst-case scenario of the last budget”.
Joyce,- “not growing them (jobs) as fast as we would like to”.
Parker- “current account deficit amongst worst in the world; non-tradeables down 6.4%; unemployment above 7% in Auckland”.
Brent Edwards- “current account deficit will get worse”.
Norman- “sceptical NAct will use key (macro-economic) tools”.
Ardern- “material deprivation risen from 15-21%”.
ON HOUSE PRICES;
IMF- “overvalued by 25%; sudden economic shock could damage (modest) recovery, damage banks financial positions; low savings rates persist”- Patrick O’Mara.
factors behind high house prices
-supply
-high building costs; materials and compliance costs.
-earthquake; as an aside, heard a commentary “imagine what sort of economy NZ would have without the rebuild stimulus???
English- “they threaten the economy; more affordability in TWO YEARS time”!
Corin Dann- lying shill.
Darien Fenton- speaking to the Electronic Transactions (Contract Formation) Amendment Bill- flustered; “I may have the wrong bill”. Goodness gracious me Nana, easy to appreciate the criticism of sitting Labour MPs at times, still, correct assertion that the govt. should be bringing bills to the house that DO have a real impact on IT.
All-Blacks assault-on-female charge withdrawn.
McDonalds- Police “heavy-handed” towards protesters; perceived conflict of interest as 11,000 Police Association members receive discounted fast-food; 10-50% from various franchisees.Corruption?
More anonymous social-media bullying; ask.fm.
The average age of a New Zealand truck-driver is 51 years of age; shakes head.
48 women in New Zealand die of a heart-attack every week.
Dementia rates likely to double in the next 30 years.
17:9 He who covers over an offense promotes love yet whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
17:10 A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool.
17:17 A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.
Call The Doctor
Overseas; The CIA confiscate Associated Press records exposing a counter-insurgency operation.
Call the Doctor
Interesting episodes
Fascinating reading:
Dane Susan second choice for race job – OIA documents
The interview panel consisted of Defence Ministry chief, Helene Quilter, NZ Post Group chief, Brian Roche and Secretary for Justice, Andrew Bridgman.
Who selected, or caused to be selected, this panel? – Judith Collins?
Why were they chosen? – because they knew what Judith Collins expected of them?
Why did they describe Susan Devoy in such over the top glowing language? – because they knew there were far better qualified candidates available, but because they weren’t former sports stars and didn’t fulfil the National Party affiliation test, they were not going to be acceptable to the minister?
In other words, they were ministerial ‘grease’ balls?
And the OIA gets released under cover of budget day.
Seriously someone in the Labour party should stop MPs tweeting:
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2013/05/the-nasty-party-returns-no-surprises-it-is-sue-moroney/
Seriously someone needs to inform Winston Smith that Chris73 likes to be the one providing the whale-crap links.
The Whale Blubber calling Labour “the nasty party”. What a glorious contradiction in terms.
Winston Smith, please go back to Whale Oil. It’s where you belong. It requires no intellectual substance. Perfect for right wing nut jobs.
Indeed, Anne. With the Aaron Gilmore business, we have seen how nasty National can be to its own. Many right wingers seem so self unaware, and/or devious. They spend a lot of time projecting their own faults and weaknesses onto the left.
And vice versa, but with more “Holier than thou” sanctimoniousness.
The irony.
No, that was sarcasm. It’s ironic you don’t know the difference.
Oh, the sanctimony.
So Pop-Soap you’re saying that identifying the ugliness of “Gold Elite”, self-obssession, a defiant lack of broad social awareness, and ShonKey Python cargo-cultism – that’s sanctimony is it ?
Get a grip. Pick up your mate Winston Myth and off to Slater Porn. Your natural habitat.
I was thinking (in my entra – preen- urial dreams) that I might try a new summertime thirst quencher – one of those iced delicacies that satisfies the immediate desire, but has no nutritional value.
It’ll be called a Populuxicle. It’ll have a vast surface area one can suck on, but it’s longer term content and structure will be as useful as the last time I had to point Percy at the parquet. The populuxicle will of course feel the ultimate pleasure in its being devoured by its cast of thousands seeking to quench their thirst.
I admit my Popsicle competitors might unleash all hell to ensure their market has a superior product, but the Populuxicle – if only by virtue of its better labelling will provide the market with ‘choice’. Something we’ve been sadly lacking over recent times.
There’ll be various versions of the Populuxicle with appropriate labelling, but esentially based on the flavours used.
I aniticipate that Populuxicle 1 will be based on the humble mango, though later there’ll be 1.1 (with a coriander addition), a 1.2 (with a hint of capsicum) …. and so on
Populuxicle 2 will be based on the humble strawberry, and 3 – the banana
priceless. I laughed until I cried.
No, simply that there’s plenty of bullshit on both sides, so take your pick: the greedy neoliberal tories of the right or the sanctimonious career bureaucrats of the left.
Who are you referring to as career bureaucrats? English? Williamson? Brownlee? Smith? Smith? Parata?
L O L ! ! !
The difference being that Gilmore left reasonably quickly whereas Labours erstwhile coilition partner NZfirst don’t seem to be able to convince horan to move on and of course MPs called Carter and Field seemed to hang around for an eternity…
Rubbish. Both Gilmore and Horan hung around for a couple of weeks. The difference is that NZF showed some spine and chucked him out of their party. National just relied on the dirty tricks brigade to destroy Gilmore’s reputation further to the point where he had no option but too resign from Parliament. He’s still a loyal, card carrying Nat.
ps, erstwhile coalition partner? I thought it was National sucking up to NZF last week. Desperate times for lil Johnny Sparkles.
I think you’ll find that Horan didn’t hang around for weeks rather that hes still there
Bollocks. He was kicked out of his party very quickly, something Key and National didn’t have the spine to do with Gilmore at all.
Fact is Gilmore caused his own grief, Horan family is causing his, and so in order to protect MPs from those who would bully and use their knowledge of a particular MP to influence and so parliament, it stands to reason why Horan must not leave, least it becomes open session on the rest of them. Duh. In the week that the government offers up the biggest gambler pork in history of this country, its hard to beat Horan over the head over any alleged issues. Duh. It would certainly be opportune if the govt gave Horan a nice job outside parliament and take the smell away but that would require Key having some smarts. But I bet most MPs could quite easily find themselves hassled by family if the cards fell differently.
“I think you’ll find that Horan didn’t hang around for weeks rather that hes still there”
Not as a member of NZ First.
And at least Peters actually met with Horan and put the difficult questions to him directly. Key, being a gutless wonder, didn’t even speak to Gilmore. Just left it to Slater and Lusk.
Laugh.
Gilmore was staying till Lusk et al started blackmailing him into leaving
Meanwhile the PM was saying it was all up to Gilmore, and hesitated to start proceedings against him because it was expensive and took ages. The National party’s rules are like the USSR’s constitution; a pretty piece of paper with no relation to how the thing actually operates.
Wasn’t John Key claiming he was talking to Winston about cooperation over several things including the next term a few weeks ago? Before NZ First refuted it…
Bearing in mind the imminent death of Act and Tainted Future, the failing health of the Maori party, and what currently looks like the 1-3% abortion of Colin Craig’s ego party. National desperately needs a coalition party with some voting muscle in the next parliament. They are quite likely to wind up as being the biggest minority party – unable to form a viable government.
Which is why they get more and more desperate as Labour + Greens (mostly because of the Greens) edge closer to being able to govern together.
I’m going to be amused by the abrupt change of heart by National fools like yourself over the next 18 months as the electoral realities slowly chisel their way into your (alleged but never sighted) intelligence..
If leaving quickly is such a virtue, WS, cya 🙂
Whale appears to be trying to rehabilitate himself prior tot he change of government:
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2013/05/why-is-nathan-guy-lying/
More evidence that the fictional being the “market ” is a casino with loaded dice ie the fix is in.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-14/statoil-raided-by-competition-authorities-in-oil-price-probe.html
Similarly in us electricity markets with JP Morgan now suspended from electricity trading.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323744604578473432303787220.html
How free market is the Auckland gambling market now one player has a conference center paid out of future licensing concessions?
In a gala turf-turning ceremony to be named the “Sir ShonKey Python Fuck The Nation Centre”.
The free market doesn’t work in many most situations..
Latest example being Bill English’s admission that the free market is incapable of providing for the demand of low cost housing in Auckland.
“Free market can’t do it”, says Bill English, “hence we need central government intervention. In fact it is the same with dairy farmers who also need big government intervention. Oh and also the sharemarket the NZX who last week we gave MRP.”….. Bill English was wearing a red tie at the press conference..
Best thing on the internet today:
https://twitter.com/danylmc/status/334844888128573441
The next big Idea ; how symbols, language and intelligence evolved from our primate ancestors to modern humans.
Stanley I. Greenspan
Stuart G. Shanker
A youngnster many years ago I dreamt, I also dreaded, I read about adventures in North America, South America, Middle East and more. I loved adventrure books, and despite of them being largely fictitious, they taught me heaps. There is a world out there, and I can tell a lot about it. But we have now a society, also in NZ, where all this does NOT matter, at least it seems that way.
We have overseas investors and others take away our rights and what we used to believe in. we are mere servants in our own country, more or less. The government wil l never admit this, but we are, and day to day busines will let you all know. It is time to call an end to this selling out, this self discapacitating nonsense, and to take hold again of your own affairs and country, that is NZ!
I have no answers at this stage, but offer a vague comment of a revolution of a sorts attached:
That is not what most of you want, but offer ideas and deliver, we are on the brink!!!
[lprent: corrected your email typo as i released from moderation. ]
Dare I say, the “left” in NZ is virtually non existent, you guys need to blod wake yup and get a damned life, as what I see is a total failure to deal with a “budget” of a “benevolent” “right wing” type. Yes, it is a bad budget, and it is full of hatred to the poor, but it serves most in middle class, and is this not the honest failure of Labour and the Left, to not have a better answer to cater for the middle class???
I declare to ALL of YOU, being Labour, National, or any party slightly a bit towards the “centre” MY WAR, and that is THE WAR, of many others, that are at the BOTTOM, the very BOTTOM, the LOSERS, in this society, that BOTH of your ROTTEN parties try to cater for, the rot, the betrayal, the lies we had for so damned long, that is against THE TRULY LEFT, that you spread, has to take and be a
nbloody END.WE had bloody ENOUGH, of this crap, and no matter whether it is a shallow dealer like Shearer, or another right wing, attempted populist like Key, we hate and despise you both and all.
YOU are LIARS, TRAITORS, convenient servers to economic self serving key operators. There is NO TRUST many, if not most, have in YOU.
So get a LIFE, get off your target and carpet, YOU do NOT deserve TRUST and CREDIT to be part of AnY GOVERNMENT!
Go and go to HELL, Key, Shearer and ALL LIARS!
[lprent: Corrected your email typo as I released it from moderation. Since I had the comment open in an editor, I also fixed your excessive capitals, a type and an example of poor grammer. The former in a better type size making the max height of the characters of affected paragraphs the same as the expected average height, and the latter in bold and a strikeout. Perhaps you shouldn’t give me an opportunity to do so in the future? ]
Admittedly a bit over the top, but get to the facts, and caps are not really all that much of the post made. But then again, I will not bother arguing about nitty gritty. I will in future write everything in tiny letters then so it will not offend and will not even be noticed, I suppose.
nor was a protest outside vector arena in auckland city noticed today, by most, ahem, well, most media were there, even all tv stations, did film, and simon collins, useless social affairs journo from granny nz herald was there, but no reports, as if it did not take place.
democracy in nz is a sick joke, it does not exist, and being lectured about sizes of letters does not encourage. i indeed want to sign off for good from this unintelligent society called nz, where most do not give a shit for each other, and it is everyone for their own aggrandisement.
wish i had never come to this lost land!
I think someone needs to have some time out on the naughty seat until they calm down. Democracy works here just fine, some of the parties need to sort their shit out.
I contest democracy works just fine here.
It can’t when peter jackson and sky city can buy laws.
It can’t when party members are denied a vote by at least 22 of caucus.
It can’t when ministers of the crown get off scot free for lying about receiving anonymous donations.
No argument with the last ten words.