“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:
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.
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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 ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
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. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
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. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
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. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
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. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
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. ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
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 ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
The Prime Minister has committed to resuming direct flights to Thailand. But it’s not a promise he will be able to deliver on anytime soon. The post Prime Minister jumps the gun in Thailand appeared first on Newsroom. ...
It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
FICTION 1 Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) There’s commercial fiction, like this book, and then there’s quality fiction, quality writers, quality literature; the forthcoming Auckland Writers Festival is full of quality, and ReadingRoom has two tickets to give away to the following events: Paul Lynch (Dublin ...
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You can’t have missed the Gallipoli story as the movies, documentaries, essays and books capture what it was like for New Zealand troops in their eight-month campaign on the Peninsula. But this Anzac Day the Auckland War Memorial Museum has published a book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the free-for-all between the Australian government and Big Tech boss Elon Musk this week, the government had to be on a winner. Most people would have little sympathy with Musk’s vociferous opposition to ...
Asia Pacific Report Chief Mandla Mandela, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has joined the Freedom Flotilla in istanbul as the ships prepare to sail for Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. Mandela is also the ambassador for the Global Campaign to Return to ...
Pacific Media Watch Journalists who report on environmental issues are encountering growing difficulties in many parts of the world, reports Reporters Without Borders. According to the tally kept by RSF, 200 journalists have been subjected to threats and physical violence, including murder, in the past 10 years because they were ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in ...
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. ...
ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
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 ...
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
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rtnE63Gefk
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:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEj7jnR–Dg&list=PLD5B5A871D6D13C01
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.