With the nasty stuff swirling around the National Party, Labour has a leader who is probably the most honest guy in parliament…good timing, now he/we need to let the rest of New Zealand know.
A good article in the NZ Herald. This accords to the David Cunliffe I worked with for a short time in the 90’s.
It was in the public domain because Collins passed it on. And the public servant had absolutely nothing to do with the leak. He says the first that anyone even hinted at it was the day that Collins/Slater published his name and the denigration that followed.
Give up Roflcopter!
You seem to miss the point either way. It is the fact that Mrs Collins is passing the name of public servant to Mr Slater and thus giving prudence to what followed is in fact akin to Gestapo behavior. No matter how this is seen, a Minister of Justice no less should be squeaky clean. Freedom is not lost in a full swoop, but in incremental steps. Like the boiling frog story…
The point is it is 10000% worse if his name was not in the public domain. If it was, and Collins was just Slater of it that would be nasty, but she will probably survive as a minister.
If she was identifying an individual already named as needing some ‘special loving’ from Slater, that’s a lot worse, and she will probably be sacked.
And if his name wasn’t in the public domain as a possible leaker, then it is truly appalling and she should not just be sacked but drummed out out parliament, and mabe (I may be thinking whistfully, here) jailed.
His name wasn’t being suggested in public until Slater asserted it in a post.
The reason I remember it was that I looked at it when Slaters post came out and searched for corroboration. Authors here were making a big thing about Bill English’s rather excessive household claims. So when Pleasants name came up, I looked for sources other than Slater – who is pretty well known for being a liar and making stuff up.
There wasn’t anything visible on the net from a more credible source. So I guessed that it was just bullshit and I started to censor the trolls from using his name as it was defamatory.
What i’m enjoying is Labour and the Lefties all jumping up and down waving their Jockies in the air and creating a Big song and dance
Thats like the All Blacks stopping a game to rave to the Reef about someone on the other side not playing Fair
Once again Labour has dropped the ball and lost their focus on the Game I’m not sure if they realize there is an Election coming up the tracks at a great rate of knots
And the Spectators Just want the game to continue without all the Bullshit and Drama
Imagine if Labour had of said we are better than this bullshit and focused on the real issues just like the All Blacks would do I don’t know if the person who hacked Cam’s computer is a Staunched Labour ally but me thinks it is not gonna do a hell of a lot for Labour and the other lefties Just saying
Eddi, you need to understand that at least 2 laws were broken, not to mention that betrayal of the office:
1/ the law of privacy
2/ the employment law that protects employees from such behaviors
Now that the Justice Minister has done this has effectively signaled to NZ and the world (don’t underestimate this) that NZ has moved to a fascist type of “democracy”. Europe has some good examples of that where people also said thing like you do and it ended up in tears. Lets not forget what history has taught us.
Cactus Kate proving very quotable. “Those Chinese can be very vicious when they lose face … Chop chop for Nicky.”
“Like a lot of the rest of the book that email was just private chatter and banter between various people on emails where absolutely nothing else happened as a consequence,”
Nothing happened except put your sad, vile truths on display, CK. Racism doesn’t stop being disgusting just because it’s private.
Joyce said on tv3 yesterday that no one tells slater what to do. Actually its looking like the reverse is true. If nothing else this is a very sad picture of a man pretending to be something he quite clearly is not. It seems he makes up alot of things about his own power that arent true. The alternative is they are true, but the nats are working hard to deny that.
When the Waikato Times visited the cage, between the courthouse and Waitomo District Council in Queen St, there appeared to be no presence or monitoring by police escort staff, unless it was to hand over papers to an accused and let them out.
Retired defence lawyer Peter Williams QC called the practice “humiliating” and “absolutely barbaric”.
“How the justice department can justify a holding pen is just unbelievable, it’s beyond imagination . . . just absolutely wrong,” the lawyer of 60 years experience said.
“Whoever is responsible for it should be dealt some type of discipline and the thing should be dismantled and the proper remand rooms or accommodation put up to civilised standards.”
yep we live in 2014 and still treat people like shit and then expect them to thank us.
Roger Brooking, who has 15 years experience working in the justice arena, was gobsmacked.
“It’s totally weird. I have never seen anything like that before. I had no idea there was a human zoo for offenders in Te Kuiti. I think it’s disgusting, quite frankly.”
“This is something you would see in a third world country, or something out of the middle ages.”
Barbaric. I agree with Roger.
And why we dis third world countries is beyond me – look around ffs. Meanwhile the middle will wring their hands and tut tut over the stats – and then vote for the liarkey? Nah his time has run out, thank the Gods!!!
The US/NATO squaring up to Russia for a shooting war over the Ukraine:
Ebola squaring up to be the Black Death of the 21st Century:
Fukushima gushing radio-active water into the North Pacific and squaring up to require the Chernobyl-like evacuation of a large chunk of one of the most densly populated places on Earth:
ISIS and its great leap backwards into the Middle-Ages, of military danger only to its neighbours but already in control of some of the Iraqi oil-fields and its ideological fangs bared for its wrong-thinking co-religionists in Saudi Arabia and most of the rest of the world’s oil – so it seems the West will have to start a religious war against Islam to protect its petrol pumps:
Europe going under financially for the third-time since 2008, the US floating – just – on an air-bed of bubbles while the 1% fiddle for all their worth, China imploding:
Every report on Global Warming, the most insidious of all, saying it’s happening faster and to a larger extent than previously thought, from the collapse of the Antarctic Icesheet to methane leakage from Siberia and the Arctic, while politicians everywhere see the next election as far more important:
7 Oh yes, next month I get to choose between various packs of self-important, ethically-challenged, myopic, self-seeking non-entities to strut and fret their hour upon the stage in the empty, badly lit, third-rate theatre that is New Zealand’s Parliament.
“Fukushima gushing radio-active water into the North Pacific and squaring up to require the Chernobyl-like evacuation of a large chunk of one of the most densly populated places on Earth:”
Can’t remember which one. I don’t think evacuation has yet been announced as official Japanese policy but the situation is becoming so bad that it can’t be kept hidden for very much longer, at which point the choice will be between an officially organised (and probably already being planned) evacuation or Tokyo emptying itself anyway.
Anyone know why the Roy Morgan poll is late? It would usually come up on their website on a Thursday, Friday at the latest, but it is still not there. Maybe they are waiting another week because of the Nicky Hager book.
Or maybe it contradicts the Fairfax/ Ipsos so much there has been a decision to hold it back – would they do such a thing? They could then use the Hager book to justify any swing to the left- it won’t be read as a positive reaction to David Cunliffe and Labour policy?
It is very dispiriting when you see so many people intending to vote National in spite of their appalling behaviour, and are still willing to believe in Key in spite of all the lies he has told. I just watched this Campbell Live piece where many people are adamant they will not read the book, but are still convinced it is a pack of lies.
You would think the Electoral Comission would have had a real crack at this Rugby Union. Mates looking after mates, no surprise National party members within the Northland Rugby Union;
It is how National operates particularly in rural areas. Networking with sports clubs, Lodges, SMEs, tradies, some schools, local cops, business associations, real estate, farmers and retirees to develop a “one way” culture.
Clubs and schools need local business support to operate and it comes with strings, often tacit, but strings. People need work and contracts so there is economic pressure too. Don’t support John Key? Whaaadarrrryaaa mate! We are blue men around here!
It is partly why and how electorates such as Northland and Whangarei continually vote tory MPs in against their material needs. And partly due to the Te Tai Tokerau Māori seat syphoning off votes that would redress that, and I am not arguing for collapsing the Māori seats.
yes quite correct. This blatant breech of the act should have been met with a fine and a stern warning.
This sort of arogant carry on is off putting to people wanting a democratic society. The old boys network of political favours in both central & local government.
Jeremy Wells with his impression of Newstalk ZB host Mike Hosking with another “Like Mike” Hosking Rant. Today’s topic ‘Hosking In Wonderland’ as Jeremy/Mike rants about Nicky Hager’s book ‘Dirty Politics’
Spoke with an Auckland panelbeater last week. SME currently paying $60,000 a month in all taxes, including GST?
He made a number of comments about changes in behaviour by insurance companies toward his trade in recent months, in particular the IAG group of insurance companies.
By way of background we need to understand the recent aquisitions by AIG! their increasing market share and how this might beinfluencing the bullying encountered by chaps like the panelbeater i spoke to
” The Commerce Commission has approved Insurance Australia Group’s takeover of rival Lumley General Insurance.
In New Zealand IAG already owns NZI, AMI and State Insurance. In December it announced a A$1.845 billion deal to buy the underwriting businesses of Australia’s Wesfarmers, which includes Lumley in New Zealand.
This deal increases IAG’s share of the overall New Zealand insurance market to about 50.5% from 41.5%, lifts its share of the home and contents and vehicle insurance market to 66% from 60%, and gives it 40% of New Zealand’s intermediated insurance market. In a December interview with interest.co.nz IAG’s New Zealand CEO Jacki Johnson said IAG would sell assets to gain Commerce Commission approval for the Lumley purchase if it had to, but sees itself as the natural owner of the assets.
The Commerce Commission’s initial deadline for its decision was January 24. This was extended until March 28, then April 30 and finally today.
“The Commission is satisfied that the proposed acquisition will not have, or would not be likely to have, the effect of substantially lessening competition, for personal and commercial insurance products,” Commerce Commission chairman Mark Berry said.” http://www.interest.co.nz
R The panelbeaters story
Ami, nzi and state have been squeezing the trade and their margins to claw back losses from the chchch earthquake.
With a large market share AIG turned its attention to cars, a constant source of claims. My guy says that until recently he got about 52 bucks an hour for fixing a bumper. The insurance companies allocated one hour to the work.
In the last few weeks they have increased the hourly rate to $59 per hour. BUT, they have reduced the time allocated to a bumper to 45 minutes. Effectively cutting the payout to panelbeaters for the same work to $45.
The liability on the panelbeater for work performed stays the same. If the bumper falls off or otherwise suffers from a poor job, its the panelbeater who pays. Do they work quicker and risk shoddy work, or still spend an hour and work for a loss.
My guy says he wont and cant reduce wages on his guys, so an insurance bumperjob now yields him a $5.75 surplus after wages and other costs.He also wont do sub standard work but knows some in the industry will to keep their margins.
He is expecting further actions to reduce and this practice applies across all aspects not just bumpers.
” Opponents of the deal including rival insurers, the Insurance Brokers Association of New Zealand, the Collision Repair Association, the Motor Trade Association, the Bus and Coach Association, and the Rental Vehicle Association told the Commerce Commission of their concerns in submissions. Suncorp, which owns Vero and 68% of AA Insurance, warned IAG buying Lumley would represent “a tipping point” towards an anti-competitive structure in New Zealand’s insurance markets.
Being allowed to swallow Lumley will give IAG control of insurance relationships with three of the big four banks in ASB, BNZ and Westpac. ANZ works with Vero and Tower.” http://www.interest.co.nz
“The Commission is satisfied that the proposed acquisition will not have, or would not be likely to have, the effect of substantially lessening competition, for personal and commercial insurance products,” Commerce Commission chairman Mark Berry said.”
hmmmm…
This deal increases IAG’s share of the overall New Zealand insurance market to about 50.5% from 41.5%, lifts its share of the home and contents and vehicle insurance market to 66% from 60%, and gives it 40% of New Zealand’s intermediated insurance market.
They’re right, it won’t change it that much – there isn’t any competition left.
Also Lynn can you please fix the cookies problem? I have to keep typing out my name and email address all the time, and end up typoing it – hence why you’re getting my comments in moderation.
After your current cookie expires (was set to half hour which was causing the problem) or you leave a comment (whichever comes first), you’ll find that the cookie resets to just under under a year.
Remember that it is specific to a particular browser on a particular machine.
The NPA had not considered withdrawing Slater’s award, he said.
“In the 40-year history of the awards, none has ever been withdrawn and it would be an extreme, highly unusual step.”
It would only be justified if concrete evidence came forward showing illegal or highly unethical methods were used to obtain the story, he said.
I would have thought the way Bevan Chuang was exploited was the very definition of highly unethical, but’s that’s just me. The Newspaper Publishers’ Association does not agree.
Well Blue I just sent Rick Neville of the Publishers assoc a request to recall of CANON MEDIA AWARD WINNER CAMERON SLATER’s Best Blogger Award.
I can’t get enough of saying it, writing it.
Canon Media Award for Best Blogger Cameron WhaleOilBeefHooked Slater.÷)
Calls/letters directly to Canon might be more effective than the Publishers’ Association — they have more to lose in terms of unhappy customers and are likely walking a delicate line just now. Just point out the words and language their product has now become associated with in the public mind .. shouldn’t take too many ! Send letters as high as possible in corporation … even Japan !!!
And I just read this on Bomber’s site … calls to Canon could be very effective imho.
It is time to write again the name of the website … not sure who really gets it, but say the full name Whale Oil Beef Hooked with a faux Irish accent and you get ‘Well, I’ll be fucked’.
I know the news room at one TV station had not understood itone day this week until , and I’m guessing here, but maybe Canon didn’t either.
Let’s make them aware as loudly and quickly as possible. Surely, they didn’t intend for this language to be given their overt public approval ? And I’m sure head office in Japan will not be happy. Maybe we can send it Huffington Post and have them stir it up a little. Canon will have to acknowledge the ‘backfire’ !!!
darn, won’t let me edit … should have read ‘newsroom at one TV station had not understood it until one day this week, and I’m guessing Canon didn’t either”.
‘Hager’s Dirty Politics – the TV political panels are ridiculous’
By Martyn Bradbury / August 16, 2014
“This isn’t good enough from our fourth estate at a time when we need the powerful to be held to account for their abuse of power.
The total lack of depth and shallow talent pool of TV political panel shows in NZ is providing hideous coverage and insight into one of the most important political stories of the year….
Reading my way through “Dirty Politics”. My summary so far is:
Chapters 1-5: John Key’s National Party is clearly corrupt.
Chapters 6-10: Slater and his mates are scumbags and so are some of our barons of industry.
It looks like Chapter 11 is reconnecting with the corruption of John Key .
If there are more revelations about Key’s involvement contained in the last few chapters (as seems likely) then this is a very ineffective way to structure the book IMHO. Chapters 6-10 lost the momentum of the narrative. Reading about what a scumbag Slater is was a bit boring and I suspect many readers and lazy journalists will not make it to chapter 11…
We’ll see. I’m hoping they’re going after the low-hanging fruit while preparing more substantial coverage of the more substantial (and criminal) allegations. The seriousness of the potential charges means they’ll be dining out on it for months if not years as it stands.
I hope you’re right. In the last hour it’s been playing on my mind that the real revelation of this book is contained in Hager’s “Afterword” where he explains at length that one of the key reasons these people can get away with all of this is because of the weakness of journalism in NZ. Without intelligent and fearless journalists we are a very weak democracy.
I read somewhere that a majority of enrollees in a NZ journalism course had declared that their goal was to become TV presenters – is it any wonder our democracy is in serious trouble…
I’m not so sure about that last sentiment. I think Churchill was right: democracy is the worst possible system apart from all the other ones. It involves people like Nicki Hager investigating people like John Key, because the kind of people people like John Key appeal to, keep on being born.
One of the more surprising revelations in the Dirty Politics saga so far for me has been some details that surround the former National MP Katherine Rich, of whom I had always held in some esteem as a more moderate MP within the conservative machine, and certainly someone who seemed to have a semblance of a moral compass.
There is evidence in the book that Rich (who currently works as the CEO of the Food and Grocery Council.) supplied material for attacks that WO blogger Cameron Slater made against anti-obesity campaigner Tony Falkenstein.
Article goes on to say that Slater was essentially a hired gun for any company that wished to attack a certain figure, receiving thousands of dollars a month from business clients to do so. National’s attack dog is looking more and more disgusting by the minute. and the complicity appears to run much deeper than just Judith Collins and Jason Ede.
Article goes on to say that Slater was essentially a hired gun for any company that wished to attack a certain figure, receiving thousands of dollars a month from business clients to do so.
I wonder what the IRD would think of that? Is it all declared?
Katherine Rich should have resigned from all her posts instantly. She must be forced to as she is supposedly a safeguard for the good population of Kiwiland. The book is shocking at so many levels .. tobacco, alcohol, Coke and Pepsi … all dark arts and arch manipulators .. and I’m certain there is more to come.
The book is on Amazon is you wish to hasten the horror for yourself.
I also listened to David Slack’s show last night. I like David and it is a rarity to listen to leftwing talkback. KDC mentioned 2 extra special guests on 15th January which makes it all the more intriguing, that is as well as Glen Greenwald.
‘Hager’s Dirty Politics – Death threats or hit jobs?’
By Martyn Bradbury / August 16, 2014
“Let’s be clear, no one deserves death threats, but Slater is now outed as the Wolf that cries boy, and all attempts to justify his actions by pointing to the angry reaction that has occurred because he has been outed simply don’t wash and quite frankly are open to a level of scepticism…
“Hooton, a regular RNZ panelist, also (according to the book) passed on Hagers home address to Cactus Kate. Despicable!”
My comment:
Hooton should be struck off Radio New Zealand’s ‘nine-to-noon’ …Hooton is not fit to be a political commentator…in fact a complaint should be laid with the police
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“They’re here already! You’re next! You’re next! You’re next!”WHO CAN FORGET the penultimate scene of the 1956 movie classic, Invasion of the Body Snatchers? The wild-eyed doctor, stumbling down the highway, trying desperately to warn his fellow citizens: “They’re here already! You’re next! You’re next! You’re next!”Ostensibly science-fiction, the movie ...
TheOneRing.Net has got its paws on the official synopsis of the upcoming Amazon Tolkien TV series. It’s a development that brings to mind the line about Sauron deliberately releasing Gollum from the dungeons of Barad-dûr. Amazon knew exactly what they were doing here, in terms of drumming up publicity: ...
Since Dwight Eisenhower’s inauguration in 1953, US presidents have joined an informal club intended to provide support - and occasionally rivalry - between those few who have been ‘leaders of the free world’. Donald Trump, elected on a promise to ‘drain the swamp’ and a constant mocker of his predecessors, ...
For over a decade commentators have noted the rise of a new brand of explicitly ideological politics throughout the world. By this they usually refer to the re-emergence of national populism and avowedly illiberal approaches to governance throughout the “advanced” democratic community, but they also extend the thought to the ...
The US House of Representatives has just impeached Donald Trump, giving him the dubious honour of being the only US President to be impeached twice. Ten Republicans voted for impeachement, making it the most bipartisan impeachment ever. The question now is whether the Senate will rise to the occasion, and ...
Kieren Mitchell; Alice Mouton, Université de Liège; Angela Perri, Durham University, and Laurent Frantz, Ludwig Maximilian University of MunichThanks to the hit television series Game of Thrones, the dire wolf has gained a near-mythical status. But it was a real animal that roamed the Americas for at least 250,000 ...
Tide of tidal data rises Having cast our own fate to include rising sea level, there's a degree of urgency in learning the history of mean sea level in any given spot, beyond idle curiosity. Sea level rise (SLR) isn't equal from one place to another and even at a particular ...
Well, some of those chickens sure came home bigly, didn’t they… and proceeded to shit all over the nice carpet in the Capitol. What we were seeing here are societal forces that have long had difficulty trying to reconcile people to the “idea” of America and the reality of ...
In the wake of Donald Trump's incitement of an assault on the US capitol, Twitter finally enforced its terms of service and suspended his account. They've since followed that up with action against prominent QAnon accounts and Trumpers, including in New Zealand. I'm not unhappy with this: Trump regularly violated ...
Peter S. Ross, University of British ColumbiaThe Arctic has long proven to be a barometer of the health of our planet. This remote part of the world faces unprecedented environmental assaults, as climate change and industrial chemicals threaten a way of life for Inuit and other Indigenous and northern ...
Susan St John makes the case for taxing a deemed rate of return on excessive real estate holdings (after a family home exemption), to redirect scarce housing resources to where they are needed most. Read the full article here ...
I’m less than convinced by arguments that platforms like Twitter should be subject to common carrier regulation preventing them from being able to decide who to keep on as clients of their free services, and who they would not like to serve. It’s much easier to create competition for the ...
The hypocritical actions of political leaders throughout the global Covid pandemic have damaged public faith in institutions and governance. Liam Hehir chronicles the way in which contemporary politicians have let down the public, and explains how real leadership means walking the talk. During the Blitz, when German bombs were ...
A growing public housing waiting list and continued increase of house prices must be urgently addressed by Government, Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said today. ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Hon Nanaia Mahuta today announced three diplomatic appointments: Alana Hudson as Ambassador to Poland John Riley as Consul-General to Hong Kong Stephen Wong as Consul-General to Shanghai Poland “New Zealand’s relationship with Poland is built on enduring personal, economic and historical connections. Poland is also an important ...
Work begins today at Wainuiomata High School to ensure buildings and teaching spaces are fit for purpose, Education Minister Chris Hipkins says. The Minister joined principal Janette Melrose and board chair Lynda Koia to kick off demolition for the project, which is worth close to $40 million, as the site ...
A skilled and experienced group of people have been named as the newly established Oranga Tamariki Ministerial Advisory Board by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis today. The Board will provide independent advice and assurance to the Minister for Children across three key areas of Oranga Tamariki: relationships with families, whānau, and ...
The green light for New Zealand’s first COVID-19 vaccine could be granted in just over a week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said today. “We’re making swift progress towards vaccinating New Zealanders against the virus, but we’re also absolutely committed to ensuring the vaccines are safe and effective,” Jacinda Ardern said. ...
The Minister for ACC is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to join the Board of ACC on 1 February 2021. “All three bring diverse skills and experience to provide strong governance oversight to lead the direction of ACC” said Hon Carmel Sepuloni. Bella Takiari-Brame from Hamilton ...
The Government is investing $9 million to upgrade a significant community facility in Invercargill, creating economic stimulus and jobs, Infrastructure Minister Grant Robertson and Te Tai Tonga MP Rino Tirikatene have announced. The grant for Waihōpai Rūnaka Inc to make improvements to Murihiku Marae comes from the $3 billion set ...
[Opening comments, welcome and thank you to Auckland University etc] It is a great pleasure to be here this afternoon to celebrate such an historic occasion - the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. This is a moment many feared would never come, but ...
The Government is providing $3 million in one-off seed funding to help disabled people around New Zealand stay connected and access support in their communities, Minister for Disability Issues, Carmel Sepuloni announced today. The funding will allow disability service providers to develop digital and community-based solutions over the next two ...
Border workers in quarantine facilities will be offered voluntary daily COVID-19 saliva tests in addition to their regular weekly testing, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. This additional option will be rolled out at the Jet Park Quarantine facility in Auckland starting on Monday 25 January, and then to ...
The next steps in the Government’s ambitious firearms reform programme to include a three-month buy-back have been announced by Police Minister Poto Williams today. “The last buy-back and amnesty was unprecedented for New Zealand and was successful in collecting 60,297 firearms, modifying a further 5,630 firearms, and collecting 299,837 prohibited ...
Upscaling work already underway to restore two iconic ecosystems will deliver jobs and a lasting legacy, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. “The Jobs for Nature programme provides $1.25 billion over four years to offer employment opportunities for people whose livelihoods have been impacted by the COVID-19 recession. “Two new projects ...
The Government has released its Public Housing Plan 2021-2024 which outlines the intention of where 8,000 additional public and transitional housing places announced in Budget 2020, will go. “The Government is committed to continuing its public house build programme at pace and scale. The extra 8,000 homes – 6000 public ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has congratulated President Joe Biden on his inauguration as the 46th President of the United States of America. “I look forward to building a close relationship with President Biden and working with him on issues that matter to both our countries,” Jacinda Ardern said. “New Zealand ...
A major investment to tackle wilding pines in Mt Richmond will create jobs and help protect the area’s unique ecosystems, Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor says. The Mt Richmond Forest Park has unique ecosystems developed on mineral-rich geology, including taonga plant species found nowhere else in the country. “These special plant ...
To further protect New Zealand from COVID-19, the Government is extending pre-departure testing to all passengers to New Zealand except from Australia, Antarctica and most Pacific Islands, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “The change will come into force for all flights arriving in New Zealand after 11:59pm (NZT) on Monday ...
Bay Conservation Cadets launched with first intake Supported with $3.5 million grant Part of $1.245b Jobs for Nature programme to accelerate recover from Covid Cadets will learn skills to protect and enhance environment Environment Minister David Parker today welcomed the first intake of cadets at the launch of the Bay ...
The Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Mark Brown have announced passengers from the Cook Islands can resume quarantine-free travel into New Zealand from 21 January, enabling access to essential services such as health. “Following confirmation of the Cook Islands’ COVID ...
Jobs for Nature funding is being made available to conservation groups and landowners to employ staff and contractors in a move aimed at boosting local biodiversity-focused projects, Conservation Minister Kiritapu Allan has announced. It is estimated some 400-plus jobs will be created with employment opportunities in ecology, restoration, trapping, ...
The Government has approved an exception class for 1000 international tertiary students, degree level and above, who began their study in New Zealand but were caught offshore when border restrictions began. The exception will allow students to return to New Zealand in stages from April 2021. “Our top priority continues ...
Today’s deal between Meridian and Rio Tinto for the Tiwai smelter to remain open another four years provides time for a managed transition for Southland. “The deal provides welcome certainty to the Southland community by protecting jobs and incomes as the region plans for the future. The Government is committed ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has appointed Anna Curzon to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). The leader of each APEC economy appoints three private sector representatives to ABAC. ABAC provides advice to leaders annually on business priorities. “ABAC helps ensure that APEC’s work programme is informed by business community perspectives ...
The Government’s prudent fiscal management and strong policy programme in the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic have been acknowledged by the credit rating agency Fitch. Fitch has today affirmed New Zealand’s local currency rating at AA+ with a stable outlook and foreign currency rating at AA with a positive ...
The Government is putting in place a suite of additional actions to protect New Zealand from COVID-19, including new emerging variants, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “Given the high rates of infection in many countries and evidence of the global spread of more transmissible variants, it’s clear that ...
$36 million of Government funding alongside councils and others for 19 projects Investment will clean up and protect waterways and create local jobs Boots on the ground expected in Q2 of 2021 Funding part of the Jobs for Nature policy package A package of 19 projects will help clean up ...
The commemoration of the 175th anniversary of the Battle of Ruapekapeka represents an opportunity for all New Zealanders to reflect on the role these conflicts have had in creating our modern nation, says Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Kiri Allan. “The Battle at Te Ruapekapeka Pā, which took ...
He has the perfect moustache, an exceptional mullet, and he uses terms like ‘face hole’ on national TV. Who or what is Dr Joel Rindelaub?I was drawn in by the moustache, but it was the mullet that really kept me there. Watching TVNZ’s Breakfast yesterday morning I was fixated. Often, ...
After a raft of inquiries delving into and recommending what should be done about the politically beleaguered Orangi Tamaraki, along with the briefing papers we suppose he has been given, we imagined Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis would have no more need for expert advice. Wrong. He has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vincent Ho, Senior Lecturer and clinical academic gastroenterologist, Western Sydney University There’s a common assumption men take longer than women to poo. People say so on Twitter, in memes, and elsewhereonline. But is that right? What could explain it? And if ...
Just as sexuality is a spectrum, so too is asexuality. In Ace of Hearts, members of New Zealand’s asexual community talk about the challenges and misconceptions of identifying as ace.First published November 17, 2020.Ace of Hearts is part of Frame, a series of short documentaries produced by Wrestler for The Spinoff.“A ...
Sam Brooks wasn’t allowed to watch kids TV as a kid. Now, as a 30 year old man, he watches it for the first time.My mother’s approach to parenting was unorthodox. I wrote weekly book reports on top of my actual homework, I did maths equations in Roman numerals and ...
Pacific Media Watch newsdesk More leading Indonesian figures have made racial slurs against Natalius Pigai, former chair of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) – and all West Papuans, says United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) interim president Benny Wenda. “Since the illegal Indonesian invasion in 1963, Indonesian ...
“The Government’s failure to even conduct a standard cost-benefit analysis for the most expensive infrastructure project in New Zealand’s history is mind-bogglingly arrogant,” says New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke. “A ...
The Ministry of Health is today drawing backlash from the local New Zealand vaping industry following its release of proposed regulations for the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act. Vaping Trade Association New Zealand (VTANZ) President, ...
Sophie Gilmour and Simon Day are joined by special guest Hugo Baird, co-owner of Grey Lynn’s Honey Bones and Lilian, to talk about opening new pub Hotel Ponsonby.Auckland is a city of many bars but few really good pubs – the kind of places you’d be just as comfortable going ...
The appointment of an advisory board for Oranga Tamariki is welcome and should be a step toward a total transformation of the care and protection system to a by Māori, for Māori approach, Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft said today. Minister ...
Taking control of your financial wellbeing can have cascading positive impacts for your life and it can also be fun. With the help of the team at Kiwi Wealth, we’ve compiled some simple tricks for balancing your books in 2021. There’s something about the beginning of a new year, especially after ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kris Gledhill, Professor of Law, Auckland University of Technology As we know, getting into New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic is difficult. There are practicalities, such as high airfare and managed isolation costs. And there are legal requirements, including pre-flight testing, mandatory ...
New Zealand faces the risk of a generation being locked out of the housing market unless land is freed up and more houses built, National Party leader Judith Collins says. ...
On Sunday, Stuff published a months-long investigation by Alison Mau detailing allegations of harassment and exploitation within the local music industry.The piece, ‘Music industry professionals demand change after speaking out about its dark side’, includes allegations of inappropriate behaviour and abuse of power by male artists, international acts and executives; ...
“The Government is all at sea on timelines for Australia and New Zealand’s respective vaccine roll-outs, with the worst news coming from the mouth of Pfizer Australia CEO Anne Harris,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “Yesterday, under increasing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claire Higgins, Senior Research Fellow, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW As a presidential candidate, Joe Biden promised the US would demonstrate “global leadership on refugees”. Once elected, he pledged to vastly increase refugee resettlement in the US. If history is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Baumann, Casual Academic, School of Social Sciences & Psychology, Western Sydney University Among the many hard truths exposed by COVID-19 is the huge disparity between the world’s rich and poor. As economies went into freefall, the world’s billionaires increased their already ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jan Lanicek, Senior Lecturer in Modern European History and Jewish History, UNSW On January 27 communities worldwide commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz — the largest complex of concentration camps and extermination centres during the Holocaust. This is the first year the International ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lorinda Cramer, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Australian Catholic University The summer break is over, marking a return to the office. For some, this ends almost a year of working from home in lockdown. Some analysts are predicting it might also mark an enduring ...
Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for January 27, keeping you up to date with the latest local and international news. Reach me on stewart@thespinoff.co.nzOur members make The Spinoff happen! Every dollar contributed directly funds our editorial team – click here to learn more about how you can support us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato New Zealand has a strong history of protecting and promoting human rights at home and internationally, and prides itself on being an outspoken critic and global leader in this area. So, when the most ...
Good morning and welcome to the Bulletin. In today’s edition: Collins outlines the plan forward for National, no spread of Covid spotted yet in Northland, and students return for climate protest.In front of a Rotary Club at the Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, National leader Judith Collins yesterday set out her ...
*This articlefirst appeared on RNZ and is republished with permission. The tourism industry isn't holding its breath for a trans-Tasman travel bubble being in place after Australia temporarily closed its borders to New Zealand. New Zealanders could be waiting even longer for a full trans-Tasman bubble, with the ...
We continue our week-long examination of New Zealand writer Roderick Finlayson with an essay by Anahera Gildea on cultural appropriation Every night at 7pm sharp, my Irish Catholic father and his eight siblings would have to kneel on the carpet of the living room, facing the freshly polished nudity of ...
A Covid reset will force costly and inflexible cities to take a hard look at their planning systems, or people will vote with their feet. Broken urban planning systems make for misery even in the best of times. If land use and housing regulations prevent metropolitan areas from growing up or out as ...
Children's Minister Kelvin Davis will have independent eyes and ears across Oranga Tamariki over the next five months as the Government tries to change the work and practices of the ministry. The Government has created a Māori-led watchdog to oversee how the children's ministry, Oranga Tamariki, deals with parents and ...
When an Auckland school classroom went up in flames in December last year, exploding asbestos over neighbouring houses, five separate government agencies were involved. Yet stressed residents dealing with the aftermath on their homes say the response felt chaotic and uncoordinated; even local MPs who got involved couldn't get the information they wanted. Hundreds of thousands of ...
The pandemic has accelerated the trend of doing our banking online instead of in person. This rapid digital embrace has, in turn, sped up the closure of many smaller bank branches. But, as Mark Jennings writes, there are new branches springing up with a different look and purpose. Auckland’s Wynyard ...
Corrina Gage has represented New Zealand in a trio of water sports. But it's her love for waka ama - and the opportunities it gives paddlers from 5 to 85 - that keeps her racing and coaching around the world. Lake Karāpiro is quiet and still now. But last week, it was all noise ...
Telling a Rotary Club audience that housing is a serious problem and they should care deeply about it landed flat but took some daring from the National leader, writes Justin Giovannetti.Judith Collins’ level of control over the National Party is still a question best answered by a shrug.Elevated to her ...
A gang turf war gripped the South Auckland suburb in late 2020, forcing schools to lock down and armed police to patrol the streets. Community leaders are now warning the cycle of violent retribution could continue in 2021, unless radical interventions are made.The violent altercations that loomed large in Ōtara ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Véronique Duché, A.R. Chisholm Professor of French, University of Melbourne In this series, writers pay tribute to fictional detectives on the page and on screen. When I first heard that Rowan Atkinson was to put on Maigret’s velvet-collared overcoat, I wondered ...
Auckland writer Olivia Hayfield* explains how she resurrected 16th-century playwright Christopher Marlowe to star in her new novel, Sister to Sister. Olivia Hayfield is a pen name. Real name: Sue Copsey. When I’m planning my modern retellings of historical tales, I read widely on the characters and see who leaps out at ...
The Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine could be approved as early as next week, Marc Daalder reports Medsafe will be asked to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine against Covid-19 on February 2, the Government has announced. The Medicines Assessment Advisory Committee (MAAC) is an independent panel that provides advice on some medicine approvals in ...
COMMENT:By Bryan Kramer, PNG’s Minister of Police who has defended Commissioner Manning’s appointment today in The National My last article, announcing that I intend to make a submission to the National Executive Council (NEC) to amend the Public Service regulation to no longer require the Commissioner of Police to ...
The Point of Order Trough Monitor was triggered today by the announcement of a $9 million handout for Southlanders – sorry, some Southlanders. The news came from the office of Grant Robertson who, as Minister of Finance, prefers to invest public money rather than give it away – especially when ...
Few people outside of her campaign team gave Chlöe Swarbrick any chance of winning in Auckland Central this year – but the Green Party MP was too busy to listen. Here’s how they turned the electorate green.First published November 12, 2020.Three Ticks Chlöe is part of Frame, a series of short ...
Interactions between parents and healthcare providers could have a big impact on the wellbeing of our children, according to new research. The way parents and healthcare providers interact has lasting implications for children’s health, new research has found – and that includes immunisation uptake.Released today, the report is based on research ...
The Opposition starts the political year calling for emergency, temporary legislation to free up house building National leader Judith Collins has set five priorities for her party over the next three years - but excluded climate change, education and Crown-Māori relations. Giving her first 'state of the nation' speech as party ...
One of the biggest challenges facing the Ardern government is in public health. New Zealand may have escaped the pressures heaped on other health systems by the Covid-19 pandemic but its health service has had its problems, not least those exposed in the first report from Heather Simpson and her ...
New Zealand’s Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has revealed that 14 close contacts of the Northland community case have returned negative test results. Yesterday he announced two close contacts – her husband and hair dresser – were negative. In his tweet, Hipkins described the news as “encouraging”. However, New ...
Pacific Media Watch newsdesk Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the arbitrary and opaque experiments that Google is conducting with its search engine in Australia, with the consequence that many national news websites are no longer appearing in the search results seen by some users. The Australian, ABC, Australian Financial ...
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta says councils can take stronger action against companies dumping contaminated waste water, even though they have identified loopholes in the law on fines. ...
Drag Race Down Under, part of the popular RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise, is filming in New Zealand. In their own words, local drag talent share what drag means to them and how it might be impacted by the show.RuPaul’s Drag Race is, quite simply, a television phenomenon. Love it or ...
For a long time, weighted blankets were considered a specialist device. Now they’re popular with even the most normal sleepers.Growing up, Temple Grandin spent time on her aunt’s cattle ranch in America, watching cow after stressed cow enter a squeeze chute and come out calm as the dead sea. She ...
Increased provisional tax thresholds, immediate low-value asset write offs and allowing the deferral of tax payments and use of money interest (UOMI) write offs were the most popular tax measures introduced by the Government to help businesses survive ...
The latest fleeing driver statistics show the numbers of incidents sky-rocketing out of control through 2020 with Police deciding the only tactic is to give up on chasing altogether, says Sensible Sentencing Trust. “The inconvenient truth is ...
With new revelations of the appalling racism behind Israel’s refusal to provide Covid-19 vaccines to 4.5 million Palestinians under its occupation and control, PSNA has renewed our call for the government to speak out alongside the United Nations ...
The Youth of NZ will be standing up for climate action once again, on January 26th outside of Parliament for School Strike 4 Climate NZ’s 100 Days 4 Action campaign rally. “COVID-19 may have stopped us in our tracks in the past. However, I tend ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Parwinder Kaur, Associate Professor | Director, DNA Zoo Australia, University of Western Australia Koalas are unique in the animal kingdom, living on a eucalyptus diet that would kill other creatures and drinking so little their name comes from the Dharug word gula, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By S. Anna Florin, Research fellow, University of Wollongong Archaeological research provides a long-term perspective on how humans survived various environmental conditions over tens of thousands of years. In a paper published today in Nature Ecology and Evolution, we’ve tracked rainfall in northern ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Binoy Kampmark, Senior Lecturer in Global Studies, Social Science & Planning, RMIT University Since 2005, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel has been one of the most stable and enduring of political forces, both in Europe and on the global stage. During her 16 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Véronique Duché, A.R. Chisholm Professor of French, University of Melbourne In this series, writers pay tribute to fictional detectives on the page and on screen. When I first heard that Rowan Atkinson was to put on Maigret’s velvet-collared overcoat, I wondered ...
*This article first appeared on RNZ and is republished with permission. Experts are calling for hotels with sub-par ventilation systems to no longer be used as managed isolation facilities as health officials investigate how a Northland woman became infected with Covid-19 while staying at the Pullman hotel, Rowan Quinn reports. ...
Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for January 26, keeping you up to date with the latest local and international news. Reach me on stewart@thespinoff.co.nzOur Members make The Spinoff happen! Every dollar contributed directly funds our editorial team – click here to learn more about how you can support us ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Questions to be answered about case in the community, major companies flagrantly breaching wastewater consents, and Tenancy Tribunal decisions harming abuse survivors.As of this morning, we’re still waiting on some crucial information about the situation in Northland, after a person travelled ...
With democracy what now separates the US from its adversaries, Wellington can bet on more continuity than change in Washington’s hardline view of China. ...
We continue our week-long examination of writer Roderick Finlayson. Today: his daughter Kate on his doomed love for Poti Mita, whose family inspired him to write short stories about Māori life in the 1930s We all knew of Poti Mita and how important Pukehina was to Dad. He wanted ...
With the nasty stuff swirling around the National Party, Labour has a leader who is probably the most honest guy in parliament…good timing, now he/we need to let the rest of New Zealand know.
A good article in the NZ Herald. This accords to the David Cunliffe I worked with for a short time in the 90’s.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11309592
more honest that turei, I think you jest.
I note collins has admitted giving slater the public servants name. How is that not a sacking offence Mr Key
Because the information was already in the public domain, how many times to you need to be told?
It was the basis of the Privacy Commission investigation at the time, which verified this.
Why is a minister doing this? Shouldn’t she be concentrating on doing her job?
and yet super journo slater needed collins to supply it? This is what we pay her for is it, to do a bloggers research for him?
And when Slater told her he was expecting leaked video evidence from the police, what did our soon to be minister of police and justice say…
Still as long as she didnt sign a painting for charity she didnt paint, right laughing boy?
It was in the public domain because Collins passed it on. And the public servant had absolutely nothing to do with the leak. He says the first that anyone even hinted at it was the day that Collins/Slater published his name and the denigration that followed.
Give up Roflcopter!
Can this be verified, please? I haven’t noticed Collins or Slater claiming it as a defence.
You seem to miss the point either way. It is the fact that Mrs Collins is passing the name of public servant to Mr Slater and thus giving prudence to what followed is in fact akin to Gestapo behavior. No matter how this is seen, a Minister of Justice no less should be squeaky clean. Freedom is not lost in a full swoop, but in incremental steps. Like the boiling frog story…
The point is it is 10000% worse if his name was not in the public domain. If it was, and Collins was just Slater of it that would be nasty, but she will probably survive as a minister.
If she was identifying an individual already named as needing some ‘special loving’ from Slater, that’s a lot worse, and she will probably be sacked.
And if his name wasn’t in the public domain as a possible leaker, then it is truly appalling and she should not just be sacked but drummed out out parliament, and mabe (I may be thinking whistfully, here) jailed.
I want to know just what degree of bad it is.
His name wasn’t being suggested in public until Slater asserted it in a post.
The reason I remember it was that I looked at it when Slaters post came out and searched for corroboration. Authors here were making a big thing about Bill English’s rather excessive household claims. So when Pleasants name came up, I looked for sources other than Slater – who is pretty well known for being a liar and making stuff up.
There wasn’t anything visible on the net from a more credible source. So I guessed that it was just bullshit and I started to censor the trolls from using his name as it was defamatory.
What i’m enjoying is Labour and the Lefties all jumping up and down waving their Jockies in the air and creating a Big song and dance
Thats like the All Blacks stopping a game to rave to the Reef about someone on the other side not playing Fair
Once again Labour has dropped the ball and lost their focus on the Game I’m not sure if they realize there is an Election coming up the tracks at a great rate of knots
And the Spectators Just want the game to continue without all the Bullshit and Drama
Imagine if Labour had of said we are better than this bullshit and focused on the real issues just like the All Blacks would do I don’t know if the person who hacked Cam’s computer is a Staunched Labour ally but me thinks it is not gonna do a hell of a lot for Labour and the other lefties Just saying
he was a Public servant the Information was NOT secret you could google his name
Eddi, you need to understand that at least 2 laws were broken, not to mention that betrayal of the office:
1/ the law of privacy
2/ the employment law that protects employees from such behaviors
Now that the Justice Minister has done this has effectively signaled to NZ and the world (don’t underestimate this) that NZ has moved to a fascist type of “democracy”. Europe has some good examples of that where people also said thing like you do and it ended up in tears. Lets not forget what history has taught us.
Sure, but wish he wouldn’t say silly things like demanding an apology from Key. Surely all this stuff’s way beyond a stupid apology.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10391270/Labour-points-finger-at-National-over-website
Vale Jack Shallcrass.
Farewell to a good man.
Wow. I remember him from Wgtn Teacher’s College back in the 70’s. A good man indeed.
RIP
http://www.tributes.co.nz/ViewMyTribute.aspx?id=10112
Cactus Kate proving very quotable. “Those Chinese can be very vicious when they lose face … Chop chop for Nicky.”
“Like a lot of the rest of the book that email was just private chatter and banter between various people on emails where absolutely nothing else happened as a consequence,”
Nothing happened except put your sad, vile truths on display, CK. Racism doesn’t stop being disgusting just because it’s private.
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11309750
Also interesting that Cathy Odgers admits to writing as Cameron Slater on whaleoil.
Jesus, does Cameron actually write anything there? Or does he just make the tea?
Joyce said on tv3 yesterday that no one tells slater what to do. Actually its looking like the reverse is true. If nothing else this is a very sad picture of a man pretending to be something he quite clearly is not. It seems he makes up alot of things about his own power that arent true. The alternative is they are true, but the nats are working hard to deny that.
human zoo? no not the gnats and their mates.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/10389919/Te-Kuitis-human-zoo
yep we live in 2014 and still treat people like shit and then expect them to thank us.
Barbaric. I agree with Roger.
And why we dis third world countries is beyond me – look around ffs. Meanwhile the middle will wring their hands and tut tut over the stats – and then vote for the liarkey? Nah his time has run out, thank the Gods!!!
who is the minister of justice…
Quick, write an email to Slater… he has to get some cover up story under way…
Why won’t John Key read the book? Because he doesn’t need to. He was there when it all happened.
😀
Oh he’s read the book. Great excuse for more lies
The world I woke up to this morning:
7 Oh yes, next month I get to choose between various packs of self-important, ethically-challenged, myopic, self-seeking non-entities to strut and fret their hour upon the stage in the empty, badly lit, third-rate theatre that is New Zealand’s Parliament.
Think I’ll just roll over and go back to sleep.
“Fukushima gushing radio-active water into the North Pacific and squaring up to require the Chernobyl-like evacuation of a large chunk of one of the most densly populated places on Earth:”
Source, please.
Lanthanide – “Source, please.”
One of the links featured in:
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2014/08/weve-opened-gates-hell.html
Can’t remember which one. I don’t think evacuation has yet been announced as official Japanese policy but the situation is becoming so bad that it can’t be kept hidden for very much longer, at which point the choice will be between an officially organised (and probably already being planned) evacuation or Tokyo emptying itself anyway.
It is true can’ t remember but 350 tonnes of heavy water a day leaking into the sea
Forget the Hagar book.
Get people ready to vote.
Anyone know why the Roy Morgan poll is late? It would usually come up on their website on a Thursday, Friday at the latest, but it is still not there. Maybe they are waiting another week because of the Nicky Hager book.
Or maybe it contradicts the Fairfax/ Ipsos so much there has been a decision to hold it back – would they do such a thing? They could then use the Hager book to justify any swing to the left- it won’t be read as a positive reaction to David Cunliffe and Labour policy?
Or am I just getting paranoid?
I want to think better of my fellow kiwis than this poll suggests. However the public are up against a well funded strategy designed to dupe them…
It is very dispiriting when you see so many people intending to vote National in spite of their appalling behaviour, and are still willing to believe in Key in spite of all the lies he has told. I just watched this Campbell Live piece where many people are adamant they will not read the book, but are still convinced it is a pack of lies.
http://www.3news.co.nz/What-are-your-thoughts-on-Dirty-Politics/tabid/817/articleID/357059/Default.aspx?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+co%2FEoAG+%283News+-+Political+News%29
You would think the Electoral Comission would have had a real crack at this Rugby Union. Mates looking after mates, no surprise National party members within the Northland Rugby Union;
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11309746
It is how National operates particularly in rural areas. Networking with sports clubs, Lodges, SMEs, tradies, some schools, local cops, business associations, real estate, farmers and retirees to develop a “one way” culture.
Clubs and schools need local business support to operate and it comes with strings, often tacit, but strings. People need work and contracts so there is economic pressure too. Don’t support John Key? Whaaadarrrryaaa mate! We are blue men around here!
It is partly why and how electorates such as Northland and Whangarei continually vote tory MPs in against their material needs. And partly due to the Te Tai Tokerau Māori seat syphoning off votes that would redress that, and I am not arguing for collapsing the Māori seats.
yes quite correct. This blatant breech of the act should have been met with a fine and a stern warning.
This sort of arogant carry on is off putting to people wanting a democratic society. The old boys network of political favours in both central & local government.
It isn’t easy being Green – Metiria stands tall for short people.
chuckle
Love it.
Jeremy Wells with his impression of Newstalk ZB host Mike Hosking with another “Like Mike” Hosking Rant. Today’s topic ‘Hosking In Wonderland’ as Jeremy/Mike rants about Nicky Hager’s book ‘Dirty Politics’
https://soundcloud.com/radiohauraki/the-hauraki-breakfast-jeremy-wells-mike-hosking-rant-august-15-2014
Thanks Joe90
That was amazing! Sounds just like Hosking taking the mickey out of Hosking.
Spoke with an Auckland panelbeater last week. SME currently paying $60,000 a month in all taxes, including GST?
He made a number of comments about changes in behaviour by insurance companies toward his trade in recent months, in particular the IAG group of insurance companies.
By way of background we need to understand the recent aquisitions by AIG! their increasing market share and how this might beinfluencing the bullying encountered by chaps like the panelbeater i spoke to
” The Commerce Commission has approved Insurance Australia Group’s takeover of rival Lumley General Insurance.
In New Zealand IAG already owns NZI, AMI and State Insurance. In December it announced a A$1.845 billion deal to buy the underwriting businesses of Australia’s Wesfarmers, which includes Lumley in New Zealand.
This deal increases IAG’s share of the overall New Zealand insurance market to about 50.5% from 41.5%, lifts its share of the home and contents and vehicle insurance market to 66% from 60%, and gives it 40% of New Zealand’s intermediated insurance market. In a December interview with interest.co.nz IAG’s New Zealand CEO Jacki Johnson said IAG would sell assets to gain Commerce Commission approval for the Lumley purchase if it had to, but sees itself as the natural owner of the assets.
The Commerce Commission’s initial deadline for its decision was January 24. This was extended until March 28, then April 30 and finally today.
“The Commission is satisfied that the proposed acquisition will not have, or would not be likely to have, the effect of substantially lessening competition, for personal and commercial insurance products,” Commerce Commission chairman Mark Berry said.” http://www.interest.co.nz
R
The panelbeaters story
Ami, nzi and state have been squeezing the trade and their margins to claw back losses from the chchch earthquake.
With a large market share AIG turned its attention to cars, a constant source of claims. My guy says that until recently he got about 52 bucks an hour for fixing a bumper. The insurance companies allocated one hour to the work.
In the last few weeks they have increased the hourly rate to $59 per hour. BUT, they have reduced the time allocated to a bumper to 45 minutes. Effectively cutting the payout to panelbeaters for the same work to $45.
The liability on the panelbeater for work performed stays the same. If the bumper falls off or otherwise suffers from a poor job, its the panelbeater who pays. Do they work quicker and risk shoddy work, or still spend an hour and work for a loss.
My guy says he wont and cant reduce wages on his guys, so an insurance bumperjob now yields him a $5.75 surplus after wages and other costs.He also wont do sub standard work but knows some in the industry will to keep their margins.
He is expecting further actions to reduce and this practice applies across all aspects not just bumpers.
” Opponents of the deal including rival insurers, the Insurance Brokers Association of New Zealand, the Collision Repair Association, the Motor Trade Association, the Bus and Coach Association, and the Rental Vehicle Association told the Commerce Commission of their concerns in submissions. Suncorp, which owns Vero and 68% of AA Insurance, warned IAG buying Lumley would represent “a tipping point” towards an anti-competitive structure in New Zealand’s insurance markets.
Being allowed to swallow Lumley will give IAG control of insurance relationships with three of the big four banks in ASB, BNZ and Westpac. ANZ works with Vero and Tower.” http://www.interest.co.nz
“
hmmmm…
They’re right, it won’t change it that much – there isn’t any competition left.
Can this be verified, please? I haven’t noticed Collins or Slater claiming it as a defence.
Mr Slater has frequently commented that he gets some of his info from a/few labour mp’s nothing has been mentioned regarding this claim to date, I don’t think that ms Collins is the source so who is skaters deep throat ?
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2013/08/leaked-labours-plans-to-use-taxpayer-money-to-promote-policy/
lol
probably reminiscing about a one-off during chris carter’s meltdown.
Also Lynn can you please fix the cookies problem? I have to keep typing out my name and email address all the time, and end up typoing it – hence why you’re getting my comments in moderation.
Ok. Due to a email not turning up from Singapore, it looks like the day is partially free.
After your current cookie expires (was set to half hour which was causing the problem) or you leave a comment (whichever comes first), you’ll find that the cookie resets to just under under a year.
Remember that it is specific to a particular browser on a particular machine.
Thank-you!!!
Thanks!
Interesting article on why Cameron Slater gets to keep his Canon Media Award:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11309752
I would have thought the way Bevan Chuang was exploited was the very definition of highly unethical, but’s that’s just me. The Newspaper Publishers’ Association does not agree.
Well Blue I just sent Rick Neville of the Publishers assoc a request to recall of CANON MEDIA AWARD WINNER CAMERON SLATER’s Best Blogger Award.
I can’t get enough of saying it, writing it.
Canon Media Award for Best Blogger Cameron WhaleOilBeefHooked Slater.÷)
Calls/letters directly to Canon might be more effective than the Publishers’ Association — they have more to lose in terms of unhappy customers and are likely walking a delicate line just now. Just point out the words and language their product has now become associated with in the public mind .. shouldn’t take too many ! Send letters as high as possible in corporation … even Japan !!!
And I just read this on Bomber’s site … calls to Canon could be very effective imho.
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/08/16/hagers-dirty-politics-response-to-canon-nz/
And Deborah Hill Cone, as the sole judge for that award, should also apologise.
righto
It is time to write again the name of the website … not sure who really gets it, but say the full name Whale Oil Beef Hooked with a faux Irish accent and you get ‘Well, I’ll be fucked’.
I know the news room at one TV station had not understood itone day this week until , and I’m guessing here, but maybe Canon didn’t either.
Let’s make them aware as loudly and quickly as possible. Surely, they didn’t intend for this language to be given their overt public approval ? And I’m sure head office in Japan will not be happy. Maybe we can send it Huffington Post and have them stir it up a little. Canon will have to acknowledge the ‘backfire’ !!!
darn, won’t let me edit … should have read ‘newsroom at one TV station had not understood it until one day this week, and I’m guessing Canon didn’t either”.
“Pollster and blogger David Farrar said yesterday he believed documents were stolen from his offices by an employee.
He intended to lay a complaint with police and said the breach of his privacy had him considering stepping back from politics.”
We can but hope, but does that make Farrar the hypocrit of the day?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10389804/SIS-gave-blogger-first-dibs-on-papers-release-Hager
the faux indignation would be funny except ms bloggs out there thinks it is genuine.
Darren Watson’s banned Planet Key video now #8 on NZ Music Charts.
“Not bad for a song banned from all airplay. We have big news to announce this coming Monday.”
The EC is not threatening legal action over the itunes sale. Get it while you can 😉
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11309749
‘Hager’s Dirty Politics – the TV political panels are ridiculous’
By Martyn Bradbury / August 16, 2014
“This isn’t good enough from our fourth estate at a time when we need the powerful to be held to account for their abuse of power.
The total lack of depth and shallow talent pool of TV political panel shows in NZ is providing hideous coverage and insight into one of the most important political stories of the year….
That photo of Hooton and Hager: great body language. Hooton looks like he wants to eat Hager’s liver with a nice Chianti 🙂
Test message
Lets try that again
[lprent: Success. ]
Reading my way through “Dirty Politics”. My summary so far is:
Chapters 1-5: John Key’s National Party is clearly corrupt.
Chapters 6-10: Slater and his mates are scumbags and so are some of our barons of industry.
It looks like Chapter 11 is reconnecting with the corruption of John Key .
If there are more revelations about Key’s involvement contained in the last few chapters (as seems likely) then this is a very ineffective way to structure the book IMHO. Chapters 6-10 lost the momentum of the narrative. Reading about what a scumbag Slater is was a bit boring and I suspect many readers and lazy journalists will not make it to chapter 11…
Why not read it all before the review? It isn’t like anyone is waiting for you to finish.
Finished now, and yeah what I wrote above still stands as a good summary.
I am amazed how little of this is being pursued vigorously by MSM. I didn’t have a lot of respect for them before, but now, rock-bottom…
We’ll see. I’m hoping they’re going after the low-hanging fruit while preparing more substantial coverage of the more substantial (and criminal) allegations. The seriousness of the potential charges means they’ll be dining out on it for months if not years as it stands.
I hope you’re right. In the last hour it’s been playing on my mind that the real revelation of this book is contained in Hager’s “Afterword” where he explains at length that one of the key reasons these people can get away with all of this is because of the weakness of journalism in NZ. Without intelligent and fearless journalists we are a very weak democracy.
I read somewhere that a majority of enrollees in a NZ journalism course had declared that their goal was to become TV presenters – is it any wonder our democracy is in serious trouble…
I’m not so sure about that last sentiment. I think Churchill was right: democracy is the worst possible system apart from all the other ones. It involves people like Nicki Hager investigating people like John Key, because the kind of people people like John Key appeal to, keep on being born.
One of the more surprising revelations in the Dirty Politics saga so far for me has been some details that surround the former National MP Katherine Rich, of whom I had always held in some esteem as a more moderate MP within the conservative machine, and certainly someone who seemed to have a semblance of a moral compass.
There is evidence in the book that Rich (who currently works as the CEO of the Food and Grocery Council.) supplied material for attacks that WO blogger Cameron Slater made against anti-obesity campaigner Tony Falkenstein.
Now I’m just reading this from here: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11309420 I haven’t had an opportunity to read the book yet, I have my copy ordered, so it will be interesting to see just how deep the rabbit hole goes.
Article goes on to say that Slater was essentially a hired gun for any company that wished to attack a certain figure, receiving thousands of dollars a month from business clients to do so. National’s attack dog is looking more and more disgusting by the minute. and the complicity appears to run much deeper than just Judith Collins and Jason Ede.
Article goes on to say that Slater was essentially a hired gun for any company that wished to attack a certain figure, receiving thousands of dollars a month from business clients to do so.
I wonder what the IRD would think of that? Is it all declared?
I’m wondering what his insurance company thinks of that considering that he spent so long blogging while unable to work.
surely KR must now be removed from the health board the govt appointed her ?
Katherine Rich should have resigned from all her posts instantly. She must be forced to as she is supposedly a safeguard for the good population of Kiwiland. The book is shocking at so many levels .. tobacco, alcohol, Coke and Pepsi … all dark arts and arch manipulators .. and I’m certain there is more to come.
The book is on Amazon is you wish to hasten the horror for yourself.
Interesting call.
http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Kim-Dotcom-Calls-Late-Night-Talk-Back/tabid/506/articleID/52300/Default.aspx
I also listened to David Slack’s show last night. I like David and it is a rarity to listen to leftwing talkback. KDC mentioned 2 extra special guests on 15th January which makes it all the more intriguing, that is as well as Glen Greenwald.
Buggered if I know who but someone asked about this earlier in the week.
Key said he regularly called Slater, who broke the story of the Len Brown affair, “to see what he’s got on his site and mind”.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9723130/Looks-like-Slater-is-Keys-Peters-source
‘Hager’s Dirty Politics – Death threats or hit jobs?’
By Martyn Bradbury / August 16, 2014
“Let’s be clear, no one deserves death threats, but Slater is now outed as the Wolf that cries boy, and all attempts to justify his actions by pointing to the angry reaction that has occurred because he has been outed simply don’t wash and quite frankly are open to a level of scepticism…
Comment from one commenter:
“Hooton, a regular RNZ panelist, also (according to the book) passed on Hagers home address to Cactus Kate. Despicable!”
My comment:
Hooton should be struck off Radio New Zealand’s ‘nine-to-noon’ …Hooton is not fit to be a political commentator…in fact a complaint should be laid with the police