So mass surveillance has been outsourced to 4 of the other 5 eyes till GSCB law was passed, our cable has been eavesdropped and the speaker has a letter which possibly proves our PM mislead parliament on numerous occasions.
Vote positive kids, ignore the MSM and love or hate the big German he has done the citizens of not just NZ a service getting this out there.
Phil, my thoughts exactly, especially when the interviewee is working up to the main point or conclusion at the end of the statement, and it’s spoken over. Harre’s technique was to try to hold her ground and finish, and when that was not successful, to use the beginning of the next question to compete her point.
Interviewers seem to have a technique that involves two things- one to rattle the interviewee by pressuring by quick questions, and also to keep asking questions prepared before the interview, even if they are going against the flow of the ‘dialogue’.
It all ends up to a disjointed interview.
Interviewees of course need to stop their technique of pausing at odd places to gain breath in order to run sentences together and thus take away the natural breaks which interviewers use to insert their next question. Interviewees have their techniques also to manipulate the interview. It’s all part of what can be a very unsatisfactory game, and not played in the interests of the general public.
But that’s what we’ve learned afresh from last night’s moment of truth- little done by those in power, and mostly this is a criticism of the Right, is done in the interests of the general public who are manipulated, lied to by omission and commission, kept uninformed, discouraged from interest in politics or voting, distracted deliberately by false issues or by media circuses.
The historian in me knows that this is all not new. It also tells me that there are times of renewal in a nation’s history.
I pray that September 2014 is one of these times of renewal.
It’s the ultimate in conceit really. Ryan, Espiner and Fergusson all do it – not allowing interviewees to finish a sentence or give complete answers to their questions. It’d be interesting to do timings on interviewer/interviewee – my suspicions are that Ryan occupied more time than Harre.
They’d do well to take a few lessons/coaching from the likes of (say) Colin Peacock and/or Jeremy Rose.
They’re all exactly what’s wrong with public service broadcasting – they push themselves as though they are ‘the product’.
Laila is good at pegging on till the end phillip ure. It just may be that Kathryn wants to cover more things in the allocated time than Laila’s full answers would allow.
“Sir” Bruce Ferguson, former government spy boss spining for Key on Morning Report, said Snowden is a traitor and therefore what he has to say has no value. Brucy earning his knighthood said no NSA in NZ. Of course as a spy, he was/still is? paid to lie and obfuscate.
also the difference between Snowden and, say, Ferguson, is Snowden has ended up in Russia with his life turned upside down in an attempt to shine some light into dark spaces…. Ferguson got a knighthood.
I am really annoyed right now. It is more than an ideological difference of opinion, imo, between Key fans and tose who don’t want Key. To me it is of much deeper significance than this. And even spoon fed last night out media have let us down, so far.
I can’t recall a PM who “changed” his version of events so often over the period of his tenure as this one…
I recall key very upset at Clark about Winston and Glenn’s stoush, I recall the uproar over her speeding to an AB match, to her signing a painting she didnt paint for charity… about the attack on democracy proclaimed by the herald over the attempt to bring transparency to political donations…
Snowden did computer system work for a spy agency. I don’t think that makes him a spy and therefore not to be trusted. Secret Squirrel Ferguson headed a spy agency. That makes him a spy.
My thoughts exactly. The CEO says – therefore it is so – “he would know”. And of course Ferguson knew absolutely all and everything that went/goes on in the GCSB because he was ‘across’ ALL staff 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
I was sort of marveling at Ferguson’s attempt at spin and self-preservation really. On one interview I heard, he was even talking about the need for deep sea divers. I suppose that might be enough to convince portions of the public but it doesn’t convince me.
If anyone happens to notice the Fibre rollout by Chorus – checkout the method by which hundreds/thousands of single subscribers are multiplexed using Wavelength Division Multiplexing – a kind of prismatic separation of light colours. Then think about NSA’s technical capabilities and the possibility of tapping (I dunno – perhaps using some sort of wrap around capability) AND the fact that the Pacific cable is in a self-correcting ring where temporary outages can be catered for, and even go unnoticed.
There have been outages, but might point is that I’ve no doubt there is the technical capability to tap – and its without the need for Ferguson’s deep sea divers – whether he knows it or not. Who ever suggested it was occurring at sea anyway?
Wasn’t there something about a specially tasked submarine?
Another tech question. If as Key says that the GCBS only tapped the cable for cybersecurity reasons, how does that work if they’re not collecting mass data? Surely they have to collect the data in order to be able to filter it to what they are after.
+1.
Unfortunately these days I pay less attention to what I hear on MSM outlets and I didn’t hear about specialty submarines. Nothing would surprise me however.
In 2005, the Associated Press reported that a submarine called the USS Jimmy Carter had been repurposed to carry crews of technicians to the bottom of the sea so they could tap fiber optic lines. The easiest place to get into the cables is at the regeneration points — spots where their signals are amplified and pushed forward on their long, circuitous journeys. “At these spots, the fiber optics can be more easily tapped, because they are no longer bundled together, rather laid out individually,” Deutsche Welle reported.
Sir Bruce Fergson’s adoption of the ‘traitor’ smear in relation to Edward Snowden brought Samuel Johnson’s famous quote, ‘Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel’ into sharp focus. True patriots use whatever means, even at extreme risk to their very existence, to protect the honour and integrity of the country they treasure – traitors spy on their own people.
Interesting @ adam. I actually allow my poor starving student neighbours to use my WiFi at times in order to do their assignments, and visitors to access their emails. I’m happy for them to use a piece of my monthIy quota that I can’t possibly use. I don’t hang off them everytime they do use it. They are adults, and they deserve their privacy. They reciprocate in other ways. It’s ‘community’.
Have friends in the Defence Forces that have very little time for Mataparae.
And it’s been a while since I read Nicky Hager’s Other People’s Wars – but I’m surmising that Mataparae may have been in the upper echelon of those who worked with the US – and misinformed Helen Clark – while that was occurring.
I have such respect for those who go into the Defence Force as a way to serve NZ’ers and humanity. Unfortunately, they are often used for other purposes and by those who don’t share their values or integrity.
Not jumpping down your throat here Chooky as I know this was nothing sinister in your post but as a person in the NZDF I would also like to point out that there are a lot of fine women serving too.
Understand where you’re coming from @ Molly. Personally I reckon Jerr is still working out which side his bread is buttered on. (He could be excused if he was ekshully a bit fick – but he’s not.) I wish he’d just grow some balls ‘cos he seems to be just looking ahead to retirement via the cushiest route possible. Same goes for Ferguson and various others. If I was a gambler, It’d put bets on his being on the wrong side of history (going forward, so-to-speak, as a matter of fek, ekshully). Shame they’re not more worried about the legacy they leave for their descendants)
Mateparae was only head of GCSB for 5 months. Then they moved him on to the GG role. Which means he will have to decide what to do if there is no clear election result and Key decides to keep on governing.
When Matapaere was replaced by Key’s mate, it was pretty obvious to me that they wanted some business type at the head of the spooks rather than a military person. I think most of their spying these days is for commercial reasons, and I don’t think it’s to protect Kiwi commercial interests.
Really quiet here today. RWNJ astroturfers are all over at Stuff, posting like crazy because Andrea Vance has finally stepped outside the tent and started questioning what is happening in NZ. They must be so rattled.
I hate stuff and all it stands for. And all the judgemental haters who think we should swallow their hate speech as some form of eternal truth. Sorry pissed at this piece in stuff – Journalist in this country happy to stomp on peoples rights again.
Oh please you’re going to slag of the caregivers, then what about the brother, nephew or the journalist? You’re going to support a system which assumes mental capacity without rigorous testing, that quite frankly, is a horses ass. I know a person who they decided had a mental age of 11 and was going to be stuck there – turned out when they got their BCom, the doctor looked like real brightspark.
But no lets let journalists sensationalise, lets let journalists and family members trample over peoples rights. Oh wait lets slag of workers who take people to a place were they have a legal right to be. Joy.
Herald columnist Wendyl Nissen.
Sticks it to the right … re Dirty Politics and Newstalkzb. If only more people like her would also come forward. There is still time.
… she also had a regular spot on Newstalkzb discussing politics. (I assume you didn’t bother with the link Tracey because I am not sure what point you are trying to make … her column is in today’s Herald.)
…”High-profile Maori Television executives Julian Wilcox and Carol Hirschfeld have been demoted from their jobs in a restructure process announced to staff at the station today.
Maori Television Service chief executive Paora Maxwell briefed his executive staff this morning about a structural realignment that has seen Mr Wilcox and Ms Hirschfeld both big casualties in the changes at the station.”…
…The Herald understands a new role called head of corporate affairs has been created at the station among several other positions including a head of programming and production role – that will oversee Mr Wilcox’s old news and current affairs job.
The source said Mr Wilcox and Ms Hirschfeld are able to apply for the role but it’s likely it will go to the station’s current general manager programming, Haunui Royal, who is currently in Hawaii on holiday.”…
Agree Yeshe – Maori TV has been one of the bright lights in the current attack on quality radio and TV. I must also mention the good work done by TV One on Sunday mornings BEFORE & AFTER Q&A. but I can’t understand why Jim Mora was installed as co-host on Checkpoint with Mary Wilson (well I can, he was put there to water down Mary’s talent for asking the hard questions).
It didn’t go all the way this time, but Feminist Initiative has changed the conversation in Swedish politics, establishing that feminism is not something that can be ignored. The party has forced Swedish politicians to talk about gender equality and discrimination—and incorporate an intersectional perspective on oppressive structure. In so doing, they’ve put the possibility of a successful feminist party on the international map. A political party solely devoted to feminist issues is no longer a faraway dream, but a real thing
So regardless of the final vote counts in Sweden’s recent election, and no matter who makes up the governing coalition, it looks as if the country will preserve many free-market reforms. The situation is reminiscent of what happened in Britain in 1997, when the Labour party’s Tony Blair ousted the Conservatives after 18 years in opposition. Far from overturning the economic agenda of Margaret Thatcher, Blair broadly accepted it and proceeded to move left on social policy and immigration. Those moves damaged Britain even while its economy grew. The same thing could happen in Sweden. Conservatives appear to have won the broad economic argument in many countries, but the culture wars are a different matter entirely.
But…but…but after the Cold Play ‘error”, national wouldn’t steal again????
“John Key could be in copyright trouble over music used in the DVD to mark his year as National Party leader.
The party has been warned it is walking a fine line by using a newly created piece of music very similar to Coldplay’s Clocks.
The similarities are enough to have prompted the Australasian Performing Right Association, which manages copyright issues and licences for many international bands in New Zealand, to notify the copyright holder for Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.
The Weekend Herald asked a music lawyer and musicology analyst to compare the Coldplay song to music used in the opening segments of the Ambitious for New Zealand – Meet John Key DVD because of confusion from some readers about the song in its opening segments.
National Party campaign manager Jo de Joux said the music was composed by “an Auckland artist” and paid for by the production company which produced the DVD.
However, music lawyer Chris Hocquard said if it was similar enough that the public was confused into thinking it was Clocks, it could be in breach of copyright laws and the Fair Trading Act.
“The test is ‘does it confuse?’ Does the public listen to that and think ‘that’s Clocks?’ There’s a very fine line when you’re doing this and you have to be careful not to cross it.
And I’m not sure they haven’t.”
Dr Graeme Downes, the former Verlaines frontman who is now a musicology consultant at Otago University, said the music shared the same rumba beat, harmony and chords as Clocks.
It also had a similar drum introduction, and the key was the same, “which draws even greater attention to the harmonic similarity”.
“If I were approached by a lawyer to furnish a report for a prosecution of copyright infringement against the music on the DVD I would happily do so. If approached by a lawyer to furnish a report in its defence, I would decline.”
Martin is well-known for his alignment with left-wing causes, such as fair trade and Oxfam, and his opposition to the Iraq War and George Bush. In his acceptance speech after winning the best record Grammy for Clocks in 2004, he specifically endorsed presidential candidate Democrat John Kerry.
The NZ branch of Coldplay’s record company, EMI, had no comment.”
” National Party leader John Key says his staff should never have signed off a DVD that appears to plagiarise a hit by English rock band Coldplay.
DVD lands Key in hot water
Key yesterday ordered a recall of 20,000 DVDs featuring him in a video called Ambitious for New Zealand after Coldplay’s record company, EMI, warned National it was breaching copyright by using music similar to the smash hit Clocks.
The DVD focuses on Key travelling New Zealand by car, visiting schools and factories and talking about his vision for the country.
Produced for National by Production Shed TV, the cost has not been disclosed but The Press understands the party spent $110,000 on it.
The DVD was meant to relaunch Key’s image and introduce him to New Zealanders unfamiliar with the National leader, but the botch-up has embarrassed and angered the party.
Last week Key toured South Island centres, handing out thousands of the DVDs, and planned a similar North Island tour.
National Party campaign manager Jo de Joux previously insisted the music had been commissioned from an Auckland artist and was original.
She said yesterday that the party was angry with the production company. “We paid these guys to make a DVD for us. We relied on their expertise and they have let us down.”
Key said National should not have relied on Production Shed.
“My people relied on the production company. In my opinion, they should have kicked it upstairs for me or one of the senior management team to sign off, and they didn’t,” he said. “
In 2009 Key said National should not have relied on Production Shed.
“My people relied on the production company. In my opinion, they should have kicked it upstairs for me or one of the senior management team to sign off, and they didn’t,” he said. “
Is that John Key, he who knows nothing cos he delegates saying something should have been kicked upstairs to him for sign off? Is he an Intellectual property expert?
“As you may know I write a column called Wendyl Wants to Know in the Weekend Herald every Saturday which looks at what is in processed food.”
“Earlier this year I was on the receiving end of a concerted effort, including legal letters, to get me discredited through my bosses at the Herald.
The person behind it was Katherine Rich, the chief executive of the Food & Grocery Council….
After that I noticed that right-wing bloggers Whale Oil and Cactus Kate (appeared to have begun a smear campaign against me. ”
Katherine Rich and Slater took money to rubbish a food writer.
Now THAT is the story that will incense National supporters.
National Party sued over Eminem copyright infringment
“A claim filed in the High Court today alleges the National Party used elements of Eminem’s Grammy-winning song in TV ads screening during their election campaign.”
it is not just raining on National: it is pissing down!
So either this is going to be a big turnout or a lot of people who normally vote have early voted so they don’t need to later & there will be low turnout on the day.
Weather forecasts have possible snow and rain for election day according to Stuff; worst since 1984 and a lot of us can remember.
This had me chuckling, a welcome portent, and a brilliant old woman ….
“Left-wing political commentator Chris Trotter recalled being in Dunedin for the 1984 election which saw Prime Minister Rob Muldoon defeated.
“The memory that sticks in my mind the most was going up Carroll Street towards the polling booth and there was a very old lady trudging up through the snow as it was falling.
“She looked so old and frail and I said, ‘do you need any help?’ And she said to me, ‘no, it’s alright, I can get rid of this bastard Muldoon all by myself’.”
Despite the winter weather, that election was the high point of New Zealand’s turnout to general elections, with 93.7 per cent of registered voters participating, Trotter said.
I am embarrassed and ashamed by TV1 and TV3’s analysis of last night’s event. Never have I seen such a collective partisan snow job by New Zealand’s media
Is this a Monty Python Skit in the Herald?
Breaking news is article on “secret document danger” (about how Key has endangered NZ, potentially), followed by “kiwi jihadist wants to return home”, with a picture of Mohammad Daniel, sporting a gun. Mustn’t have liked the Eminem story, as that has been bumped to third!
Surreal….we need Russel Brand to take on our MSM, like he did with Fox news!
Anyone seen anything more on this? I can’t find anything RadioLive’s website (but they have a naff search engine).
RadioLIVE Newsroom
@LIVENewsDesk
John Key’s encouraging voters in the Te Tai Tokerau electorate to vote for Labour in a bid to destroy Kim Dotcom’s Internet Mana Movement.
But this is where things could get a little hairy. Mr Key told TV3’s The Nation on Saturday morning that if he felt that Mr Peters was mucking him around, he’d advise the Governor-general to summon the new Parliament. He also signalled his intention to continue governing as a sort of pro tempore Prime Minister until defeated by a motion of No-Confidence – at which point he would advise the Governor-General to dissolve the House and call a new General Election. Faced with the prospect of being punished by the voters for forcing them into an unnecessary and unwanted snap election, Mr Key clearly believes that Mr Peters would blink first and get in behind a National-led Government.
Such an outcome would, however, constitute a clear breach of New Zealand’s constitutional conventions and come very close to being a coup d’état. If Mr Key cannot negotiate an agreement with Mr Peters, then the proper course for the Governor-General is to invite the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Cunliffe, to have a go at assembling the requisite majority in the House of Representatives.
Only in the event of both Mr Key and Mr Cunliffe being unable to assemble a majority would the Governor-General be entitled to convene the House and test its members’ willingness to do so. Should that prove unattainable, then – and only then – would the Governor-General be obliged to dissolve the Parliament and ask us – the voters – to elect a new one.
one thing that has fascinated me the last few years is that, despite the low opinion folks had of politicians prior to this regime, how much of our system of government relied on personal integrity and accountability.
Cabinet manual – toothless
Privileges committee – dominated by the government, so a lapdog
Speaker – no recourse to a blatantly biased and incompetent Speaker
Classified documents – binding on the opposition, declassified on a whim by the pm
I wonder if it would be more effective to be able to kick privileges committee, cabinet manual things, and speaker rulings to the supreme court in a timely manner? The US court is stacked by whichever government is in power, but maybe if jurists elected supreme court members for fixed terms?
Keys approach now – I wondered when he was going to reach for the Nationalism card – it seems now is the time!
I’m loth to publish this whole letter but I think you need the context.
Hello Adam
I’m contacting you with this special message to thank you for your extraordinary support over recent weeks.
This mirrors the support and feedback we’re getting from Kiwis all across the country.
In the last few days of this campaign we are determined that nothing will stand between us and laying out our clear plan for New Zealand’s future… because that’s what New Zealanders’ are asking for.
It is those same Kiwis who are also asking us what business Kim Dotcom and his foreign political friends have in telling Kiwis what they ought to think four days out from our election.
But just to be perfectly clear, there is no truth to the wild allegations they’ve made – there are no NSA spy bases in New Zealand and no mass surveillance of New Zealanders.
Our election on Saturday is about the future of New Zealand.
We will continue to work hard right up until Friday night, just as we have for the last six years, to focus on the issues that matter to New Zealanders.
We’ll be reminding New Zealanders that our plans will ensure a strong, open economy that delivers more for them and their families – like more jobs, higher incomes, more people off welfare and into work and world-leading education and health services.
We’ll also be reminding voters that MMP elections are always close, even with the Opposition in disarray.
We need to make sure voters know that any vote for any other party risks political turmoil and our economy stalling.
The ONLY way to keep New Zealand heading in the right direction is to PARTY VOTE NATIONAL.
So let’s get out as many supporters as possible to party vote National on Saturday.
key is scared, very scared – he’ll do and say anything now – the next few days are going to be torrid and when the dust settles the utter moral vacuousness of key will be apparent for everyone to see. Win or lose, key is toast.
Key and his gang are finishing off our belief in the goodness of our fellow citizens and our democracy. and the expectation that we will develop better ideas for managing the country as education rises and we have the option of calm reflection distant from temporary crises.
That’s naive stuff. Bring on the crises, manufacture them like fireworks, let them off and watch the panic, no time now for rational, advanced thinking.
“I’m contacting you with this special message to thank you for your extraordinary support over recent weeks.
This mirrors the support and feedback we’re getting from Kiwis all across the country.
Yes, judging by the desperate fluoro messages you have taken to plastering across your hoardings, I guess my ‘extraordinary support over recent weeks’ …of left wing parties… (you appear to have missed that part out) does mirror the feedback you have been getting from ‘Kiwis all across the country’ and I have to assume that would be something along the lines of: ‘Fuck off, I ‘m voting left’.
Some woman on TV One, did a report on Facebook mentions for leaders of political parties. key got the most mentions – but really, how vacuous!! People here mention Key quite a lot, and most of it isn’t flattering. She then said Key got loads of mentions after KDC failed to produce new evidence at the MoT – how does she know it wasn’t people on about Key and X-Keyscore, etc?
How stupid do some of these reporters think we are?
Yes, I don’t understand it, but TV1 seems to have gotten worse than TV3 now 🙁
(Wonder why they have degenerated so much? TV3 seems to have improved too. Just odd that they have almost done a complete swap over in my opinion – watch both now, to catch the different slants)
I saw that report and thought it very very bizarre and shabby for that reason. Completely deceptive. Also, did I miss them mentioning IMP or were they ignored?
Yes, I think they did. Though they also ignored Maori Party, Cons, etc.
Also tonight, i had the misfortune to flick into TV One to catch a woman talking about MoT, GCSB, etc, and Mike Hosking replied with an exaggerated groan – “I’m so over this”.
And that guy is meant to be some sort of quality political or current events journalist. I quickly flicked away from TV One in disgust.
I do find it bizarre because TV1 used to be the better one – now One has gone to pieces as far as decent reporting goes!
I thought they missed out IMP because they would have ranked high due to the most talked about subject being related to their party.
They also didn’t say how they counted the data. Hashtags? Some other means? Just hopeless.
I laughed at what you said re flicking over to see something awful! What terrible timing! It really does annoy me seeing someone trivialize something so important. Even worse to think that they think they are excellent for having done so. They just look scared to me.
Did you see Dotcom’s ‘outburst’ on 3? It was excellent, he was telling 3/Paddy off for bad reporting in the past, doing the public a disservice, that type of thing. I thought was excellent that they played it. I have to say, I agreed with every word Dotcom said!
and Mike Hosking replied with an exaggerated groan – “I’m so over this”.
Hoskin hob nobs with the power elite, and indeed is part of the 1% (if not 0.1%). Hence it’s not surprising that he finds complaints about an infrastructure designed to entrench the power elite against everyone else totally banal.
Bit of background here on how other cables are tapped, including reference the to submarine that Snowden talked about last night). Nice bit of historical context of cable tapping the Russians in the 70s too.
In 2005, the Associated Press reported that a submarine called the USS Jimmy Carter had been repurposed to carry crews of technicians to the bottom of the sea so they could tap fiber optic lines. The easiest place to get into the cables is at the regeneration points — spots where their signals are amplified and pushed forward on their long, circuitous journeys. “At these spots, the fiber optics can be more easily tapped, because they are no longer bundled together, rather laid out individually,” Deutsche Welle reported.
But such aquatic endeavors may no longer even be necessary. The cables make landfall at coastal stations in various countries, where their data is sent on to domestic networks, and it’s easier to tap them on land than underwater. Britain is, geographically, in an ideal position to access to cables as they emerge from the Atlantic, so the cooperation between the NSA and GCHQ has been key. Beyond that partnership, there are the other members of the “Five Eyes” — the Australians, the New Zealanders, and the Canadians — that also collaborate with the U.S., Snowden said.
that article is hysterical, in the same way the raid was on Dotcom’s mansion after Kim had invited unexpected visiting police in for cups of tea just the day before.
my goodness, but life in NZ right now is like one weird new video game.
The Southern Cross undersea cable landings at two Auckland beaches have been labelled critical infrastructure and key resources by the United States government, a Wikileaks cable released today reveals.
[…]
They are the landings for the fibre optic link at Whenuapai and Takapuna.
[…]
The memo from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is titled critical foreign dependencies (critical infrastructure and key resources located abroad) dated February 18 last year and is classified secret.
It says it is not for internet distribution.
The cable, released by Wikileaks, explains that under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) was written.
[…]
The memo says that a National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) was developed under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
It aimed to bring together critical infrastructure and key resources (CI/KR).
“The overarching goal of the NIPP is to build a safer, more secure, and more resilient America by enhancing protection of the nation’s CI/KR to prevent, deter, neutralise or mitigate the effects of deliberate efforts by terrorists to destroy, incapacitate or exploit them; and to strengthen national preparedness, timely response, and rapid recovery in the event of an attack, natural disaster or other emergency.”
(C) Summary: On February 22, the Ambassador accompanied a Washington visitor to a ” courtesy call” on Prime Minister (PM) John Key which turned into an hour plus discussion. PM Key noted that he (in contrast to MFAT) was not concerned about immediately devising a “media strategy” after the recent briefing on the USG review of bilateral military relations delivered by DAS Frankie Reed and DASD Bob Scher. He expressed confidence that he could handle any related questions if they came up (which they have not in several encounters with the media that the PM has subsequently had). Key also raised the topic of a bilateral visit to the Washington DC in a manner that indicated how important confirming the visit for June is to him. End Summary
[…]
(C) Comment: The manner in which PM Key pitched the bilateral visit indicated to the Ambassador that nailing down a June visit is of intense importance to Key. The Ambassador gathered from the exchange that June is being held open by the GNZ in hopes of a confirmation for a bilateral visit then in the near future. Key, who has not previously raised this topic personally (leaving that to FM McCully and MFAT) clearly hoped his explanation might result in an early confirmation for June. End Comment. CLARKE
Gord Stewarts – Pulpit – National not serving farmers well. Talking about the arrogance of National in (not) addressing climate change, and the reliance it has on dairy.
No comments so far on the articles, but interesting given the expected voting preferences of the farming community.
I wonder if there will be any traditional National voters that are so conflicted about the current news articles that for a change it is right-wing voters that don’t turn up at the ballot box?
a lot of conservative, orthodox National supporters in rural areas are less than pleased that Key, Collins, et al have gotten into bed with Slater and his cohorts.
Will that mean that significant numbers won’t vote blue this time? (Just 30,000 changing to Red Green or Black will be enough to end National). We’ll really only know on Sunday 21st.
TL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above that was recorded yesterday afternoon above between and The Kākā’s climate correspondent : An independent review panel into the emergency response to Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawkes Bayconcluded “that ...
There are now only a few days left to give feedback on the Draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport 2024-34 (see our earlier post this week on GPS submission guides). As we’ve reported, the GPS is a disaster for Local Government, so we were particularly interested to hear ...
Willis has pledged to go ahead with the debt-funded tax cuts, despite growing opposition from her own supporters worried about appearing fiscally irresponsible. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for ...
Open access notables A survey of interventions to actively conserve the frozen North, van Wijngaarden et al., Climatic Change:The frozen elements of the high North are thawing as the region warms much faster than the global mean. The dangers of sea level rise due to melting glacier ice, increased ...
Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure. The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On ...
In 2015, then-Prime Minister John Key announced plans for a huge ocean sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands, banning fishing and mining from 15% of Aotearoa's EEZ. It was bold, it was ambitious, and it suggested that National might actually care about the environment. Except they fucked it up: Key failed ...
1. Who has just been given the accolade New Zealander of the Year?a. The Kokakob. The Cook Strait Ferryc. Fair God. Dr Jim Salinger 2. Which of these is an affront to decent society?a. Dame Edna Everageb. Mrs Doubtfire c. Dr. Frank-N-Furterd. Brian 3. Who is Penny Simmonds?a. The aspiring actress in Big ...
New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure.The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On the face of it, the court found ...
Buzz from the Beehive Waves of rain are set to lash much of the North Island during Easter Weekend as a low-pressure system forms east of New Zealand, according to a weather forecast published in the past day or so. Niwa was warning of a “moisture-laden” long weekend, with rain expected ...
Look around us…Nicola Willis’ promises of balancing the books, of cutting spending without reducing services, and of delivering game changing tax cuts are disappearing before her eyes.Everyday we see stories of violent crime ending in horrific injuries, or worse. The cost of living worsens, whereas the PM claimed renters would ...
TL;DR: My top six news of note on the morning of Thursday, March 28 include:The Government will have to borrow between $10 billion to $15 billion more than previously expected in order to make up for a slowing economy and to pay for $14.9 billion of tax cuts, according to ...
This story by Naveena Sadasivam and Kate Yoder was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The long-awaited jobs board for the American Climate Corps, promised early in the Biden administration, will open next month, according to details shared exclusively ...
Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don’t think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of ...
Treasury’s first report on the economy since the change of government presents a damning indictment of Labour’s economic management. The problem for National is that it is so damning that logically, coupled with a rapidly slowing economy, Finance Minister Nicola Willis should respond to it by postponing or even cancelling ...
Budget tensions are becoming evident within the Coalition Government. Winston Peters made numerous political points in his speech to the NZF annual conference. But the attack on his own government’s fiscal policies raised issues of substance. ‘Today in the Sunday Star Times, journalist and former advisor to the Labour ...
Buzz from the Beehive The media – sure enough – have been binging on Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ release of the Budget Policy Statement and a statement headed Government announces Budget priorities This assures us – or rather, this parrots the Luxon team mantra – that the Budget “will deliver ...
The Ides of March brought me COVID followed by a bereavement. No wonder they tell you to be careful of them.I’m home now and have resumed the interrupted recuperation. Very much looking forward to getting back to regular things. Meanwhile, some thoughts…OneThis new Prime Minister guy just keeps getting more dire. ...
News that the Chinese ATP 40 cyber-hacking unit penetrated parliamentary internet networks in 2021 has renewed concerns about the PRC’s malign intentions in Aotearoa. But is the hack that significant given the length of time that has passed since its … Continue reading → ...
When Parliament passed the Intelligence and security Act in 2017, they assured us all that it was full of safeguards. Any intrusive surveillance of New Zealanders would be subject to a "triple lock", requiring the approval of the Minister and (supposedly independent) Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, as well as post-facto ...
Eric Crampton writes – Richard Harman’s Politik newsletter provides a bit of the context that ought to have been showing up in other media reports on potential reductions in public service staffing. Media has been reporting on staffing cuts on the order of about 7%. Is that ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – It’s becoming increasingly apparent that many perceive free speech to have become the preserve of the politically right wing, the religiously conservative, the libertarian fringe, the anti-trans, the anti-Māori and…. well, just fill in with whatever groups or individuals you don’t like and don’t ...
Don Brash writes – As everybody who is not blind and deaf is aware, there is a huge political preoccupation with climate change at the moment, a widespread (though by no means unanimous) belief that global temperatures are rising mainly as a result of the greenhouse gases created ...
TL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy on Wednesday, March 27 include:Chris Bishop laid out his vision for filling Aotearoa-NZ’s $100 billion infrastructure deficit in a speech yesterday, emphasising user pays and private funding, but failed to say how to achieve bipartisanship on population, public borrowing and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Former Finance Minister Grant Robertson and former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins have been conveying how unhappy they are with the tax system. Last week in his valedictory speech, Robertson called for the introduction of a wealth or capital gains tax. And this week Hipkins ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The cruelty of short-term memory loss is that each time you ask where she is, you get the fresh shock and grief of the news. That was Dad's day yesterday.Comfortingly, it seems to be less so today. Last night he looked crumpled, today he seems more settled. There's a card ...
Photo by Alvan Nee on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...
Buzz from the Beehive One minister is talking tough while a colleague – whose ministry had acted tough and drawn a barrage of flak – has shown an official softening. Some ministers are doing what Labour was good at, which is distributing public funds to causes regarded as worthy or ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. My earlier article – Can ‘Good’ be the Greater Evil? – looked at the issue of how wars should end, and how Good versus Evil ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 AMMA by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press, $38)A stunning debut novel reviewed by Brannavan ...
From Steve Martin to Ricky Stanicky, a pick’n’mix of things worth watching and listening to this long weekend. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If you’re at a loss for something to occupy yourself with this Easter, don’t panic: The Spinoff’s got ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
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Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
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Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Rutland, Professor Emerita, University of Sydney In his latest book, Jewish Life in Medieval Spain, Jonathan Ray focuses on the tumult of the 14th century in Spain – a time of the plague, civil strife and war between the two largest ...
While creating a slate of world-class shows, Whakaata Māori also developed a generation of world-class creatives. Television is an odd word. It mixes the Ancient Greek and Latin languages, and its most literal meaning is “far-off sight”. In the contemporary and living language of te reo Māori, “whakaata” as a ...
Yesterday the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. This significant step and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza prompted an urgent debate in the New Zealand Parliament. Leader ...
The Government’s decision to reduce access to continuous glucose monitors (CGM) not only threatens the lives of children with type 1 diabetes and increases the potential for ‘Dead in Bed’ syndrome, but also threatens the health of their parents an ...
Apples are available year-round, but the wide variety on offer involves intensive scientific research – and large-scale commercialisation. What’s beautiful, red, sweet and crunchy? Tony Martin’s favourite kind of apple: Sassy. The CEO of apple and pear breeding organisation Prevar, Martin’s fondness for Sassy represents professional success as well as ...
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Brutal government spending cuts that will see the size of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples slashed by 40% will hit Pasifika communities hard, the PSA says. The Ministry has told staff that it is seeking voluntary redundancies, and to redeploy and reassign ...
I live with five people I mostly love, but our different ideas about generosity are starting to really irk me.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,This is a bit of a random one but here goes. I’m 22 and work an OK job (OK meaning I get paid ...
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The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the investigation into the Department of Internal Affairs after it was revealed that the Department’s Chief Executive personally reached out to expedite a DJs passport application. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns ...
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A lengthy response to the recently released draft Government policy statement on transport will soon be delivered from Auckland Council to Minister of Transport Simeon Brown. A submission raising concerns about funding distribution and the plan’s treatment of Auckland passed through the council’s transport committee on Wednesday, despite some councillors ...
The unidentified foreign intelligence operation discussed in a scathing report by New Zealand’s Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) last week appears to be a controversial United States intelligence system. The IGIS report said the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) decision to host a foreign system from 2012-2020 was “improper” ...
Sounds like Kim dot com is killing Hone’s Chance’s will be a shame to see him go.
@ concern-troll..
..yes..closer than i wd like..
..i take some solace that in 2011 this same poll was out by ten points..
..and not in harawiras’ favour..
another interesting/questionable aspect of that poll..
..is that the actual polling was done two months ago..
..to landlines..
..so..y’know..!
Naa, Hone will be a shoe in up in TTT.
But Davis may struggle to get back to Wellington on the Labour list, given the fractured nature of the lefts vote.
Does this mean “Spearhead” is NSA’s operation word for getting us to implement CORTEX?
Even the name (see the definition) insults us.
Time for Cunliffe and McCarten to step up and show Key’s litany of inconsistencies… so people understand what’s not to trust.
Shit just focus on his don’t know versus expert on GCSB/SIS utterings…
His Fletcher stuff his current stuff BUT somehow pull together threads of pithy lines to show he cannot be trusted by his own words defeat him.
So mass surveillance has been outsourced to 4 of the other 5 eyes till GSCB law was passed, our cable has been eavesdropped and the speaker has a letter which possibly proves our PM mislead parliament on numerous occasions.
Vote positive kids, ignore the MSM and love or hate the big German he has done the citizens of not just NZ a service getting this out there.
Yep this is the only rational explanation and explains why Key has been saying what he has. While it may be true it is a maufactured truth.
cunnliffes’ promises to end mass-surveillance..(taken at face-value..)
..can’t do labours’ chances any harm..
cunnliffe should really ramp-up on that promise over the next few days..
..standing on the sidelines going:..’but what about our policies?’..
..while understandable..hasn’t worked until now..
..it is time for cunnliffe to insert himself into this conversation..
..he/labour is/are not ‘above it all’…
..’vote positiv’ will only take you so far..
..and once again..insisting on this disengagement from these issues..
..hasn’t worked that well up until now..eh..?
@Phillip I like both hone and kelvin but have quietly hoped for a big future for hone it would be a shame if he gets finished buy a so called Ali
involuntary-humour on tvone breakfast show..
..the female co-compere..when she puts on her serious-face…
..just looks like she is hanging out for a pee..
Standardnistas LPrent can confirm but yesterday looks like it was the Standard’s biggest day ever, by quite a margin too.
laila harre interview on nat-rad/9-noon..
..soon..
it’d be nice if ryan wd let harre end a sentence..
..she is a fucken disgrace..!
Phil, my thoughts exactly, especially when the interviewee is working up to the main point or conclusion at the end of the statement, and it’s spoken over. Harre’s technique was to try to hold her ground and finish, and when that was not successful, to use the beginning of the next question to compete her point.
Interviewers seem to have a technique that involves two things- one to rattle the interviewee by pressuring by quick questions, and also to keep asking questions prepared before the interview, even if they are going against the flow of the ‘dialogue’.
It all ends up to a disjointed interview.
Interviewees of course need to stop their technique of pausing at odd places to gain breath in order to run sentences together and thus take away the natural breaks which interviewers use to insert their next question. Interviewees have their techniques also to manipulate the interview. It’s all part of what can be a very unsatisfactory game, and not played in the interests of the general public.
But that’s what we’ve learned afresh from last night’s moment of truth- little done by those in power, and mostly this is a criticism of the Right, is done in the interests of the general public who are manipulated, lied to by omission and commission, kept uninformed, discouraged from interest in politics or voting, distracted deliberately by false issues or by media circuses.
The historian in me knows that this is all not new. It also tells me that there are times of renewal in a nation’s history.
I pray that September 2014 is one of these times of renewal.
It’s the ultimate in conceit really. Ryan, Espiner and Fergusson all do it – not allowing interviewees to finish a sentence or give complete answers to their questions. It’d be interesting to do timings on interviewer/interviewee – my suspicions are that Ryan occupied more time than Harre.
They’d do well to take a few lessons/coaching from the likes of (say) Colin Peacock and/or Jeremy Rose.
They’re all exactly what’s wrong with public service broadcasting – they push themselves as though they are ‘the product’.
I agree. I wish she (Ryan) would go do something she has talent for. Like cleaning windows.
do her panes sparkle..do they..?
Laila is good at pegging on till the end phillip ure. It just may be that Kathryn wants to cover more things in the allocated time than Laila’s full answers would allow.
“Sir” Bruce Ferguson, former government spy boss spining for Key on Morning Report, said Snowden is a traitor and therefore what he has to say has no value. Brucy earning his knighthood said no NSA in NZ. Of course as a spy, he was/still is? paid to lie and obfuscate.
the laugh-out-loud moment from ferguson was his saying that because the ceo of the cable company said there was no tapping..
..there was no tapping into that cable..
..the idiocy of that contention was laugh-out-loud demolished by greenwald last nite.
The thing about a spy is that there is never a route back for them. They can never ever be trusted again. Never.
was Snowden a spy?
Just because he’s more trustworthy than John Key, it doesn’t mean that he’s what you or I would call “trustworthy” 🙂
also the difference between Snowden and, say, Ferguson, is Snowden has ended up in Russia with his life turned upside down in an attempt to shine some light into dark spaces…. Ferguson got a knighthood.
I am really annoyed right now. It is more than an ideological difference of opinion, imo, between Key fans and tose who don’t want Key. To me it is of much deeper significance than this. And even spoon fed last night out media have let us down, so far.
I can’t recall a PM who “changed” his version of events so often over the period of his tenure as this one…
I recall key very upset at Clark about Winston and Glenn’s stoush, I recall the uproar over her speeding to an AB match, to her signing a painting she didnt paint for charity… about the attack on democracy proclaimed by the herald over the attempt to bring transparency to political donations…
….
Snowden did computer system work for a spy agency. I don’t think that makes him a spy and therefore not to be trusted. Secret Squirrel Ferguson headed a spy agency. That makes him a spy.
My thoughts exactly. The CEO says – therefore it is so – “he would know”. And of course Ferguson knew absolutely all and everything that went/goes on in the GCSB because he was ‘across’ ALL staff 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
key has confirmed the cable was tapped.
do you have the link, cos that contradicts Briscoe, CEO of Southern Cross Cable Network (and no CEO would ever lie for John Key)
See Anthony Robbins’ post ‘Media round up’. It’s in the actual post as I recall.
Thanks
This has it too
http://thestandard.org.nz/the-blowoff-stream/#comment-888303
I was sort of marveling at Ferguson’s attempt at spin and self-preservation really. On one interview I heard, he was even talking about the need for deep sea divers. I suppose that might be enough to convince portions of the public but it doesn’t convince me.
If anyone happens to notice the Fibre rollout by Chorus – checkout the method by which hundreds/thousands of single subscribers are multiplexed using Wavelength Division Multiplexing – a kind of prismatic separation of light colours. Then think about NSA’s technical capabilities and the possibility of tapping (I dunno – perhaps using some sort of wrap around capability) AND the fact that the Pacific cable is in a self-correcting ring where temporary outages can be catered for, and even go unnoticed.
There have been outages, but might point is that I’ve no doubt there is the technical capability to tap – and its without the need for Ferguson’s deep sea divers – whether he knows it or not. Who ever suggested it was occurring at sea anyway?
Wasn’t there something about a specially tasked submarine?
Another tech question. If as Key says that the GCBS only tapped the cable for cybersecurity reasons, how does that work if they’re not collecting mass data? Surely they have to collect the data in order to be able to filter it to what they are after.
+1.
Unfortunately these days I pay less attention to what I hear on MSM outlets and I didn’t hear about specialty submarines. Nothing would surprise me however.
Don’t need a submarine, just access to the network.
A back door into internet providers is enough.
Mind you, I would be very surprised if US spies had not been looking at internet traffic ever since it started.
As one of Pinochet’s minions said afterwards. “No need to tell spies and interrogators to exceed their legal boundaries, they will do it anyway”.
In 2005, the Associated Press reported that a submarine called the USS Jimmy Carter had been repurposed to carry crews of technicians to the bottom of the sea so they could tap fiber optic lines. The easiest place to get into the cables is at the regeneration points — spots where their signals are amplified and pushed forward on their long, circuitous journeys. “At these spots, the fiber optics can be more easily tapped, because they are no longer bundled together, rather laid out individually,” Deutsche Welle reported.
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-16092014/#comment-889298
Sir Bruce Fergson’s adoption of the ‘traitor’ smear in relation to Edward Snowden brought Samuel Johnson’s famous quote, ‘Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel’ into sharp focus. True patriots use whatever means, even at extreme risk to their very existence, to protect the honour and integrity of the country they treasure – traitors spy on their own people.
+1
which reminds me, John? JOHN? Werent we going to talk about the flag?
+100
This is a linux hero whom I enjoy.
A good job explaining what the creepy things they know about you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQkjzwWgIvY
Interesting @ adam. I actually allow my poor starving student neighbours to use my WiFi at times in order to do their assignments, and visitors to access their emails. I’m happy for them to use a piece of my monthIy quota that I can’t possibly use. I don’t hang off them everytime they do use it. They are adults, and they deserve their privacy. They reciprocate in other ways. It’s ‘community’.
good for you
Why aren’t we hearing from the man who headed the GCSB AFTER Bruce Ferguson? Namely, Jerry Mataparae?
that guy who key might approach for the nod to form a minority govt..?
..that jerry matapere..?
..rotten to the core..the whole establishment..
Have friends in the Defence Forces that have very little time for Mataparae.
And it’s been a while since I read Nicky Hager’s Other People’s Wars – but I’m surmising that Mataparae may have been in the upper echelon of those who worked with the US – and misinformed Helen Clark – while that was occurring.
I have such respect for those who go into the Defence Force as a way to serve NZ’ers and humanity. Unfortunately, they are often used for other purposes and by those who don’t share their values or integrity.
+100 agreed Molly…some are very idealist and fine young men…and it is a tragedy when they are used by politicians for ignoble ends for ignoble wars
Not jumpping down your throat here Chooky as I know this was nothing sinister in your post but as a person in the NZDF I would also like to point out that there are a lot of fine women serving too.
Understand where you’re coming from @ Molly. Personally I reckon Jerr is still working out which side his bread is buttered on. (He could be excused if he was ekshully a bit fick – but he’s not.) I wish he’d just grow some balls ‘cos he seems to be just looking ahead to retirement via the cushiest route possible. Same goes for Ferguson and various others. If I was a gambler, It’d put bets on his being on the wrong side of history (going forward, so-to-speak, as a matter of fek, ekshully). Shame they’re not more worried about the legacy they leave for their descendants)
Mateparae was only head of GCSB for 5 months. Then they moved him on to the GG role. Which means he will have to decide what to do if there is no clear election result and Key decides to keep on governing.
When Matapaere was replaced by Key’s mate, it was pretty obvious to me that they wanted some business type at the head of the spooks rather than a military person. I think most of their spying these days is for commercial reasons, and I don’t think it’s to protect Kiwi commercial interests.
Really quiet here today. RWNJ astroturfers are all over at Stuff, posting like crazy because Andrea Vance has finally stepped outside the tent and started questioning what is happening in NZ. They must be so rattled.
I hate stuff and all it stands for. And all the judgemental haters who think we should swallow their hate speech as some form of eternal truth. Sorry pissed at this piece in stuff – Journalist in this country happy to stomp on peoples rights again.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10501900/Mentally-impaired-led-to-vote
With a mental age of 2, those carers should be ashamed of themselves.
Oh please you’re going to slag of the caregivers, then what about the brother, nephew or the journalist? You’re going to support a system which assumes mental capacity without rigorous testing, that quite frankly, is a horses ass. I know a person who they decided had a mental age of 11 and was going to be stuck there – turned out when they got their BCom, the doctor looked like real brightspark.
But no lets let journalists sensationalise, lets let journalists and family members trample over peoples rights. Oh wait lets slag of workers who take people to a place were they have a legal right to be. Joy.
Herald columnist Wendyl Nissen.
Sticks it to the right … re Dirty Politics and Newstalkzb. If only more people like her would also come forward. There is still time.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11325097
she was a journalist in a former life I believe before briefly going fluffy with womens mags…
she actually writes on healthy-food..reviews products..
… she also had a regular spot on Newstalkzb discussing politics. (I assume you didn’t bother with the link Tracey because I am not sure what point you are trying to make … her column is in today’s Herald.)
“..I am not sure what point you are trying to make..”
seeing any patterns here tracey..?
And the expected dismantling of Maori television has begun:” Maori TV executives demoted
…”High-profile Maori Television executives Julian Wilcox and Carol Hirschfeld have been demoted from their jobs in a restructure process announced to staff at the station today.
Maori Television Service chief executive Paora Maxwell briefed his executive staff this morning about a structural realignment that has seen Mr Wilcox and Ms Hirschfeld both big casualties in the changes at the station.”…
…The Herald understands a new role called head of corporate affairs has been created at the station among several other positions including a head of programming and production role – that will oversee Mr Wilcox’s old news and current affairs job.
The source said Mr Wilcox and Ms Hirschfeld are able to apply for the role but it’s likely it will go to the station’s current general manager programming, Haunui Royal, who is currently in Hawaii on holiday.”…
Shit. That is terrible, terrible news. Why now, three days out ? Slipping it out so no-one will notice in the chaos ?
The last bastion of investigative journalism on screen, along with John Campbell … and Hirschfeld was his original producer as I recall.
This is exactly what they did to kneecap TVNZ. Put ‘owned’ advertising and programming people in charge of news and current affairs.
Bastards. Bastards. Bastards.
Agree Yeshe – Maori TV has been one of the bright lights in the current attack on quality radio and TV. I must also mention the good work done by TV One on Sunday mornings BEFORE & AFTER Q&A. but I can’t understand why Jim Mora was installed as co-host on Checkpoint with Mary Wilson (well I can, he was put there to water down Mary’s talent for asking the hard questions).
mora in wilsons’ show is like just putting a clock on something…
..just because you can..
..it enhances neither..
Out with the racists, in with the feminists.
It didn’t go all the way this time, but Feminist Initiative has changed the conversation in Swedish politics, establishing that feminism is not something that can be ignored. The party has forced Swedish politicians to talk about gender equality and discrimination—and incorporate an intersectional perspective on oppressive structure. In so doing, they’ve put the possibility of a successful feminist party on the international map. A political party solely devoted to feminist issues is no longer a faraway dream, but a real thing
http://msmagazine.com/blog/2014/09/15/swedens-feminist-party-nearly-gets-into-parliament-and-pharrell-helps/
is there a follow up article about the sky falling as a result?
Yup, the racist thugs at the NRO –
So regardless of the final vote counts in Sweden’s recent election, and no matter who makes up the governing coalition, it looks as if the country will preserve many free-market reforms. The situation is reminiscent of what happened in Britain in 1997, when the Labour party’s Tony Blair ousted the Conservatives after 18 years in opposition. Far from overturning the economic agenda of Margaret Thatcher, Blair broadly accepted it and proceeded to move left on social policy and immigration. Those moves damaged Britain even while its economy grew. The same thing could happen in Sweden. Conservatives appear to have won the broad economic argument in many countries, but the culture wars are a different matter entirely.
http://www.donotlink.com/bn4v
whoddathunkit.
Thanks for the links Joe90
Stuff has breaking news
Eminem suing National
ROFL….slim shady
But…but…but after the Cold Play ‘error”, national wouldn’t steal again????
“John Key could be in copyright trouble over music used in the DVD to mark his year as National Party leader.
The party has been warned it is walking a fine line by using a newly created piece of music very similar to Coldplay’s Clocks.
The similarities are enough to have prompted the Australasian Performing Right Association, which manages copyright issues and licences for many international bands in New Zealand, to notify the copyright holder for Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.
The Weekend Herald asked a music lawyer and musicology analyst to compare the Coldplay song to music used in the opening segments of the Ambitious for New Zealand – Meet John Key DVD because of confusion from some readers about the song in its opening segments.
National Party campaign manager Jo de Joux said the music was composed by “an Auckland artist” and paid for by the production company which produced the DVD.
However, music lawyer Chris Hocquard said if it was similar enough that the public was confused into thinking it was Clocks, it could be in breach of copyright laws and the Fair Trading Act.
“The test is ‘does it confuse?’ Does the public listen to that and think ‘that’s Clocks?’ There’s a very fine line when you’re doing this and you have to be careful not to cross it.
And I’m not sure they haven’t.”
Dr Graeme Downes, the former Verlaines frontman who is now a musicology consultant at Otago University, said the music shared the same rumba beat, harmony and chords as Clocks.
It also had a similar drum introduction, and the key was the same, “which draws even greater attention to the harmonic similarity”.
“If I were approached by a lawyer to furnish a report for a prosecution of copyright infringement against the music on the DVD I would happily do so. If approached by a lawyer to furnish a report in its defence, I would decline.”
Martin is well-known for his alignment with left-wing causes, such as fair trade and Oxfam, and his opposition to the Iraq War and George Bush. In his acceptance speech after winning the best record Grammy for Clocks in 2004, he specifically endorsed presidential candidate Democrat John Kerry.
The NZ branch of Coldplay’s record company, EMI, had no comment.”
it’s just never Key’s fault,, nothing ever…
” National Party leader John Key says his staff should never have signed off a DVD that appears to plagiarise a hit by English rock band Coldplay.
DVD lands Key in hot water
Key yesterday ordered a recall of 20,000 DVDs featuring him in a video called Ambitious for New Zealand after Coldplay’s record company, EMI, warned National it was breaching copyright by using music similar to the smash hit Clocks.
The DVD focuses on Key travelling New Zealand by car, visiting schools and factories and talking about his vision for the country.
Produced for National by Production Shed TV, the cost has not been disclosed but The Press understands the party spent $110,000 on it.
The DVD was meant to relaunch Key’s image and introduce him to New Zealanders unfamiliar with the National leader, but the botch-up has embarrassed and angered the party.
Last week Key toured South Island centres, handing out thousands of the DVDs, and planned a similar North Island tour.
National Party campaign manager Jo de Joux previously insisted the music had been commissioned from an Auckland artist and was original.
She said yesterday that the party was angry with the production company. “We paid these guys to make a DVD for us. We relied on their expertise and they have let us down.”
Key said National should not have relied on Production Shed.
“My people relied on the production company. In my opinion, they should have kicked it upstairs for me or one of the senior management team to sign off, and they didn’t,” he said. “
a sideshow that favours nats if we of the Left blog on it
their press release on scoop.
So the folks who think KDC is a criminal are accused of stealing intellectual property.
Nothing new here – the fucking nacts are well-known for their hypocrisy.
“So the folks who think KDC is a criminal are accused of stealing intellectual property.”
So the folks who think KDC is a criminal are accused of stealing intellectual property AGAIN.
fFIFY McFlock.
lol cheers.
tragic, innit.
…having a good laugh in this household at the moment.
In 2009 Key said National should not have relied on Production Shed.
“My people relied on the production company. In my opinion, they should have kicked it upstairs for me or one of the senior management team to sign off, and they didn’t,” he said. “
Is that John Key, he who knows nothing cos he delegates saying something should have been kicked upstairs to him for sign off? Is he an Intellectual property expert?
The Wendy Missen story on Katherine Rich in the Herald will have a huge impact on “middle New Zealand”.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11325097
“As you may know I write a column called Wendyl Wants to Know in the Weekend Herald every Saturday which looks at what is in processed food.”
“Earlier this year I was on the receiving end of a concerted effort, including legal letters, to get me discredited through my bosses at the Herald.
The person behind it was Katherine Rich, the chief executive of the Food & Grocery Council….
After that I noticed that right-wing bloggers Whale Oil and Cactus Kate (appeared to have begun a smear campaign against me. ”
Katherine Rich and Slater took money to rubbish a food writer.
Now THAT is the story that will incense National supporters.
National Party sued over Eminem copyright infringment
“A claim filed in the High Court today alleges the National Party used elements of Eminem’s Grammy-winning song in TV ads screening during their election campaign.”
it is not just raining on National: it is pissing down!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11325727
John Oliver explains Scottish independence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YkLPxQp_y0
something is happening…… Wairarapa farmers can sense things are not right..
https://agrihq.co.nz/article/alternative-view-to-vote-corrupt-inept-anti-farming-or-lunatic?p=6
Advance voting continuing its early very high trend & going through the roof
http://www.elections.org.nz/events/2014-general-election/advance-voting-statistics
So either this is going to be a big turnout or a lot of people who normally vote have early voted so they don’t need to later & there will be low turnout on the day.
I’ll be interested to see which it is – I’ll be voting on the day, because I still haven’t decided yet lol
The possibility of Scottish independence seems to have kicked off
another move to change the Australian flag.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/australian-flagchange-champions-aflutter-ahead-of-scottish-independence-vote-20140916-10eet2.html
Perhaps we could try a possum pelt on a long-drop door ..
Weather forecasts have possible snow and rain for election day according to Stuff; worst since 1984 and a lot of us can remember.
This had me chuckling, a welcome portent, and a brilliant old woman ….
“Left-wing political commentator Chris Trotter recalled being in Dunedin for the 1984 election which saw Prime Minister Rob Muldoon defeated.
“The memory that sticks in my mind the most was going up Carroll Street towards the polling booth and there was a very old lady trudging up through the snow as it was falling.
“She looked so old and frail and I said, ‘do you need any help?’ And she said to me, ‘no, it’s alright, I can get rid of this bastard Muldoon all by myself’.”
Despite the winter weather, that election was the high point of New Zealand’s turnout to general elections, with 93.7 per cent of registered voters participating, Trotter said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10504834/Rain-wind-and-snow-predicted-for-Election-Day
key henchman?
joyce shake them down?
WTF – are we in full gangster mode or what
Maori TV dangerous re-shuffles today and also here Pita Sharples does his masters’ bidding:
http://tvnz.co.nz/vote-2014-news/peters-slams-sharples-tribunal-appointments-election-eve-6082657
how stuffed is stuff..?
..at 7 mins past 4..new allegations from greenwald about nz spying on our neighbours..
..very soon afterwards it is bumped right down to the bottom story in the politics section..
..agenda..?..much..?
c’mon greenwald..!..bring it on..!
..hit them with the next load..!
New allegations today? linky?
wow..!..barry soper on prime news..deserves a special craven-toady award..
.dismisses the mass-surveillance-issue..hopes ‘it’s all over now..and we can get back to the campaign’..
and gower on 3 has come in as a late-contender..
I am embarrassed and ashamed by TV1 and TV3’s analysis of last night’s event. Never have I seen such a collective partisan snow job by New Zealand’s media
Is this a Monty Python Skit in the Herald?
Breaking news is article on “secret document danger” (about how Key has endangered NZ, potentially), followed by “kiwi jihadist wants to return home”, with a picture of Mohammad Daniel, sporting a gun. Mustn’t have liked the Eminem story, as that has been bumped to third!
Surreal….we need Russel Brand to take on our MSM, like he did with Fox news!
On a more serious note – this sudden “threat (of) massive damage to NZ’s wellbeing if made public without permission” gives him free license to keep strumm about it.
What a transparent strategy!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11325743
Anyone seen anything more on this? I can’t find anything RadioLive’s website (but they have a naff search engine).
RadioLIVE Newsroom
@LIVENewsDesk
John Key’s encouraging voters in the Te Tai Tokerau electorate to vote for Labour in a bid to destroy Kim Dotcom’s Internet Mana Movement.
Is this Key gearing up to steal the election?
http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2014/09/a-working-majority.html
one thing that has fascinated me the last few years is that, despite the low opinion folks had of politicians prior to this regime, how much of our system of government relied on personal integrity and accountability.
Cabinet manual – toothless
Privileges committee – dominated by the government, so a lapdog
Speaker – no recourse to a blatantly biased and incompetent Speaker
Classified documents – binding on the opposition, declassified on a whim by the pm
I wonder if it would be more effective to be able to kick privileges committee, cabinet manual things, and speaker rulings to the supreme court in a timely manner? The US court is stacked by whichever government is in power, but maybe if jurists elected supreme court members for fixed terms?
Updated list of businesses removing advertising from WO. Fonterra just joined the list.
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/09/16/blogwatch-fonterra-join-2degrees-and-boycott-whaleoil/
Keys approach now – I wondered when he was going to reach for the Nationalism card – it seems now is the time!
I’m loth to publish this whole letter but I think you need the context.
Hello Adam
I’m contacting you with this special message to thank you for your extraordinary support over recent weeks.
This mirrors the support and feedback we’re getting from Kiwis all across the country.
In the last few days of this campaign we are determined that nothing will stand between us and laying out our clear plan for New Zealand’s future… because that’s what New Zealanders’ are asking for.
It is those same Kiwis who are also asking us what business Kim Dotcom and his foreign political friends have in telling Kiwis what they ought to think four days out from our election.
But just to be perfectly clear, there is no truth to the wild allegations they’ve made – there are no NSA spy bases in New Zealand and no mass surveillance of New Zealanders.
Our election on Saturday is about the future of New Zealand.
We will continue to work hard right up until Friday night, just as we have for the last six years, to focus on the issues that matter to New Zealanders.
We’ll be reminding New Zealanders that our plans will ensure a strong, open economy that delivers more for them and their families – like more jobs, higher incomes, more people off welfare and into work and world-leading education and health services.
We’ll also be reminding voters that MMP elections are always close, even with the Opposition in disarray.
We need to make sure voters know that any vote for any other party risks political turmoil and our economy stalling.
The ONLY way to keep New Zealand heading in the right direction is to PARTY VOTE NATIONAL.
So let’s get out as many supporters as possible to party vote National on Saturday.
Thanks again for your support.
Rt Hon John Key
John Key, busy bamboozling.
key is scared, very scared – he’ll do and say anything now – the next few days are going to be torrid and when the dust settles the utter moral vacuousness of key will be apparent for everyone to see. Win or lose, key is toast.
Yes – Key will destroy the credibility of this entire Government trying to claw his way back into the PM’s office.
He already has destroyed the credibility of the entire government.
Key and his gang are finishing off our belief in the goodness of our fellow citizens and our democracy. and the expectation that we will develop better ideas for managing the country as education rises and we have the option of calm reflection distant from temporary crises.
That’s naive stuff. Bring on the crises, manufacture them like fireworks, let them off and watch the panic, no time now for rational, advanced thinking.
Have you seen what 3rd degree is about this week? Former employees reveal what KDC is really like…
Sorry adam, couldn’t bring myself to read it. I got a letter in the mail from Key and threw it in the fire without opening it 🙂
… had to laugh, because we did exactly the same thing.
At least that way we actually got some genuine warmth out of current PM…
“I’m contacting you with this special message to thank you for your extraordinary support over recent weeks.
This mirrors the support and feedback we’re getting from Kiwis all across the country.
Yes, judging by the desperate fluoro messages you have taken to plastering across your hoardings, I guess my ‘extraordinary support over recent weeks’ …of left wing parties… (you appear to have missed that part out) does mirror the feedback you have been getting from ‘Kiwis all across the country’ and I have to assume that would be something along the lines of: ‘Fuck off, I ‘m voting left’.
Some woman on TV One, did a report on Facebook mentions for leaders of political parties. key got the most mentions – but really, how vacuous!! People here mention Key quite a lot, and most of it isn’t flattering. She then said Key got loads of mentions after KDC failed to produce new evidence at the MoT – how does she know it wasn’t people on about Key and X-Keyscore, etc?
How stupid do some of these reporters think we are?
Yes, I don’t understand it, but TV1 seems to have gotten worse than TV3 now 🙁
(Wonder why they have degenerated so much? TV3 seems to have improved too. Just odd that they have almost done a complete swap over in my opinion – watch both now, to catch the different slants)
I saw that report and thought it very very bizarre and shabby for that reason. Completely deceptive. Also, did I miss them mentioning IMP or were they ignored?
Yes, I think they did. Though they also ignored Maori Party, Cons, etc.
Also tonight, i had the misfortune to flick into TV One to catch a woman talking about MoT, GCSB, etc, and Mike Hosking replied with an exaggerated groan – “I’m so over this”.
And that guy is meant to be some sort of quality political or current events journalist. I quickly flicked away from TV One in disgust.
I do find it bizarre because TV1 used to be the better one – now One has gone to pieces as far as decent reporting goes!
I thought they missed out IMP because they would have ranked high due to the most talked about subject being related to their party.
They also didn’t say how they counted the data. Hashtags? Some other means? Just hopeless.
I laughed at what you said re flicking over to see something awful! What terrible timing! It really does annoy me seeing someone trivialize something so important. Even worse to think that they think they are excellent for having done so. They just look scared to me.
Did you see Dotcom’s ‘outburst’ on 3? It was excellent, he was telling 3/Paddy off for bad reporting in the past, doing the public a disservice, that type of thing. I thought was excellent that they played it. I have to say, I agreed with every word Dotcom said!
Hoskin hob nobs with the power elite, and indeed is part of the 1% (if not 0.1%). Hence it’s not surprising that he finds complaints about an infrastructure designed to entrench the power elite against everyone else totally banal.
Courtesy of the sewer.
http://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/2giwpk/when_how_the_southern_cross_cable_was_tapped/
Bit of background here on how other cables are tapped, including reference the to submarine that Snowden talked about last night). Nice bit of historical context of cable tapping the Russians in the 70s too.
In 2005, the Associated Press reported that a submarine called the USS Jimmy Carter had been repurposed to carry crews of technicians to the bottom of the sea so they could tap fiber optic lines. The easiest place to get into the cables is at the regeneration points — spots where their signals are amplified and pushed forward on their long, circuitous journeys. “At these spots, the fiber optics can be more easily tapped, because they are no longer bundled together, rather laid out individually,” Deutsche Welle reported.
But such aquatic endeavors may no longer even be necessary. The cables make landfall at coastal stations in various countries, where their data is sent on to domestic networks, and it’s easier to tap them on land than underwater. Britain is, geographically, in an ideal position to access to cables as they emerge from the Atlantic, so the cooperation between the NSA and GCHQ has been key. Beyond that partnership, there are the other members of the “Five Eyes” — the Australians, the New Zealanders, and the Canadians — that also collaborate with the U.S., Snowden said.
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/07/the-creepy-long-standing-practice-of-undersea-cable-tapping/277855/
The sewer, you say? Surely they wouldn’t be interested in this?
I reckon this bloke was putting the needle in when he posted it.
https://twitter.com/hollowaynz
Aha!
The Southern Cross cable apparently comes ashore at Takapuna, goes underground to Whenuapai, then heads out to sea via the Manukau Harbour.
I must have travelled over it many times.
Snowden didn’t talk about bases, but about “facilities” with sensors, which could be accessed in order to access NZ communications.
that article is hysterical, in the same way the raid was on Dotcom’s mansion after Kim had invited unexpected visiting police in for cups of tea just the day before.
my goodness, but life in NZ right now is like one weird new video game.
this part was fun … National saved money on their advert buying an Eminem rip-off for $50 and are now getting sued by the real Eminem !!
Oh Joyce, how choice !!!!! Monty Pythonesque on steroids.
Matthew Holloway @hollowaynz · 5h
Reminder: National paid $50 for this particular Eminem ripoff http://www.audiomicro.com/8-miles-to-lose-yourself-royalty-free-stock-music-1072575 … read description – National should have known better.
Good info joe
This one is very interesting: dated Sept 2010.
OMG Takkers? What will the locals say ?
thx Karol. What a day; hard to read everything isn’t it 🙂
I have an idea .. some bright journo should ask Maggie Barry what she thinks about it !
lol
The cable.
Subject Request For Information:critical Foreign Dependencies (critical Infrastructure And Key Resources Located Abroad)
[…]
New Zealand: Southern Cross undersea cable landing, Whenuapai, New Zealand Southern Cross undersea cable landing, Takapuna, New Zealand
https://cablegatesearch.wikileaks.org/cable.php?id=09STATE15113&q=takapuna
thx joe. extraordinary what some of those critical assets are. mines, mineral, pharma companies and their specialities, and Takapuna Beach !
what a reality.
He really is an arrogant prick.
(C) Summary: On February 22, the Ambassador accompanied a Washington visitor to a ” courtesy call” on Prime Minister (PM) John Key which turned into an hour plus discussion. PM Key noted that he (in contrast to MFAT) was not concerned about immediately devising a “media strategy” after the recent briefing on the USG review of bilateral military relations delivered by DAS Frankie Reed and DASD Bob Scher. He expressed confidence that he could handle any related questions if they came up (which they have not in several encounters with the media that the PM has subsequently had). Key also raised the topic of a bilateral visit to the Washington DC in a manner that indicated how important confirming the visit for June is to him. End Summary
[…]
(C) Comment: The manner in which PM Key pitched the bilateral visit indicated to the Ambassador that nailing down a June visit is of intense importance to Key. The Ambassador gathered from the exchange that June is being held open by the GNZ in hopes of a confirmation for a bilateral visit then in the near future. Key, who has not previously raised this topic personally (leaving that to FM McCully and MFAT) clearly hoped his explanation might result in an early confirmation for June. End Comment. CLARKE
https://cablegatesearch.wikileaks.org/cable.php?id=10WELLINGTON81&q=auckland
Via a comment on the Wendyl Nissen article in the Herald was led to a couple of unexpected political articles in Agri-Weekly:
Alternative View – To vote corrupt, inept, anti-farming, or lunatic? by Alan Emerson, who after reading Dirty Politic is now going to give his electorate vote to the Labour candidate, and is still unsure about his party vote
– and –
Gord Stewarts – Pulpit – National not serving farmers well. Talking about the arrogance of National in (not) addressing climate change, and the reliance it has on dairy.
No comments so far on the articles, but interesting given the expected voting preferences of the farming community.
I wonder if there will be any traditional National voters that are so conflicted about the current news articles that for a change it is right-wing voters that don’t turn up at the ballot box?
a lot of conservative, orthodox National supporters in rural areas are less than pleased that Key, Collins, et al have gotten into bed with Slater and his cohorts.
Will that mean that significant numbers won’t vote blue this time? (Just 30,000 changing to Red Green or Black will be enough to end National). We’ll really only know on Sunday 21st.