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Open mike 16/10/2012

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 16th, 2012 - 136 comments
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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Step right up to the mike…

136 comments on “Open mike 16/10/2012 ”

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  1. Jenny 1
    16 October 2012 at 6:09 am

    ‘
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/7819005/Trust-in-police-hits-new-low-survey-shows

    Arresting an MP for bad parking and beating housing protesters to help the government steal and vandalise state houses.

    Illegal links with foreign spies and agents.

    Toadying to Hollywood business interests

    Refusing to investigate perjury by themselves

    Spying

    Law breaking

    Is it any wonder?

  2. Jenny 2
    16 October 2012 at 6:13 am

    With the demand for tighter links with the US….

    Will this be the new, New Zealand police force look?

    http://www.buzzfeed.com/jtes/walmart-workers-strike-for-safe-warehouse-conditio

    As our security and police are already in lockstep agreement with the US in taking ‘over the top’ actions in partizan defence of corporate interests, even if it entails breaking the law. It can only be a matter of time.

    When it comes to civil liberties, as the saying goes; “You will only know what you’ve got, when it is gone”

    The civil liberties which we enjoy today have been hard fought for over centuries by previous generations, and are there for a reason.

    Fight to keep New Zealand sovereignity and civil liberties inviolate.

    Demand:

    NO illegal spying!

    NO soft touch for police perjury!

    NO extradition with out a hearing!

    NO hearings without evidence being presented!

  3. AsleepWhileWorking 3
    16 October 2012 at 6:16 am

    Today Ira Bailey will be made a scape goat by MSD and the media, following Paula Bennett’s example of publicly outing anyone who speaks against them.

    I call upon you my fellow commentators not to let this go undefended and to constantly retort that Ira was only doing what is industry standard – asking for a reward for uncovering vulnerabilities is normal practice, not blackmail as they will try to imply.

    • muzza 3.1
      16 October 2012 at 9:29 am

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7821061/Key-critical-of-Winz-security-breach-finder

      Bailey was arrested in October 2007 as part of the police raid against a suspected terror plot but charges against him were later dropped.

      Key today said he had been advised Bailey phoned the ministry about a week ago indicating there was a security problem, but didn’t identify the kiosks.

      Look at the framing, “he is a terrorist!” – So “blackmail” is no worries for Bailey then eh!

      “[He was] just pointing to the system and wanting an incentive payment or wanting cash basically to tell us where the problem was,” he told TV3’s Firstline programme.

      The ministry’s policy was not to give money for information, he said.

      We have some truly evil people “running” this country, and the MSM are a utter disgarace!

      • Dr Terry 3.1.1
        16 October 2012 at 12:22 pm

        muzza – evil people running the country only get away with it, surely, only because they are supported by voters who compromise with evil.

        • muzza 3.1.1.1
          16 October 2012 at 5:39 pm

          Dr T, see my comment at 4.2.3.1..

          You are correct in that evil doers can only exist when the populace are complacent, or disenfranchised etc, which allows badness to happen.

          Perhaps if people understood that they were part of the whole, instead of operating in silo, then we might not be in such a mess.

          The corrupting/breaking of the human spirit, is the major feature of what we see these days!

    • David H 3.2
      16 October 2012 at 9:32 am

      But equally amazing is the statement that they checked the Kiosks after he rang in, and they could not find this simple breach? Who they using for IT security ? Daffy Duck?
      And the biggest question of all that has not been answered is Why were they on the same network as the corporate system?

      • muzza 3.2.2
        16 October 2012 at 9:48 am

        “But there was a design failure that we didn’t pick up or resolve when it came to the security breach. We should have done that but the people responsible for it, the IT department at the Ministry of Social Development, failed.”

        No way would this have been missed in the design/security, its too fundamental – This looks like another way of telling people that internal resources are not good enough, we will have to use external i.e Google etc, who can keep yoru privacy secure…This is BS!

        The independent inquiry would also look at why the ministry didn’t pick up the problem when it was raised a year ago by beneficiary advocate Kay Brereton.

        So, it was raised, with who? and why was it not fixed….smells like more BS!

        • weka 3.2.2.1
          16 October 2012 at 10:21 am

          Every fuck up by MSD/WINZ that makes it to the MSM is fodder for the eventual push to privatise welfare.

          • muzza 3.2.2.1.1
            16 October 2012 at 11:13 am

            Correct Weka – Its all part of the plan, you can call it a conspiracy too, because that is exactly what it is!

            Ill reitterate – The is NO WAY, that this security flaw was missed in the design/security assessments gates that are mandatory in the delivery! There are multiple vendors operating inside the public sector/govt space, who would have been involved in delivering this system. Notice that there is no mention of who was invovled, only reference is to “IT Department” ensuring that in the minds of the reader, this = Internal IT department = amateurs!

            Sometimes the plan comes apart, like with K.D.C, and TPTB need to re-group, but otherwise what is read and published in the papers, and via policy is the agenda of others, being forced down our throats!

  4. AsleepWhileWorking 4
    16 October 2012 at 6:20 am

    This government fails rape victims AGAIN. By constantly underfunding, changes to ACCSCU, and disregarding the law commissions recommendations I can only conclude they would like all of us to go away and die (providing they don’t have to pay for that). http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7819530/Help-for-rape-victims-under-threat

    • weka 4.1
      16 October 2012 at 8:49 am

      I really wish someone on the left would organise around women’s votes before the next election.

    • muzza 4.2
      16 October 2012 at 9:25 am

      What people need to understand is the darkness that is running all of the shows – Woman/Children/families, continually under attack, while men are left to rot not knowing what their role in life is, and the youth suicides of young boys and girls continues to climb, along with the poverty rates, and child abuse!

      Its time for people to start learning, understanding and accepting what those who claim to represent them, actually represent!

      Only when people understand what their enemy really is, can we collectively know how to respond!

    • Draco T Bastard 4.3
      16 October 2012 at 12:03 pm

      Green MP Jan Logie said it was appalling it had only taken the Government a year to renege on its commitment to the helpline.

      Should be getting used to that by now as it seems that one year is how long this government expects people to forget what they said.

    • Treetop 4.4
      16 October 2012 at 1:56 pm

      A 24 hour service is a right and a person would rather not need to have to use a rape service. The government just do not get it how complicated being raped can be and that such a service is a big help.

  5. Te Reo Putake 5
    16 October 2012 at 6:59 am

    I’ve decided that the Mixed Ownership Model is actually quite sensible. Today, I will be mainly lobbying my local Nat MP to extend the model to Telecom, TelstraClear, Vodafone and SkyTV. Tommorow, I’ll be moving on to convincing my MP to MOM the oil companies bobbing around the Taranaki coast and the gold companies in the Coromandel. Later in the week I hope to convince the MP to MOM all the housing stock in Parnell, because its important to lead from the top. Pip Pip!

    • RedBaron 5.1
      16 October 2012 at 8:08 am

      And I’m all for extending PPP Public private partnerships. Now how about the govt signs a contract with the Teacher’s Union for the provision of teaching services in schools. Big penalty clauses if the schools are removed! I’m sure there are other groups that will sign up to run services.

  6. Lou 6
    16 October 2012 at 7:58 am

    Jeez, I just hope that the same people fixing the teachers pay database ain’t gonna have a go at fixing WINZ database. And apparently WINZ tell beneficaries and child support customers that their computer talks to IRD computer – should that make us all a little uneasy? And what about this ‘white paper’ doesn’t it advocate that health, welfare and other databases talk to each other – hey I know, lets just go back to the town cryer concept, much cheaper and just as effective apparently as all these big brother databases ‘communicating’ with each other?????

    As a health worker I had to study the Privacy Act for 3 years, sometimes I wonder whether some of the politicians understand the laws and acts that they employ other people to govern or adhere to. I just heard John Keys say on TV3 to Rachel “we’ll have a LITTLE look at that” he was talking about checking out the apparent security breach. Now thats certainly ‘downplaying’ speak. I fear AsleepWhileWorking could be right.

    John Key is such a f*^#w*t

    • weka 6.1
      16 October 2012 at 8:48 am

      WINZ also data match with Customs so that they can catch beneficiaries who go overseas and stay long than they are allowed. I think they just do random sampling as they don’t get everybody. Thinking about it now though, I wonder how they do that…
       
      Matching up health, welfare and the records of children isn’t about addressing poverty. It’s about controlling poor people. I don’t know why they don’t just chip ’em and be done with it.

      • Rogue Trooper 6.1.1
        16 October 2012 at 1:42 pm

        Interesting; now I do not mean to get all apocalyptic, it is just that a man I encourage study with asked about this, this morning; It is helpful to bear in Mind, considering it was a “vision” approximately 2000 years ago;

        He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and Slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Revelation 3: 16- obviously)

        Now, the study notes I had at the time identified the economic system; Interesting.
        Now, the notes I have in front of me at present, speak of allegiance to the Imperial cult; Now, none of this is new, nothing new under the sun etc, However, there is certainly One spirit directing everything I seem to encounter; Careful what you wish for? I wish I did not see, as I am sure Millions of others do, not with standing the earth has been through these pains before, but It makes you wonder. This still may take decades or centuries to play out, nobody “Knows the Mind of God”,
        Yet, still interesting, none-the-less.

        So, Concerning Light and Darkness, here is a Mazda Wonder Light,
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zorastrian

        Here, are some writings most churches hide,
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnostic_Gospels

        The Gospel of Thomas, is Liberating
        http://gnosis.org/naghamm/nhl_thomas.htm

        Why Sabbath are so appealing
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUjUIP2ugG4
        (only One Sabbath, all others, wannabees, imo)

        The rest? Remains to be seen!

        Prophecy is The Ultimate Weapon; Bring on The Prophetess

    • David H 6.2
      16 October 2012 at 9:49 am

      Yes Key’s reaction to the whole thing seemed to be blase. You know the computer system is old Yeah right. Just lay the blame where ever. A classic Not Me. If I ever saw one.

    • Vicky32 6.3
      16 October 2012 at 7:13 pm

      And apparently WINZ tell beneficaries and child support customers that their computer talks to IRD computer – should that make us all a little uneasy?

      It does, every time you phone! (Beware, it says, if you earn and don’t tell us, we’ll get you!)

  7. Rogue Trooper 7
    16 October 2012 at 8:33 am

    joining the Battle-fleet Captain
    (I like It)
    this is my body, I share for you
    🙂

  8. Jackal 8
    16 October 2012 at 11:32 am

    Heads should roll

    They’re so focused on downplaying the issue that it appears they think WINZ clients don’t have any rights to privacy at all…

    • weka 8.1
      16 October 2012 at 5:54 pm

      Jeeze, that Herald article you link to is a nasty piece of work. Fuck the MSM and their apology of a profession.

      • marty mars 8.1.1
        16 October 2012 at 6:15 pm

        + 1 Good stuff Jackal.

        from that NZH thingy you mentioned weka

        On planeitKey you can say what you like about people

        “Obviously it would’ve been better if the individual involved had actually told the government and not tried to charge the government some sort of fee. But he didn’t, and goodness knows what he did with the blogger, I don’t know if he gave it [the information] to him or sold it to him.”

        Ira explains exactly that he was not charging a fee

        “I called up on Monday 8th October to say there was a security leak and ask who to talk to. And I also asked was there an incentives scheme about security flaws, which is what Google and Facebook do.”

        key knows all about fees – it’s the honey

  9. David H 9
    16 October 2012 at 11:33 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10840124

    Live chat with Stephen Jacobi at 12.00 today go ask him some questions on the TPP and other underhanded American practices, lets make him feel right at home lol.

  10. deuto 10
    16 October 2012 at 12:23 pm

    The start and Question Time in Parliament is Must View time for me, at least. Could be very interesting with everything going on at present.

    First, presumably, Key will ask to make a personal statement to “correct” his previous answers on KDC and the GCSB.

    Then questions cover:

    Questions to Ministers
    1.DAVID SHEARER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements in relation to Kim Dotcom and the inquiry into the actions of the Government Communications Security Bureau?

    2.METIRIA TUREI to the Minister for Social Development: Does she have confidence that the Ministry of Social Development can keep private information it holds confidential?

    4.JACINDA ARDERN to the Minister for Social Development: Has the Ministry of Social Development competently managed the private information in its charge?

    6.CHRIS HIPKINS to the Minister of Education: What specific criteria were used to determine whether a school in Christchurch was identified for restoration, consolidation or rejuvenation?

    7.Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Minister responsible for the GCSB: What were the dates of the three cases that the Government Communications Security Bureau audit highlighted, because they could not assure him “that the legal position is totally clear”, as referred to in his statement of 3 October 2012?

    8.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his answer to my Question for Written Answer 3326 (2012)?

    11.GRANT ROBERTSON to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in Hon John Banks; if so, why?

    Re Q8, Peters’ written question 3326 (2012) and the response are:

    3326 (2012). Rt Hon Winston Peters to the Prime Minister (07 May 2012): Did he have any meetings, in his capacity as Prime Minister, with either Hon Maurice Williamson or Hon Simon Power during the period 7 April-23 July; if so, on what date or dates and what was the nature of the discussion or discussions?
    Rt Hon John Key (Prime Minister) replied: Yes. I met with Hon Maurice Williamson on 7 June 2011 to talk about statistics and progress with the census in lights of its postponement following the Christchurch earthquake. I met with Hon Simon Power on 13 June 2011. There is no record of what was discussed at that meeting and I have no recollection of the discussion. I also met with him, Hons English, Joyce and Ryall and the external appointees regarding the Better Public Services Advisory & Governance Group on 6 July 2011.

    From memory (may be wrong), this period covers the aboutface on KDC’s application to purchase the Crisco Mansion in Coatsville – and Key’s trip to Washington DC via Warner Bros in LA.

    • Jim Nald 10.1
      16 October 2012 at 12:42 pm

      “There is no record of what was discussed at that meeting and I have no recollection of the discussion.”

      On Planet Key, we need to understand and sympathise with John Key that truth, competence and accountability are “in a dynamic environment”.*

      Convenient memory loss, selective self-characterised ignorance, resistance to reading reports, heaping blame on others, and lack of documentation/record are noble virtues and ethical practices to be instilled in asspirants 🙂

      *Guyon Espiner: Is it okay for politicians to bend the truth?
      John Key: Well, we live in a dynamic environment, so of course things change.

      • Dr Terry 10.1.1
        16 October 2012 at 5:12 pm

        Thanks Jim. An example of typical evasion. How are we meant to interpret that reply?!

    • Rogue Trooper 10.2
      16 October 2012 at 1:08 pm

      A Political Cluster-Bomb should about do It

    • Enough is Enough 10.3
      16 October 2012 at 3:11 pm

      That was BRILLIANT.

      Key was shown up to be so hopeless. His party wan’t even backing him up.

  11. captain hook 11
    16 October 2012 at 2:06 pm

    Big whinge in the Dompost this morning because David Shearer called tod niall (what sort of name is todd) and larry williams by their surnames.
    boo bloody hoo.
    who do they think they are?

    • Acting Up 11.1
      17 October 2012 at 12:06 am

      Todd Niall – good (PSA) union member and delegate, and thoroughly good bloke. Also wrote a book about the homegrown NZ car, the Trekka. One of the best guys in the MSM.

  12. TheContrarian 12
    16 October 2012 at 2:08 pm

    Parliament has been in session 2 minutes and someone has already shouted something about God from the public section and Winston and Trevor Mallard (Pretty sure it was him) have been asked to leave the chamber.

    Should be an interesting session

  13. Rogue Trooper 13
    16 October 2012 at 3:22 pm

    Time for Crucifixion for bnnt the sacrificial lamb
    (play with the “big boys”? )
    (“operational matter” this! )

  14. joe90 14
    16 October 2012 at 4:31 pm

    Opinion from NYT: The Self-Destruction of the 1 Percent.

    The story of Venice’s rise and fall is told by the scholars Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson, in their book “Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty,” as an illustration of their thesis that what separates successful states from failed ones is whether their governing institutions are inclusive or extractive. Extractive states are controlled by ruling elites whose objective is to extract as much wealth as they can from the rest of society. Inclusive states give everyone access to economic opportunity; often, greater inclusiveness creates more prosperity, which creates an incentive for ever greater inclusiveness.

    • Bill 14.1
      16 October 2012 at 4:54 pm

      That’s a kind of strange piece. Essentially then, there is no systemic problem with capitalism/markets. All that’s wrong (and therefore fixable) is a selfish short sightedness on the part of a tiny ruling elite.

      I mean, you gotta laugh at some of the claims

      The history of the United States can be read as one such virtuous (inclusiveness creates more prosperity) circle.

      Yup. Unless you were and/or are indigenous, black, female, Irish, Latino…..and so on right on down or up to the point where you hit the white male protestant where the borders of the virtuous circle of inclusiveness were historically set.

      And as an aside I don’t get the reference to Venice and its shrinking population being made (as though that’sa mark of decline) with absolutely no reference to the Black Death or, with refernce to later centuries, the city’s unique character/location. But hey.

      edit. That comment was a response to Joe90’s comment and link….but the entire comment be gone now. Oh well.

      • Rogue Trooper 14.1.1
        16 October 2012 at 5:26 pm

        I Like It
        🙂 (open-minded)
        those hispanics be giving the WASP’s a serve shortly though; that’s demographics for ya

        No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs-John Lydon
        (I could be wrong, …I could be right…may the road rise with you)
        Next

      • Draco T Bastard 14.1.2
        16 October 2012 at 10:09 pm

        That’s a kind of strange piece.

        Yeah, it’s all Capitalism is great until the capitalists take over and then it’s fucked but it’s still great. Certainly made a hell of a lot of assumptions that bear no resemblance to reality.

  15. Rogue Trooper 15
    16 October 2012 at 4:42 pm

    Scroll through this;
    National appear worn and worried and no second Act

    Bnnt admits, she needs to revisit her past

    Betrayal (Williamson quoting Zeppelin, well I be f#ck$d) Remember Rohm?

    no amount of pastel can soften the piranha
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impression_management
    you don’t impress me

    MIKE BEHRENS for SUPREME JUSTICE (God bless you Mike) now there is a discerning and merciful Judge.

    Key; certainly lost his rag / doll

    Go Metiria
    http://www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/4E81D2D8-A12B-4C60-A5C2-D9FB8C5BD401/211281/IncomeTaxUniversalisationofInworkTaxCreditAmendmen.pdf
    Yet Dunny wants to flush it??

    Now this Open Adoption Movement, about freakin Time (read some developmental psychology)

    Keys Jokes are just not funny anymore, if they ever were, to more than sycophants.

    (now, Pinot Noir (wee anasthetic) and Mainland Tasty ARE something decent we produce)

  16. Penny Bright 16
    16 October 2012 at 6:54 pm

    HONE HARAWIRA AUCKLAND DISTRICT COURT (ALBERT ST) APPEARANCE WEDNESDAY 17 OCTOBER 2012 9AM (?)

    “Supporters meet outside Auckland District Court at at 8.45am Hone Harawira and others with serious injuries from the protest will be there. Get there if you can…” message from John Minto)

    Hone Harawira gets arrested by Police for a purported minor traffic offence – but Police do NOTHING against the Leader of the ACT Party – MP for Epsom John Banks for alleged electoral fraud and ‘white collar’ crime? I’ll be there! Join us if you believe in ONE LAW FOR ALL? And if you oppose ‘ECONOMIC APARTHEID’ and ‘WAR ON THE POOR’?

    WEDNESDAY 17 OCTOBER 2012 – AUCKLAND DISTRICT COURT
    ALBERT ST AUCKLAND CITY:

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-corruption campaigner’

    http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com

    • PlanetOrphan 16.1
      16 October 2012 at 7:05 pm

      Well said Penny 🙂

    • TheContrarian 16.2
      16 October 2012 at 7:07 pm

      “but Police do NOTHING against the Leader of the ACT Party”

      They couldn’t (though I wish they could).

      • Penny Bright 16.2.1
        16 October 2012 at 7:15 pm

        CRAP.

        Police could have charged former fellow Directors of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd John Banks (and Don Brash) under s.58(3) of the Securities Act for signing Huljich Kiwisaver Scheme registered prospectuses dated 22 August 2008 and 18 September 2009 which contained untrue statements.

        http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1978/0103/latest/DLM29406.html

        ONE LAW FOR ALL?

        How come Peter Huljich was the only one of those 3 Directors who was charged for a STRICT LIABILITY offence?

        Corrupt political protection?

        For background details – check out http://www.pennybright4epsom.org.nz and http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com

        Penny Bright
        ‘Anti-corruption campaigner’

        • TheContrarian 16.2.1.1
          16 October 2012 at 7:20 pm

          I assumed you meant the the recent donations scandals which the police couldn’t prosecute.

          I’d be more than happy to review any evidence you have of Banks wrong doing in the Huljich Kiwisaver Scheme. I don’t know enough about it to make any call of wrong doing so if you could provide me with some evidence of impropriety I would like to see it.

          • Penny Bright 16.2.1.1.1
            16 October 2012 at 7:36 pm

            I’ve given you the links for this information.

            However – it may require you to do a little work and READ this information?

            Please bear in mind that it takes a LOT longer to research and write up this information than it does to read it?

            Happy homework 🙂

            For background details – check out http://www.pennybright4epsom.org.nz and http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com

            Penny Bright

            • TheContrarian 16.2.1.1.1.1
              16 October 2012 at 7:40 pm

              This is called ‘elephant hurling’, where in you direct the person asking the question to massive volumes of your own data.

              Specifically I am wondering about the links you used to draw your conclusions, not links to your own conclusion.

              • Penny Bright …
                16 October 2012 at 7:45 pm

                Sure you’re not just being lazy?

                🙂

                You could always try reading the above-mentioned Huljich Kiwisaver Scheme registered prospectuses dated 22 August 2008 and 18 September 2009 – which I’ve taken the trouble to make available for public perusal?

                Hardly ‘my’ data?

                Kind regards,

                Penny Bright

                • TheContrarian …
                  16 October 2012 at 7:55 pm

                  No it’s called elephant hurling.

                  But all my reading has uncovered so far is that there is not enough evidence to proceed with charges against either Brash or Banks. This is no way a testament to their character on my part, I am merely trying to establish what evidence you have that charges should have been forthcoming and/or the police/judiciary somehow acted with impropriety.

                  “I don’t like them” or “They were obviously guilty” aren’t good enough, I’m afraid. Only evidence will work. This is in no way a defence of Banks mind you, I dislike him quite strongly.

                  • Jackal …
                    16 October 2012 at 11:12 pm

                    TheComedian

                    But all my reading has uncovered so far is that there is not enough evidence to proceed with charges against either Brash or Banks.

                    That’s meant to be a joke… Right? The relevant law that you have obviously not bothered to read states:

                    58 Criminal liability for misstatement in advertisement or registered prospectus

                    (1)Subject to subsection (2), where an advertisement that includes any untrue statement is distributed,—
                    (a)the issuer of the securities referred to in the advertisement, if an individual; or
                    (b)if the issuer of the securities is a body, every director thereof at the time the advertisement is distributed – commits an offence.

                    I hope that wasn’t too much reading for your delicate sensibilities TC. We wouldn’t want you to strain yourself and do an injury. You wouldn’t be such an effective apologist for old corrupt bastards then eh!

  17. Logie97 17
    16 October 2012 at 7:05 pm

    Apparently he can now remember the presence of a video camera, but he cannot remember the, more important, contents of a presentation.

    Somewhere in the mix he has stated he remembered being advised that the presentation would not be recorded, yet those same charges have done a “full” review of the period in question (having said previously that it wouldn’t be recorded???) Confused Mmmmm – selective memory.

    • PlanetOrphan 17.1
      16 October 2012 at 7:06 pm

      John Key ordered the investigation, he’s culpible no one else.

    • Treetop 17.2
      16 October 2012 at 8:42 pm

      Late Edition last night RNZ, if any recording turns up of Key on February 29 2012 in the GCSB cafeteria it does not get destroyed, it gets archived.

      I reckon the archives would be the first place to visit.

      Is it permissible for Key to have any information destroyed held by the GCSB?

      • PlanetOrphan 17.2.1
        16 October 2012 at 8:46 pm

        Not permissable no, not even in accordance with Information Tracking Procedures either.
        They keep everything, that’s how it works.

        • Treetop 17.2.1.1
          16 October 2012 at 9:10 pm

          I am sure anything prior to 19 January 2012 regarding Key discussing Dotcom will have a very secure archive.

          When people like Sir Jeffery Palmer come out and say what the relationship between the PM and the GCSB is like, in a heart beat I am not fooled.

          Can I prove it? No.

          Does this make me wrong? No

          When it comes to probability did Key know about Dotcom prior to 19 January 2012? Yes

    • blue leopard 17.3
      16 October 2012 at 8:43 pm

      Yes, it appears all very odd to set up a camera and not record…I believe they said there was a camera on a tripod set up….

  18. Draco T Bastard 18
    16 October 2012 at 7:11 pm

    A Sustainable Energy Future For NZ (without the hot air) – An Update

    To this end, we have used a similar approach to look at two questions:

    Can New Zealand maintain its current per capita energy consumption without fossil fuels and, in particular, can we live on renewable energy sources alone?
    How can we achieve a BIG reduction in our personal and national energy consumption, in order to reduce our power requirements?

    Well, at least somebody is asking the right questions. Pity it’s not the government.

  19. Rogue Trooper 19
    16 October 2012 at 7:32 pm

    Pop-
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Projection_(psychology)
    Next? (I am just being n0rty now)
    🙂
    (he’s not the messiah, he’s just a naughty boy)
    🙂

    • PlanetOrphan 19.1
      16 October 2012 at 7:36 pm

      Johny Sparkles defined by Wikipedia, Who’d a thought?

      They always get a “Glow on” when Freud is mentioned

      I propose a new Thesis ….
      “The Power of Vacuum” a study of Johny Sparkles 🙂

      • Rogue Trooper 19.1.1
        16 October 2012 at 8:02 pm

        Power fills a vacuum
        🙂
        (and not “personal power” either; collective power)

        • PlanetOrphan 19.1.1.1
          16 October 2012 at 8:24 pm

          Pride b4 fall, or bloated explosion with apology?
          Vacuum far outweighs everything else in this Universe.
          No one else is gonna call it yet, I’m going with Landslide Labour/Greens/Mana/NZFirst myself.

    • ianmac 19.2
      16 October 2012 at 8:15 pm

      Not me. Don’t know. It is Shearer’s fault. It is Ira’s fault. Not my job to oversee Spy agencies. Don’t know what Projection means and don’t want to know.

  20. Jenny 20
    16 October 2012 at 7:41 pm

    Lies within lies, on top of lies. Lies flanked and protected by lies. Lies about lying, lies about spying.

    John Banks publicly stated that he had “nothing to fear, nothing to hide,” over the donations scandal.

    Nothing to fear?

    Nothing to hide?

    As it turns out, John Banks did fear something, and in contrast to his public assertion that he had nothing to hide, asked the police to keep their investigation into his Mayoral donations hidden from the public.

    ACT leader John Banks did ask police not to publicly release his statement on the Kim Dotcom donations and opposed the publication of the entire file, documents reveal.

    Fairfax NZ News

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7822867/Banks-fought-Dotcom-file-release

    John Key said he would have no confidence in John Banks as Minister if he found he had lied to him.

    Now that solid proof has come out that Banks lied in claiming that he didn’t ask the police to suppress evidence arising from the police investigation into his mayoral campaign donations.

    Will John Key act on his promise in relation to John Banks as a Minister?

    Or was that a lie?

    Is John Banks lying about donations from Dotcom?

    Is John Key lying about everything to do with Kim Dotcom, relating to the GCSB illegal spying?

    Without a doubt John Banks is a proven liar.

    But is the Prime Minister a liar?

    Time will tell. If after this latest revelation John Key keeps John Banks as a Minister in his government.

    • Anne 20.1
      16 October 2012 at 7:54 pm

      Is John Banks lying about donations from Dotcom? Yes!

      Is John Key lying about everything to do with Kim Dotcom, relating to the GCSB illegal spying? Yes!

      And the reason they’re both lying through their teeth is because both have so much more to hide.

      Apart from the fact Key still needs Banks’ vote etc., he will keep Banks as a Minister in his government because Banksie knows where the bodies are buried.

  21. Rogue Trooper 21
    16 October 2012 at 7:51 pm

    India Inc.
    http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/in-india-gm-crops-come-at-a-high-price/?

    and while ” we “are all being so popularly precious about Gender in the West
    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/1015/breaking56.html?
    (pray for the young girl shot in the head)

    Why do you not take your “whine” some place else?

  22. starlight 22
    16 October 2012 at 8:02 pm

    ‘What the hell was that’ ‘I want to see all you children in my office next school day’

    Supposedly intelligent,articulate,bright (debateable) set of parliament ministers,pm and
    the speaker launch into what could be described as a ‘free for all ‘ forget the fists,
    words will do,a scene of total disobediance.

    But hey, shonkey did admit he talked dotcom at the feb 29th meeting,phew, now
    we wait and see if there are any dates earlier than 29th feb……….

  23. Ad 23
    16 October 2012 at 8:05 pm

    Maybe Shearer should stay leader: the ‘tape’ story is getting obliterated by the MSD story, which is then bleeding into a wider data-trust narrative.

    Labour needs a leader who can fuck up, AND be lucky. Yes?

  24. Paul 24
    16 October 2012 at 8:16 pm

    Stuff is running a poll asking ‘How is the Government doing?’
    On this link
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7822867/Banks-fought-Dotcom-file-release
    Presently
    22.5% well
    73 % not well
    4.5 % don’t care
    Feel free to add your vote…………

  25. ianmac 25
    16 October 2012 at 8:20 pm

    Anyone know what the fracas at the beginning of Question Time was all about. Two ordered out of House. Trevor chose to walk out.Something about the PM- letter about PM sent by Winston to the Leader- issue before the Parliamentary or Privileges Committee- Key’s response received yesterday. What the!!!!
    Anyone?

    • Paul 25.1
      16 October 2012 at 8:25 pm

      Wasn’t is something to do with some letters??
      I don’t know either, but it was obviously something of some importance.as Winston was prepared to lose his question for it.

      • ianmac 25.1.1
        16 October 2012 at 8:37 pm

        The letter to the Speaker was sent on the 5 October(?) and again 15 October(?) and concerned John Key and maybe the Privileges Committee. If my half heard version is so, then the irony is obvious. Key having Peters in front of Priv Committee in 08. What if Peters now has Key up before the Priv Committee???? Forgive me. Probably got it wrong.

    • Anne 25.2
      16 October 2012 at 8:49 pm

      Here is the start of Question time:

      http://inthehouse.co.nz/node/15472

      It was something to do with Key’s personal statement. It seems he got up to make it without first asking for a ‘point of order’. God knows why Winnie et al got their knickers in a twist. Some nuance of which I’m not familiar.

      I think Winston Peters has sent a letter to the Speaker accusing John Key of a breach of parliamentary privilege. Lockwood Smith has yet to rule on whether there is a case to be answered. We all know what the answer will probably be.

      • PlanetOrphan 25.2.1
        16 October 2012 at 9:02 pm

        Key never spoke a word , the speaker spoke the words “point of order” for him.
        Engineered denial …… Go Winston Peters and Others!

      • ianmac 25.2.2
        16 October 2012 at 9:27 pm

        I think that there are rules to be followed. Can’t be a majority decision of the House otherwise no charge could ever be laid against the Government. Watch this space!

    • mickysavage 25.3
      16 October 2012 at 8:50 pm

      They wanted to raise a point of order and Key wanted to make a personal information.  Points of order trump everything else and should have been considered first.

      • OneTrack 25.3.1
        16 October 2012 at 8:59 pm

        They were just playing stupid political games for no apparent reason. Most people grow out of that when they get to college.

        • felix 25.3.1.1
          16 October 2012 at 9:18 pm

          Wrong. They were calling for points of order, and as micky says they should have been acknowledged immediately.

          What Lockwood allowed Key to do there was disgraceful and a gross insult to the entire house, and by extension to all of New Zealand.

          If you knew anything about parliament you wouldn’t need this explained to you. Lockwood knew he was wrong too, that’s why his voice was breaking.

          • Jim Nald 25.3.1.1.1
            16 October 2012 at 9:42 pm

            Yes, disgraceful.
            It is starting to feel like the government is close to breaking point.

          • Anne 25.3.1.1.2
            16 October 2012 at 9:44 pm

            Thanks for that felix. I think I see what happened now. After the House stood and clapped for the Cook Island Speaker, everyone sat down with the exception of John Key who remained standing and started to launch into his personal statement without going through established protocol as set down by the House rules (Standing Orders) and without so much as a bat of an eyelid from the Speaker.

            Pre-arranged? I expect so. Disgraceful and totally underhand!

      • starlight 25.3.2
        16 October 2012 at 9:44 pm

        @micky, Isn’t it usual for the politicians to ask for leave of the house to make a personal
        statement, in such circumstances and lockwood does protects the right too often.
        There should be an independant speaker,outside of any political party,perhaps
        a retired judge etc.

    • starlight 25.4
      16 October 2012 at 8:51 pm

      @ianmac, It was bleedin hard to tell really,it wasn’t what i got my coffee and a chocky biky for,key said he talked kim on the 29th feb,it all happened so quick even the mic couldn’t keep up.

  26. captain hook 26
    16 October 2012 at 9:11 pm

    this government just wants to make it up as it goes along.
    they dont believe in government anyway.

  27. Logie97 27
    16 October 2012 at 9:29 pm

    Has anyone asked this question?

    When was the PM approached by the US authorities (channels of US administration) to request /advise him that an operation was desirable in New Zealand? At what level and at which meeting in the year(s) prior to the raid in February 2012 did the US departments approach the PM of New Zealand?

    If nothing else, it beggars belief that the leader of a friendly sovereign state would not be approached by a very high level delegation prior to their operatives working in that foreign state.

    Just trying to imagine similar circumstances in other “friendly” nations of the world?
    Australia, Canada, Great Britain, France, South Africa, Germany … Sweden, mmmmmmm, nah.

    Ah, yes … it was during the heady days of the appearance on the Letterman Show. No wonder he forgot.

    • OneTrack 27.1
      16 October 2012 at 9:38 pm

      It was no doubt a standard request under the extradition treaty NZ has with the US. The PM would not need to be involved although he may have been advised as a matter of courtesy.

      Is this a treaty we should ignore? Are there other treaties we can ignore?

      • PlanetOrphan 27.1.1
        16 October 2012 at 9:45 pm

        Whilst it’s true a standard request would have been investigated and dismissed once residency was attained, they arrested him anyway …… why would they do that buddy???

        • Treetop 27.1.1.1
          16 October 2012 at 9:52 pm

          The goal was reached when Megaupload was closed down. The US are not interested in side show Key, keystone cops and are probably laughing at the GCSB/SIS for being so gullible.

          • PlanetOrphan 27.1.1.1.1
            16 October 2012 at 9:56 pm

            They obviously have a “Debt Recovery” mentality/agenda.
            For some reason they think a “Difference Caching” engine is grounds for “Informed copyright Infringement”
            Which ultimately means because Megaupload cranked the time to live on those files upto 100 years, (Which most ISP’s will do to save backbone data), has made them a target of the US law enforcement trying to recover “Missing Transactions” for “Projected” film sales.

        • OneTrack 27.1.1.2
          16 October 2012 at 10:13 pm

          What? dotCom having residency has nothing to do with whether he is able to be extradited or not. Otherwise it would already all be over. But DotCom does still have to go and argue his case as to why he shouldn’t be extradited. And he might not win.

          • Logie97 27.1.1.2.1
            16 October 2012 at 11:02 pm

            Yeah, but these were US officers operating in a friendly state. Not just NZ officers executing an arrest and extradition. That would surely involve keeping the PM informed.

  28. QoT 28
    16 October 2012 at 9:59 pm

    So, Southland anti-choicers have decided to “name and shame” abortion providers. I had a little play with the idea of naming and shaming other medical providers, and came up with #namethedentists.

    • OneTrack 28.1
      16 October 2012 at 10:25 pm

      How about name and shame the anti-choicers?

      • QoT 28.1.1
        16 October 2012 at 10:37 pm

        That would only work if there were widespread societal stigma against being moralising wankers who try to endanger people’s health so they can feed their superiority complexes.

        • Draco T Bastard 28.1.1.1
          17 October 2012 at 1:19 am

          Actually, it would only work if the moralising wankers could be made to feel shame about being moralising wankers. I doubt that this is possible.

        • kiwi_prometheus 28.1.1.2
          17 October 2012 at 2:17 am

          Funny how you shriek about Rights! Rights! Rights! for gay ‘marriage’. Wax lyrical about “My Love Rights!”

          Then kill off an unborn child because it’s “inconvenient for my career”.

          • Colonial Viper 28.1.1.2.1
            17 October 2012 at 2:21 am

            or because you were raped by your father.

            • kiwi_prometheus 28.1.1.2.1.1
              17 October 2012 at 2:37 am

              Extreme example there, but thats ok, I’m not against abortion in certain situations. Just not interested in that gender bigot feminist extremism that wants abortion on demand.

              • QoT …
                17 October 2012 at 5:14 pm

                So, just to be clear, there’s not actually a moral issue with “killing off an unborn child” as long as you, k_p, think the circumstances warrant it?

    • Rogue Trooper 28.2
      17 October 2012 at 9:28 am

      😉

  29. Draco T Bastard 29
    16 October 2012 at 10:42 pm

    And now Banks has been proven to be lying while a minister.

    At the time Mr Banks claimed it was the Police who had made that decision.

    Mr Banks said it was the police who decided keep his statement under wraps. Press secretary Shelley Mackey said: “Mr Banks is not responsible for what the police have released.”

    We asked for all the correspondence between Mr Banks and the Police on the release of the report, and lo and behold we found a letter from Mr Banks’ lawyer that said

    Accordingly, disclosure of any material relating to Mr Banks, or indeed any part of the investigation file, is opposed.

    More lies, half-truths and obfuscations from John Banks. He has gone to great lengths to ensure that New Zealanders can not read what he told the Police about the donations to his Mayoral campaign.

    So, will Key hold Banks to account? Na, of course not.

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    Who's causing our skyrocketing emissions? As with most of our other problems, It's the rich: The wealthiest 1% of the world’s population were responsible for the emission of more than twice as much carbon dioxide as the poorer half of the world from 1990 to 2015, according to new ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Good riddance
    The border closure and resulting lack of foreign slave-workers is driving the fishing industry out of business: One fishing company is effectively out of business while others are bracing for large financial hits as the deepwater New Zealand industry, unable to get skilled foreign workers into the country, have ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #38
    Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Claim Review... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... The tipping points at the heart of the climate crisis Many parts of the Earth’s climate system have been destabilised by ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Anyone for Collins?
    In the absence of national public opinion polls, we have had to make do in recent weeks with other guides to voter intentions. Those guides, such as the Auckland Central poll, the incidence of google enquiries and the responses to Vote Compass questions, have suggested, not unexpectedly, that Labour is ...
    Bryan GouldBy Bryan Gould
    5 days ago

  • Crusher’s fiscal malfunction
    Crusher Collins - National Party leaderWe all know that the National Party is desperate to gain some traction during this election campaign and have been throwing pretty much everything at the Labour Party in order to try and undermine Jacinda Ardern and what the Coalition Government has achieved. But unfortunately ...
    The Jackal
    6 days ago

  • Much of the commentariat’s reporting of the most recent GDP figure was misleading and unhelpful. The prize for the stupidest remark about the GDP figure for second quarter 2020 (2020Q2) released on Thursday (17 Sept) goes to Judith Collins, whose response to Grant Robertson’s comments indicated she did not ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago

  • Love and Hate as Complementary Revolutionary Acts
    by Gearóid Ó Loingsigh goloing@gmail.com (19/09/2020) Che Guevara said that a true revolutionary is motivated by love i.e. love of the oppressed, the poor, the children dying from preventable illnesses. This phrase of his is true but has been used by reformists and their more hippy wing have taken advantage ...
    RedlineBy Admin
    6 days ago

  • 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #38
    A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 13, 2020 through Sat, Sep 19, 2020 Editor's Choice Get to Net-Zero by Mid-Century? Even Some Global Oil and Gas Giants Think it Can Be Done A report by a ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Tax cuts for all!!! (except you, you, and you)
    With the National Party this week announcing a new policy of tax cuts to spice up the election campagin. MyThinks went along to the launch and afterwards we spoke to the party’s finance spokesperson Paul “Golden Touch” Goldsmith. MT: Thanks for speaking to us Mr Goldsmith. PG: No. Thank you. ...
    My ThinksBy boonman
    1 week ago

  • Great Waves Washing Over New Zealand
    Always to islanders danger Is what comes over the seas ‘Landfall in Unknown Seas’ (Allen Curnow)Six economic issues external to New Zealand, which will greatly impact upon us. 1.         The Diminishing Global Dominance of the US. Since 1941 America has dominated the world economically and politically. Probably it could ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand has role to play in resolving crisis on ‘geopolitical fault line’, Helen Clark says
    By Geoffrey Miller New Zealand should continue to champion human rights in Belarus amidst an ongoing crackdown on protests by the country’s regime, former Prime Minister Helen Clark says. Protests in the country often referred to as ‘Europe’s last dictatorship’ erupted after the country’s disputed presidential elections on August 9 ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 week ago

  • Euthanasia referendum: How to cut through the emotions
    Jacqui Maguire, registered clinical psychologist This podcast episode highlights how difficult it is to have effective conversations about euthanasia due to how polarised people’s views are. I’m a clinical psychologist, with a passion for science communication. In early 2020 I founded the podcast Mind Brew, with an aim to make psychological ...
    SciBlogsBy Guest Author
    1 week ago

  • Why we need cameras on boats
    In case anyone needed further convincing, there's another example today of why we need cameras on fishing boats: reported seabird bycatch doubled during a camera trial: Commercial fishers operating off Auckland's coast around vulnerable seabirds are twice as likely to report accidentally capturing them when cameras are on ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Graham Adams: The religious right’s campaign to spike the euthanasia referendum
    In the leadup to the euthanasia referendum, an array of conservative Christian political organisations is running an expensive campaign to sow doubt about the safety of assisted dying. Graham Adams argues that these religious forces know that Christian arguments aren’t convincing the public, but that it is in the public ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 week ago

  • Opportunistic looting
    The National Party has spent the last six months acting horrified at the cost of supporting people through the pandemic and banging on about how the debt must be repaid. So what was their economic policy released today? Massive tax-cuts for the rich, of course! National has walked back ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Uncomfortable Choices.
    Dangerous Times: This will be the choice confronting those coming of age in the 2020s. Embrace Neoliberalism’s belief in racial and sexual equality; adopt its secular and scientific world view; and cultivate the technocratic, multicultural, global outlook required of those who keep the machinery of hyper-capitalism humming. Or, throw your ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • Tony Burton: Covid and benefit payments
    It would be a great time to reform the benefit system, according to former Deputy Chief Economic Advisor at the Treasury, Tony Burton. He argues the complexity of benefit system means that it’s failing to achieve its difficult three core objectives, which form an “iron triangle”.   New Zealand’s benefit ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 week ago

  • Talking tax: How to win support for taxing wealth
    Tax Justice UK, September 2020 Serious tax reform is on the political agenda for the first time in decades due to the coronavirus crisis. As this debate hots up it is important to understand what people think about public spending, wealth and tax. Tax Justice UK, along with Survation and ...
    Closing the GapBy Tracey Sharp
    1 week ago

  • Getting Tough.
    Not Mucking Around: With upwards of 800 dead from the virus’s resurgence in the Australian state of Victoria, leniency is not on Premier Daniel Andrews’ agenda. The Victorian Police are cracking down hard on the protesters the Australian press has labelled "Covidiots".IMAGES OF POLICE, some in riot gear, others on ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • Media Link: Nuclear strategy, then and now.
    Although I had the fortune of being a graduate student of some of the foremost US nuclear strategists of the day (1970s) and later rubbed shoulders with Air Force and Naval officers who were entrusted with parts of the US nuclear arsenal, I seldom get to write or speak about ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago

  • The Chinese List.
    News that Zhenhua Data, an arm of China Zhenhua Electronics Group, a subsidiary of the military-connected China Electronic Information Industry Group (CETC), maintains a list of 800 New Zealanders on a “Overseas Key Information Database” that contains personal information on more than 2.4 million foreign individuals, has caused some consternation ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago

  • Things that grow fast, and things that surprise us
    Marie Becdelievre January 2020. The number of news article mentioning coronavirus exploded and anxious voices whispered about a global pandemic. Whisper? To me, it was only a whisper. I tend to learn about the world through non-fiction books, conferences, and academic research rather than news and social media, so ...
    SciBlogsBy Guest Author
    1 week ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #37, 2020
    2,082,476,000,000,000 Viability of greenhouse gas removal via the artificial addition of volcanic ash to the ocean  (not open access, unfortunately) walks us through the numbers on a particular means of CO2 removal, addition of volcanic tephra to the ocean. The mechanism is straight chemistry and the cost is fully an order of ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Barbados to become a republic
    Barbados is planning to remove the queen as head of state and become a republic in time for the 55th anniversary of its independence in 2021: Barbados has announced its intention to remove the Queen as its head of state and become a republic by November 2021. [...] Reading ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Party Like It’s 1989: Bait and Switch is a Bad Look, Mr Hipkins
    At the 2017 election, the New Zealand Labour Party promised a Fees Free Policy for tertiary students. Basically, it would make the first year of university education free in 2018, with a second year in 2021, and a third in 2024. It also promised to restore Post-Graduate access to the ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago

  • Will the tropics eventually become uninhabitable?
    Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nz What is the impact of temperature increases in the tropics? ...
    SciBlogsBy Guest Author
    1 week ago

  • A first-hand look: What it’s like to live in a 2020 California wildfire evacuation zone
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Daisy Simmons It felt like 100 degrees in my in-laws’ Grass Valley, California, kitchen, but at least the lights were on and for the moment we were safely “distanced” from the Jones Fire. We’d just finished dessert, after pizza and a movie ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • COVID-19 is not the only infectious disease New Zealand wants to eliminate, and genome sequencing is...
    Nigel French, Massey University Genome sequencing — the mapping of the genetic sequences of an organism — has helped track the spread of COVID-19 cases in Auckland, but it also plays an important role in the control of other infectious diseases in New Zealand. One example is Mycoplasma bovis, a ...
    SciBlogsBy Guest Author
    2 weeks ago

  • A flaw in our electoral transparency regime
    A key part of our electoral funding regime is a requirement for some transparency around donations, on the basis that if we can find out who has bought our politicians (typically after we have voted for them) then everything is alright. There are a lot of problems with that regime ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 weeks ago

  • Don’t Steal This Book
    On “In Defense of Looting” Matt Taibibi takes an entertaining look at this generation of woke activists and how they compare with Abbie Hoffman the iconic anti-Vietnam war counter-culture figure of the 1960s On Thursday, August 27th, the same day Donald Trump formally accepted the Republican nomination, National Public Radio ...
    RedlineBy Daphna
    2 weeks ago

Older posts

  • Hokitika Landmark earmarked for $22m restoration
    Seddon House in Hokitika, once a hub for government on the West Coast, has been earmarked for government use once again. “Today we’re announcing a $22 million investment from the Government’s $3 billion infrastructure fund for shovel ready projects for the purchase and restoration of Seddon House in the heart of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago

  • Minister of Foreign Affairs makes two diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced two new diplomatic appointments: •         Michael Appleton as New Zealand’s first resident High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. •        Tredene Dobson as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Viet Nam.  Sri Lanka “New Zealand is opening a post in Colombo in 2021 because we are ready ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • NZ’s most prestigious conservation award – Loder Cup presented to Graeme Atkins
    The Minister of Conservation Minister, Eugenie Sage, today presented Aotearoa New Zealand’s most prestigious conservation award, the Loder Cup, to the 2020 winner Graeme Atkins while in Gisborne/Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa. “Graeme Atkins of Ngāti Porou is a Department of Conservation ranger whose contribution to conservation goes well above and beyond his employment,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Parliament to install solar and cut carbon
    Parliament is leading by example by taking action to cut its carbon footprint by installing solar and improving energy efficiency, the Minister for Climate Change, James Shaw said today. The Minister confirmed that Parliamentary Services will receive support through the Clean-Powered Public Service Fund to install solar PV and LED ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Tuvalu Language Week theme promotes community resilience in the face of COVID-19
    The Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio says the 2020 Tuvalu Language Week theme of “Fakatili Te Kiloga Fou” which means “Navigating the changing environment” is a call on all Pacific peoples to be strong and resilient in the face of COVID-19. “This theme is a reminder to us ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • International sport back up and running in New Zealand
    The Government is welcoming today’s announcement that the West Indies and Pakistan cricket teams will tour New Zealand this summer.  “A lot of hard work has been undertaken by sports officials including New Zealand Cricket, Netball New Zealand and government officials to ensure that international sport can return safely to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • 1BT funds for Northland forest taonga
    Northland’s indigenous tree canopy is set to grow for the benefit of mana whenua and the wider community thanks to nearly $2 million in One Billion Trees funding, Forestry Minister Shane Jones announced today. Te Komanga Marae Trust has received more than $1.54 million to restore and enhance the native ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Better health care for West Coasters as Te Nikau Hospital officially opened
    The Government has delivered a new hospital for Greymouth and is starting work on a much needed new health centre in Westport, ensuring local communities will benefit from better access to high quality integrated health services. Today, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare officially open Te ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government backing local with PGF loan
    A West Coast distillery will benefit from a Provincial Growth Fund investment that will enable it to expand its operations and create jobs in the town of Reefton, Rural Communities Minister Damien O’Connor and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones have announced. The Reefton Distilling Co will receive a $928,000 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Primary sector exports and jobs up again
    Primary sector exports and jobs are up again, demonstrating the sector’s underlying strength amid the COVID-19 global pandemic and US-China trade war, and supporting New Zealand’s economic recovery. Stats NZ today reported New Zealand’s merchandise exports in August were up 8.6% on a year ago, driven by an increase in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Clean energy future for more schools
    Schools across Aotearoa New Zealand will be supported by the Government to upgrade to run on clean energy, the Minister for Climate Change James Shaw announced today. The Minister has allocated $50 million from the Clean Powered Public Service Fund to replace, or convert, coal boilers in schools with clean ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Building business strength with digital tools
    New training and tools for digital commerce will give small businesses, especially in the tourism sector, the support they need to adapt and innovate in a COVID world. Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis and Small Business Minister Stuart Nash have announced details of how $20 million digital capability funding set aside ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New pest lures to protect nature
    The Department of Conservation (DOC) is investing $1.4 million to develop new predator lures that would be game-changers for trapping and surveillance towards a predator-free Aotearoa, the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage, announced in Christchurch today. The proposal is to develop long-life lures attractive to a range of predators—rats, mustelids ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Support for innovative Pacific education responses to COVID-19 needs
    Supporting new and creative Pacific education practices as part of our COVID-19 response and recovery is the focus of a new $28.5 million Pacific Education Innovation Fund announced today by Associate Minister of Education Jenny Salesa.  “There is already an incredible amount of innovative and creative work going on in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Eligibility expanded for COVID-19 leave support
    The expanded scheme will cover: People who have COVID-19 like symptoms and meet the Ministry of Health’s criteria, and need to self-isolate while awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test. People who are directed to self-isolate by a Medical Officer of Health or their delegate or on advice of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Seasonal work visa available to more people
    The Government is putting in place a range of immigration policy changes to help fill labour shortages in key industries while ensuring New Zealanders, who have lost jobs due to COVID-19, have the chance to find new employment. “Two key sectors we are moving to help are horticulture and wine ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • More border exceptions for critical roles
    The Government has established class exceptions for border entry for a limited number of veterinarians, deep sea fishing crew, as well as agricultural and horticultural machinery operators. “Tight border restrictions remain the backbone of the Government’s border strategy to protect New Zealand against COVID-19 and ensure New Zealand citizens and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Crown will not appeal Dodds v Southern Response decision
    The Crown will not appeal the Court of Appeal decision in the Dodds v Southern Response case, Grant Robertson announced today. “Southern Response will be paying the damages awarded by the Court to Mr and Mrs Dodds shortly. The Crown was already meeting their legal costs for this appeal. “The ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Crucial PGF investments for Northland
    The Provincial Growth Fund is investing nearly $30 million in a diverse range of projects that will create immediate and long-term jobs and lift economic and social outcomes for Northland and its people. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones made the announcement today in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • $27million investment in global vaccine facility
    The Coalition Government has committed to invest $27 million in COVID-19 vaccine development through the global COVAX Facility, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced today. “The COVAX Facility is a key part of our COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy to obtain safe and effective vaccines. It allows us to invest in a high-quality, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Government backing Māori landowners
    The Government will provide up to $1.69 million through the One Billion Trees programme to Māori landowners to make their whenua more productive through the planting of forests, both native and exotic, and improve economic and environmental outcomes, Forestry Minister Shane Jones has announced. “Around 1.5 million ha of land ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New tools to make nature more accessible
    People planning to head outdoors now have a resource that lets them know how accessible an area is for people with varying levels of mobility, Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage announced today. The Halberg Foundation, Sensibel, and the Department of Conservation (DOC) have launched Accessibel, a new tool which helps ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • PGF makes Māori history more accessible
    One of the most significant battle sites of the 1860s Land Wars will receive $2.96 million from the Provincial Growth Fund to improve the site and help tell the New Zealand story to visitors, Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones have announced. Nanaia Mahuta ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Making it official: The journey of te reo Māori | Kia whakapūmautia: Ngā piki me ngā heke o te r...
    The journey towards recognising Māori as an official language and taonga has been captured as a web series and launched today during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, announced Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni. “Te reo Māori is a living language, and understanding its significance, and pathways to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Better-than-forecast GDP reflects decision to protect New Zealand
    Today’s better-than-forecast GDP figures show the expected impact of the decision to act quickly to protect New Zealanders from the global COVID-19 pandemic. GDP fell 12.2% in the June quarter from March, reflecting decisions to close New Zealand’s borders and enter Alert Level 4. “This result was better than the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Boost for COVID-19 related Pacific education needs
    The Government is investing $39.7 Million over four years to support the educational needs of Pacific learners and families in the regions hardest hit by COVID-19, with Auckland getting an immediate boost, Associate Minister of Education Jenny Salesa says.   “Like all New Zealanders Pacific families want learners to do well ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • More resources for kiwi conservation
    New Zealand’s goal of 100,000 kiwi by 2030 is being helped by an extra $19.7 million in funding to accelerate iwi and community efforts to protect kiwi, Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage announced. “$19.7 million of Jobs for Nature funding is being invested in kiwi conservation activities including increased predator ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Improving access to affordable electricity
    Ensuring New Zealanders can get the best deal on their electricity takes a step in the right direction today with the South Island launch of the EnergyMate pilot run by the Electricity Retailers’ Association, says Minister of Energy and Resources, Dr Megan Woods. EnergyMate is an industry-led programme providing coaching ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government achieves 50 percent women on state boards
    Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter announced today that the Government has reached its target of 50 percent on women on state sector board and committees – setting a new record level of women on state sector boards. “This Government is committed to having more women in leadership roles - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Record transport investment to help economic recovery and save lives
    Transport Minister Phil Twyford released today the final Government Policy Statement on land transport (GPS) 2021 which outlines the planned $48 billion investment in services and infrastructure over the next decade. “The final GPS supports our Government’s five-point plan for economic recovery by confirming our record investments in transport infrastructure ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Advancing clean energy technology
    Three ambitious and cutting-edge research programmes that will lift New Zealand’s advanced energy technology research capability over seven years, have been supported by Government today, says Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods. The projects will each receive a share of $40.7 million investment from the Strategic Science Investment Fund. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Major milestone reached in Pike River Re-entry
    The critical area for forensic examination known as Pit Bottom in Stone has been reached in what is a major milestone for the Pike River re-entry project, Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry Andrew Little announced. “The infrastructure located in Pit Bottom in Stone is of very significant interest in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Economic recovery guides Govt response to retirement income policy review
    The Government is working on how New Zealand’s retirement income policies and settings can best support Kiwis in light of the COVID-19 economic recovery, with the help of the Retirement Commissioner’s latest review, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi said. “The Retirement Commissioner’s three-yearly review into New Zealand’s retirement ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Iwi community hub opens in Murupara
    A new digital hub and development centre in Murupara will be instrumental in growing the region’s productivity, said Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau at the official opening of two community initiatives today. “I’m pleased to be here celebrating a significant milestone for two projects set to make a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • PREFU shows economy doing better than forecast
    PREFU shows economy doing better than forecast Unemployment to peak at 7.8%, down from 9.8% forecast in the Budget Year-to-June accounts show tax revenue, debt and OBEGAL better than forecast Global forecast downgraded as COVID-19 second waves and uncertainty grows Balanced plan to support critical public services, manage debt and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Spruce-up for Ōtaki community facilities
    The Kāpiti Coast town of Ōtaki will receive $1.4 million in Government funding for two projects providing scores of jobs for locals while improving community facilities, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. The Māoriland Charitable Trust will receive a $900,000 Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) grant to upgrade the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • PGF funding for Jobs for Nature programme
    The Provincial Growth Fund will provide $11.88 million to fund fencing and waterway projects nationwide that will improve the environment and create jobs in their communities, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. “These projects will create more than 100 jobs nationwide with work starting within the next couple ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Procurement to promote jobs, Māori and Pasifika businesses and sustainability
    As part of the COVID-19 recovery, the Government has strengthened its procurement rules to ensure its annual $42 billion spend creates more jobs, uses more sustainable construction practices and results in better outcomes for Māori and Pasifika, Government Ministers announced today.   Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford says the $42 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Timaru’s Theatre Royal to be upgraded and new heritage facility built
    The Government is supporting a major upgrade of Timaru’s iconic Theatre Royal and the construction of a new connected Heritage Facility museum and exhibition space with $11.6 million from the Government’s Infrastructure Fund, Jacinda Ardern announced today. “We heard the call from the community and the council. The Theatre Royal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • District Court judge appointed
    Chrissy Montague (formerly Armstrong), barrister of Auckland has been appointed as a District Court Judge with Family Court jurisdiction to be based in Wellington, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. Ms Montague commenced practice in Auckland in 1987 and went into general practice dealing with Wills, Estates, Trusts, Conveyancing, Relationship Property ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

Older posts

Older posts