Yes, I’ve often posted that one,… it was that interview that told me all I needed to know about Bridges character and confirmed the gut feeling I got that he was , – if he became leader, – only going to be an interim one. You just cannot have such a belligerent , dogmatic and obnoxious person like that as the nations leader. There was none of the wit of Rob Muldoon , or his confidence , … just repetitive phrases, interjections, shooting the messenger instead of answering the questions , ( sure Muldoon did that to Tom Scott and others )…
I’ve always suspected Bridges was just a placeholder for the Nats,… but I never dreamt it would turn out this way. But just one word of caution : the Nats are up to something, and when Bridges goes,… be prepared for whoever follows or the one after that.
The stench of a dead eyed globalist like John Key is on the way for sure. One who will carry on the National party baton of selling this country out to foreigners with diplomacy and aplomb should they regain power.
The Nats must be kept out of power at all costs. They are cancer for this country.
Still someone has to lead. Paula. Sorry, it all looks like a very badly adaptation of game of thrones without the interest bits, murders, naked people, etc, etc.
All donations lead back to people who have significant property interests, have dinner with MP’s and then donate large amounts that are illegally hidden in smaller donations and also same donor on the Auckland City delegation to China.
“On the Companies Office Zhang is listed as a director of HLG Holding, Trans Tasman International, Chao Shan Trustee, Chao Hui Holding and KCC Construction, which says it specialises in residential construction in Auckland region.
In 2017 Zhang was part of an Auckland Council business delegation to Guangzhou.”
I think we can be assured that corruption and secret donations, is alive and well in NZ and being fostered by our government ministers and councils.
ON that note, there are daily pleas from various groups for various schemes to provide more profits for construction interests in Auckland funded by the government with taxes, (today Salvation Army for example thinking the taxpayer should build more houses for people to buy on salaries between social housing and Kiwibuild (who does that help, construction interests!)
At no time have I ever seen anyone in the media or all these groups with ideas which all seem to be around more construction paid for by the government or ratepayers, rather than better planning or allocation of housing.
They never suggest the cheapest and most obvious way, aka it goes to the most needy and most valuable to the country (aka the people who live here and do essential work) and that the government needs to limit demand because at present everybody in the world can buy our new houses, farms, land and commercial assets and investors from OZ and Singapore have access to the above and the existing houses too.
In addition, anyone with permanent residency which is easily bought within 2 years and a fake job and degree, can buy existing residential property and there is an insatiable demand for ‘gold brick’ assets especially from countries like China, that are unable to buy land in their own countries because it is all government owned plus it is a cash economy with high levels of bribes needed to get anything done so there is plenty of cash knocking around, and not many ways to spend it.
As seen by the UK, any build or sell to buy, needs to rely on a static or decreasing population to work. At present in NZ we have the opposite and that is exactly what happened in the UK… so now they are up shit creek without a paddle trying to pay for all the social and affordable housing and land they now need because they got 5 x more migrants than they expected when some of the Eastern European countries joined the EU, and they now needed those houses that they sold for a song, not that long ago.
It also created a situation where sell to buy, drove up council rents because social housing went from being cash positive for the country to being negative and they then of course needed to put the rents up… plus the rise of intermediaries on six figure salaries instead of a few council workers on average salaries, doing a piss poor and life threatening job of managing the assets… aka Grenfell.
A fun view from the Civilian: “We’re talking about roughly two years of operations being carried out in the space of an hour,” said one confidant. “These things were supposed to be methodically planted, carefully weaved into the fabric of caucus’ consciousness, little bits leaked here and there. But this morning was a disaster. He just went and read every last bit of it out to the media. There hasn’t even been time to plant evidence for some of this stuff.”
“This isn’t the first time that one of Collins’ host bodies has gone rogue – early prototypes of the programme, Aaron Gilmore and Todd Barclay, also backfired in public – but neither of those incidents were anywhere near as destructive as this one is proving to be, and it may be just the beginning.” http://www.thecivilian.co.nz/judith-collins-loses-all-control-of-host-body/
And on the most issue facing us, Rachel Stewart nails it.
“Rachel Stewart: Climate – Don’t say I didn’t warn you
If you’re familiar with my writing, you’ll know I’ve been doomin’ and gloomin’ it for eight years now. I’m nothing if not consistent when it comes to the state of the planet.
The latest IPCC report on the climate crisis just means that the scientists have decided to act more like me. In other words, they know the depth of the problem but have finally chosen to not sugar-coat the truth. Where we (may) differ is in the “hope” department.
The report says there’s a small window of time to alter our trajectory. Which is, of course, a last-ditch attempt to get politicians and the public to start acting like it’s World War III. Because that’s what it would take to turn this overloaded, burning, sinking mess of a global ship around.”
The most important article you’ll read today.
Read the whole thing here.
This is worth a thread in its own right.
Every day.
I rate Rachel Stewart too and after reading this was thinking much the same as I cycled to work today Ed. Politics is just a diversion from the biggest issue facing us. I can’t find the reference again but I saw a reference to a writer recently (but haven’t been able to find again) who says that basically the human brain is just not capable of dealing with the enormity of the crisis facing us. So we just go into denial and continue to live as if it isn’t happening.
From Stuff: ” More than $31 million has been donated to registered political parties in the past six years, most of that to National. Smaller parties like the Greens publicly disclose who provided most of their funding, but the big parties are secretive. 83 per cent ($8.7m over six years) of the money donated to National is from anonymous donors, and 80 per cent ($2.8m) of that donated to Labour.”
“Labour is revealed to have collected tens of thousands of dollars in anonymous donations through art auctions. The party declared the money to the Electoral Commission in the names of painters like Karl Maughan and Stanley Palmer, even though the artists never saw the money and had no idea they were being named as donors. The worst offender is NZ First: Most years, it allows every single one of its donors to remain secret.”
“RULES OF DONATION:
The secretary of each registered political party must file an annual return of party donations and loans with the Electoral Commission by 30 April of the following year for donations and loans received in the last 12 months.
Party donations and contributions to donations of more than $15,000 (including GST) are required to be declared in the party’s annual return of donations. A series of donations, or contributions of more than $1,500 to donations, made by one person that adds up to more than $15,000 must also be declared.
About time that political donations are outlawed and each party just gets a set amount to spend. It’s tiring to have to wade through the spin, most of it inaccurate from the political parties.
We need to get the rot out of our political system before we turn into USA and you have to be a billionaire or owned by big business to become president and mount a campaign and by that time many people have stopped or been stopped from voting.
Since having fairness seems like a radical solution, then at the very least all political donations are publicly available and there is a limit on the amount donated aka not more than $100,000 and no donations from overseas interests.
Scary stuff, should be a police investigation on that practice too.
“Labour is revealed to have collected tens of thousands of dollars in anonymous donations through art auctions. The party declared the money to the Electoral Commission in the names of painters like Karl Maughan and Stanley Palmer, even though the artists never saw the money and had no idea they were being named as donors. The worst offender is NZ First: Most years, it allows every single one of its donors to remain secret.”
Honours seem to get handed out if you ran shonkys fav restaurant so why not for cash because as they say cash is king. They just have to say why…services to dodgy development maybe.
Services to Wellington being the only city in the world to remove sustainable public transport since the Paris climate accord was signed in 2015.
Sevices to the shortsighted and incompetent leadership of Wellington’s Regional Council, which scrapped the trolley bus network in November without a clear plan to replace them with an equivalent or better carbon-free bus fleet.
Services to GWRC who has imposed on Wellingtonians a fleet of predominantly diesel buses for the next 10-12 years: the length of the contracts the GWRC has signed with Tranzit and NZ Bus.
Services to nitrous oxide emissions have increased in Wellington since trolley buses were decommissioned in November
Lacky Country considers moving embassy to Jerusalem. — News
In Canberra last week I met some Australian members of parliament. It gave me hope, because until I heard them speak I had always thought that Israel’s right wing politicians were the worst. —-(LAUGHTER)— I’ve never heard any Israeli politician speak about the Palestinian people the way that those Australian politicians did. But they are Australia’s problem, not mine. (LAUGHTER) I spoke with the Australian foreign minister; she talked and she was very nice but we could not agree on anything.”(LAUGHTER)
I don’t get the attraction of Bennett either, but maybe they think she appeals most to voters??? I have my reservations especially since they had to remove her from her West Auckland seat and create a new one specially for her, after she cratered her voters and only just scrapped in!
Another warm body to throw under the bus once she’s outlived her usefulness I suspect. It’s the National way. Everyone’s best mates until you have to push them into oncoming traffic to save your own skin. Have to say… this is a train-wreck of epic proportions for National, and I almost feel bad for them.
That’s what it is, alright. First we gotta see this evidence he’s taking to the cops. Essential to have back-up copies securely hidden! Also, if he’s smart, get a copy to a transcriber, and get that conversation converted into a written record, and get it out into the public domain pronto!
If he does this, and the record proves he’s telling the truth, he goes into the by-election from a position of optimal strength. Bridges will have caucus turning against him as soon as they read the transcript, so the next Nat leader will be looking askance at the selection of contenders trying to beat a guy who looks increasingly a winner.
A hypothetical scenario at present. All hinges on the mental illness. Is the evidence real or a delusion? Can JLR transform himself into a successful politician despite that vulnerability? Mentally-ill folk are supposed to be part of our community nowadays. Many oscillate between illness and health. They have civil rights. Can’t discriminate against them on the basis of their mental health. Can’t claim they are unfit for parliament!
I never envisaged that the Brighter Future promised by John Key’s National party would be lit by the pyres of their politicians’ futures and the burning behind the scenes of dodgy money, evidence and tapes!
Surely it was obvious the Natz were on the payroll for big business interests from the outset, and the 0% tax havens, free gifting, investigation from the EU for money laundering policy here, Panama papers and other helps were put through to hide the pathways of the cash.
Excellent interview with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez about the green new deal, the future of the Justice Democrats, and her plans for her time in Congress. One of the ideas she proposes is that the US government provide jobs as part of the Green New Deal at US$15 an hour as an alternative to working for corporates at $7.50 and to help raise wages across the board. She also argues that the progressive democrats are making huge strides:
Zhang has been dragged into the disclosure process of donations to a political party.
Where does his privacy on this matter lie?
Does Zhang need to cooperate with any police investigation?
Were I Zhang, I would be left feeling being embarrassed by the National party. I applaud Zang’s wife for confirming that Bridges had a meal with the Zhangs.
Bridges can chose to keep digging as long as he wants to and evade the truth or give an honest account of whether or not a check for 100k or separate checks adding to 100k was written to the National party.
How often can a separate donor write a check under $15,000 so the donor does not need to be identified?
It is about the delivery of the check.
I can just see Bridges using the history of what occurred between Bank’s and his accountant, Peter’s and Glenn’s electoral donations and the history of audio taping Ambrose and Key and Barclay and the electorate worker.
The words knowingly, the party manager, being a party to the conversation, the audio is missing, no police charges ….
How the Bridges audio and discussion of a donation check is going to conclude will probably be career ending/ damaging for all those who were involved.
Were I Bridges, Zhang is who I would be careful of. Zang has the power over Bridges career as leader.
Zhang also popped up on the Auckland council envoy…
No doubt a few cheques and deals…
Auckland council has also have sold off $400 million of assets last year, would be good to see what assets they were and whose names were involved in the purchases or beneficiaries of those sales…
Auckland Council – some financial information that tells a lot…
“The number earning more than $200,000 is up by one to 195 across all council organisations.
A record $1.8 billion of capital expenditure had been partly funded from asset sales of $400m, $250m in additional borrowing, and the rest from council revenue.”
The council previously announced an $83m rise in the provision it’s making for building weathertightness claims, now at $320m.”
I think we are beyond that in most cases to ‘respectable’ sounding companies.. there were some pearlers in the Panama papers such as ..
“Hinojosa Cantu, who had built his fortune from billions of dollars in government contracts, was under investigation for influence-peddling. In Mexico they called him the Duke of Privilege.
On February 3, 2015 Mexico’s president, Enrique Peña Nieto, had called an inquiry after media revelations that Hinojosa Cantu built a US$7 million home for Nieto’s wife, and sold another house to the Finance Minister, Luis Videgaray Caso, just before they won government in 2012.
By March last year Hinojosa Cantu had begun restructuring his finances. The key would be New Zealand.
KEN WHITNEY’S LETTER
Hinojosa Cantu wasn’t the only Mossack Fonseca client heading for Auckland.
The ICIJ on Monday will release the names and shareholders of 240,000 corporate entities (and their shareholders) administered by Mossack Fonseca in more than 20 low-tax jurisdictions around the world.
The data includes 368 shareholders with New Zealand addresses, but 189 of the shareholders are trusts and another 12 companies have bearer shares, which will prove hard to track.”
For those who have been following my take on the Wentworth mud race (The by-election).
This article from news.com, short’ve sums up the last 24hrs for ScoMo and the Liberal Party atm as they will in truly in the shit house. Internal polling has them trailing the independent Phelps and thence SocMo wanting to move the Embassy and wanting to review the Iran Nuclear deal. These two decisions have been shamed by an number people since yesterday’s release in Wentworth alongside the Lib candidate who is Jewish and Jewish vote in the Wentworth electorate makes up 12-13% of the vote.
Wentworth electorate is one of Australia’s most diverse electorates, big the end of town and the all way down to Redfern with its housing commission tower blocks, to Kings Cross/ Oxford st to middle class hipsters and what’s left of the work class suburbs.
Yes the Nauru refugees issue, appears to be an attempt at vote buying aim at the middle class hipsters and the Liberal voter with a consensus for the Wentworth races. Inwhich ScoMo has managed to make himself look like Barry McKenzie , Sir Les Patterson and a member of the crack suicide squad for the People’s Front of Judaea as a he has piss off awful of people or left them very confused at what has just happened.
The Nauru refugees going NZ is almost dead cert and the only sticking point is that he is demanding that these refugees would bared from Australia via NZ, but how SocMo is he going to enforce that?
The laugh of the day (well according to my mate a Leb Christian) goes to the Jewish community of the Wentworth electorate. As straw poll was taken by the highly acclaimed Oz paper asking a number of Jewish voters about moving the Australian Embassy in Israel? All of them reply, “yes moving the Embassy and reviewing the Iran Nuclear deal would be nice, but there are more important things to worry about here in Australia than what’s happening in Israel atm.” As my mate said to me this morning over a cuppa “ Trust a Jew to worry about his or her’s hip pocket here in Oz than what’s happening back in back in Israel and I don’t know what worse a tight ass Jew or a teetotaling Scottish Methodist or Scottish Presbyterian”? Well ourfamily did alright out of old Uncle Jock as we got an awful lot of free tickets to games and events to Lancaster Park in CHCH.
So it appears his day of offering to solve the a number of issues yesterday to the the voters of Wentworth has fallen on deaf ears. So the Libs are in panic mode as we use say at work when of our Ground Defence Officers goes into a panic “ah the bog rat is ass shitting again” and SocMo is like a fat kid who has miss out on the lollie scramble as the fastest kid got there first.
Well I’ve got a cracker of story tomorrow on the Wentworth Mud race, as this mud race has well in truely got very dirty and ugly. From I’ve heard so far awful a lot off people are piss and this could very back fire on the Lib’s big time.
I’ve been trying to follow today’s events in NZ and I’m well in truly lost for words.
Knowing a few coasters, I doubt they would even vote for a Chinese or Indian candidate let alone one from the “No Mates Party” and the last time it went blue in the 90’s they got some old wind bag who was about as useless as a Airforce Elephant Tracker chasing a defaulter in the snow while doing the dance of the flaming asshole at the same time.
Anyway I better hit the frog and toad as it going be another big day politics either side of the ditch tomorrow
demanding that these refugees would bared from Australia via NZ, but how SocMo is he going to enforce that?
Quite easily; every kiwi that enters Australia has an SCV444 (Special Category Visa) automatically created as you pass through Immigration. Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen:
Must be Jacinda’s ” kindness” to oil day again… from Greenpeace
“We’ve just learned, the Government has granted Austrian oil giant OMV a two year extension on their permit to search and drill for oil in the Great South Basin, just off Dunedin. That’s despite issuing a ban on new oil and gas exploration permits in April.
This is a massive backtrack. The Government is breathing new life into this permit, and the extra two years could be the difference between finding and drilling for new oil and gas reserves, or not.
It’s madness to be allowing an extension on this permit to look for more oil and gas reserves – right when the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released a new report that shows in no uncertain terms we’ve got a decade to save the world from climate catastrophe.
In fact the science is clearer than ever. If we want to keep climate change to below 1.5C, then the majority of fossil fuel reserves cannot be touched.
This we know to be true, and yet OMV – one of the 100 companies who have caused 70% of global emissions since the eighties – continue undeterred by the millions of lives, precious ecosystems and communities they put at risk.
After the IPCC call to action – that we need unparalleled courage, ambition and resolve to turn this tide – why would anyone grant an oil company more time to pillage the Earth?
Let Megan Woods know that you do not support this decision. That instead of extending oil permits, the government should be investing in the clean energies of the future.”
The government and councils should be encouraging people with solar and other kinds of alternative power instead of backing big business and doing the opposite. It’s criminal the way big business and government lackeys are trying to rout people and keep them off alternative power because they must know with climate change they must change and the sooner they do so, the better for everybody, change is inevitable. Sadly the dinosaurs are just going to keep price gouging their profits until the lights go out and the new green transport can’t be charged, and take everyone else with them.
“inappropriate behaviour that is unacceptable from a married Member of Parliament.” – I’m sorry what?
By Martyn Bradbury / October 17, 2018 / 3 Comments
TDB recommends Voyager – Unlimited internet @home as fast as you can get
If National are going to stand by that new ethical line in the sand, then should we start applying it to other National Party MPs?
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Jami-Lee Ross accused of inappropriate behaviour for a married MP: Paula Bennett
National Party deputy leader Paula Bennett says the issues raised with Jami-Lee Ross had nothing to do with harassment, but were about inappropriate behaviour from Ross as a “married Member of Parliament”.
“Inappropriate behaviour that is unacceptable from a married Member of Parliament.” – I’m sorry what?
Is that the game we are playing now?
Does National REALLY want to go down that path?
REALLY?
R-E-A-L-L-Y?
This is becoming so nasty and bitter. The National Party are the Marriage Police now?
If National are going to stand by that new ethical line in the sand, then should we start applying it to other National Party MPs?
Paula Bennett’s interview on Breakfast this morning was a train wreck.
We’ve seen Paula use personal information to damage enemies in the past when she published personal details of beneficiaries who complained about her. This is getting to a level where people are going to be seriously damaged from this.
Who does this all benefit ultimately? Why Judith Collins of course, who is watching her puppets dance and the implosion of chaos play out.
If Simon Bridges has to stand down due to the audio evidence Jami-Lee Ross has, the Party will turn in desperation to Judith.
And then we will have real cause to be frightened.
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Published: 46 mins ago on October 17, 2018
By: Martyn Bradbury
Last Modified: October 17, 2018 @ 12:30 pm
Filed Under: Deconstructing Headlines, Martyn Bradbury, Most Recent Blogs
Tagged With: New Zealand Politics
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Dr Liz Gordon – Ructions in the national caucus
Jacinda Arderns “Captain Call” on banning oil and gas exploration was always going to be a disaster…
“The country has just seven years’ firm supply, and production is forecast to start falling away from 2021, according to Patrick Teagle, a New Zealand-based executive for Austrian oil and gas company OMV. Teagle was talking to Parliament’s environment select committee.”
“The clash of viewpoints among the 12 submitters was stark. Government MPs didn’t appreciate being told the ban would increase emissions rather than reduce them, that the ban had already halted some investment, and that reduced domestic gas supplies would increase electricity costs for all consumers and sacrifice opportunities to reduce coal use and replace higher-emitting imports – like fertiliser – with lower-emission local production.”
“New Zealand Shipping Federation executive director Annabel Young silenced the committee with a detailed explanation of the challenge ship owners will face if they can’t access locally-made methanol – made from gas – to meet new international fuel pollution standards.”
If it’s so important to the country why are they giving the rights away to foreign companies? One of the companies that is named in one of the 100 companies producing 70% of the world’s emissions.
30 years ago they should have invested in green tech for shipping. Now they are better to get off their arses and find green solutions than pay lobbyists to keep the ‘peak’ oil debacle going until they have nothing.
But after tobacco who actually believes big business anymore?
They are as reliable as the unitary plan producing all those affordable houses…
Or John Key’s resignation if there is mass surveillance.
Essentially all the ‘experts’ are a paid for viewpoint that is hardly reliable and that approach has wasted 30 years of climate change over the question of its it real or not with plenty of paid for climate change deniers helping screw over the planet.
For those interesting in the Wentworth mud race, here is today’s updates. But the since “No Mates Party” has now turn themselves into the crack suicide squad of People’s Front of Judaea or was that the People’s Liberation Front of Judaea anyway who bloody cares, as is probably more interesting than the Wentworth mud race.
Kia ora The Am Show I waited a hour before I turned the TV on I new it will be all about the circus national party one point I want to make is who trained these lads shonky and bill I have not had one drink of alcohol what a line .They started dredging up mud at the start of the expense leak of bridges .
I think responsible drinking is a good topic I was thinking the drink driving ads could be about the bad effects of drinking alcohol that would be 2 issues that the youth learn about we should have advertising all around the place about the Ills of alcohol.
jerry no thanks a bully we know who was responceable for the little girl comments he’s A chauvinistic person we seen how he stuffed up the Earth quake insurance claims in Christchurch . Ka kite ano P.S I did not wake up yesterday
To the Human Caused Climate Change Deniers how can you keep a straight neck and face when denying HCCC in the process denying your OUR Decedents a healthy future .
All for the love of power and money we have the Technology to mitigate climate change
We just need all voters to think about there Decedents future and vote these idiots out .
I see one bull——story about beer/ hops production being affected by climate change who give a —– if beer goes up in price at the minute we don’t need beer to survive like we did when water was polluted back 200 years ago .
We do need clean air and climate conditions that do not fluctuate wildly from extreme droughts to extremely cold conditions floods hurricanes earthquakes tsunami to survive .
IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER WE CAN LEAVE A BETTER EARTH FOR ALL.
I say solar installed on building is one of the best ways to mitigate HCCC no need to build huge inefficient transmission lines that lose % 8 to % 15 of power or to take land from people or the wild life the cost of transmission will be billions of wasted money.
Subsides for poor solar installation and pay % 95 of the power unit price for net metering I.E when one has a grid tied solar system during the day the power company give you credit for your excess power and at nite you buy it back paying % 100 % 5 should be enough for eclectic company’s to provide there services .
The drawback is big company’s lose control of your hip pocket and they don’t like that they will chuck out all sorts of lies to say that huge solar farms are the best to keep control of the consumer and there hip pocket like the lies about HCCC that are being fabricated at the minute. Ka kite ano link is below.
We have had this in all professions men stealing Wahine work treating them like play toys .
There are many storys about this behavior and some men still try and discredit the metoo movement they don’t have the noodles to self examine then selves and how men have behaved for years . I say we need to treat everyone equally links below ka kite ano
This is why Eco Maori says that Aotearoa /New Zealand is a World leader and changes are coming that will be good for all half scientists /researchers awards have been given to Wahine / Ladies Kia kaha ka kite ano link below.
Kia ora Tekaea Yes I agree with we need more transparency on political donations.
Kingi Tawhiao showing his old maori art and artifacts is cool we need more of our great maori artifacts on show to build the children knowledge on maori and there wairua .
Smoke free for the East Coast /Gisborne will be a cool goal what about Pee free.
Tongans are real patriots of there League team Ka pai
Ka kite ano
Kia ora Newshub Thats a tragedy the dock staff dying in that helicopter crash condolences to there whano . I give a person a bit of leeway but its not looking good for Ross Now that looks like the Botany seat is up for grabs.
Is Maureen Pugh a Dairy farmer .
Justen Trudea is a good left leader I have researched the facts on what happens to A society when it legalizes personal use of weed and its mostly positive for all .
All trump talks about is money money money. ?????.
Malissa its cool the happy Royal couple in Australia are showing support for our environment.
It would be hard for people to look after there disabled children I say they should be payed the same as a private person caring for there disabled offspring .
Yes there are reason other than money that people come to Aotearoa life style we are more equal than some countrys .
Big Bird is retiring one of the most famous bird in the world ka pai
Ka kite ano P.S I won’t say it lol
Kia ora The Crowd Goes Wild James & Mulls Ana Eco makes a point not to back sports teams out right one can see the problem’s the ASB tennis is having now.
I seen a story about Kurtley Beale calling for Australian aboriginal designed jersey it mite be old but Kia kaha
Yes Wahine Sports is going strong in Aotearoa and around the Papatuanuku ka pai.
I am a loyal person some people are not to Eco maori not The Crowd Goes Wild people are cool tho.
I see our most famous choreographer Star is shining brightly she cool
Ka kite ano
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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 ...
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 ...
Opposition MPs and unions are criticising a proposal by New Zealand’s Ministry of Pacific Peoples to cut staff by 40 percent. The country’s largest trade union — The Public Service Association — says the ministry has informed staff that it is looking to shed 63 of 156 positions. Opposition MPs ...
A poem by Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook 2024 featured poet Carin Smeaton. Daughtr of the 90s when she gets promoted to usherette a baby blu eel carries her all the way up to mothership she’s hovering high she lets the underaged in to see keanu reeves she lets the only lonely ...
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. ...
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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 ...
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It seems a fitting day to remind ourselves of this debacle of an interview.
The fact of the matter is…….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD2JKoKGrjA
Yes, I’ve often posted that one,… it was that interview that told me all I needed to know about Bridges character and confirmed the gut feeling I got that he was , – if he became leader, – only going to be an interim one. You just cannot have such a belligerent , dogmatic and obnoxious person like that as the nations leader. There was none of the wit of Rob Muldoon , or his confidence , … just repetitive phrases, interjections, shooting the messenger instead of answering the questions , ( sure Muldoon did that to Tom Scott and others )…
I’ve always suspected Bridges was just a placeholder for the Nats,… but I never dreamt it would turn out this way. But just one word of caution : the Nats are up to something, and when Bridges goes,… be prepared for whoever follows or the one after that.
The stench of a dead eyed globalist like John Key is on the way for sure. One who will carry on the National party baton of selling this country out to foreigners with diplomacy and aplomb should they regain power.
The Nats must be kept out of power at all costs. They are cancer for this country.
The story of course is fundamentally about how Chinese money has captured the Auckland sector of the National Party.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12143264
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/107875950/chinese-businessman-embroiled-in-corruption-allegations-had-simon-bridges-over-for-dinner-wife-says
Bomber nails it .
“National looks less like a political party and more like a front for Chinese business interests”
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/10/16/national-looks-less-like-a-political-party-and-more-like-a-front-for-chinese-business-interests/
Still someone has to lead. Paula. Sorry, it all looks like a very badly adaptation of game of thrones without the interest bits, murders, naked people, etc, etc.
Well, at least there’s a dragon or two 😉
Good links Ed.
All donations lead back to people who have significant property interests, have dinner with MP’s and then donate large amounts that are illegally hidden in smaller donations and also same donor on the Auckland City delegation to China.
“On the Companies Office Zhang is listed as a director of HLG Holding, Trans Tasman International, Chao Shan Trustee, Chao Hui Holding and KCC Construction, which says it specialises in residential construction in Auckland region.
In 2017 Zhang was part of an Auckland Council business delegation to Guangzhou.”
I think we can be assured that corruption and secret donations, is alive and well in NZ and being fostered by our government ministers and councils.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/107875950/chinese-businessman-embroiled-in-corruption-allegations-had-simon-bridges-over-for-dinner-wife-says
ON that note, there are daily pleas from various groups for various schemes to provide more profits for construction interests in Auckland funded by the government with taxes, (today Salvation Army for example thinking the taxpayer should build more houses for people to buy on salaries between social housing and Kiwibuild (who does that help, construction interests!)
At no time have I ever seen anyone in the media or all these groups with ideas which all seem to be around more construction paid for by the government or ratepayers, rather than better planning or allocation of housing.
They never suggest the cheapest and most obvious way, aka it goes to the most needy and most valuable to the country (aka the people who live here and do essential work) and that the government needs to limit demand because at present everybody in the world can buy our new houses, farms, land and commercial assets and investors from OZ and Singapore have access to the above and the existing houses too.
In addition, anyone with permanent residency which is easily bought within 2 years and a fake job and degree, can buy existing residential property and there is an insatiable demand for ‘gold brick’ assets especially from countries like China, that are unable to buy land in their own countries because it is all government owned plus it is a cash economy with high levels of bribes needed to get anything done so there is plenty of cash knocking around, and not many ways to spend it.
As seen by the UK, any build or sell to buy, needs to rely on a static or decreasing population to work. At present in NZ we have the opposite and that is exactly what happened in the UK… so now they are up shit creek without a paddle trying to pay for all the social and affordable housing and land they now need because they got 5 x more migrants than they expected when some of the Eastern European countries joined the EU, and they now needed those houses that they sold for a song, not that long ago.
It also created a situation where sell to buy, drove up council rents because social housing went from being cash positive for the country to being negative and they then of course needed to put the rents up… plus the rise of intermediaries on six figure salaries instead of a few council workers on average salaries, doing a piss poor and life threatening job of managing the assets… aka Grenfell.
Trans Tasman International …..interesting….The sea bed prospectors….
The same company that Jenny Shipley was director for, a few years back?
A fun view from the Civilian: “We’re talking about roughly two years of operations being carried out in the space of an hour,” said one confidant. “These things were supposed to be methodically planted, carefully weaved into the fabric of caucus’ consciousness, little bits leaked here and there. But this morning was a disaster. He just went and read every last bit of it out to the media. There hasn’t even been time to plant evidence for some of this stuff.”
“This isn’t the first time that one of Collins’ host bodies has gone rogue – early prototypes of the programme, Aaron Gilmore and Todd Barclay, also backfired in public – but neither of those incidents were anywhere near as destructive as this one is proving to be, and it may be just the beginning.” http://www.thecivilian.co.nz/judith-collins-loses-all-control-of-host-body/
An equally light hearted view from David Slack. In his usual inimitable style he says it in a simple and humorous nutshell as you might expect.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/368810/ross-offers-another-moment-of-truth
And on the most issue facing us, Rachel Stewart nails it.
“Rachel Stewart: Climate – Don’t say I didn’t warn you
If you’re familiar with my writing, you’ll know I’ve been doomin’ and gloomin’ it for eight years now. I’m nothing if not consistent when it comes to the state of the planet.
The latest IPCC report on the climate crisis just means that the scientists have decided to act more like me. In other words, they know the depth of the problem but have finally chosen to not sugar-coat the truth. Where we (may) differ is in the “hope” department.
The report says there’s a small window of time to alter our trajectory. Which is, of course, a last-ditch attempt to get politicians and the public to start acting like it’s World War III. Because that’s what it would take to turn this overloaded, burning, sinking mess of a global ship around.”
The most important article you’ll read today.
Read the whole thing here.
This is worth a thread in its own right.
Every day.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12143210
Rachel has consistently warned us. A very thoughtful eloquent journalist.
I rate Rachel Stewart too and after reading this was thinking much the same as I cycled to work today Ed. Politics is just a diversion from the biggest issue facing us. I can’t find the reference again but I saw a reference to a writer recently (but haven’t been able to find again) who says that basically the human brain is just not capable of dealing with the enormity of the crisis facing us. So we just go into denial and continue to live as if it isn’t happening.
From Stuff: ” More than $31 million has been donated to registered political parties in the past six years, most of that to National. Smaller parties like the Greens publicly disclose who provided most of their funding, but the big parties are secretive. 83 per cent ($8.7m over six years) of the money donated to National is from anonymous donors, and 80 per cent ($2.8m) of that donated to Labour.”
“Labour is revealed to have collected tens of thousands of dollars in anonymous donations through art auctions. The party declared the money to the Electoral Commission in the names of painters like Karl Maughan and Stanley Palmer, even though the artists never saw the money and had no idea they were being named as donors. The worst offender is NZ First: Most years, it allows every single one of its donors to remain secret.”
“RULES OF DONATION:
The secretary of each registered political party must file an annual return of party donations and loans with the Electoral Commission by 30 April of the following year for donations and loans received in the last 12 months.
Party donations and contributions to donations of more than $15,000 (including GST) are required to be declared in the party’s annual return of donations. A series of donations, or contributions of more than $1,500 to donations, made by one person that adds up to more than $15,000 must also be declared.
Where donations exceed $30,000, or all the donations received from the same donor in the preceding 12 months is more than $30k, a return must be filed with the Electoral Commission within 10 working days of receipt.” https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107885929/inside-the-secretive-world-of-political-donations
Lol
Far out
I don’t actually see why any donations to parties should be allowed to be anonymous.
It isn’t like donating to a charity and now in the days of computers, it is hardly a major administration problem keeping that much data.
About time that political donations are outlawed and each party just gets a set amount to spend. It’s tiring to have to wade through the spin, most of it inaccurate from the political parties.
We need to get the rot out of our political system before we turn into USA and you have to be a billionaire or owned by big business to become president and mount a campaign and by that time many people have stopped or been stopped from voting.
Since having fairness seems like a radical solution, then at the very least all political donations are publicly available and there is a limit on the amount donated aka not more than $100,000 and no donations from overseas interests.
Scary stuff, should be a police investigation on that practice too.
“Labour is revealed to have collected tens of thousands of dollars in anonymous donations through art auctions. The party declared the money to the Electoral Commission in the names of painters like Karl Maughan and Stanley Palmer, even though the artists never saw the money and had no idea they were being named as donors. The worst offender is NZ First: Most years, it allows every single one of its donors to remain secret.”
Honours for Cash?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12143435
Bringing up how many donors to National and Labour who get honours would be a long list.
Honours seem to get handed out if you ran shonkys fav restaurant so why not for cash because as they say cash is king. They just have to say why…services to dodgy development maybe.
Services to leaky building and bad or non existent earthquake repairs…
Services to domestic hardware labelled as commercially acceptable for office/hotel etc perhaps…….hearing that practice is alive and kicking in Akl.
Services to Wellington being the only city in the world to remove sustainable public transport since the Paris climate accord was signed in 2015.
Sevices to the shortsighted and incompetent leadership of Wellington’s Regional Council, which scrapped the trolley bus network in November without a clear plan to replace them with an equivalent or better carbon-free bus fleet.
Services to GWRC who has imposed on Wellingtonians a fleet of predominantly diesel buses for the next 10-12 years: the length of the contracts the GWRC has signed with Tranzit and NZ Bus.
Services to nitrous oxide emissions have increased in Wellington since trolley buses were decommissioned in November
http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=113048
And above all else, for services to SELF.
Yep – everything for sale. Honours list? I don’t think so.
Dishonourable list, sad you can buy anything these days…
Lacky Country considers moving embassy to Jerusalem. — News
Paula Bennett is now taking her turn to commit ritual seppuku on Natrad…
Did she just concede that Bridges has spoken to her about the donation from Zhang?
…Then retreated faster than the Italian army.
It’s hard to figure out what the National Party sees in Bennett?
I don’t get the attraction of Bennett either, but maybe they think she appeals most to voters??? I have my reservations especially since they had to remove her from her West Auckland seat and create a new one specially for her, after she cratered her voters and only just scrapped in!
Another warm body to throw under the bus once she’s outlived her usefulness I suspect. It’s the National way. Everyone’s best mates until you have to push them into oncoming traffic to save your own skin. Have to say… this is a train-wreck of epic proportions for National, and I almost feel bad for them.
Almost.
Two alpha males, egos, entitlement, power & control, broken promises, money, aggression & destruction.
It’s the same shit every day …
Let’s not do this! Any longer.
That’s what it is, alright. First we gotta see this evidence he’s taking to the cops. Essential to have back-up copies securely hidden! Also, if he’s smart, get a copy to a transcriber, and get that conversation converted into a written record, and get it out into the public domain pronto!
If he does this, and the record proves he’s telling the truth, he goes into the by-election from a position of optimal strength. Bridges will have caucus turning against him as soon as they read the transcript, so the next Nat leader will be looking askance at the selection of contenders trying to beat a guy who looks increasingly a winner.
A hypothetical scenario at present. All hinges on the mental illness. Is the evidence real or a delusion? Can JLR transform himself into a successful politician despite that vulnerability? Mentally-ill folk are supposed to be part of our community nowadays. Many oscillate between illness and health. They have civil rights. Can’t discriminate against them on the basis of their mental health. Can’t claim they are unfit for parliament!
Simon is distinctly beta. Like the Dipton Dipper, he’ll never have swooning audiences.
I never envisaged that the Brighter Future promised by John Key’s National party would be lit by the pyres of their politicians’ futures and the burning behind the scenes of dodgy money, evidence and tapes!
Surely it was obvious the Natz were on the payroll for big business interests from the outset, and the 0% tax havens, free gifting, investigation from the EU for money laundering policy here, Panama papers and other helps were put through to hide the pathways of the cash.
Excellent interview with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez about the green new deal, the future of the Justice Democrats, and her plans for her time in Congress. One of the ideas she proposes is that the US government provide jobs as part of the Green New Deal at US$15 an hour as an alternative to working for corporates at $7.50 and to help raise wages across the board. She also argues that the progressive democrats are making huge strides:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmcY9TqkCD8
Zhang has been dragged into the disclosure process of donations to a political party.
Where does his privacy on this matter lie?
Does Zhang need to cooperate with any police investigation?
Were I Zhang, I would be left feeling being embarrassed by the National party. I applaud Zang’s wife for confirming that Bridges had a meal with the Zhangs.
Bridges can chose to keep digging as long as he wants to and evade the truth or give an honest account of whether or not a check for 100k or separate checks adding to 100k was written to the National party.
How often can a separate donor write a check under $15,000 so the donor does not need to be identified?
It is about the delivery of the check.
I can just see Bridges using the history of what occurred between Bank’s and his accountant, Peter’s and Glenn’s electoral donations and the history of audio taping Ambrose and Key and Barclay and the electorate worker.
The words knowingly, the party manager, being a party to the conversation, the audio is missing, no police charges ….
How the Bridges audio and discussion of a donation check is going to conclude will probably be career ending/ damaging for all those who were involved.
Were I Bridges, Zhang is who I would be careful of. Zang has the power over Bridges career as leader.
“Were I Bridges, Zhang is who I would be careful of. Zang has the power over Bridges career as leader.”
Bridges’ career is over.
Unless, of course, he is still of some use to his paymasters.
Then he’ll be revived and reincarnated.
Repurposed.
Isn’t this how it works?
Gotta love politics.
A death by a thousand cuts, or I could say a death by a, one hundred thousand dollar check.
Zhang is the star witness.
Zhang also popped up on the Auckland council envoy…
No doubt a few cheques and deals…
Auckland council has also have sold off $400 million of assets last year, would be good to see what assets they were and whose names were involved in the purchases or beneficiaries of those sales…
Auckland Council – some financial information that tells a lot…
“The number earning more than $200,000 is up by one to 195 across all council organisations.
A record $1.8 billion of capital expenditure had been partly funded from asset sales of $400m, $250m in additional borrowing, and the rest from council revenue.”
The council previously announced an $83m rise in the provision it’s making for building weathertightness claims, now at $320m.”
https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/107443915/Auckland-Council-shrinks-wage-bill-again-but-number-of-staff-on-100k-rising
Wonder if any of those Assets were sold to people with Asian sounding names ?
I think we are beyond that in most cases to ‘respectable’ sounding companies.. there were some pearlers in the Panama papers such as ..
“Hinojosa Cantu, who had built his fortune from billions of dollars in government contracts, was under investigation for influence-peddling. In Mexico they called him the Duke of Privilege.
On February 3, 2015 Mexico’s president, Enrique Peña Nieto, had called an inquiry after media revelations that Hinojosa Cantu built a US$7 million home for Nieto’s wife, and sold another house to the Finance Minister, Luis Videgaray Caso, just before they won government in 2012.
By March last year Hinojosa Cantu had begun restructuring his finances. The key would be New Zealand.
KEN WHITNEY’S LETTER
Hinojosa Cantu wasn’t the only Mossack Fonseca client heading for Auckland.
The ICIJ on Monday will release the names and shareholders of 240,000 corporate entities (and their shareholders) administered by Mossack Fonseca in more than 20 low-tax jurisdictions around the world.
The data includes 368 shareholders with New Zealand addresses, but 189 of the shareholders are trusts and another 12 companies have bearer shares, which will prove hard to track.”
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/79714914/the-panama-papers-new-zealand-link-revealed
Wow, the Nats in complete meltdown. It could never of happened to a nicer bunch of chinless wonders.
For those who have been following my take on the Wentworth mud race (The by-election).
This article from news.com, short’ve sums up the last 24hrs for ScoMo and the Liberal Party atm as they will in truly in the shit house. Internal polling has them trailing the independent Phelps and thence SocMo wanting to move the Embassy and wanting to review the Iran Nuclear deal. These two decisions have been shamed by an number people since yesterday’s release in Wentworth alongside the Lib candidate who is Jewish and Jewish vote in the Wentworth electorate makes up 12-13% of the vote.
https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/shock-internal-polling-shows-government-losing-wentworth-byelection/news-story/a76bb601b42a8f1b358809ff8c189ffc
Wentworth electorate is one of Australia’s most diverse electorates, big the end of town and the all way down to Redfern with its housing commission tower blocks, to Kings Cross/ Oxford st to middle class hipsters and what’s left of the work class suburbs.
And what had brought about Scott Morrison saying he is considering allowing asylum seekers and refugees detained on Nauru into New Zealand.!
https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/368802/australia-pm-said-to-be-considering-nz-s-nauru-resettlement-offer
Couldn’t find anything on the ABC …. whats happening over the ditch?
Yes the Nauru refugees issue, appears to be an attempt at vote buying aim at the middle class hipsters and the Liberal voter with a consensus for the Wentworth races. Inwhich ScoMo has managed to make himself look like Barry McKenzie , Sir Les Patterson and a member of the crack suicide squad for the People’s Front of Judaea as a he has piss off awful of people or left them very confused at what has just happened.
The Nauru refugees going NZ is almost dead cert and the only sticking point is that he is demanding that these refugees would bared from Australia via NZ, but how SocMo is he going to enforce that?
The laugh of the day (well according to my mate a Leb Christian) goes to the Jewish community of the Wentworth electorate. As straw poll was taken by the highly acclaimed Oz paper asking a number of Jewish voters about moving the Australian Embassy in Israel? All of them reply, “yes moving the Embassy and reviewing the Iran Nuclear deal would be nice, but there are more important things to worry about here in Australia than what’s happening in Israel atm.” As my mate said to me this morning over a cuppa “ Trust a Jew to worry about his or her’s hip pocket here in Oz than what’s happening back in back in Israel and I don’t know what worse a tight ass Jew or a teetotaling Scottish Methodist or Scottish Presbyterian”? Well ourfamily did alright out of old Uncle Jock as we got an awful lot of free tickets to games and events to Lancaster Park in CHCH.
So it appears his day of offering to solve the a number of issues yesterday to the the voters of Wentworth has fallen on deaf ears. So the Libs are in panic mode as we use say at work when of our Ground Defence Officers goes into a panic “ah the bog rat is ass shitting again” and SocMo is like a fat kid who has miss out on the lollie scramble as the fastest kid got there first.
Thanks ExKiwiForces!
Given the R.F.U! happening here! Difficult keeping up, (let alone across the ditch!)
I put up a comment earlier on DR tonight here about what ScoMo’s has purported to have said …. i.e. Narau, and REf’s Transferring to NZ?/Vote Buying!
But Any! other politics/issues here is GB for a while! At least until this current SF is over… Don’t hold yer breath…….
Well I’ve got a cracker of story tomorrow on the Wentworth Mud race, as this mud race has well in truely got very dirty and ugly. From I’ve heard so far awful a lot off people are piss and this could very back fire on the Lib’s big time.
I’ve been trying to follow today’s events in NZ and I’m well in truly lost for words.
Be good to hear it e hou!
Wish I could elaborate more here, or at least put you onto some good subjective media….. Shit happening way too! quick ….
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12143913
Wash my mouth out quick with Carbol! quoting Granny!
This may be more balanced? …
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/368883/troubled-national-leader-facing-big-questions
and/or view RNZ dot whatever…. ( range of opinions there et al)
Shit happening way out of ordinary for anyone! Nat party GB!
Gotta get some SE for TMs shenanigans!
Knowing a few coasters, I doubt they would even vote for a Chinese or Indian candidate let alone one from the “No Mates Party” and the last time it went blue in the 90’s they got some old wind bag who was about as useless as a Airforce Elephant Tracker chasing a defaulter in the snow while doing the dance of the flaming asshole at the same time.
Anyway I better hit the frog and toad as it going be another big day politics either side of the ditch tomorrow
demanding that these refugees would bared from Australia via NZ, but how SocMo is he going to enforce that?
Quite easily; every kiwi that enters Australia has an SCV444 (Special Category Visa) automatically created as you pass through Immigration. Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen:
https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/visa-1/444-
All the govt has to do is put these people on an exclusion list and they don’t get a visa. Simple and quite legal.
Winston to stand in the Pakuranga By-Election ?
Wonder if National Party grandees are having a quiet word with their contacts in the senior ranks of the Police today?
Good day to bury bad news…
Must be Jacinda’s ” kindness” to oil day again… from Greenpeace
“We’ve just learned, the Government has granted Austrian oil giant OMV a two year extension on their permit to search and drill for oil in the Great South Basin, just off Dunedin. That’s despite issuing a ban on new oil and gas exploration permits in April.
This is a massive backtrack. The Government is breathing new life into this permit, and the extra two years could be the difference between finding and drilling for new oil and gas reserves, or not.
It’s madness to be allowing an extension on this permit to look for more oil and gas reserves – right when the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released a new report that shows in no uncertain terms we’ve got a decade to save the world from climate catastrophe.
In fact the science is clearer than ever. If we want to keep climate change to below 1.5C, then the majority of fossil fuel reserves cannot be touched.
This we know to be true, and yet OMV – one of the 100 companies who have caused 70% of global emissions since the eighties – continue undeterred by the millions of lives, precious ecosystems and communities they put at risk.
After the IPCC call to action – that we need unparalleled courage, ambition and resolve to turn this tide – why would anyone grant an oil company more time to pillage the Earth?
Let Megan Woods know that you do not support this decision. That instead of extending oil permits, the government should be investing in the clean energies of the future.”
(not quite, what I think people interpreted from Jacinda claiming that climate change was our generations Nuclear free moment…)
A glimpse of the future in electricity pricing When only some FF generation is off line…
https://www.electricityinfo.co.nz/
spot prices up by a factor of 8.
When the costs flow onto consumers,there will be a summer of discontent.
The government and councils should be encouraging people with solar and other kinds of alternative power instead of backing big business and doing the opposite. It’s criminal the way big business and government lackeys are trying to rout people and keep them off alternative power because they must know with climate change they must change and the sooner they do so, the better for everybody, change is inevitable. Sadly the dinosaurs are just going to keep price gouging their profits until the lights go out and the new green transport can’t be charged, and take everyone else with them.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/102708888/way-to-be-cleared-for-big-electricity-players-to-prey-on-lowincome-households
It starts,a tripling of a power bill.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/107899242/power-retailer-flick-electric-face-fallout-from-spot-price-surge.
Also not what people were expecting with the Greens in government.
“inappropriate behaviour that is unacceptable from a married Member of Parliament.” – I’m sorry what?
By Martyn Bradbury / October 17, 2018 / 3 Comments
TDB recommends Voyager – Unlimited internet @home as fast as you can get
If National are going to stand by that new ethical line in the sand, then should we start applying it to other National Party MPs?
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Jami-Lee Ross accused of inappropriate behaviour for a married MP: Paula Bennett
National Party deputy leader Paula Bennett says the issues raised with Jami-Lee Ross had nothing to do with harassment, but were about inappropriate behaviour from Ross as a “married Member of Parliament”.
“Inappropriate behaviour that is unacceptable from a married Member of Parliament.” – I’m sorry what?
Is that the game we are playing now?
Does National REALLY want to go down that path?
REALLY?
R-E-A-L-L-Y?
This is becoming so nasty and bitter. The National Party are the Marriage Police now?
If National are going to stand by that new ethical line in the sand, then should we start applying it to other National Party MPs?
Paula Bennett’s interview on Breakfast this morning was a train wreck.
We’ve seen Paula use personal information to damage enemies in the past when she published personal details of beneficiaries who complained about her. This is getting to a level where people are going to be seriously damaged from this.
Who does this all benefit ultimately? Why Judith Collins of course, who is watching her puppets dance and the implosion of chaos play out.
If Simon Bridges has to stand down due to the audio evidence Jami-Lee Ross has, the Party will turn in desperation to Judith.
And then we will have real cause to be frightened.
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Published: 46 mins ago on October 17, 2018
By: Martyn Bradbury
Last Modified: October 17, 2018 @ 12:30 pm
Filed Under: Deconstructing Headlines, Martyn Bradbury, Most Recent Blogs
Tagged With: New Zealand Politics
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Dr Liz Gordon – Ructions in the national caucus
Still don’t see what Labour haven’t move to have all heat treated foods labelled as such. So their base isnt scammed by retailers.
Jacinda Arderns “Captain Call” on banning oil and gas exploration was always going to be a disaster…
“The country has just seven years’ firm supply, and production is forecast to start falling away from 2021, according to Patrick Teagle, a New Zealand-based executive for Austrian oil and gas company OMV. Teagle was talking to Parliament’s environment select committee.”
“The clash of viewpoints among the 12 submitters was stark. Government MPs didn’t appreciate being told the ban would increase emissions rather than reduce them, that the ban had already halted some investment, and that reduced domestic gas supplies would increase electricity costs for all consumers and sacrifice opportunities to reduce coal use and replace higher-emitting imports – like fertiliser – with lower-emission local production.”
“New Zealand Shipping Federation executive director Annabel Young silenced the committee with a detailed explanation of the challenge ship owners will face if they can’t access locally-made methanol – made from gas – to meet new international fuel pollution standards.”
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12143888
If it’s so important to the country why are they giving the rights away to foreign companies? One of the companies that is named in one of the 100 companies producing 70% of the world’s emissions.
30 years ago they should have invested in green tech for shipping. Now they are better to get off their arses and find green solutions than pay lobbyists to keep the ‘peak’ oil debacle going until they have nothing.
But after tobacco who actually believes big business anymore?
They are as reliable as the unitary plan producing all those affordable houses…
Or John Key’s resignation if there is mass surveillance.
Essentially all the ‘experts’ are a paid for viewpoint that is hardly reliable and that approach has wasted 30 years of climate change over the question of its it real or not with plenty of paid for climate change deniers helping screw over the planet.
For those interesting in the Wentworth mud race, here is today’s updates. But the since “No Mates Party” has now turn themselves into the crack suicide squad of People’s Front of Judaea or was that the People’s Liberation Front of Judaea anyway who bloody cares, as is probably more interesting than the Wentworth mud race.
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-17-10-2018/#comment-1537138
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-17-10-2018/#comment-1537555
Kia ora The Am Show I waited a hour before I turned the TV on I new it will be all about the circus national party one point I want to make is who trained these lads shonky and bill I have not had one drink of alcohol what a line .They started dredging up mud at the start of the expense leak of bridges .
I think responsible drinking is a good topic I was thinking the drink driving ads could be about the bad effects of drinking alcohol that would be 2 issues that the youth learn about we should have advertising all around the place about the Ills of alcohol.
jerry no thanks a bully we know who was responceable for the little girl comments he’s A chauvinistic person we seen how he stuffed up the Earth quake insurance claims in Christchurch . Ka kite ano P.S I did not wake up yesterday
To the Human Caused Climate Change Deniers how can you keep a straight neck and face when denying HCCC in the process denying your OUR Decedents a healthy future .
All for the love of power and money we have the Technology to mitigate climate change
We just need all voters to think about there Decedents future and vote these idiots out .
I see one bull——story about beer/ hops production being affected by climate change who give a —– if beer goes up in price at the minute we don’t need beer to survive like we did when water was polluted back 200 years ago .
We do need clean air and climate conditions that do not fluctuate wildly from extreme droughts to extremely cold conditions floods hurricanes earthquakes tsunami to survive .
IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER WE CAN LEAVE A BETTER EARTH FOR ALL.
I say solar installed on building is one of the best ways to mitigate HCCC no need to build huge inefficient transmission lines that lose % 8 to % 15 of power or to take land from people or the wild life the cost of transmission will be billions of wasted money.
Subsides for poor solar installation and pay % 95 of the power unit price for net metering I.E when one has a grid tied solar system during the day the power company give you credit for your excess power and at nite you buy it back paying % 100 % 5 should be enough for eclectic company’s to provide there services .
The drawback is big company’s lose control of your hip pocket and they don’t like that they will chuck out all sorts of lies to say that huge solar farms are the best to keep control of the consumer and there hip pocket like the lies about HCCC that are being fabricated at the minute. Ka kite ano link is below.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/05/why-the-next-four-months-are-crucial-for-future-of-planet-climate-change P.S just the savings in lost power transmission would be more than enough to pay for poor peoples solar systems
A link for my post above.ka kite ano
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20adDr7Felw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV5R7JO-vOc
We can learn a lot off Papatuanuku and her creatures it pays to work with her Its not rocket science Ka kite ano link below.
https://www.bbc.com/ideas/videos/five-things-ants-can-teach-us-about-management/p06p040r
We have had this in all professions men stealing Wahine work treating them like play toys .
There are many storys about this behavior and some men still try and discredit the metoo movement they don’t have the noodles to self examine then selves and how men have behaved for years . I say we need to treat everyone equally links below ka kite ano
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/oct/16/the-scandal-of-architecture-invisible-women-denise-scott-brown
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/17/asia/mj-akbar-resignation-metoo-india-intl/index.html
This is why Eco Maori says that Aotearoa /New Zealand is a World leader and changes are coming that will be good for all half scientists /researchers awards have been given to Wahine / Ladies Kia kaha ka kite ano link below.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ourchangingworld/audio/2018667058/nz-s-top-researchers-honoured
Kia ora Tekaea Yes I agree with we need more transparency on political donations.
Kingi Tawhiao showing his old maori art and artifacts is cool we need more of our great maori artifacts on show to build the children knowledge on maori and there wairua .
Smoke free for the East Coast /Gisborne will be a cool goal what about Pee free.
Tongans are real patriots of there League team Ka pai
Ka kite ano
Kia ora Newshub Thats a tragedy the dock staff dying in that helicopter crash condolences to there whano . I give a person a bit of leeway but its not looking good for Ross Now that looks like the Botany seat is up for grabs.
Is Maureen Pugh a Dairy farmer .
Justen Trudea is a good left leader I have researched the facts on what happens to A society when it legalizes personal use of weed and its mostly positive for all .
All trump talks about is money money money. ?????.
Malissa its cool the happy Royal couple in Australia are showing support for our environment.
It would be hard for people to look after there disabled children I say they should be payed the same as a private person caring for there disabled offspring .
Yes there are reason other than money that people come to Aotearoa life style we are more equal than some countrys .
Big Bird is retiring one of the most famous bird in the world ka pai
Ka kite ano P.S I won’t say it lol
Kia ora The Crowd Goes Wild James & Mulls Ana Eco makes a point not to back sports teams out right one can see the problem’s the ASB tennis is having now.
I seen a story about Kurtley Beale calling for Australian aboriginal designed jersey it mite be old but Kia kaha
Yes Wahine Sports is going strong in Aotearoa and around the Papatuanuku ka pai.
I am a loyal person some people are not to Eco maori not The Crowd Goes Wild people are cool tho.
I see our most famous choreographer Star is shining brightly she cool
Ka kite ano