A year ago, many Ethiopians would not have dared to imagine the spectacle they are being treated to right now, as the government intensifies its crackdown on alleged corruption and gross human rights violations within the military and intelligence services.
The nation has watched in disbelief – and then cheered – as former high-ranking officers have been arrested on live television, handcuffed while surrounded by heavily armed security personnel and bundled into police vehicles. Times have indeed changed.
This is the biggest crackdown on corruption in Ethiopia’s recent history and it is being spearheaded by the bold and reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who came to power in April……
…..The prime minister seems to be responding to concerns raised by the public, especially during the last four years when massive anti-government protests broke out in many parts of the country.
At the heart of the demonstrations were serious concerns about the alleged corruption which touched at the very core of the government and the military.
Torture and sodomy charges
The corruption scandals which have hit the military-run conglomerate, Metals and Engineering Company (Metec), have not been a secret in the country – they have long been whispered in homes, pubs and coffee places.
But no-one, it seemed, had the courage to take the problem head on until Mr Abiy came to office.
In this fight, the prime minister seems to have huge public support, having won over even some of his doubters who thought he did not have it in him to take on the military elite.
Other arrested officials have already appeared in court, facing charges that include torture, rape and sodomy.
Again, this did not come as a surprise to Ethiopians. Thousands of them were arbitrarily arrested over the years, and human rights groups have written numerous reports about the allegations against security officials.
His critics say he is carrying out a purge of the old guard in the military and intelligence services who for years have been almost untouchable and only answerable to those within their ranks…..
This is a remarkable turnaround when most of the world seems to be heading in the other direction.
When just 70 years after the death of Hitler and Stalin where we seemed to be heading to a world where all the major countries will be ruled by fascists, goons, strongmen and other types of “authoritarians” (Britain and France excepted for the moment).
A great example of why the old model is broken, a lack of leadership and a lack of imagination.
Trucking rubbish 200km from Taranaki to Martin. Three trucks a day.
And then there is talk of achieving zero waste targets…
People might excuse the authorities of not having a lot of drive in dealing with rubbish. Many are so thick that they would reply that was wrong, they drive
the rubbish away. They would think a riposte like that funny.
Well, no. They do seem to be working on the principle of actually reducing their waste. Personally, I don’t see how that can be done at the regional level. It really does need central government bringing in legislation to reduce packaging and banning the spam in our mailboxes.
I’m wondering how it will be able to save ~$1m per year. That doesn’t seem physically possible without either dropping the number of personnel or lowering wages or both.
And, with it being wholly foreign owned means that any profit is going to be shipped offshore making us poorer.
I’m also wondering what other hooks have been placed in the agreement because it seems far too good to be true.
A Universal Creativity Initiative will flow naturally from UBI.
We are at our best when putting personal talent to work. It is no coincidence that world-wide rehabilitation programs for offenders and addicts are invariably grounded in creativity, – activities such as cooking, music, art, surfing, and environmental restoration.
Earning a living for most fails to honour individual creativity. We find ourselves ‘imprisoned’ within profit-based corporations and governmental institutions demanding compliance within narrow bounds. The demise of conventional employment following widespread automation will usher in a universal basic income or similar currency leaving millions free to give expression to what they sense as innovation lying at their deepest core.
While there are impressive structures created by animals (bird nests, termite colonies, corals, beaver dams) they are purpose-built – never as creative expression. Setting us aside from other life forms our creativity stems from individual temperament and ability. The trait is common to us all whilst its expression in terms of range, diversity and depth is without limit.
With capitalism comfortably out of the way and UBI in place a universal creativity initiative will eventuate allowing the widest spectrum of human abilities to come to the fore in the rebuild of society and restoration of our stricken planet. The politically inclined to explore new styles of inclusive government; educators to developing fresh methods of nourishing emerging talent; financiers to look into equitable ways applying UBI; artists and musicians to give novel expression to humanity’s changing orientation on earth; scientists to probe decisive methods of restoring the integrity of our ecosystems; medics to develop non-intrusive initiatives of addressing health; idealists to imagining our future course – to name a few.
Within these broad divisions lie countless sub-opportunities catering for the full spectrum of human talent and ability all the way from abstract visionaries to those with high quality physical dexterity.
Our creativity is only limited by our imagination and curiosity – unstoppable forces in human evolution. There’s one thing that stops imagination and creativity dead in their tracks: fear.
Indeed, when the basics are not covered our psychology results in different attitudes and behaviours. The post here on TS on house prices bears testament to that. People bow to economic fundamentals or indicators rather and put their lives on hold (i.e. play it safe).
We all have so much potential locked away inside but have thrown away the key – we now live in strictly materialistic dimension of our own making. Some praise our secular society and its supposed rationalism and reliance on science and the scientific method. Others compare it with the Matrix: an artificial world in which human evolution is at a standstill and exploited by machines – I think we’re half-way there.
“I don’t think we can afford to just completely IGNORE this.”
Two louts and a comedian discuss “China’s aggression” in the South China Sea The Panel, RNZ National, Friday 16 November 2018
Jim Mora, James Nokise, Heather Roy, Caitlin Cherry
First topic for the once-over-lightly this afternoon was the buttonholing of Jacinda Ardern by Mahathir Mohamad, and his urging her to beware of Chinese influence in the Pacific. Host Jim Mora noted that “the Australians” have spoken out against China’s aggression. Mora made that statement without any discernible irony in his voice.
Near the end of this risible segment, the one participant with a conscience, comedian James Nokise, says what anyone with an I.Q. above room temperature would have been thinking. He obviously decided to ignore the rules: such plain speaking is utterly verboten on this dog of a program. His radical statement of the truth elicits a ringing silence from Mora, who is happy to laugh at the plight of political dissidents, and Heather Roy, a former ACT member of parliament…..
JIM MORA: And then there were those, aah, AWKWARD moments at the East Asia Summit in Singapore
HEATHER ROY: Mmmmmm.
JIM MORA: —when the Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad began BENDING the ear of our prime minister about Chinese attempts to dominate the South China Sea, and the reporters were ushered out of the roo-hoo-hoo-om! [guffawing, followed by extended intake of breath]… It’s interesting, I mean, if push DOES come to shove in the South China Sea—we’ve asked this before—what sould, what should New Zealand do, because the P.M. says we’re not taking SIDES here?
HEATHER ROY:[deep sigh to indicate moral seriousness] Hmmmmm.
JAMES NOKISE: What exactly CAN we do? Probably an uncomfortable question for New Zealanders. I mean are we gonna send our three ships and no planes that we have, to intimidate China?
MORA: Well, Australia trades a lot with China, and [deep intake of breath] has still told China in fairly plain language that it’s being AGGRESSIVE. I guess you could say Australia is using harder wo-o-o-ords.
JAMES NOKISE: Well if anyone knows about aggressive use of internment camps it’s probably the Australians, isn’t it.
…Awkward silence….
HEATHER ROY:[nervously] Heh, heh.
MORA:[breathes deeply to indicate annoyance and perplexedness] It’s INTERESTING though—-
HEATHER ROY: Yeeaahhhh….
MORA: Sorry, no you were gonna say what?
HEATHER ROY: It IS very interesting, and New Zealand is heavily dependent on the South China Sea, you know….[…]…. I don’t think we can afford to just completely IGNORE this. Ahhhhhhmmm, tut, if you look at what happens with the MILITARY, ahh, there’s a freedom of navigation operations where the, the basis of that is maintaining your position… [bores on for a seeming eternity, actually another minute]…
Later in the program, Heather Roy the former ACT M.P. claimed, contra all evidence, that “the Americans treat veterans very well.”
You seem to forget that RNZ has always only catered for mainstreamers. Ardern could probably get her head around it, but she has to play to her crowd, right? When in doubt, be a typical politician & duck the issue.
If she were a true leader, she’d be fronting on behalf of our foreign policy credentials & independent stance – representing the entire country on the issue, not just Labour deadheads. She could remain cautious in noting that the South China Sea is not in our region, but explain that she understands why Malaysia is trying to share their regional concern with us. She could reasonably mention that other countries in that region share Malaysia’s concern, and cite those such as Japan and the Phillipines that have issued foreign policy statements in recent years expressing their concerns.
A true leader of Aotearoa would go further. Issuing a declaration of principle is required: China is creating a security threat in that region, perception that it is attempting a strategy of covert imperialism by means of establishing control over sea routes in contravention of international law is valid and we support those countries that are affected and threatened. Not taking sides is wimping out. She is presumably using public service advice as an excuse to do so. Poor leadership is the result.
She could remain cautious in noting that the South China Sea is not in our region,
It’s a global issue and not a regional one. The South China Sea is ~3.5 million square kilometres of international ocean. China’s actions are against all international law as it stands.
If China manages to annex it or even just a large portion of it then other nations will be doing the same and the law will be one which cannot be enforced. China seems to be doing it because they don’t think that the international community will do anything about it. Unfortunately, history proves them right. After all, the international community has never held the US to account for it’s crimes against international law.
This is a wealth grab and it’s actually grabbing potential wealth from the other nations surrounding The South China Sea.
You seem to forget that RNZ has always only catered for mainstreamers.
I’m well aware of that, Dennis. Occasionally there is real, outstanding, and courageous journalism on RNZ National, and even on the usually dreadful Panel hour: Eva Radich discomfiting Tony Blair by insisting he respond to her point that the attack on Iraq was illegal, Kim Hill driving the neocon William Shawcross into a fit of volcanic anger [1], Gordon Campbell challenging the glib and uninformed Richard Griffin over his prejudiced and thoughtless comments about Hugo Chavez and eliciting a groveling backdown and on-air retraction, and (more recently) Paula Penfold calling out the head of the New Zealand Defence Forces as a “coward”. [2]
All too often, however, as you rightly point out, RNZ National is anything but a forum of debate, affording an uncontested space for some of the ugliest and cleverest ideologues on the planet. [3]
Your point is well-made. I was just having a bitch at them. Having lived in alternative Aotearoa most of my life I resent their systemic discrimination against non-mainstreamers. They’ve learnt how to include other minorities in their coverage, they just can’t seem to apply the general principle!
When I’m back in town, I’ll post the Maritime Trade numbers that transit the SCS and greater Pacific Region and the possible effects it would have on the NZ economy. Any NZ exports for the SEA region goes through the Singapore hub, the same is for some our MER exports/imports have to go through the Singapore hub. If China does manage close access to SCS or degrade access to the SCS then the economies of Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and some degree the Canada and the US will be effected. In turn this will effect our traditional trading/ allies and including Australia, so what happens in the SCS is our concern as it would effectively stuff up the NZ economy especially what the Neo Lib/ Con economic theory has done to NZ over the last 30 odd years.
Unless we start to diverse our economy like our Kirk, Rowling, old Piggy and some degree Lamb burger Moore said in the 70’ and early/ mid 80’s, then we are fucked as we have ran down all aspects of the economy and the NZDF. Our Sea Lanes Of Communications (SLOC’s) are our life blood and heart and soul of the greater NZ economy.
“”What’s wrong with that? Some small-minded, bigoted person has called us racist, threatened to bash us up; it’s not worth replying to,” Joy Babington said.”
Just go have a drink in a local bar and get them talking. Likewise Kaponga, Stratford and Inglewood.
We did a gig in Kaponga, 3 – THREE fights in one show. Young white rugby players.
Inglewood, where friends of the groom sodomised him for an engagement present…
Hawera, where a middling white act gets rapturous applause, and an incredible Maori talent barely gets a smattering of light applause.
Where the Maori waitress came to my hotel to avoid the white bosses advances, but he followed her there, and it took hours for him to leave even after a wee talking to.
Where addressing racism ironically was interpreted as actual racist material and encouraged with free drinks, lunch invites, and back slaps.
Good old boys.
I could get back on stage as a front to do a documentary of small town NZ. People open up to comics after a show. It’d be a helluva expose but make a country full of enemies.
“Former New Plymouth Mayor Andrew Judd called it “absolutely disgusting”, and ex-MP and Maori activist Hone Harawira said he wanted to “smash the racist motherf**kers”.
“Is it acceptable for a reporter to go on and on because he hasn’t got an answer out of the President?” Obviously Jim Mora thinks it’s NOT acceptable. The Panel, RNZ National, Thursday 8 November 2018
Jim Mora, Penny Ashton, Bernard Hickey, Caitlin Cherry
Penny Ashton gets very heated as she criticizes Donald Trump, in the face of Mora’s infuriatingly complacent, barely disguised support for the Groper in Chief. Mora’s disdainful and patrician attitude, and his infuriatingly complacent observations seem designed to goad, taunt, and vex her.
BERNARD HICKEY: Last time we had unemployment this low, mortgage rates were eleven per cent.
MORA:ELEVEN per cent?!?!?
PENNY ASHTON: And I heard that they were like NINETEEN or TWENTY per cent in the eighties a lot of the time.
……
MORA: Minor news, um, from the, um, MID-TERMS in the United States, before we get to the big issues. Fox News, under a headline “Democrat Agenda” featured Lenin with a red flag and a hammer and sickle—
PENNY ASHTON: Oh, good LO-O-O-ORD.
MORA: Unless that is FAKE news, but it seemed to be genuine. The celebrity endorsements by the way—I don’t know why I mention, perhaps it’s because you’re here—
MORA: —FLOPPED. Um, from Taylor Swift and Beyoncé in Tenness—, Tennessee and Texas.
PENNY ASHTON: But DID they flop? I wouldn’t think you would say that Beto would—is that how you say his name?—Beeto, Beto?
MORA: Beto.
PENNY ASHTON: Beto—was a FLOP. Like he got SO CLOSE in a theoretically very red state. He also, it feels like he was starting his run for President, is what a lot of people are saying. I mean, and I just sort of think, that yes, okay they didn’t win, but it was close, and they rattled the cage, and I think that that’s SOMETHING.
MORA: It’s puzzling..[baffled sigh]… how come Beyoncé didn’t, uh, tell her millions of followers to vote for Beto until about four o’clock in the afterNOON?
PENNY ASHTON: I know, but also it’s so puzzling isn’t it, that that would be what it would take to GET you to do that, is something, but you know, there’s no point lamenting that sort of shenanigans, IS there?
MORA: And in a SIGN of the digital times, South Carolina’s state newspaper the Post had to go to press before the final result, and it announced: “Katie Arrington is going to Washington”. The first woman in Congress for twenty-five years in South Carolina, but in fact her lead was pulled ba-a-a-ack, and she ISN’T going to Washington. And, Bernard, you can imagine the agony of the subs as they tried to make that decision! [laughing]
BERNARD HICKEY: “Who-o-o-o-oops!”
MORA: Hur, hur!
BERNARD HICKEY: “Hold the presses!”
MORA: I know, they couldn’t hold them any longer!
BERNARD HICKEY: It’s like that famous headline, was it “Dewey Wins”? um, from nineteen—
MORA: Oh yeah.
PENNY ASHTON: And they QUOTED that I think.
BERNARD HICKEY: Yeah, yeah…
PENNY ASHTON: Yea-aah.
….Pause…..
MORA: Jeff Sessions has been sacked by Donald Trump, we’ll talk about that. And Donald Trump got REALLY upset with a persistent CNN reporter Jeff Acosta.
Jim Acosta: Mister President— Donald Trump: That’s ENOUGH. Jim Acosta: Mister President, I, one of the questions, if I may ask, on the Russian investigation, are you concerned that, that you may have— Donald Trump: I’m not concerned about anything— Jim Acosta: —where you may have indictments— Donald Trump: —with this investigation because it’s a HOAX! That’s enough. Put down the mike! Jim Acosta: Mister President, are you worried about INDICTMENTS coming down in this invest—
….Several seconds of hubbub as Trump’s aides attempt to grab microphone. Someone yells “Take his mike!”… Jim Acosta: Mister President— Donald Trump:[croaking in anger] I tell ya what: CNN should be ASHAMED of itself, having YOU working’ for them. You are a RUDE, TERRIBLE PERSON. You shouldn’t be working’ for CNN. Go ahead. ….[more hubbub]….
MORA: So Mister Acosta’s press credentials, ahhhh, have now been revoked by the White House, it’s claimed he placed his HANDS on the intern in the video from which this audio’s takennnn….
PENNY ASHTON: I watched it, she GRABBED the microphone out of his hand quite VIOLENTLY, and he put his hand out while she did that. And then people are saying online that it was ASSAULT. I mean, it’s, it’s like, oh honestly, it’s bad behavior all ROUND, it feels like to me.
BERNARD HICKEY: Yeaaahh, the, the, the photographs, I’ve seen the Reuters photographs of the incident, make it clear that he was simply trying to hold on to the mike.
PENNY ASHTON: Yeah. Yeah. And then she was being very rou—, you know,
BERNARD HICKEY: Mmmm.
PENNY ASHTON: Oh hey, he just, he’s just sort of such a repellent, I know that you’ve had, you’ve had listeners writing in, saying that your Panelists are so biased against Trump—
MORA: Yes, I’ll GET to that.
PENNY ASHTON: This is the man that said that, um, you know, he was gonna try and soften his rhetoric. And that’s what he comes out with, because he can’t help himself. And to me, it’s just, he keeps going on about CNN’s ratings dropping, but they’re NOT, so, you know, fake news, fake news.
MORA: Ha ha ha ha. Ha!
PENNY ASHTON: You are the fake news, sir, and this is what happens.
MORA: In—
PENNY ASHTON: How does it work? How do they dismiss people? Like, you know, I don’t know how it works in New Zealand. You’re in the press; if, if, if, you know, Jacinda goes, “Enough from you now”—
MORA: Yes I wanna ASK you that—
PENNY ASHTON: —are you supposed to STOP?
MORA: I wanna ask you that, because, in Trump’s, errr, errr, Trump’s CREDIT, he takes questions, lots more questions than Barack Obama or George Bush used to DO.
PENNY ASHTON:[skeptically] Well that’s interesti-i-ing.
MORA: Is it acceptable for a reporter to go on and on because he hasn’t got an answer out of the President? What do you think?
BERNARD HICKEY: Uh, I, I think it i-i-i-is, and it’s the job of the, um, responder to answer the question.
PENNY ASHTON: Mmm.
BERNARD HICKEY: Or at least make clear that they’re not going to answer the question because they don’t want to.
PENNY ASHTON: And not to descend into insults. Obviously.
BERNARD HICKEY: Yeah. And I must say, I’ve been in the press gallery now for six years, and have, you know, interviewed CEOs and Ministers for TWENTY years. I very rarely see a situation where someone walks out of an interview or refuses to answer a question. And John Key in particular, but also, um, Bill English, AND Jacinda Ardern all pride themselves on basically exhausting questions, i.e. stand there until the questions stop, and then leaving.
PENNY ASHTON: Right, okay. That’s certainly not his—
BERNARD HICKEY: And when they cut them off it’s actually really rare and noteworthy.
MORA:[audible intake of breath to indicate displeasure]
PENNY ASHTON: I mean, especially because people are ATTACKING journalists and things like this, you know, there’s actually been physical violence, and things, and he is INCITING this, and I just find it, I mean it’s what he DOES, isn’t it.
BERNARD HICKEY: It’s the next level, um, awfulness, and it’s really dangerous, actually.
PENNY ASHTON: Yeah, totally.
BERNARD HICKEY: I mean, there’s been bombs sent to CNN—
PENNY ASHTON: Yep.
BERNARD HICKEY: Ah, um, journalists have been harassed, and he’s created this environment where Saudi Arabia thought it was okay to, to kill and dismember a journalist who walked into their—-
MORA: Hang on! Are you trying to say that Saudi Arabia did that, ahhh, to Mister Khashoggi because of what Mis—
BERNARD HICKEY: Not beCAUSE of Trump, but they felt enabled to do it because of what Trump had said.
MORA: Okay, –t’s an interesting claim.
PENNY ASHTON: I liked the guy from—
BERNARD HICKEY: And they haven’t been punished by the way.
PENNY ASHTON: No.
BERNARD HICKEY: A major ally of America.
PENNY ASHTON: I liked the guy from NBC who immediately stood up for, um, so what’s that guy’s name again?
BERNARD HICKEY: Jim Acosta.
PENNY ASHTON: That, thank you. Acosta. That’s an interesting one for that situation isn’t it! Ah, anyway, he stood up for him and said he’s nothing but professional and a good guy, which I thought was great, immediately after that.
MORA: Here’s a little bit more audio of, uh, likely House Leader and leading Democrat Nancy Pelosi.
[cheering]… Nancy Pelosi: In stark contrast to the G.O.P. Congress the Democratic Congress will be led with transparency and openness. …[cheering]…
MORA: Is that the great FIB of politics? Along with the vow to be bipartisan and to end division?
PENNY ASHTON:
BERNARD HICKEY: Yes, yes. Like the current government’s um, pledge to, um, “reform the Official Information Act to make it much more transparent.” Nothing has happened. ….
MORA:
PENNY ASHTON: I think the way that they operate, as a nation, for their political system is crazy.It’s something like Democrats got seven per cent more of the popular vote in this election, you know, and then that doesn’t translate, does it, because of the way that their system is. It’s just—-
MORA: But it doesn’t translate in other countries, sometimes either.
PENNY ASHTON: Oh absolutely, I mean, sometimes, WELL! I mean, some, I feel like this one is one of the more, well, I suppose it’s the one that gets the most publicity. But the extremity to which people can be stymied. Like Barack, well everyone, you had somebody writing and saying “Oh what did OBAMA do?” He couldn’t do anything EITHER, because of the same system blocking things, being able to, you know,…[continues defending the indefensible for extended time]…
Good, but is there another way to access this information? Can it be linked to, can it be edited, can it be left as a link to a radio site with succinct commentary from the poster as to its content?
It is, after all, a transcript of other peoples’ argument that if written as an argument would be well reduced by the editor’s pen.
Next, we’ll be having transcripts of an MP’s Hansard on the Standard, the full ten minutes, with interjections, Speaker’s interventions and personal asides.
If more feel like you, Ed, then I’ll just continue to scroll past. Part of that problem for me is that continuity of the flow of responses is broken by having to scroll so far, and the logical thread is interrupted.
Fair point, actually. You’re not the first person to complain about my long transcripts. That’s one reason I have created my blog: to put up the whole transcript, and to put up just a highlighted segment on fora like The Standard.
I’ve broken my own guidelines, and your telling me off is a timely corrective. I’ll be briefer in future.
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The last surviving leaders of the communist Khmer Rouge regime that brutally ruled Cambodia in the 1970s were convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes Friday by an international tribunal.
Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan were sentenced to life in prison, the same punishment they are already serving after earlier convictions at a previous trial for crimes against humanity connected with forced transfers and mass disappearances. Cambodia has no death penalty.
Both men have suggested they were targets of political persecution. Nuon Chea was considered the main ideologist of the Khmer Rouge and the right-hand man of the group’s late leader, Pol Pot, while Khieu Samphan served as the head of state, presenting a moderate veneer as the public face for the highly secretive group.
I won’t – I have an ex-wife who once had to attend a few gruesome post-mortems, then come home and pretend normal humanity and dump her load. Not surprising some things don’t last.
But you know …… yea/nah
China boots invited media from Pacific Island leaders meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping … Chinese State Broardcaster CCTV only media allowed to record.
“To be told that we’re not allowed is undermining our press freedom, we have press freedom in this country.”
ooooooh you xenophobic racist you! Fake news even!
(/sarc)
Try that line on the student that was so bullied by local social media by parents in China and Collins-aligned acolytes that demanded she vote gNatz
(otherwise she’d no longer be able to buy a NuZull house or launder a wee bit of suspiciously obtained filthy lucre).
[Mike] Joy is the editor of a new book, From Mountains to Sea: Solving New Zealand’s Freshwater Crisis looking at the problem of freshwater, which he says is grave.
“The freshwater crisis is our industrialisation of the landscape and it’s ended up with these two worlds,” he says.
“We have this amazing conservation estate with the most beautiful pristine rivers and lakes in the world and a lowlands where we have some of the most degraded and polluted lakes and rivers in the world.”
He says this tendency to “silo” means we lose track of the bigger picture.
“It strikes me with great clarity that if you look at the problems in isolation they each seem intractable; but when you grasp that there could be one single solution, then suddenly there is a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel.”
As Ed seems MIA today… a cheerful Weekend read FYA!…
“With wildfires, heat waves, and rising sea levels, large tracts of the earth are at risk of becoming uninhabitable. But the fossil-fuel industry continues its assault on the facts.”
Our next Speaker needs to be strong, smart, and strategic. The best person for the job is @NancyPelosi. I look forward to working with her in the next Congress to advance our commitment to progressive policies that fueled our historic victories. https://t.co/ETWMKzhFAK— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) November 16, 2018
It wasn’t a coincidence that moments after Nancy Pelosi promised progressive House leaders more power in the next Congress, a host of liberal groups announced they were supporting her for speaker.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who is expected to co-chair the House Progressive Caucus next year, left a Thursday night meeting with Pelosi in the Capitol and proclaimed that her members would have more seats on powerful committees and more influence over legislation.
I think this is a cheap shot on my part but I liked this juxtaposition of news headings at RNZ.
Mainfreight’s overall profit up 22 percent
New Zealanders losing millions to scammers, new data shows
Freight Transport & Logistics | Mainfreight NZ https://www.mainfreight.com/nz/en/nz-home.aspx
Around town, or around the world, with over 250 branches and an extensive global agent network Mainfreight delivers wherever your product needs to go.
(Not to be confused with Mainzeal, which has the Fairy Shipley National touch.) Mainzeal failed while parent made billions – Newsroom
Oct 24, 2018 – Richina, the Chinese parent company of failed NZ construction company Mainzeal, owns assets potentially worth billions of dollars, according … https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/10/23/288481/mainzeal-failed-while-parent-made-billions
Trump blames forest poor management on the California fires, says if forest areas had been raked out, "you wouldn't have the fires." (via Fox) pic.twitter.com/cbdfiRlbJ7— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) November 16, 2018
In a historical context, a rake (short for rakehell, analogous to “hellraiser”) was a man who was habituated to immoral conduct, particularly womanising.
Often, a rake was also prodigal, wasting his (usually inherited) fortune on gambling, wine, women and song, and incurring lavish debts in the process.
Rake (stock character) – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rake_(stock_character)
I found the whole show fascinating.
George’s views on Brexit and poverty in the UK were enlightening.
Roger Highfield, a director from the Science Museum, spike in the subject of the kilo.He was was fascinating and informative. I learnt a lot.
Yet, I doubt you listened as you prejudged the whole thing.
For a 28 year old, you come over as very closed minded.
[Enough of the ageism Ed. And I’ll while I’m here, can you please give a brief intro to videos? eg ‘George Galloway discusses Brexit, the Tory meltdown, and the need for a snap election on his UK radio show’. Gives the reader some relevant context, which is good manners in my book. Cheers, TRP.]
Last year, Niue caught the attention of the world by announcing its intention to protect 40 per cent of this blue estate from fishing and other activities that might compromise it.
In this, Niue leads the world. The United Nations Development Programme is promoting 10 per cent marine protection by 2020. The United Kingdom is more ambitious, advocating 30 per cent by 2030. New Zealand, by contrast, currently protects less than one per cent of its exclusive economic zone.
Very good question Gabby, they probably would call on the AusG and NZG to help out. The RNZN have too few hulls and the RNZAF airframes atm to do its current mandated task, let alone short notice taskings.
From the Washington Post via The Herald,
Mohammed’s private condemnation of the slain journalist stood in contracts to his government’s public comments, which mourned Khashoggi’s killing as a “terrible mistake” and a “tragedy.”
Am I being trivial.
“The positive outcome of this study is that we have a metric to assess the ratcheting up of ambition. Civil society, experts and decision-makers can use this to hold their governments accountable, and possibly undertake climate litigation cases as happened recently in the Netherlands,” he said. “This metric translates the lack of ambition on a global scale to a national scale. If we look at the goal of trying to avoid damage to the Earth, then I am pessimistic as this is already happening. But this should be a motivation to ratchet up ambition and avoid global warming as much and as rapidly as possible. Every fraction of a degree will have a big impact.”
New action and encouragement for Taranaki region and a number of other moves shown on the link.
15 November 2018
PGF to support commercialisation at Taranaki sawmill
The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) will provide a loan of up to $1.8 million to TaranakiPine to allow the company to diversify and create new jobs, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/hon-shane-jones
Kia kaha to all the people who are letting the world’s governments know we have to take human caused climate change very seriously and act now to prevent a catastrophic disaster on a PLANET scale that is preventable with a bit of cooperation on a Planet SCALE.
How I decide if a story is fact or fiction is I look for the motive everyone has a motive for there actions. Then I look to see if the writer or the person being written about has a conflict of interest. “The Humane Caused Climate Change Debate “.
The %99 of OUR Worlds Scientist what is there motive for there point of view about Climate change most of these people are 50 years old + they have been reporting about the bad effects of climate change for 30 years + . What’s in it for them the TRUTH is what’s Scientist look for that is a Scientist motive for there words on Climate change.
You see the Truth is the core role of a Scientist they are asked or ask them selves Qustion’s about OUR World and then they set out to find the FACT about that question and publish the Truth and then the rest of the scientific community around the world scrutinize there answers to the question hence it is proven to be the truth or not. You see the scientist know what is going on in our world they are the people who care about our future they are instinctively the truth tellers of the world whom have been kept inside a square box by the greedy power hungry neo liberal capitalist of the world who only goal is more power or to do anything anything to keep that power weather billion’s of human lives are put at extreme risk or not .
Now lets look at The neo climate change deniers what’s there motive greed money power control we see billions of dollars of oil barons money pour into the climate change deniers hip pocket this money reaches to the far ends of the Earth putting everyone whos views are not the same as there’s into a BOX of deceit and lies .
Who cares if they are making billions of people’s lives a misery with there deceit.
There are heaps of story’s of the bad side effects of carbon on the peoples health and Papatunuku Mother Earth and her Beautiful health and all our future and still these IDIOTS peddle there LIES Hence ECO MAORI is making a stand for all our future as I CAN SEE THE BIG PICTURE. P.S the % 001 of climate change deniers motive is money.
Seventy people have been arrested as thousands of demonstrators occupied five bridges in central London to voice their concern over the looming climate crisis.
Protesters, including families and pensioners, began massing on five of London’s main bridges from 10am on Saturday. An hour later, all the crossings had been blocked in one of the biggest acts of peaceful civil disobedience in the UK in decades. Some people locked themselves together, while others linked arms and sang songs.
By 2pm the blockade of Southwark Bridge had been abandoned and protesters moved from there to Blackfriars Bridge, where organisers said they were soon to move west towards Westminster Bridge.
Climate protesters glue hands to UK government building
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Demonstrators occupied Southwark, Blackfriars, Waterloo, Westminster and Lambeth bridges.
The Metropolitan police said all the bridges had since reopened.
A spokesman said: “There have been over 70 arrests for obstruction of the Highway Act and Bail Act offences.”
Demonstrators have now gathered in Parliament Square to hear speeches. Roger Hallam, one of the strategists behind the actions, told the Guardian he felt the protest had been fantastic. Ka kite ano link below
Kia ora R&R that was a good view on tangata whenua O Aotearoa whakapapa Patara
I see that the person who was shouting free speech while some on was talking and mentioned the rugby player was a paid neo troll Guy.
People coming here and preaching race hate speech and being stopped by our action’s in there tracks is not anti free speech its protecting the people from there hate full word’s that can influence some to behave badly Golirz
Its good that maori culture and other cultures are being finally respected by most people but I still get heads turning when I use maori in a shop not all heads turn but still one or two Ka kite ano P.S my megaphone is quite loud I just have to be carefull what I use it for
Kia ora Marae Yes Maori TV need’s to keep up to the future I say we need to find maori stars and promote them music stars what ever Shane.
My views are we need to draw in the viewers and use the internet and Maori TV together to get more people learning our cultures maybe team up with our Pacific cousins to get this one should be researching around Papatunuku to see what work’s in other country’s and duplicate it .
I say a Screen TV and multimedia is a easy to to learn te reo or anything from may be team up with the education sector to come up with tools that help teach te reo .
Kevin I want to see positive story’s on maori about on our TV Screen’s hence the Maori Star’s need to be created Kevin I know some have been deliberately suppressing our rising maori stars . Ka kite ano P.S Tini I have discovered NZONSCREEN its a good site to find old maori movies but there are some Ngati Porou story’s that I can not access
Here you go the carbon men trying to cheat us once again by they to get laws made so they can hide there emissions data typical neo liberal capitalist so much for transparency they will let us burn in there carbon emissions .
The Australian oil and gas lobby is pushing to limit public information about greenhouse gas emissions from liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants, a move that contradicts the global industry’s pledge to increase transparency about their impact on the climate.
The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (Appea) has called for LNG plants to be able to apply for emissions data to be withheld from the public on the grounds that releasing it could help its competitors overseas. It has been backed by Chevron, which operates the Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG developments in Western Australia.
The push follows the federal government reporting that the booming LNG sector is the main driver of Australia’s growing emissions. Ka kite ano link below
Kia ora Newshub looks like only one black team won this weekend well losing is part of sports Rugby is a fast growing Sport’s.
That is correct we don’t need to chose sides we want to see World harmony the Yin Yang a nice balanced happy healthy world.
That’s working outside the square box the Whangara homeless helping to building there own homeless shelter ka pai Carol Peter’s .
I bet fuel prices are higher here in Aotearoa than they are in France.
Its really good that the World is drinking less wine and Alcohol its a substance that when consumed need to be respected we seen what Alcohol does to the unborn child.
The Bosnian refugee crises is a crying shame all the refugee crises around Papatunuku should not be happening in 2018.
The Peter Blake trust is doing a great job showing our beautiful creatures of Tangaroa using new tec virtual reality ka pai .
Tawhirimate is showing its awesome power with that tornado in Aotearoa today .
Thanks to Fiao o Fa amausili and Linda for there long career’s playing for the Black Ferns Kia ka Ladies
Good wins to Ireland and France plenty of happy fans ka pai.
Ka kite ano
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Photo by Ron Fung on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week again when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with special guests:5.00 pm ...
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Kia orana, Talofa lava, Mālo e lelei, Taloha ni, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Noa’ia e mauri, Ni sa bula vinaka, Kia ora, Tena Koutou Katoa. Labour Party President Jill Day, Prime Minister Hipkins, Party faithful, delegates and comrades, whānau and friends, it’s a privilege to be here today. I begin my ...
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The Green Party is calling on the Government to take responsibility for reducing inflation by taxing wealth instead of leaving RBNZ to continue hiking the Official Cash Rate. ...
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The Fuel Industry (Improving Fuel Resilience) Amendment Bill would: boost New Zealand’s fuel supply resilience and economic security enable the minimum stockholding obligation regulations to be adapted as the energy and transport environment evolves. “Last November, I announced a six-point plan to improve the resiliency of our fuel supply from ...
The Government is making sure those on low incomes will no longer have to wait five weeks to get the minimum weekly rate of ACC, and improving the data collected to make the system fairer, Minister for ACC Peeni Henare said today. The Accident Compensation (Access Reporting and Other Matters) ...
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Tena koutou katoa and thank you, Mayor Nadine Taylor, for your welcome to Marlborough. Thanks also Doug Saunders-Loder and all of you for inviting me to your annual conference. As you might know, I’m quite new to this job – and I’m particularly pleased that the first organisation I’m giving a ...
The Government will enter into a funding arrangement with councils in cyclone and flood affected regions to support them to offer a voluntary buyout for owners of Category 3 designated residential properties. It will also co-fund work needed to protect Category 2 designated properties. “From the beginning of this process ...
The Government has announced changes to strengthen requirements in venues with pokie (gambling) machines will come into effect from 15 June. “Pokies are one of the most harmful forms of gambling. They can have a detrimental impact on individuals, their friends, whānau and communities,” Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds said. ...
The total Police workforce is now the largest it has ever been. Police constabulary stands at 10,700 officers – an increase of 21% since 2017 Māori officers have increased 40%, Pasifika 83%, Asian 157%, Women 61% Every district has got more Police under this Government The Government has delivered on ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Nanaia Mahuta met with Korea President Yoon, as well as Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna, during her recent visit to Korea. “It was an honour to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the first Korea – Pacific Leaders’ Summit. We discussed Pacific ambitions under the ...
The Government’s Research and Development Tax Incentive has supported more than $2 billion of New Zealand business innovation – an increase of around $1 billion in less than nine months. "Research and innovation are essential in helping us meet the biggest challenges and seize opportunities facing New Zealand. It’s fantastic ...
The next ‘giant leap’ in New Zealand’s space journey has been taken today with the launch of the National Space Policy, Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds announced. “Our space sector is growing rapidly. Each year New Zealand is becoming a more and more attractive place for launches, manufacturing space-related technology ...
A new Year 7-13 designated character wharekura will be built in Pāpāmoa, Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis has announced. The wharekura will focus on science, mathematics and creative technologies while connecting ākonga to the whakapapa of the area. The decision follows an application by the Ngā Pōtiki ā Tamapahore ...
Protecting the environment by establishing a stronger, more consistent system for freedom camping Supporting councils to better manage freedom camping in their region and reduce the financial and social impacts on communities Ensuring that self-contained vehicle owners have time to prepare for the new system The Self-Contained Motor Vehicle ...
A new law passed last night could see up to 25 percent of Family Court judges’ workload freed up in order to reduce delays, Minister of Justice Kiri Allan said. The Family Court (Family Court Associates) Legislation Bill will establish a new role known as the Family Court Associate. The ...
New Zealand businesses will begin reaping the rewards of our gold-standard free trade agreement with the United Kingdom (UK FTA) from today. “The New Zealand UK FTA enters into force from today, and is one of the seven new or upgraded Free Trade Agreements negotiated by Labour to date,” Prime ...
The Government will reform outdated surrogacy laws to improve the experiences of children, surrogates, and the growing number of families formed through surrogacy, by adopting Labour MP Tāmati Coffey’s Member’s Bill as a Government Bill, Minister Kiri Allan has announced. “Surrogacy has become an established method of forming a family ...
Defence Minister Andrew Little departs for Singapore tomorrow to attend the 20th annual Shangri-La Dialogue for Defence Ministers from the Indo-Pacific region. “Shangri-La brings together many countries to speak frankly and express views about defence issues that could affect us all,” Andrew Little said. “New Zealand is a long-standing participant ...
Research, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall and the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang met in Wellington today and affirmed the two countries’ long-standing science relationship. Minister Wang was in New Zealand for the 6th New Zealand-China Joint Commission Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation. Following ...
5 percent uplift clearer and simpler to navigate Domestic productions can access more funding sources 20 percent rebate confirmed for post-production, digital and visual effects Qualifying expenditure for post-production, digital and visual effects rebate dropped to $250,000 to encourage more smaller productions The Government is making it easier for the ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs (Pacific Region) Carmel Sepuloni will represent New Zealand at Samoa’s 61st Anniversary of Independence commemorations in Apia. “Aotearoa New Zealand is pleased to share in this significant occasion, alongside other invited Pacific leaders, and congratulates Samoa on the milestone of 61 ...
The Government is continuing to support retailers with additional funding for the highly popular Fog Cannon Subsidy Scheme, Police and Small Business Minister Ginny Andersen announced today. “The Government is committed to improving retailers’ safety,” Ginny Andersen said. “I’ve seen first-hand the difference fog cannons are making. Not only do ...
The Government has received the first independent review of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says. The review, considered by the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee, was presented to the House of Representatives today. “Ensuring the safety and security of New Zealanders is of the utmost ...
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has expressed condolences on behalf of New Zealand to the Kingdom of Tonga following the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili. “New Zealand sends it’s heartfelt condolences to the people of Tonga, and to His Majesty King Tupou VI at this time ...
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has expressed condolences on behalf of New Zealand to the Kingdom of Tonga following the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili. “New Zealand sends it’s heartfelt condolences to the people of Tonga, and to His Majesty King Tupou VI at this time ...
Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have today announced the extension of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) deployment to Solomon Islands, as part of the regionally-led Solomon Islands International Assistance Force (SIAF). “Aotearoa New Zealand has a long history of working alongside the Royal Solomon ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will travel to the Republic of Korea today to attend the Korea–Pacific Leaders’ Summit in Seoul and Busan. “Korea is an important partner for Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific region. I am eager for the opportunity to meet and discuss issues that matter to our ...
Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor joined ministerial representatives at a meeting in Detroit, USA today to announce substantial conclusion of negotiations of a new regional supply chains agreement among 14 Indo-Pacific countries. The Supply Chains agreement is one of four pillars being negotiated within the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework ...
Our most spoken Pacific language is taking centre stage this week with Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa – Samoa Language Week kicking off around the country. “Understanding and using the Samoan language across our nation is vital to its survival,” Barbara Edmonds said. “The Samoan population in New Zealand are ...
Over 90 per cent of New Zealanders are expected to receive this year’s nationwide test of the Emergency Mobile Alert system tonight between 6-7pm. “Emergency Mobile Alert is a tool that can alert people when their life, health, or property, is in danger,” Kieran McAnulty said. “The annual nationwide test ...
ENGLISH: Whakatōhea and the Crown sign Deed of Settlement A Deed of Settlement has been signed between Whakatōhea and the Crown, 183 years to the day since Whakatōhea rangatira signed the Treaty of Waitangi, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little has announced. Whakatōhea is an iwi based in ...
Elizabeth Longworth has been appointed as the Chair of the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO, Associate Minister of Education Jo Luxton announced today. UNESCO is the United Nations agency responsible for promoting cooperative action among member states in the areas of education, science, culture, social science (including peace and ...
Tourism and hospitality employer accreditation scheme to recognise quality employers Better education and career opportunities in tourism Cultural competency to create more diverse and inclusive workplaces Innovation and technology acceleration to drive satisfying, skilled jobs Strengthening our tourism workers and supporting them into good career pathways, pay and working conditions ...
Tourism and hospitality employer accreditation scheme to recognise quality employers Better education and career opportunities in tourism Cultural competency to create more diverse and inclusive workplaces Innovation and technology acceleration to drive satisfying, skilled jobs Strengthening our tourism workers and supporting them into good career pathways, pay and working conditions ...
Greater access to primary care, including 193 more front line clinical staff More hauora services and increased mental health support Boost for maternity and early years programmes Funding for cancers, HIV and longer term conditions Greater access to primary care, improved maternity care and mental health support are ...
Greater access to primary care, including 193 more front line clinical staff More hauora services and increased mental health support Boost for maternity and early years programmes Funding for cancers, HIV and longer term conditions Greater access to primary care, improved maternity care and mental health support are ...
The Government continues progress on the survivor-led independent redress system for historic abuse in care, with the announcement of the design and advisory group members today. “The main recommendation of the Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Abuse in Care interim redress report was for a survivor-led independent redress system, and the ...
Aotearoa New Zealand is providing NZ$7.75 million to respond to urgent humanitarian needs in the Horn of Africa, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. The Horn of Africa is experiencing its most severe drought in decades, with five consecutive failed rainy seasons. At least 43.3 million people require lifesaving and ...
Health Minister Ayesha Verrall has opened two new state-of-the-art mental health facilities at the Christchurch Hillmorton Hospital campus, as the Government ramps up its efforts to build a modern fit for purpose mental health system. The buildings, costing $81.8 million, are one of 16 capital projects the Government has funded ...
The Government is continuing to invest in our regional economies by announcing another $24 million worth of investment into ten diverse projects, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan says. “Our regions are the backbone of our economy and today’s announcement continues to build on the Government’s investment to boost regional economic ...
An $8 million boost to New Zealand Māori Tourism will help operators insulate themselves for the future. Spread over the next four years, the investment acknowledges the on-going challenges faced by the industry and the significant contribution Māori make to tourism in Aotearoa. It builds on the $15 million invested ...
Defence Minister Andrew Little has marked the arrival of the first 18 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles for the New Zealand Army, alongside personnel at Trentham Military Camp today. “The arrival of the Bushmaster fleet represents a significant uplift in capability and protection for defence force personnel, and a milestone in ...
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A new poem by Wellington poet Victoria Lewis. Carmine well – the cherries appeared quietly there on the kitchen bench as if to smile and say i love you,and you dared to forget those gleaming fruit form a prayer, a devotion bloody on the inside, taut on the out ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra nitpicker/Shutterstock By coincidence, the furore around the consultancy firm PwC is raging just as the National Anti-Corruption Commission is gearing up for its start of business on July 1. The PwC scandal, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ricardo Villegas, Senior Lecturer of Law, University of South Australia Today, Federal Court Justice Anthony Besanko handed down his long-awaited judgment in the defamation case that Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living former SAS soldier, brought against the Age, the Sydney Morning ...
Wayne Brown has named and attempted to shame councillors who oppose the sale of the council's airport shares, but some are returning fire, saying he does not have the votes to pass his plan. ...
Some certainty has arrived for those impacted by severe weather events earlier this year but the bulk of the detail for a buyout scheme affecting at least 700 homes is a work in progress, writes political editor Jo Moir.Analysis: Cyclone Recovery Minister Grant Robertson has been determined since February ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Rolph, Professor of Law, University of Sydney At the heart of the spectacular defamation trial brought by decorated Australian soldier Ben Roberts-Smith were two key questions. Had the Age, the Sydney Morning Herald and the Canberra Times damaged his reputation ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Bateson, Professor of Practice, University of Sydney Shutterstock Australians’ access to a range of contraceptive options depends on where they live and how wealthy they are. A recent parliamentary inquiry recommends ways to end this “postcode lottery” for people ...
Labour's campaign chair is standing by a social media post which likens National's prescriptions policy to dystopian TV show and novel The Handmaid's Tale. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Coalition’s decision to oppose the Voice to Parliament has put its moderate members in a jam. Some moderates are active yes advocates, while others are trying to keep low profiles. Bridget Archer, the outspoken ...
Greenpeace Aotearoa is calling out the agriculture industry’s "undue influence" over the Government’s agricultural emissions policy, saying that " predatory denial and delay " have stalled the development of plans to price and reduce ...
“The huge fire in South Auckland illustrates the serious human health risks of incinerating flock, the residual material left over from the scrap metal process. It is one reason we will be opposing the building of a waste incinerator in Te Awamutu ...
It’s reassuring to think that by paying for private treatment you’re ‘freeing up a bed’ in a public hospital. But the reality is private beds don’t free up public beds, they replace them. Ethicists argue that healthcare is special. Unlike other consumer goods, its availability and accessibility should be based ...
The office of mayor Wayne Brown has hit back at criticism journalists were “cherry-picked” for this morning’s budget announcement. A number of media outlets, including The Spinoff, Stuff, TVNZ and Newshub, were not invited to hear Brown’s budget address. Some, however, made it into the room after Brown had started ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Klugman, Research Fellow, Institute for Health & Sport, member of the Community, Identity and Displacement Research Network, and Co-convenor of the Olympic Research Network, Victoria University Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains mention of the Stolen ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sudyumna Dahal, PhD Student, Australian National University Shutterstock The human costs of tobacco and smoking worldwide are huge. 1.3 billion people use tobacco, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. More than 8 million people die prematurely because of tobacco, at ...
Today, the Government released a discussion document: Safer Online Services and Media Platforms. It aims to reduce people’s exposure to harmful content, and create a system that is easier to navigate if people need to report harmful content. The ...
The Act Party’s compared a proposal to improve online safety to the government’s doomed hate speech laws, and pledged to “kill” it off as well. Consultation is set to begin on a Department of Internal Affairs proposal to change how online content is regulated in New Zealand. But David Seymour ...
A new report from the Auditor-General on four initiatives to improve outcomes for Māori has highlighted the importance of strong relationships between public organisations and Māori, and of taking the time needed to build these relationships. However, ...
The Broadcasting Standards Authority welcomes today’s launch of the public discussion document, Safer Online Services and Media Platforms, on a proposed new content regulation framework. The Authority has long been an advocate for a more flexible regulatory ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alice Clement, Research Associate in the College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University Virtual Australian Museum of Palaeontology, Author providedPalaeontology is the study of evolution and prehistoric life, usually preserved as fossils in rocks. It combines aspects of geology ...
Inclusive Aotearoa Collective Tāhono welcomes the release of the Safer Online Services and Media Platforms report from Te Tari Taiwhenua, dealing with content regulation for media and social media. “We welcome the move to an independent regulator that ...
The drearily titled “Safer Online Services and Media Platforms” document has just been released. Here’s a TLDR summary from The Spinoff’s Shanti Mathias: The suggested changes are pretty different from what we have right now. All digital industries that publish content, including overseas companies like Meta and Google and local ...
The drearily titled “Safer Online Services and Media Platforms” document has just been released. Here’s a TLDR summary from The Spinoff’s Shanti Mathias: The suggested changes are pretty different from what we have right now. All digital industries that publish content, including overseas companies like Meta and Google and local ...
The Safer Online Services and Media Platforms document has just been released by the government’s Content Regulatory Review. It does more than capitalise nouns – here’s what you need to know about what’s inside. What is this document with the world’s most boring name?It’s a proposal from the Department ...
The Safer Online Services and Media Platforms document has just been released by the government’s Content Regulatory Review. It does more than capitalise nouns – here’s what you need to know about what’s inside. What is this document with the world’s most boring name?It’s a proposal from the Department ...
The 2010s musical theatre phenomenon has finally made it to Spark Arena. Does does it live up to the years of expectation? This Angelica Schuyler is transcendent Full disclosure: I am overly familiar with Hamiton without being a full-on Hamilstan. I’ve listened to the cast recording countless times, watched it ...
The 2010s musical theatre phenomenon has finally made it to Spark Arena. Does does it live up to the years of expectation? This Angelica Schuyler is transcendent Full disclosure: I am overly familiar with Hamiton without being a full-on Hamilstan. I’ve listened to the cast recording countless times, watched it ...
Members of the press being turned away from the door distracted from the announcement of asset sales and inflation-pegged rates in Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown’s final budget proposal Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown didn’t mince words at a fiery press conference this morning where he confirmed he’d be calling for a ...
During New Zealand First coalition negotiations our policy was to train and resource 1800 new frontline police. We secured this coalition policy win to ensure our streets had a police force that could tackle crime - after years of neglect. Remember those ...
The government and councils will offer a buyout option to property owners whose land is too risky to rebuild on, and co-fund protection works for those who need it. ...
The government will work with councils to offer a “voluntary buyout” for owners of homes written off by Cyclone Gabrielle and other recent severe weather. About 700 category three properties – those where it’s deemed the risk of future severe weather cannot be sufficiently mitigated – are expected to be ...
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown’s proposed budget presents a dangerous false choice between cutting public services and privatising Auckland’s assets. The proposal to councillors offers to reinstate funding for public services and increase the pay ...
A leaked consultation document from the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) shows plans to draft and introduce legislation that would entirely restructure the New Zealand censorship regime, bringing online speech, such as material on social media ...
A crucial day for the future of the city, and the mayor’s message to hundreds of thousands of Aucklanders: I don’t want to talk to you. Wayne Brown was right. The media is awash with drongos. I personally have behaved drongoistically – to borrow a Winstonism – at least twice ...
The PSA is pleased Te Whatu Ora has listened to its concerns and is seeking further consultation with unions on a major restructuring as it seeks to remove duplication and centralise services. "This will be a huge relief for workers," said ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Antje Deckert, Associate Professor (Criminology), Auckland University of Technology Getty Images When TVNZ cancelled reality TV show Police Ten 7 earlier this year, it certainly rattled some law-and-order cages. The show’s former host Graham Bell, who described suspects variously ...
A new survey from Consumer NZ has once again found customer’s prefer the country’s smaller power providers. For the third year in a row, Powershop has come out on top with a satisfaction score of 74% – the sixth time overall it has achieved the accolade. Frank Energy received a ...
Applications to mine in the ocean could begin in July. Why are scientists and activists so concerned?Far from the light of the surface, animals are pale; some glow in the dense darkness, have translucent shells; grow very big or very small. Even the most comprehensive list of deep ocean ...
The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that a Police dog handler was not justified in using his dog to bite a man who was resisting arrest but was justified in using the dog against a second man who threatened Police. At a Whanganui suburb ...
The interdisciplinary artist from Te Whanganui-a-Tara shares all the mahi that happens behind the scenes. Ana (Ngāti Tāwhaki, Ngāi Tūhoe) has won multiple awards for her theatre work, and has been the recipient of the Te Tumu Toi New Zealand Arts Foundation Springboard Award, where she was mentored by ...
Sustainable Tarras (ST) supports today’s commitment from the new Christchurch City Holdings (CCHL) board seeking increased transparency and community engagement on the Tarras airport, as debated with Christchurch City Council (CCC) at today’s ...
This Sunday, 4 June, Wellington and Christchurch will join over 300 cities worldwide in observing the National Animal Rights Day. The events remember the billions of animals who lose their lives each year due to human actions, and acknowledge the ...
EDS has lodged its submission on “ Strengthening National Direction on Renewable Electricity Generation and Electricity Transmission ”, a consultation document prepared by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment and the Ministry ...
Auckland’s mayor snubbed most journalists from a morning launch of his new budget. While the Herald was among a select few allowed in the room, reporters from outlets like Stuff weren’t sent an invitation. In a story headlined “Wayne Brown snubs Stuff readers on major Auckland Council budget update”, a ...
A nationwide poll on pay gaps shows nearly 2 out of every 3 New Zealanders consider pay gaps to be a ‘significant’ or ‘very significant’ issue (64%), with a similar number supporting new pay transparency policies to address the issue (63%). ...
I said we could still be friends but now I just want him to leave me alone.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to [email protected]Dear HeraTowards the end of last year, I was surprised to see a university acquaintance from a different city – we’d had one tutorial together – at ...
Wayne Brown’s proposed budget will see rates increases pegged to inflation – but it requires his desired sell-off of Auckland Airport shores. The mayor is presenting his budget in Auckland today. Few were invited to witness the moment live, with media like Stuff reportedly left out (The Spinoff was not ...
When it was first unveiled, the government’s extension in this year’s Budget of 20 hours free early childhood education to 2-year-olds from next March was hailed as a masterstroke. The Minister of Finance said it would save qualifying households ...
I didn’t know this but because we have reciprocal health agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom, visitors from those countries will not have to pay for prescriptions once the $5 fee is removed here in July. Naturally that means New Zealanders enjoy reciprocity in their experience of local health ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Pang, Research Fellow in Psychology, Monash University Shutterstock The human brain is made up of around 86 billion neurons, linked by trillions of connections. For decades, scientists have believed that we need to map this intricate connectivity in detail ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gapps, Historian and Conjoint Lecturer, University of Newcastle Benjamin Duterrau, The Conciliation 1840, oil on canvas. Purchased by the Friends of TMAG and the Board of Trustees, 1945. Collection: Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, AG79.Note of warning: This article ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena Plebanski, Professor of Immunology, RMIT University Philippe Leone/Unsplash Influenza, or the flu, is a virus transmitted by respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing. It can cause the sudden onset of a fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, headache, muscle ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven J Lade, Resilience researcher at Australian National University, Australian National University Shutterstock People once believed the planet could always accommodate us. That the resilience of the Earth system meant nature would always provide. But we now know this is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vera Weisbecker, Associate Professor, Flinders University Shutterstock Australia’s dingo fence is an internationally renowned mega-structure. Stretching more than 5,600 kilometres, it was completed in the 1950s to keep sheep safe from dingoes. But it also inadvertently protects some native ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Reza M. Monem, Professor of Accounting, Griffith University In 2008 Australia’s federal, state and territory governments set the goal of halving the employment gap between First Nations Australians and others within a decade. That required, by 2018, lifting the employment rate for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Barrett, Associate Professor in Commercial Law and Taxation, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Getty Images It’s no secret that Revenue Minister David Parker has long been interested in tax reform in New Zealand. In 2022, he ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lily Moore, PhD Candidate in Classics and Archaeology, The University of Melbourne A Woman Drinking, Andrea Mantegna. about 1495-1506 The National Gallery, London. The ancient Romans venerated wine. It was accessible to the masses, a fundamental staple of mainstream life ...
Auckland’s mayor Wayne Brown is making a list ditch appeal to councillors he claims are holding up a potential sell-off of airport shares. The Herald’s reported that councillors were called to two confidential meetings yesterday, one on the sale of the airport shares and another to discuss a draft of ...
Time is running out to nail down an alternative pricing scheme before the election. Ministers are said to be fed up with the lack of movement and the sector is calling for a delay, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive ...
Objectors continue to push for the canning of a mooted new Central Otago airport as the company pushing it buys the critical final piece of the site A Christchurch City Council committee has expressed concern about one of its subsidiary companies, Christchurch International Airport, pushing ahead with a proposed airport ...
While your grocery bills suggest otherwise, high inflation is not all bad news – especially if you’ve got a New Zealand student loan, Emma Vitz explains. High inflation sucks. The price of lettuce appears to be doubling every time you go to the supermarket. People who bought into the property ...
Welcome to the authors, illustrators and publishers on the shortlist for this year’s New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. Books editor Claire Mabey offers her thoughts, alongside comments from student readers.It’s hard to write a great children’s book. The kind that will be reprinted and re-gifted ...
When countries send their iconic and precious animals to be cared for overseas, who and what makes sure they're being cared for appropriately?A kiwi encounter at an American zoo has caused outrage, and raised questions about how our taonga species are treated when they go overseas. But Save the Kiwi ...
Civil society in Ethiopia takes on the local repressive military industrial complex, and beats them.
Disclaimer; I have no personal experience of Ethiopia, but this seems like a genuine good news story that should hearten the world.
Ethiopia’s PM Abiy Ahmed takes on the military
Emmanuel Igunza -BBC Africa, November 15, 2018
This is a remarkable turnaround when most of the world seems to be heading in the other direction.
When just 70 years after the death of Hitler and Stalin where we seemed to be heading to a world where all the major countries will be ruled by fascists, goons, strongmen and other types of “authoritarians” (Britain and France excepted for the moment).
A great example of why the old model is broken, a lack of leadership and a lack of imagination.
Trucking rubbish 200km from Taranaki to Martin. Three trucks a day.
And then there is talk of achieving zero waste targets…
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/108649134/deal-will-see-taranaki-waste-trucked-to-marton-landfill-from-mid-2019
Zero waste = dumping your shit in some else’s back yard.
People might excuse the authorities of not having a lot of drive in dealing with rubbish. Many are so thick that they would reply that was wrong, they drive
the rubbish away. They would think a riposte like that funny.
Well, no. They do seem to be working on the principle of actually reducing their waste. Personally, I don’t see how that can be done at the regional level. It really does need central government bringing in legislation to reduce packaging and banning the spam in our mailboxes.
I’m wondering how it will be able to save ~$1m per year. That doesn’t seem physically possible without either dropping the number of personnel or lowering wages or both.
And, with it being wholly foreign owned means that any profit is going to be shipped offshore making us poorer.
I’m also wondering what other hooks have been placed in the agreement because it seems far too good to be true.
A Universal Creativity Initiative will flow naturally from UBI.
We are at our best when putting personal talent to work. It is no coincidence that world-wide rehabilitation programs for offenders and addicts are invariably grounded in creativity, – activities such as cooking, music, art, surfing, and environmental restoration.
Earning a living for most fails to honour individual creativity. We find ourselves ‘imprisoned’ within profit-based corporations and governmental institutions demanding compliance within narrow bounds. The demise of conventional employment following widespread automation will usher in a universal basic income or similar currency leaving millions free to give expression to what they sense as innovation lying at their deepest core.
While there are impressive structures created by animals (bird nests, termite colonies, corals, beaver dams) they are purpose-built – never as creative expression. Setting us aside from other life forms our creativity stems from individual temperament and ability. The trait is common to us all whilst its expression in terms of range, diversity and depth is without limit.
With capitalism comfortably out of the way and UBI in place a universal creativity initiative will eventuate allowing the widest spectrum of human abilities to come to the fore in the rebuild of society and restoration of our stricken planet. The politically inclined to explore new styles of inclusive government; educators to developing fresh methods of nourishing emerging talent; financiers to look into equitable ways applying UBI; artists and musicians to give novel expression to humanity’s changing orientation on earth; scientists to probe decisive methods of restoring the integrity of our ecosystems; medics to develop non-intrusive initiatives of addressing health; idealists to imagining our future course – to name a few.
Within these broad divisions lie countless sub-opportunities catering for the full spectrum of human talent and ability all the way from abstract visionaries to those with high quality physical dexterity.
Our creativity is only limited by our imagination and curiosity – unstoppable forces in human evolution. There’s one thing that stops imagination and creativity dead in their tracks: fear.
Indeed, when the basics are not covered our psychology results in different attitudes and behaviours. The post here on TS on house prices bears testament to that. People bow to economic fundamentals or indicators rather and put their lives on hold (i.e. play it safe).
We all have so much potential locked away inside but have thrown away the key – we now live in strictly materialistic dimension of our own making. Some praise our secular society and its supposed rationalism and reliance on science and the scientific method. Others compare it with the Matrix: an artificial world in which human evolution is at a standstill and exploited by machines – I think we’re half-way there.
Will a UBI change our direction? Maybe …
“I don’t think we can afford to just completely IGNORE this.”
Two louts and a comedian discuss “China’s aggression” in the South China Sea
The Panel, RNZ National, Friday 16 November 2018
Jim Mora, James Nokise, Heather Roy, Caitlin Cherry
First topic for the once-over-lightly this afternoon was the buttonholing of Jacinda Ardern by Mahathir Mohamad, and his urging her to beware of Chinese influence in the Pacific. Host Jim Mora noted that “the Australians” have spoken out against China’s aggression. Mora made that statement without any discernible irony in his voice.
Near the end of this risible segment, the one participant with a conscience, comedian James Nokise, says what anyone with an I.Q. above room temperature would have been thinking. He obviously decided to ignore the rules: such plain speaking is utterly verboten on this dog of a program. His radical statement of the truth elicits a ringing silence from Mora, who is happy to laugh at the plight of political dissidents, and Heather Roy, a former ACT member of parliament…..
JIM MORA: And then there were those, aah, AWKWARD moments at the East Asia Summit in Singapore
HEATHER ROY: Mmmmmm.
JIM MORA: —when the Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad began BENDING the ear of our prime minister about Chinese attempts to dominate the South China Sea, and the reporters were ushered out of the roo-hoo-hoo-om! [guffawing, followed by extended intake of breath]… It’s interesting, I mean, if push DOES come to shove in the South China Sea—we’ve asked this before—what sould, what should New Zealand do, because the P.M. says we’re not taking SIDES here?
HEATHER ROY: [deep sigh to indicate moral seriousness] Hmmmmm.
JAMES NOKISE: What exactly CAN we do? Probably an uncomfortable question for New Zealanders. I mean are we gonna send our three ships and no planes that we have, to intimidate China?
MORA: Well, Australia trades a lot with China, and [deep intake of breath] has still told China in fairly plain language that it’s being AGGRESSIVE. I guess you could say Australia is using harder wo-o-o-ords.
JAMES NOKISE: Well if anyone knows about aggressive use of internment camps it’s probably the Australians, isn’t it.
…Awkward silence….
HEATHER ROY: [nervously] Heh, heh.
MORA: [breathes deeply to indicate annoyance and perplexedness] It’s INTERESTING though—-
HEATHER ROY: Yeeaahhhh….
MORA: Sorry, no you were gonna say what?
HEATHER ROY: It IS very interesting, and New Zealand is heavily dependent on the South China Sea, you know….[…]…. I don’t think we can afford to just completely IGNORE this. Ahhhhhhmmm, tut, if you look at what happens with the MILITARY, ahh, there’s a freedom of navigation operations where the, the basis of that is maintaining your position… [bores on for a seeming eternity, actually another minute]…
Later in the program, Heather Roy the former ACT M.P. claimed, contra all evidence, that “the Americans treat veterans very well.”
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/thepanel/audio/2018671565/taking-sides-over-the-south-china-sea
Comedians often bring the unpalatable to the table. It’s their job in a way. Well done James.
Frankie Boyle is a perfect example of that. And in this country, Guy Williams….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYEuWoiXXhs&t=81s
You seem to forget that RNZ has always only catered for mainstreamers. Ardern could probably get her head around it, but she has to play to her crowd, right? When in doubt, be a typical politician & duck the issue.
If she were a true leader, she’d be fronting on behalf of our foreign policy credentials & independent stance – representing the entire country on the issue, not just Labour deadheads. She could remain cautious in noting that the South China Sea is not in our region, but explain that she understands why Malaysia is trying to share their regional concern with us. She could reasonably mention that other countries in that region share Malaysia’s concern, and cite those such as Japan and the Phillipines that have issued foreign policy statements in recent years expressing their concerns.
A true leader of Aotearoa would go further. Issuing a declaration of principle is required: China is creating a security threat in that region, perception that it is attempting a strategy of covert imperialism by means of establishing control over sea routes in contravention of international law is valid and we support those countries that are affected and threatened. Not taking sides is wimping out. She is presumably using public service advice as an excuse to do so. Poor leadership is the result.
It’s a global issue and not a regional one. The South China Sea is ~3.5 million square kilometres of international ocean. China’s actions are against all international law as it stands.
If China manages to annex it or even just a large portion of it then other nations will be doing the same and the law will be one which cannot be enforced. China seems to be doing it because they don’t think that the international community will do anything about it. Unfortunately, history proves them right. After all, the international community has never held the US to account for it’s crimes against international law.
This is a wealth grab and it’s actually grabbing potential wealth from the other nations surrounding The South China Sea.
You seem to forget that RNZ has always only catered for mainstreamers.
I’m well aware of that, Dennis. Occasionally there is real, outstanding, and courageous journalism on RNZ National, and even on the usually dreadful Panel hour: Eva Radich discomfiting Tony Blair by insisting he respond to her point that the attack on Iraq was illegal, Kim Hill driving the neocon William Shawcross into a fit of volcanic anger [1], Gordon Campbell challenging the glib and uninformed Richard Griffin over his prejudiced and thoughtless comments about Hugo Chavez and eliciting a groveling backdown and on-air retraction, and (more recently) Paula Penfold calling out the head of the New Zealand Defence Forces as a “coward”. [2]
All too often, however, as you rightly point out, RNZ National is anything but a forum of debate, affording an uncontested space for some of the ugliest and cleverest ideologues on the planet. [3]
[1] https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/01/william-shawcross-explodes-in-rage-at.html
[2] https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-disturbing-story-behind-willie.html
[3] https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-01082011/#comment-358776
Your point is well-made. I was just having a bitch at them. Having lived in alternative Aotearoa most of my life I resent their systemic discrimination against non-mainstreamers. They’ve learnt how to include other minorities in their coverage, they just can’t seem to apply the general principle!
When I’m back in town, I’ll post the Maritime Trade numbers that transit the SCS and greater Pacific Region and the possible effects it would have on the NZ economy. Any NZ exports for the SEA region goes through the Singapore hub, the same is for some our MER exports/imports have to go through the Singapore hub. If China does manage close access to SCS or degrade access to the SCS then the economies of Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and some degree the Canada and the US will be effected. In turn this will effect our traditional trading/ allies and including Australia, so what happens in the SCS is our concern as it would effectively stuff up the NZ economy especially what the Neo Lib/ Con economic theory has done to NZ over the last 30 odd years.
Unless we start to diverse our economy like our Kirk, Rowling, old Piggy and some degree Lamb burger Moore said in the 70’ and early/ mid 80’s, then we are fucked as we have ran down all aspects of the economy and the NZDF. Our Sea Lanes Of Communications (SLOC’s) are our life blood and heart and soul of the greater NZ economy.
Alex Swney writes about Karel Sroubek. Interesting…
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12161233
Scum. It is just about 2019. No excuses for the racist, disgusting scum who are members of Hawera Mt View Lions Club.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/108671695/outrage-at-lions-club-decision-to-wear-blackface-at-hawera-community-parade
I wish you lot didn’t live in our country.
I doubt they are racist disgusting scum but there’s no doubt it was a daft thing to do which has no doubt offended many.
They may have forgotten what century they’re living in – what was deemed OK decades ago is no longer OK.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_swtbIi2F0
No it wasn’t daft ha ha. They knew it was wrong and they still did it. Disgusting racist scum.
Proof
“”What’s wrong with that? Some small-minded, bigoted person has called us racist, threatened to bash us up; it’s not worth replying to,” Joy Babington said.”
https://i.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/108671695/lions-club-decision-to-wear-blackface-at-hawera-community-parade-not-racist
Standard playbook for racists so far. Never takes long till the racists are the victims ffs piss off you lot you’re views are off.
You seem to be struggling. Here are some links to help you out.
https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/2014/10/29/7089591/why-is-blackface-offensive-halloween-costume
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackface
https://theconversation.com/amp/explainer-why-blackface-and-brownface-offend-65881
https://www.dosomething.org/us/campaigns/just-dont-wear-blackface
Reducing generations of deprivation and suffering to a fucking caricature has never been OK, fucko.
“Reducing generations of deprivation and suffering to a fucking caricature has never been OK, fucko.”
Yet was and still is not uncommon.
I agree, a few misguided hayseeds from the hick town of Hawera.
There is no malice here. Just incredibly poor judgement.
You been to the naki ? Red neck casual racists are thick on the ground over there. They spat on the mayor for supporting Maori wards.
No, Hawera are definitely racist.
Just go have a drink in a local bar and get them talking. Likewise Kaponga, Stratford and Inglewood.
We did a gig in Kaponga, 3 – THREE fights in one show. Young white rugby players.
Inglewood, where friends of the groom sodomised him for an engagement present…
Hawera, where a middling white act gets rapturous applause, and an incredible Maori talent barely gets a smattering of light applause.
Where the Maori waitress came to my hotel to avoid the white bosses advances, but he followed her there, and it took hours for him to leave even after a wee talking to.
Where addressing racism ironically was interpreted as actual racist material and encouraged with free drinks, lunch invites, and back slaps.
Good old boys.
I could get back on stage as a front to do a documentary of small town NZ. People open up to comics after a show. It’d be a helluva expose but make a country full of enemies.
Of white, middle class, polite society, racists.
“Former New Plymouth Mayor Andrew Judd called it “absolutely disgusting”, and ex-MP and Maori activist Hone Harawira said he wanted to “smash the racist motherf**kers”.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/11/lions-club-deletes-facebook-page-after-using-blackface-in-parade.html
A tricky exam question for National MPs, particularly their (current) Leader and Deputy-Leader:
Paula Bennett: “What does trivial mean?”
“Is it acceptable for a reporter to go on and on because he hasn’t got an answer out of the President?” Obviously Jim Mora thinks it’s NOT acceptable.
The Panel, RNZ National, Thursday 8 November 2018
Jim Mora, Penny Ashton, Bernard Hickey, Caitlin Cherry
Penny Ashton gets very heated as she criticizes Donald Trump, in the face of Mora’s infuriatingly complacent, barely disguised support for the Groper in Chief. Mora’s disdainful and patrician attitude, and his infuriatingly complacent observations seem designed to goad, taunt, and vex her.
BERNARD HICKEY: Last time we had unemployment this low, mortgage rates were eleven per cent.
MORA: ELEVEN per cent?!?!?
PENNY ASHTON: And I heard that they were like NINETEEN or TWENTY per cent in the eighties a lot of the time.
……
MORA: Minor news, um, from the, um, MID-TERMS in the United States, before we get to the big issues. Fox News, under a headline “Democrat Agenda” featured Lenin with a red flag and a hammer and sickle—
PENNY ASHTON: Oh, good LO-O-O-ORD.
MORA: Unless that is FAKE news, but it seemed to be genuine. The celebrity endorsements by the way—I don’t know why I mention, perhaps it’s because you’re here—
PENNY ASHTON: [sarcastic snicker] Yeah! That’s right.
MORA: —FLOPPED. Um, from Taylor Swift and Beyoncé in Tenness—, Tennessee and Texas.
PENNY ASHTON: But DID they flop? I wouldn’t think you would say that Beto would—is that how you say his name?—Beeto, Beto?
MORA: Beto.
PENNY ASHTON: Beto—was a FLOP. Like he got SO CLOSE in a theoretically very red state. He also, it feels like he was starting his run for President, is what a lot of people are saying. I mean, and I just sort of think, that yes, okay they didn’t win, but it was close, and they rattled the cage, and I think that that’s SOMETHING.
MORA: It’s puzzling..[baffled sigh]… how come Beyoncé didn’t, uh, tell her millions of followers to vote for Beto until about four o’clock in the afterNOON?
PENNY ASHTON: I know, but also it’s so puzzling isn’t it, that that would be what it would take to GET you to do that, is something, but you know, there’s no point lamenting that sort of shenanigans, IS there?
MORA: And in a SIGN of the digital times, South Carolina’s state newspaper the Post had to go to press before the final result, and it announced: “Katie Arrington is going to Washington”. The first woman in Congress for twenty-five years in South Carolina, but in fact her lead was pulled ba-a-a-ack, and she ISN’T going to Washington. And, Bernard, you can imagine the agony of the subs as they tried to make that decision! [laughing]
BERNARD HICKEY: “Who-o-o-o-oops!”
MORA: Hur, hur!
BERNARD HICKEY: “Hold the presses!”
MORA: I know, they couldn’t hold them any longer!
BERNARD HICKEY: It’s like that famous headline, was it “Dewey Wins”? um, from nineteen—
MORA: Oh yeah.
PENNY ASHTON: And they QUOTED that I think.
BERNARD HICKEY: Yeah, yeah…
PENNY ASHTON: Yea-aah.
….Pause…..
MORA: Jeff Sessions has been sacked by Donald Trump, we’ll talk about that. And Donald Trump got REALLY upset with a persistent CNN reporter Jeff Acosta.
MORA: So Mister Acosta’s press credentials, ahhhh, have now been revoked by the White House, it’s claimed he placed his HANDS on the intern in the video from which this audio’s takennnn….
PENNY ASHTON: I watched it, she GRABBED the microphone out of his hand quite VIOLENTLY, and he put his hand out while she did that. And then people are saying online that it was ASSAULT. I mean, it’s, it’s like, oh honestly, it’s bad behavior all ROUND, it feels like to me.
BERNARD HICKEY: Yeaaahh, the, the, the photographs, I’ve seen the Reuters photographs of the incident, make it clear that he was simply trying to hold on to the mike.
PENNY ASHTON: Yeah. Yeah. And then she was being very rou—, you know,
BERNARD HICKEY: Mmmm.
PENNY ASHTON: Oh hey, he just, he’s just sort of such a repellent, I know that you’ve had, you’ve had listeners writing in, saying that your Panelists are so biased against Trump—
MORA: Yes, I’ll GET to that.
PENNY ASHTON: This is the man that said that, um, you know, he was gonna try and soften his rhetoric. And that’s what he comes out with, because he can’t help himself. And to me, it’s just, he keeps going on about CNN’s ratings dropping, but they’re NOT, so, you know, fake news, fake news.
MORA: Ha ha ha ha. Ha!
PENNY ASHTON: You are the fake news, sir, and this is what happens.
MORA: In—
PENNY ASHTON: How does it work? How do they dismiss people? Like, you know, I don’t know how it works in New Zealand. You’re in the press; if, if, if, you know, Jacinda goes, “Enough from you now”—
MORA: Yes I wanna ASK you that—
PENNY ASHTON: —are you supposed to STOP?
MORA: I wanna ask you that, because, in Trump’s, errr, errr, Trump’s CREDIT, he takes questions, lots more questions than Barack Obama or George Bush used to DO.
PENNY ASHTON: [skeptically] Well that’s interesti-i-ing.
MORA: Is it acceptable for a reporter to go on and on because he hasn’t got an answer out of the President? What do you think?
BERNARD HICKEY: Uh, I, I think it i-i-i-is, and it’s the job of the, um, responder to answer the question.
PENNY ASHTON: Mmm.
BERNARD HICKEY: Or at least make clear that they’re not going to answer the question because they don’t want to.
PENNY ASHTON: And not to descend into insults. Obviously.
BERNARD HICKEY: Yeah. And I must say, I’ve been in the press gallery now for six years, and have, you know, interviewed CEOs and Ministers for TWENTY years. I very rarely see a situation where someone walks out of an interview or refuses to answer a question. And John Key in particular, but also, um, Bill English, AND Jacinda Ardern all pride themselves on basically exhausting questions, i.e. stand there until the questions stop, and then leaving.
PENNY ASHTON: Right, okay. That’s certainly not his—
BERNARD HICKEY: And when they cut them off it’s actually really rare and noteworthy.
MORA: [audible intake of breath to indicate displeasure]
PENNY ASHTON: I mean, especially because people are ATTACKING journalists and things like this, you know, there’s actually been physical violence, and things, and he is INCITING this, and I just find it, I mean it’s what he DOES, isn’t it.
BERNARD HICKEY: It’s the next level, um, awfulness, and it’s really dangerous, actually.
PENNY ASHTON: Yeah, totally.
BERNARD HICKEY: I mean, there’s been bombs sent to CNN—
PENNY ASHTON: Yep.
BERNARD HICKEY: Ah, um, journalists have been harassed, and he’s created this environment where Saudi Arabia thought it was okay to, to kill and dismember a journalist who walked into their—-
MORA: Hang on! Are you trying to say that Saudi Arabia did that, ahhh, to Mister Khashoggi because of what Mis—
BERNARD HICKEY: Not beCAUSE of Trump, but they felt enabled to do it because of what Trump had said.
MORA: Okay, –t’s an interesting claim.
PENNY ASHTON: I liked the guy from—
BERNARD HICKEY: And they haven’t been punished by the way.
PENNY ASHTON: No.
BERNARD HICKEY: A major ally of America.
PENNY ASHTON: I liked the guy from NBC who immediately stood up for, um, so what’s that guy’s name again?
BERNARD HICKEY: Jim Acosta.
PENNY ASHTON: That, thank you. Acosta. That’s an interesting one for that situation isn’t it! Ah, anyway, he stood up for him and said he’s nothing but professional and a good guy, which I thought was great, immediately after that.
MORA: Here’s a little bit more audio of, uh, likely House Leader and leading Democrat Nancy Pelosi.
MORA: Is that the great FIB of politics? Along with the vow to be bipartisan and to end division?
PENNY ASHTON:
BERNARD HICKEY: Yes, yes. Like the current government’s um, pledge to, um, “reform the Official Information Act to make it much more transparent.” Nothing has happened. ….
MORA:
PENNY ASHTON: I think the way that they operate, as a nation, for their political system is crazy.It’s something like Democrats got seven per cent more of the popular vote in this election, you know, and then that doesn’t translate, does it, because of the way that their system is. It’s just—-
MORA: But it doesn’t translate in other countries, sometimes either.
PENNY ASHTON: Oh absolutely, I mean, sometimes, WELL! I mean, some, I feel like this one is one of the more, well, I suppose it’s the one that gets the most publicity. But the extremity to which people can be stymied. Like Barack, well everyone, you had somebody writing and saying “Oh what did OBAMA do?” He couldn’t do anything EITHER, because of the same system blocking things, being able to, you know,…[continues defending the indefensible for extended time]…
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/thepanel/20181108
Is it acceptable to publish 1676 words in an article which took nearly six screens to scroll past?
I always enjoy Morrissey’s perceptive, clever and witty transcripts.
Good, but is there another way to access this information? Can it be linked to, can it be edited, can it be left as a link to a radio site with succinct commentary from the poster as to its content?
It is, after all, a transcript of other peoples’ argument that if written as an argument would be well reduced by the editor’s pen.
Next, we’ll be having transcripts of an MP’s Hansard on the Standard, the full ten minutes, with interjections, Speaker’s interventions and personal asides.
If more feel like you, Ed, then I’ll just continue to scroll past. Part of that problem for me is that continuity of the flow of responses is broken by having to scroll so far, and the logical thread is interrupted.
120 words, btw.
Fair point, actually. You’re not the first person to complain about my long transcripts. That’s one reason I have created my blog: to put up the whole transcript, and to put up just a highlighted segment on fora like The Standard.
I’ve broken my own guidelines, and your telling me off is a timely corrective. I’ll be briefer in future.
All the best, mac.
https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/11/is-it-acceptable-for-reporter-to-go-on.html
Cheers, Morrissey. If I know where to go to get your transcriptions and a little taster or pointer, then that is good for Ed and me.
Thanks Ed. Love you too.
Thanks for counting, mac!
Love you.
Paste to a word processor and let the machine do the counting…………
I write a regular 300 word article for a newsletter. I know that it is read, and therefore worthwhile for me to produce.
The word counter limits me in being more succinct than is my first draft over-written and wordy as it is, and is a valuable editing tool.
This rubbish why oh why ???????
Could they move on to Kissinger, please?
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The last surviving leaders of the communist Khmer Rouge regime that brutally ruled Cambodia in the 1970s were convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes Friday by an international tribunal.
Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan were sentenced to life in prison, the same punishment they are already serving after earlier convictions at a previous trial for crimes against humanity connected with forced transfers and mass disappearances. Cambodia has no death penalty.
Both men have suggested they were targets of political persecution. Nuon Chea was considered the main ideologist of the Khmer Rouge and the right-hand man of the group’s late leader, Pol Pot, while Khieu Samphan served as the head of state, presenting a moderate veneer as the public face for the highly secretive group.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/last-khmer-rouge-leaders-found-guilty-genocide-get-life-terms-n937071?
Console yourself @ Joe90. While there are a good number influenced by his ideology, there’ll be an even greater number lining up to piss on his grave.
(Energy – including the emotional – is a finite resource as things stand – use it wisely)
And in breaking, snapping sensational news, the CIA has concluded the Saudi Crown Prince ORDERED the death.
Is anyone surprised?
Now, don’t forget your bone saw.
I won’t – I have an ex-wife who once had to attend a few gruesome post-mortems, then come home and pretend normal humanity and dump her load. Not surprising some things don’t last.
But you know …… yea/nah
Shit! I almost forgot the > preface and the OWT.
Sorry, should’ve been clearer – paraphrasing MSB’s instructions to his butcher boys.
China boots invited media from Pacific Island leaders meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping … Chinese State Broardcaster CCTV only media allowed to record.
“To be told that we’re not allowed is undermining our press freedom, we have press freedom in this country.”
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-16/media-kicked-out-of-xi-jinping-pacific-leaders-meeting/10506666
ooooooh you xenophobic racist you! Fake news even!
(/sarc)
Try that line on the student that was so bullied by local social media by parents in China and Collins-aligned acolytes that demanded she vote gNatz
(otherwise she’d no longer be able to buy a NuZull house or launder a wee bit of suspiciously obtained filthy lucre).
The long arm of, (Orivida and), the CCP
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-04/the-chinese-communist-partys-power-and-influence-in-australia/8584270
Seems some of the Australian press aren’t afraid to “mention the war” …
But then, there were attempts to muzzle that too!
How odd!
[Mike] Joy is the editor of a new book, From Mountains to Sea: Solving New Zealand’s Freshwater Crisis looking at the problem of freshwater, which he says is grave.
“The freshwater crisis is our industrialisation of the landscape and it’s ended up with these two worlds,” he says.
“We have this amazing conservation estate with the most beautiful pristine rivers and lakes in the world and a lowlands where we have some of the most degraded and polluted lakes and rivers in the world.”
He says this tendency to “silo” means we lose track of the bigger picture.
“We’ve got real lack of leadership. I find we could reduce the number of cows we have in the country – say, a 20 percent reduction – and we would get in most places a 40 percent reduction in the amount of nitrate pollution that comes from that.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018670839/mike-joy-solving-nz-s-freshwater-crisis
“It strikes me with great clarity that if you look at the problems in isolation they each seem intractable; but when you grasp that there could be one single solution, then suddenly there is a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel.”
– Mike Joy.
You can purchase a copy here; (Only $16).
https://www.bwb.co.nz/books/mountains-sea
I will – note that it is another Bridget Williams bright spark.
As Ed seems MIA today… a cheerful Weekend read FYA!…
“With wildfires, heat waves, and rising sea levels, large tracts of the earth are at risk of becoming uninhabitable. But the fossil-fuel industry continues its assault on the facts.”
– Bill McKibben
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/11/26/how-extreme-weather-is-shrinking-the-planet
Puritarian’s aren’t happy.
It wasn’t a coincidence that moments after Nancy Pelosi promised progressive House leaders more power in the next Congress, a host of liberal groups announced they were supporting her for speaker.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who is expected to co-chair the House Progressive Caucus next year, left a Thursday night meeting with Pelosi in the Capitol and proclaimed that her members would have more seats on powerful committees and more influence over legislation.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/16/pelosi-speaker-progressives-congress-998595
I think this is a cheap shot on my part but I liked this juxtaposition of news headings at RNZ.
Mainfreight’s overall profit up 22 percent
New Zealanders losing millions to scammers, new data shows
Freight Transport & Logistics | Mainfreight NZ
https://www.mainfreight.com/nz/en/nz-home.aspx
Around town, or around the world, with over 250 branches and an extensive global agent network Mainfreight delivers wherever your product needs to go.
Views from Mainfreight chief:
https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/mainfreights-plested-gives-recipe-nz-including-capital-gains-tax-performance-pay-teachers-b
(Not to be confused with Mainzeal, which has the Fairy Shipley National touch.)
Mainzeal failed while parent made billions – Newsroom
Oct 24, 2018 – Richina, the Chinese parent company of failed NZ construction company Mainzeal, owns assets potentially worth billions of dollars, according …
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/10/23/288481/mainzeal-failed-while-parent-made-billions
Need more rakes…
This is the sort of rake that he knows about.
In a historical context, a rake (short for rakehell, analogous to “hellraiser”) was a man who was habituated to immoral conduct, particularly womanising.
Often, a rake was also prodigal, wasting his (usually inherited) fortune on gambling, wine, women and song, and incurring lavish debts in the process.
Rake (stock character) – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rake_(stock_character)
All the rakes were required on the east coast,
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/16/nyregion/nyc-snowstorm-traffic-commute.html
The NJ governor is tacking flack.
https://twitter.com/GarySzatkowski/status/1063495537591271425
Some of the best political analysis you can hear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch4KkOwtrFY
..the…death…of…the…kilo… yup, fucking riveting…
/
I found the whole show fascinating.
George’s views on Brexit and poverty in the UK were enlightening.
Roger Highfield, a director from the Science Museum, spike in the subject of the kilo.He was was fascinating and informative. I learnt a lot.
Yet, I doubt you listened as you prejudged the whole thing.
For a 28 year old, you come over as very closed minded.
[Enough of the ageism Ed. And I’ll while I’m here, can you please give a brief intro to videos? eg ‘George Galloway discusses Brexit, the Tory meltdown, and the need for a snap election on his UK radio show’. Gives the reader some relevant context, which is good manners in my book. Cheers, TRP.]
Thank you Ed.
+ 1.
Galloway is a brave and brilliant man.
A true socialist hero.
And a true democratic hero.
Looks like the British are finding out that Europe is like Hotel California.
“You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EqPtz5qN7HM
That is so apt Ed.
The UN goes to war on UK’s austerity.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/nov/16/uk-austerity-has-inflicted-great-misery-on-citizens-un-says
39 years of neoliberalism.
8 years of austerity.
Last year, Niue caught the attention of the world by announcing its intention to protect 40 per cent of this blue estate from fishing and other activities that might compromise it.
In this, Niue leads the world. The United Nations Development Programme is promoting 10 per cent marine protection by 2020. The United Kingdom is more ambitious, advocating 30 per cent by 2030. New Zealand, by contrast, currently protects less than one per cent of its exclusive economic zone.
https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/from-taro-to-tourism/?t=_8f1367a7fb80fcefbdd4ab19634c48c6&campaign_id=
How’s Niue going to do that?
Very good question Gabby, they probably would call on the AusG and NZG to help out. The RNZN have too few hulls and the RNZAF airframes atm to do its current mandated task, let alone short notice taskings.
From the Washington Post via The Herald,
Mohammed’s private condemnation of the slain journalist stood in contracts to his government’s public comments, which mourned Khashoggi’s killing as a “terrible mistake” and a “tragedy.”
Am I being trivial.
“The positive outcome of this study is that we have a metric to assess the ratcheting up of ambition. Civil society, experts and decision-makers can use this to hold their governments accountable, and possibly undertake climate litigation cases as happened recently in the Netherlands,” he said. “This metric translates the lack of ambition on a global scale to a national scale. If we look at the goal of trying to avoid damage to the Earth, then I am pessimistic as this is already happening. But this should be a motivation to ratchet up ambition and avoid global warming as much and as rapidly as possible. Every fraction of a degree will have a big impact.”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/16/climate-change-champions-still-pursuing-devastating-policies-new-study-reveals
on target…not
California, you are next to Mexicans in Trump’s eyes!!!!
New action and encouragement for Taranaki region and a number of other moves shown on the link.
15 November 2018
PGF to support commercialisation at Taranaki sawmill
The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) will provide a loan of up to $1.8 million to TaranakiPine to allow the company to diversify and create new jobs, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today.
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/hon-shane-jones
Kia kaha to all the people who are letting the world’s governments know we have to take human caused climate change very seriously and act now to prevent a catastrophic disaster on a PLANET scale that is preventable with a bit of cooperation on a Planet SCALE.
How I decide if a story is fact or fiction is I look for the motive everyone has a motive for there actions. Then I look to see if the writer or the person being written about has a conflict of interest. “The Humane Caused Climate Change Debate “.
The %99 of OUR Worlds Scientist what is there motive for there point of view about Climate change most of these people are 50 years old + they have been reporting about the bad effects of climate change for 30 years + . What’s in it for them the TRUTH is what’s Scientist look for that is a Scientist motive for there words on Climate change.
You see the Truth is the core role of a Scientist they are asked or ask them selves Qustion’s about OUR World and then they set out to find the FACT about that question and publish the Truth and then the rest of the scientific community around the world scrutinize there answers to the question hence it is proven to be the truth or not. You see the scientist know what is going on in our world they are the people who care about our future they are instinctively the truth tellers of the world whom have been kept inside a square box by the greedy power hungry neo liberal capitalist of the world who only goal is more power or to do anything anything to keep that power weather billion’s of human lives are put at extreme risk or not .
Now lets look at The neo climate change deniers what’s there motive greed money power control we see billions of dollars of oil barons money pour into the climate change deniers hip pocket this money reaches to the far ends of the Earth putting everyone whos views are not the same as there’s into a BOX of deceit and lies .
Who cares if they are making billions of people’s lives a misery with there deceit.
There are heaps of story’s of the bad side effects of carbon on the peoples health and Papatunuku Mother Earth and her Beautiful health and all our future and still these IDIOTS peddle there LIES Hence ECO MAORI is making a stand for all our future as I CAN SEE THE BIG PICTURE. P.S the % 001 of climate change deniers motive is money.
Seventy people have been arrested as thousands of demonstrators occupied five bridges in central London to voice their concern over the looming climate crisis.
Protesters, including families and pensioners, began massing on five of London’s main bridges from 10am on Saturday. An hour later, all the crossings had been blocked in one of the biggest acts of peaceful civil disobedience in the UK in decades. Some people locked themselves together, while others linked arms and sang songs.
By 2pm the blockade of Southwark Bridge had been abandoned and protesters moved from there to Blackfriars Bridge, where organisers said they were soon to move west towards Westminster Bridge.
Climate protesters glue hands to UK government building
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Demonstrators occupied Southwark, Blackfriars, Waterloo, Westminster and Lambeth bridges.
The Metropolitan police said all the bridges had since reopened.
A spokesman said: “There have been over 70 arrests for obstruction of the Highway Act and Bail Act offences.”
Demonstrators have now gathered in Parliament Square to hear speeches. Roger Hallam, one of the strategists behind the actions, told the Guardian he felt the protest had been fantastic. Ka kite ano link below
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/17/thousands-gather-to-block-london-bridges-in-climate-rebellion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N36H6IezpVo
Kia ora R&R that was a good view on tangata whenua O Aotearoa whakapapa Patara
I see that the person who was shouting free speech while some on was talking and mentioned the rugby player was a paid neo troll Guy.
People coming here and preaching race hate speech and being stopped by our action’s in there tracks is not anti free speech its protecting the people from there hate full word’s that can influence some to behave badly Golirz
Its good that maori culture and other cultures are being finally respected by most people but I still get heads turning when I use maori in a shop not all heads turn but still one or two Ka kite ano P.S my megaphone is quite loud I just have to be carefull what I use it for
Kia ora Marae Yes Maori TV need’s to keep up to the future I say we need to find maori stars and promote them music stars what ever Shane.
My views are we need to draw in the viewers and use the internet and Maori TV together to get more people learning our cultures maybe team up with our Pacific cousins to get this one should be researching around Papatunuku to see what work’s in other country’s and duplicate it .
I say a Screen TV and multimedia is a easy to to learn te reo or anything from may be team up with the education sector to come up with tools that help teach te reo .
Kevin I want to see positive story’s on maori about on our TV Screen’s hence the Maori Star’s need to be created Kevin I know some have been deliberately suppressing our rising maori stars . Ka kite ano P.S Tini I have discovered NZONSCREEN its a good site to find old maori movies but there are some Ngati Porou story’s that I can not access
Some Eco Maori music for the minute .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yim4–J44gk
Here you go the carbon men trying to cheat us once again by they to get laws made so they can hide there emissions data typical neo liberal capitalist so much for transparency they will let us burn in there carbon emissions .
The Australian oil and gas lobby is pushing to limit public information about greenhouse gas emissions from liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants, a move that contradicts the global industry’s pledge to increase transparency about their impact on the climate.
The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (Appea) has called for LNG plants to be able to apply for emissions data to be withheld from the public on the grounds that releasing it could help its competitors overseas. It has been backed by Chevron, which operates the Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG developments in Western Australia.
The push follows the federal government reporting that the booming LNG sector is the main driver of Australia’s growing emissions. Ka kite ano link below
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/16/nothing-to-hide-oil-and-gas-lobby-pushes-to-limit-data-on-its-emissions
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/13/problem-in-waiting-why-natural-gas-will-wipe-out-australias-emissions-gains
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ0o2E4d8Ts
Kia ora Newshub looks like only one black team won this weekend well losing is part of sports Rugby is a fast growing Sport’s.
That is correct we don’t need to chose sides we want to see World harmony the Yin Yang a nice balanced happy healthy world.
That’s working outside the square box the Whangara homeless helping to building there own homeless shelter ka pai Carol Peter’s .
I bet fuel prices are higher here in Aotearoa than they are in France.
Its really good that the World is drinking less wine and Alcohol its a substance that when consumed need to be respected we seen what Alcohol does to the unborn child.
The Bosnian refugee crises is a crying shame all the refugee crises around Papatunuku should not be happening in 2018.
The Peter Blake trust is doing a great job showing our beautiful creatures of Tangaroa using new tec virtual reality ka pai .
Tawhirimate is showing its awesome power with that tornado in Aotearoa today .
Thanks to Fiao o Fa amausili and Linda for there long career’s playing for the Black Ferns Kia ka Ladies
Good wins to Ireland and France plenty of happy fans ka pai.
Ka kite ano