I’m agreeing with The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell
Chris will say what he likes in the defence of social democracy. I give him beans for being a social democrat -Trotter that is. But I have never doubted in all the time I’ve know him, that he is a social democrat.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
No the labour party is just another liberal party, and some of us support the interests of labour. You know, working people who deserve more than sad platitudes from the weak and pitiful liberal class who goes after corporate money. The same liberals who say very little on workers rights, and are deathly silent on the poor and struggling in this country.
When was the last time the labour party said anything to offer hope to the unemployed?
When was the last time the labour party did anything to enhancing democracy?
I know a lot of you are the labour party cheer squad, but you are stuck at 30% with an ever increasing percentage of the population unwilling or unable to engage in politics.
If one, just one of this current crop was half the man Peter Fraser was, I would cut you some slack. But not one of them is fit enough, nor humanistic, nor even socialist enough to come even close.
It’s not about labour failing, it would be nice if the labour party acknowledged they were the ones who opened the door to the ideology of extreme liberalism. That they hurt people by shifting the wealth away from the poorest in this country towards the already wealthy.
I don’t see that happening – do you?
Oh, and poppet’s, criticism does democracy make. If you wet liberals canny handle it, you can always go join the national party, they don’t take criticism well either.
When was the last time the labour party did anything to enhancing democracy?
Well, you got me there. Labour no more wants democracy than does National. Individuals don’t get rich when the people make the rules rather than the elites.
If one, just one of this current crop was half the man Peter Fraser was, I would cut you some slack. But not one of them is fit enough, nor humanistic, nor even socialist enough to come even close.
Probably true there as well. The First Labour Government actually had a vision about the change that they wanted to bring about. The present Labour caucus seems more about keeping things as they are despite the obvious failings.
We need a new vision and we need to organise and work towards that vision.
And exactly what is that the Labour Party is proposing regarding the UBI?
All they have said is that they are proposing that there should be a debate about the concept. Everything else has simply been, as the comments on this site have been, about what people like to think it would mean.
Until Little comes out with at least a bit of detail they can’t really be said to have “done” anything.
I came up with one idea that I have suggested to my local MP, a good Labour fellow, I proposed that while Andrew is in bank-bashing mode he should instruct the banks that they must provide 1% mortgage loans to all union members who want them.
That would help the working people and revive the moribund union movement. Membership of the unions would rocket I should think.
He seemed very interested so I can imagine it being Labour policy in a week or two. It wouldn’t be any sillier than some of their other ideas.
“When was the last time the labour party said anything to offer hope to the unemployed?” becomes a demand for a details and that something have been “done”.
You asked when was the last time Labour said anything that offered hope to the unemployed. DTB gave two recent examples. Alwyn then spun away as if you’d asked for something more than what you’d requested. Hence the parrot reference.
So an admission of guilt of what? Doing something other than gnashing my teeth whenever Labour caucus members open their mouths? If that’s a demonstration of your personal hope and vision, I’ll stick with dreary old “actually reading what the left wing parties say, rather than making shit up”.
Neither I, nor anyone else has the faintest idea of the details.
However if you are going to say that Little has done something for the unemployed with the little he has said about a UBI you would have to regard Key’s statements so far as doing something for the low and middle income New Zealanders.
I certainly wouldn’t say that about either of the parties announcements. You appear to be willing to go along with airy-fairy waffle though, at least as long as it is by your side.
I apologise. You did contribute to the UBI comments but yours were not in the category of “Oh how wonderful is Labour”.
I shall grovel for a few minutes.
I’m not sure on their take on the UBI. The framing is – well lose, and it is not being presented as a message of hope.
I think Bill here did a great piece on UBI and presenting it as something which can offer people hope.
The other thing is, a UBI is fine, but what about the homeless and hungry right now – not some mythical time in the future?
The hope I’m talking about is for people on benefits and not on benefits now!
And the end of zero hour contracts is a win, but a defensive win. Which has been what the liberal elites have convince people they should do ever since big money came into the game.
The other thing is, a UBI is fine, but what about the homeless and hungry right now – not some mythical time in the future?
You do realise that it’s possible for a political party to work on more than one thing at a time don’t you? And haven’t you forgotten that Labour promised 10,000 per year homes?
And the end of zero hour contracts is a win, but a defensive win. Which has been what the liberal elites have convince people they should do ever since big money came into the game.
To some degree that’s all we’ve been getting since forever but it’s managed to change things for the better over time.
Nora the explorer, Of course I get how political parties work.
My problem is a party who uses the name labour, is weak on issues of labour. Especially the underemployed and the unemployed.
Defensive politics is a lose, lose proposition. Ever since, the fall of the third labour government, political, labour, and human rights have been on the decline. The left has been suckered into an endless back footed defensive position. You would think after 40 odd years, they might wake up to the fact it is not a winner.
People who vote – know it’s not a winner, and they don’t like it.
People want results, and to feel they are getting somewhere for themselves and/or their children. The style of politics which is defensive in nature, will never give people that feeling.
I’d like to see more comment on what could be done, along side the criticism. When I start asking for detail often I get brushed off or told off. It’s very easy to see what is wrong with Labour. Not so easy to see what they or we can do about it given the realities.
Labour are in opposition, hard to know how they could have offensive wins, but perhaps you could explain what you mean by that?
ffs adam, can we try and not talk in ideological stereotypes? Who are the liberal class exactly? Which of the people you talk to here do you consign to that? Who is the Labour cheer squad? I’ve had people insinuate that I’m part of that which tells me that the people saying that are either idiots, or disingenuous, or are not actually listening to what I am saying.
Yes there are Labourites here, and yes the odd one is rightish, but most aren’t. Then there is the larger number of people like myself who aren’t Labourites (many don’t even vote Labour) and who have a different perspective to yourself and to the Paganis of the world. I just wish the people who want Labour to be a labour party would realise that they aren’t anymore and haven’t been for a long time and continually attacking Labour isn’t going to change that. CV’s strategy appears to be that if Labour collapsed something would rise in its place, but he won’t be up front about that and have an honest discussion about. I also really think much of what he does here re Labour is personal and as such it skews his behaviour and probably his politics.
Misrespresenting Labour and Little on immigration today is a low point even for him. I’m all for dissent, I just want honest dissent.
” I’ve had people insinuate that I’m part of that “.
That is ridiculous weka. You are part of the Green party Cheer Leaders organisation. Got your training from the Dallas Cowboys no doubt.
” I just wish the people who want Labour to be a labour party would realise that they aren’t anymore and haven’t been for a long time and continually attacking Labour isn’t going to change that.”
I agree, I’m not wanting to change the labour party. Indeed I thought it I framed my argument as such. The labour party need to realise they are not the only people who want a better future for working people. My beef, is the fact they can’t handle criticism, especially when it is pointed out they are a liberal party.
Which raises the question, are you happy to hand the ideological debate to the Tories? Seriously, think about what you said – to me, it sound like you were happy to have the political debate framed in classical liberal terms. I know you are not, I’ve read what else you have written.
Colonial Viper has a right to be mad. It seems, rightly or wrongly that the labour party use Chinese as their fall guy. If it is concious decision to play on the hangover of the “yellow peril” argument, I’m standing with Colonial Viper all the way. It just feels like we are back to the same debate we had when the twit Twyford brought up home buying in Auckland.
So new low, I’m not so quick to judge. Lets wait and see.
I don’t know what ‘classical liberal terms’ means. When you start talking about people here on ts as liberals I have no idea who you are talking about and it just comes across as an easy pejorative (I don’t know why liberal is a pejorative, but it has a different meaning where I come from).
Hence I don’t understand what you said here,
Which raises the question, are you happy to hand the ideological debate to the Tories? Seriously, think about what you said – to me, it sound like you were happy to have the political debate framed in classical liberal terms. I know you are not, I’ve read what else you have written.
Can you please clarify in lay person terms?
*
Of course CV has a right to be mad. I’m seriously fucked off with Labour too, and with Labour party members, including CV. And all the lefties who moan about Labour but won’t vote Green. You have to remember I’ve never voted Labour, I’ve always been to the left of them. CV’s big problem now is that so many people here don’t trust him, including many of us who also don’t trust Labour, and they’ve got a right to that too.
I don’t know what Little did. To me it looks much more like his naive relationship with the media as anything. And I agree there may be conscious or even unconscious bias or prejudice against Asians. I’d guess it’s because it’s politically convient rather than overt racism, but CV knows Labour far better than I and I also know that racism is racism on the receiving end no matter the intent, so it’s not acceptable that Labour are still making these mistakes, or god forbid, making these political moves intentionally.
But, and it’s a big but, we simply don’t know. And all CV has done is throw some petrol on the fire of resentment on the standard about his Labour-bashing. He’s also taken an important issue and completely fucked up the narrative and pushed a whole bunch of people into a stupid arse conversation that will never get anywhere because now it’s contaminated with too many variables including his own bigotry about the left.
I’m also mindful of the fact that CV has had to put up with significant racism here on ts in previous conversations about Asian people in NZ. The conversation I’m remembering must be one of the standard’s lowest points and he and other people of Asian whakapapa shouldn’t have to deal with that.
Classical liberalism is a political ideology that values the freedom of individuals — including the freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and markets — as well as limited government. It developed in 18th-century Europe and drew on the economic writings of Adam Smith and the growing notion of social progress. Liberalism was also influenced by the writings of Thomas Hobbes, who argued that governments exist to protect individuals from each other. In 19th- and 20th-century America, the values of classical liberalism became dominant in both major political parties. The term is sometimes used broadly to refer to all forms of liberalism prior to the 20th century. Conservatives and libertarians often invoke classical liberalism to mean a fundamental belief in minimal government.
So I’d argue it is a set of ideas which means debate is discusses in a certain way. So it’s good to talk about, markets, individual rights, but bad to make any assertions of collectivity, culture or the environment.
National are very much a liberal party, thus when Hooton rants against them being liberal – he is being either disingenuous, or a totalitarian turd of epic proportions.
And whilst I think liberalism was great in the 18th century, in the 21st century it is the enemy. It ignores women, it ignores race, it accepts poverty as part of the human condition, it makes wealth the expression of good, and has made markets a god.
I’m a Christian Anarchist, as you know, so for me communality, the environment, and people living rewarding lives – is always my main goal. I don’t want limited government, I want us to work toward living without a state.
So framing of an argument becomes important. For example, not using sexist language, but that is not enough, actually think about ways when we write and talk to put to an end to patriarch. It’s about not writing in a way which assumes male privileged and power, and indeed challenges it. Note I’m still not the best at that, so I sorely miss the great women who use to write on the standard.
Long rant, I hope that clarifies what I was meaning.
A government is necessary – you have to have governments, it is essential, 7 billion people on the earth, we must have governments – it is imperative. There is so much to look after, leaving it up to a mass of individuals who are too busy with their own lives – would be a catastrophe.
And there is nothing wrong with men in power, I see nothing wrong with it, but all men, need a strong leader, especially a male role model, they can look up too. Men ‘in society’ need ‘strong male role models’.
Men (regarding their careers and professional lives) look up to other men, as women look up to other woman. It is because we relate to the same sex as ourselves – we just do. Not all the time, but most of the time.
We shouldn’t demean Men by taking away their patriarchal power, why? We should enhance it – and allow them to have the power they so rightfully deserve, men by nature are more naturally aggressive, and with an intelligent mind to match – tend to be great leaders, and protectors.
We must enhance this, and nurture this, so men become ‘whole’ – then when a strong woman comes along, they do not feel threatened, but intrigued, a non-threatened man will integrate with another power-house (a female), because she has different attributes to offer, and then success is more likely.
I think men and women, working together is how we will acquire ‘balance’.
But men, they are great leaders, and extremely inspirational, this should never be taken away from the man.
Little boys need STRONG men to look up too. We must have strong men IN POWER – we must.
Apart from Little saying nothing but “dairy crisis” I don’t know what he could have done. When you see the statements in context there is nothing radical in what he was saying. He expressed a preference for local workers to be used and wanted immigration regulated depending on conditions.
The pile up supported by some must have CT grinning from ear to ear. We have a PM who regularly redefines meanings of simple words depending on how much spin he applies but we have an opposition leader whose words are parsed and misconstrued and he is then attacked and written off by a bunch of nodding heads. Trotter should be ashamed of himself.
+100
In the last 8 years Labour has been controlled opposition, the illusion of choice.
I hate John Key, understand that, he is instrumental in destroying New Zealand sovereignty and stripping our assets,
but attacking the opposition doesn’t win votes, you have to demonstrate that your party is better for the country and the voters, otherwise voters wont give you the power to change anything.
Every political utterance must be part of a coherent comms strategy, or it is easily misused by others. Ooh, look what’s happening – who could have predicted it?
Sure, that’s the easy bit. But how do you do that and engage competently with the media? Some people are suggesting that whatever Little says and does is going to get manipulated because of CT and because of the media approach.
That’s a given,yes – so you plan your framing and key messages thoroughly anticipating it, and do not get led off-message or go all lawyerly and prevaricating on it.
I just have no idea why Labour does not seem to grasp this most fundamental ingredient of organised politics after years of having their noses rubbed in it.
Thousands of passengers will not have to pay to travel on some Auckland buses today, as part of a series of driver strikes.
First Union represents bus drivers working for Howick & Eastern Buses, and said its members would be refusing to take cash or AT HOP card fares today.
Howick & Eastern Buses serves many of the routes in east Auckland.
The action is the latest in a series of industrial actions by bus drivers across Auckland, who remain locked in disputes with the region’s bus providers.
A union spokesperson said the Howick & Eastern Buses drivers were fed up with attempts to remove overtime and weekend rates.
Thing is, considering the way that bus services in Auckland are now set up, I doubt if it’s going to hurt the bus companies at all. They’re paid by Auckland Transport and the money that they’re not collecting goes directly to Auckland Transport and not to the bus companies.
When will Andrew Little realise that anything he says that is mildly controversial will immediately be twisted and spun by the right and used by the Henrys and Hoskings of the media and their enablers to attack him, Labour and left politics generally?
Don’t they have the media training to ensure they keep statements clear with a few repetitive bullet points that everyone repeats?
Commentators here going on about Andrew Little not being able to get across in concise language what we need to hear and that Labour need media training. At least he looks and attempts to get it across in an honest manner, although he does speak quietly. He also has a pair of honest eyes. Our leader cannot articulate the English language at all, sounds like he is drunk all the time and lies so openly even a half wit would read through them. He also owns a pair of dead eyes which give me the creeps. Give Andrew a break, its National running scared and a MSM which is in the pay of the right. Labour has to dig deep and sock it to the government, anyone who lives in Auckland knows he is telling it as it is, something has to happen to this country and curbing immigration in the interim until we can get housing, employment and our traffic problem sorted is so sensible it beggars belief anyone would question otherwise.
and they also just voted to remove Tax Credits for 800.000 people (mainly on lower income) and to remove 30quid from disabled people who will sign up for a disability benefit from 2017 onwards.
fuck the sugar tax is just hogwash, like the cigarette tax. Peoples future health would be better if they could afford decent food at decent prices.
Removing GST from food would be a decent way to go about that.
“Short shift is meaningless”.
No it’s not. It is what you are likely to get if you are currently on a zero hour contract. Luckily our Government is changing that.
Judging by the unwillingness of the Herald to publish the comments section following opinion pieces critical of Labours’ stance on banks and immigration – I reckon Littles’ comments have struck a chord with voters.
Leaving National and its apologists (hi Claire,Audrey , Baz ,and Hosko) defending the Banks’ greed and uncontrolled immigration .
It’s a pity to see them all misusing the word ‘troll’ too, which has quite specific definitions online and isn’t the same as calling someone names. But I guess Hoskings and the Herald journalist still don’t know how the internet works.
Glen Grenwald on “objective” journalism and Donald Trump
“Large corporations hate controversy (it alienates consumers) and really hate offending those who wield political power (bad for business). Imposing objectivity rules on the journalists who work for their media divisions was a means to avoid offending anyone by forcing journalists to conceal their perspectives, assumptions, and viewpoints, and, worse, forcing them to dishonestly pretend that they had none, that they float above all that.” https://theintercept.com/2016/03/14/the-rise-of-trump-shows-the-danger-and-sham-of-compelled-journalistic-neutrality/
People up and arms and saying that Little’s comments weren’t targeting all immigrants, and that he was being carefully selective as to what he said, and it was all taken out of context… blah, blah, blah
It would be like National targeting specific groups that rort the benefit system, and wanting to take decisive action, but being accused by the left of bashing everyone on a benefit…
I don’t think I can voter Labour anymore. They really don’t do anything for me, and are so stupid, they make announcements and give the whole media of New Zealand ammo to shoot them with. I’m talking immigration. Is Andrew a complete and utter dick or what. I mean did he think for a minute. A second on this.
In a climate where the press are looking to avenues to denigrate the opposition and have never written a pro piece since I can remember on any party Not National or right wing leaning, Andrew blathers on about immigration. When he does speak it’s a complete cock up and gets twisted all over the media with everyone laughing at him.
Seriously needs a slap to the head.
Between Labours multitude of own goal gaffs on and on stupidity of character and nationals piss poor performance on running the Nation you are wrecking the place.
If you cannot get it together and put up a decent publicity campaign, mindful of the press and attractive to voters on a professional level like Keys machine, fuck off.
If that sounds mean Labour needs it. Needs a bloody good kick up the arse, you send me multitudes of begging letters wanting money for this and that.. Money..
Do I have any Money.
Then you just do stupid things like bring up immigration when your opposition. Real popular subject, a favorite amongst the press of NZ who get a free kick labours leader and party card.
yessss, come to the dark side. Feel the fear and anger coursing through you. Unleash the power of your hate, young jedi, and take Jason Ede’s place at my side…
The absolute nadir of the chattering class is Mike “Contra” Hosking, with Mora just a tad better than he is. Mora is clearly more educated, smarter and sharper. He has a pleasant manner, only occasionally letting the mask slip and speaking curtly to guests who irritate him for whatever reason. Unlike Hosking or the equally dire Paul Henry, Mora is capable of speaking thoughtfully about most subjects.
Despite the massive advantage he has over the likes of Hosking, Henry and Larry “Lackwit” Williams, there is precious little difference in the quality of their programmes. Mora almost entirely eschews serious discussion, instead choosing to dwell on insultingly puerile topics straight off teenage-level Facebook pages, and employing dog-whistle appeals to bigotry as shamelessly as any Crosby Textor-driven National Party politician.
So, yes, Mora is the epitome of chattering class vacuity and vanity, but his superficial charm and (sadly under-used) intellect lift him just above the horror shows on the commercial stations.
They should be in prison of course, but at least these
two scoundrels have been forcefully repudiated by the voters
In the same week that President Hopey Changey presumes to lecture Cuba about human rights, and as two of the most loathsome people in the United States look to be heading for victory in the Republican and Democratic races, here’s something that makes you realize there’s still some decency in at least some voters over there….
Black Lives Matter Voters Oust Tamir Rice Prosecutor
About time.
“Police will have to smash a cloned hard drive and memory card seized during an “unlawful” search of the home of investigative journalist Nicky Hager before returning seized computer equipment and files tomorrow.
Hager and his lawyer Steven Price will be at the High Court at Auckland to witness the destruction of the hard drive and memory card, which contain copies of files made by detectives during the 2014 raid, according to a press release this afternoon.”
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. . This blogpost is different to my usual format of reporting on issues… Since July 1011, I have blogged on a variety of political issues; near always political and/or environmental; mostly highly critical of the previous National Government. Other issues included Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and repression of ...
Those close to the Police Minister believe the initiative may be the result of Nash “seeing a great deal” on AliExpress. In a move that comes seemingly out of nowhere, Police Minister Stuart Nash announced this afternoon that he expects all frontline staff to don bearskin hats, famously worn by ...
The government has released its Arms Legislation Bill, containing the second tranche of changes to gun laws following the March 15 massacre. And it all looks quite sensible: a national gun register, higher penalties for illegal possession and dealing, tighter restrictions on arms dealers and shooting clubs, and a shorter ...
Private prisons are a stain on humanity. Prison operators explicitly profit from human misery, then lobby for longer prisons terms so they can keep on profiting. And in the US, prison companies run not only local and state prisons, but also Donald Trump's immigration concentration camps. Faced with this moral ...
When National was in power, they were very keen on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) - basicly, using private companies to finance public infrastructure as a way of hiding debt from the public. They were keen on using them for everything - roads, schools, hospitals. But as the UK shows, that "service" ...
Moving And Shaking: There was a time when people spoke matter-of-factly about the “labour movement” – a political phenomenon understood to embrace much more than the Labour Party. Included within the term’s definition was the whole trade union movement – many of whose members looked upon the Labour Party as ...
by Philip Ferguson Much of the left, even people who formally identify as marxists, have collapsed politically in the face of postmodern gender theory of the sort pioneered by American philosopher Judith Butler. For Butler even biological sex is socially constructed. “If the immutable character of sex is contested, perhaps ...
The media is reporting that the (alleged) Labour party sexual assaulter has resigned from their job at Parliament, which means hopefully he won't be turning up there making people feel unsafe in future. Good. But as with everything about this scandal, it just raises other questions. Most significantly: why the ...
By Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern I am every bit as angry as you are. I am every bit as disappointed as you must be. The people with power, oversight and the ability to do something about these processes within the Labour Party should be ashamed. Whoever those people are, I ...
Property developers think there is an "oversupply" of houses in Auckland:High turnover rates and falling prices may be a sign that there are too many new houses going in to some parts of Auckland, commentators say. [...] Property developer David Whitburn said there was a "bit of an oversupply" in ...
Labour Party president Nigel Haworth resigned yesterday over the party's sexual assault scandal. But while that's good news, its unlikely to take away the stench of a coverup. Because according to Paula Bennett in Parliament yesterday, pretty much everyone in the Prime Minister's office was involved as well:I have been ...
Two-Faced? Labour insiders' commitment to the neoliberal status quo puts them at odds with their party’s membership; its trade union affiliates; and a majority of Labour voters, but this only serves to strengthen the perception they have of themselves as a special elite. Among the lesser breeds, they’ll talk up a ...
There has been a lot of talk about Boris Johnson wanting an election, and he has blustered with great gusto about 'chicken' Jeremy Corbyn refusing one, but I think there are many reasons why he is secretly glad he has been refused the opportunity:The Tories are an utter rabble,tearing themselves ...
Scottish appeal court judges have declared that Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament in the run-up to the October Brexit deadline is unlawful. The three judges, chaired by Lord Carloway, Scotland’s most senior judge, overturned an earlier ruling that the courts did not have the powers to interfere in the prime ...
By Simon Bridges. The following is a press release from the office of Simon Bridges, leader of The National Party. Key ora, New Zealand. Happy Maori Language Week. Look, I’m writing to you today because I want to clear something up. There’s been a lot of kerfuffle around some things ...
I understand there's some stuff going round about how the SIS "was removed from the list of public offices covered by the Public Records Act in 2017". The context of course being their records derived from US torture, which will be disposed of or sealed. The good news is that ...
Dr. Christopher Labos and Jonathan Jarry discuss the recent Canadian fluoride/IQ research. They provide an expert analysis of the paper and its problems. Click on image to go to podcast. The critical debate about the recent ...
Australia is burning down again, and meanwhile its natural disaster minister is denying climate change:Australia’s minister responsible for drought and natural disasters, David Littleproud, has said that he doesn’t “know if climate change is manmade”. Clarifying earlier comments that the question is “irrelevant” when considering the Coalition government’s response to ...
Auckland Philippines Solidarity is excited to host Professor Judy Taguiwalo for a speaking tour of NZ in September. She is a well-known activist in the Philippines and was a political prisoner under the Marcos dictatorship. Professor Taguiwalo briefly served as a Cabinet member under President Duterte but was forced from ...
This open letter to the Green Party was penned after an opinion piece by Jill Abigail, a feminist and founding member of the party, was censored by the Greens’ leadership. (Redline has reprinted her article here).The intolerance of the Green Party leaders and their acceptance of the misogyny of gender ...
Today is a Member's day, and David Seymour's End of Life Choice Bill continues its slow crawl through its committee stage. They're spending the whole day on it today, though the first hour is likely to be spent on voting left over from last time. After that they'll move on ...
An ambitious plan to fly to Los Angeles petered out into a brief sight-seeing trip and a desire to return home and get some sleep before work tomorrow. Air New Zealand has confirmed a flight to Los Angeles last night was turned back about a quarter of the way into ...
There appears to be consensus – by omission – that the concept of indigenous futures should be accepted at face value. So I scavenged the internet to see if I could locate an academic descriptor or a framework around how we think about it as a concept, and whether it ...
Here’s another novelty chocolate to shove in your gob, New Zealand Cadbury could be seeking to make itself great again with a rumoured new release: Pineapple Trumps, a spin on its classic chocolate-encased pineapple treat and do-it-yourself tooth remover. The global confectionery manufacturer and bumbling “before” character in an infomercial, ...
During my time in the Pentagon I had the privilege of sitting down with military leaders and defence and security officials from a variety of Latin American nations. Sometimes I was present as a subordinate assistant to a senior US defence department official, sometimes as part of a delegation that ...
Kia ora, Aotearoa. It’s that magical time of year. Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. In English, the week that frightens talk radio. As you probably know by now, all your favourite media outlets are participating, some more successfully than others. Stuff has changed its name to Puna for the ...
Eighteen months ago, the government promised to strengthen the Bill of Rights Act, by explicitly affirming the power of the courts to issue declarations of inconsistency and requiring Parliament to formally respond to them. So how's that going? I was curious, so I asked for all advice about the proposal. ...
As the Brexit saga staggers on, the focus is naturally enough on the Prime Minister and his attempts to achieve Brexit “do or die”. But the role played by the Leader of the Opposition is of almost equal interest and complexity. The first problem for Jeremy Corbyn is that he ...
Last week, English Prime Minister Boris Johnson boldly declared that he would rather die be dead in a ditch than delay Brexit. Unfortunately for him, the UK parliament accepted the challenge, and promptly dug one for him. The "rebellion bill" requires him to ask for and secure yet another temporary ...
Lost In Political Space: The most important takeaway from this latest Labour sexual assault scandal, which (if I may paraphrase Nixon’s White House counsel’s, John Dean’s, infamous description of Watergate) is “growing like a cancer” on the premiership, is the Labour Party organisation’s extraordinary professional paralysis in the face of ...
by Daphna Whitmore Every Sunday for the past two months unionists from First Union, with supporters from other unions, have set out to the Ihumatao land protest, put up gazebos and gas barbeques, and cooked food for a few hundred locals and supporters who have come from across the country. ...
Newsroom today has an excellent, in-depth article on pine trees as carbon sinks. The TL;DR is that pine is really good at soaking up carbon, but people prefer far-less efficient native forests instead. Which is understandable, but there's two problems: firstly, we've pissed about so long on this problem that ...
Canan Kaftancioglu is a Turkish politician and member of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). Like most modern politicians, she tweets, and uses the platform to criticise the Turkish government. She has criticised them over the death of a 14-year-old boy who was hit by a tear gas grenade during ...
NZDF Attends Commemorations to Mark International Mission in East Timor A New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) contingent participated today in the 20th anniversary commemorations of the International Force East Timor (INTERFET) mission in Dili. The commemoration ...
They’ve only been up and running for a few months, but a New Zealand not-for-profit has already made a big impact on period poverty in New Zealand. ...
The allocation of money for publicly funded broadcasting for election campaigns should be turned on it's head according to Massey University professor of communication design Claire Robinson. ...
Disappointment expressed by Fletcher Building CEO, Ross Taylor, reflects the increasing frustration held by many with this Government’s failure to protect private property rights.[1] ...
The independent Interim Climate Change Committee today launched an eight-week, nationwide call for evidence on options available to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. ...
Social Credit has lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman over the way the Overseas Investment Office is handling its official information request for disclosure of documents on the sale of Westland Milk Products to Chinese company Inner Mongolian ...
This Friday in Solidarity with the Global Climate Strike All of the SodaStream’s e-commerce platforms and head office operations will be closed to kick-off the week-long event, and employees will march the #CLIMATESTRIKE in Auckland on 27 September. ...
Federated Farmers congratulates the Auditor-General’s office on its release today of its report Managing Freshwater Quality: Challenges and Opportunities. ...
Growth has now slowed to a 6-year low, and downside risks are dominating. June quarter GDP growth came in at 0.5%qoq, in line with our expectation, and slightly above consensus. Although there were a few sensational reports of the chance of a negative print. ...
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is calling the release of the National Climate Change Risk Assessment (NCCRA) framework a good first step in balancing New Zealand’s response to climate change. ...
Family First NZ says that a new Colorado report compiled by the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area finds marijuana-positive traffic fatalities, hospitalisations, marijuana use, and illegal market activity have exploded since marijuana legalization. ...
This year’s Ratepayers’ Report , local government league tables released yesterday, reveals which local councils owe the most and which owe the least. ...
Rachel MacGregor welcomes the decision released today by Justice Hinton. The key issue on which all the various litigation has been based is the question, did Colin Craig sexually harass Rachel. That question has been answered – he did. Justice ...
The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) has today ratified a ground breaking pay deal with Dunedin Railways which will see all union members being paid a living wage and the lowest paid receiving an 18% wage increase. Higher paid RMTU members ...
Inclusion for trans women/men and non-binary peoples has today been announced as the cornerstone of a new resolution for the National Council of Women New Zealand (NCWNZ). ...
It took a testy Morning Report interview this week to remind me that Simon Bridges was still the Leader of the Opposition. Until then, he had been largely invisible as the events of recent weeks unfolded. ...
The National Council of Women NZ has today welcomed the news that the Government has purchased Kate Sheppard’s house in Christchurch, the base for the NZ suffrage campaign. ...
The Māori Party supports mana whenua of Ihumātao and acknowledges their coming together to reach consensus on the future of their whenua. “We also acknowledge the leadership of the Kīngitanga who have played an important role in supporting ...
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is questioning why, for the second time, Jacinda Ardern has appointed a Crown-owned company Chief Executive to Chair her “Business Advisory Council”, following her announcement that Mercury CEO Fraser Whineray ...
Responding to the Government’s decision to give around $300 million to Amazon as a sweetener for filming a TV series in New Zealand, New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says: “As a matter of simple waste, this is striking, ...
I am very pleased with Air New Zealand’s Decision to backdown and withdraw their application to trademark into a logo Kia Ora. I said at the time that it was an ill conceived idea and poorly thought out – more importantly it should never have been ...
NZEI Te Riu Roa members will be joining with others across the union movement by wearing black and white in support of pay equity on Suffrage Day tomorrow, and urging the Government to commit to a settlement for teacher aides this year. ...
Yesterday’s announcement from the Minister for Immigration, to improve temporary work visas for migrant workers, provides some positive changes but more detail is needed. The Council of Trade Unions fundamentally supports the principle of making ...
FIRST Union today welcomed Westpac’s public admission of the significant gender pay gap in its workforce and reiterated its call for employers to work with unions to close this disparity, arguing that this work must begin at the bottom of the pay ...
Changes to the work visa system announced by the Minister of Immigration are not all positive for employers or migrants, comments Ms June Ranson, chair of the New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment (NZAMI) , a leading voice in the ...
The Dairy Workers Union (DWU) has welcomed the announcement from dairy company, Synlait, that they will be boosting parental leave entitlements significantly for working parents. ...
In June, the Children’s Commissioner announced a thematic review into Oranga Tamariki’s policies, processes and practice relating to care and protection issues for tamariki Māori aged 0-3 months. Today the Children’s Commissioner has released the full ...
“Closing the Gap” Tauranga, one of the area groups of Income Equality Aotearoa NZ Inc., has surveyed all candidates in the three local body elections to discover attitudes to some basic issues of the Western Bay region. We believe that this is ...
In response to DairyNZ's attempt to dismiss an economic report that highlighted dairy's role in the New Zealand economy is only three per cent of GDP, Fish & Game New Zealand Chief Executive Martin Taylor says: "If DairyNZ wishes to reject a report ...
Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has successfully guided the mana whenua of lhumaatao to reach a consensus on the future of their whenua. ...
Two activists disguised as shareholders interrupted the AGM of a gold mining company in central Auckland this morning to inform shareholders their plans to mine for gold in conservation estate in the Karangahake Gorge were unwelcome. ...
The Capital and Coast District Health Board (CCDHB) has been labelled ‘NATO’ (no action, talk only) when it comes to child mental health, with just 0.6 full time staff (24 hours per week) for inpatient child psychology and just 0.8 full time staff ...
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL has awarded three New Zealand climate youth groups with its Ambassador of Conscience award, its highest recognition for human rights work, previously given to the likes of Nelson Mandela, Ai Weiwei and Malala Yousafzai. ...
The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union , in partnership with the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance , has today published this year's Ratepayers' Report – online local government league tables – at www.ratepayersreport.nz . ...
NZUS Council executive director Jordan Small welcomes the news New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will meet with US President Donald Trump in New York next week. ...
The recent NZIER report trivialises the significant role the dairy sector plays in New Zealand’s economy – and fails to look at the specifics of the Government’s freshwater package, according to DairyNZ. DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle said ...
This week, the New Zealand Parliament and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) will jointly host a seminar on tackling the global spread of illicit weapons. ...
In a landmark judgment issued this morning, the Court of Appeal confirmed that the Southern Response Concealment Class Action will proceed issued on an "opt out” basis. ...
Mainstream media, as the purveyors of truth and source of balanced information, took another backward step today with the announcement by Stuff that most New Zealand organisations had joined 170 media outlets from around the world in the “Covering ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra [embedded content]University of Canberra Deputy Vice-Chancellor Leigh Sullivan discusses Scott Morrison’s new family law inquiry with Michelle Grattan. They also speak of the developments in the Tamil family from Biloela’s case, and the UN barring ...
Analysis - Jacinda Ardern heads for the UN as the sexual assault scandal rumbles on at home, and Simon Bridges says he isn't going to ease off his personal attacks on the PM. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dries Verstraete, Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Design and Propulsion, University of Sydney CC BY-NDClimate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d ...
In this episode of our new tarot reading show Wild Card, The Spinoff’s resident psychic divines the outcome of the All Blacks’ opening match against the Springboks on Saturday.In the first and potentially only episode of Wild Card, we have a focus on sport. The Spinoff’s psychic-in-residence, Jo Sees, specialises ...
Recently-retired Sky TV chief executive John Fellet talks to Newsroom business editor Nikki Mandow about baseball, media, goldfish, accountancy - and more baseball. ...
The Real Pod assembles to dissect the week in reality television and real life, with special thanks to Nando’s.With Duncan enjoying a MAFS-style beach holiday in Bali, Alex and Jane are left to cover another crazy week in reality television. Shannon Ryan has gone full beast-mode in Celebrity Treasure Island, Married ...
Dr Bryce Edwards“Diversity” is a central theme of the current local government elections – with the common criticism that incumbent politicians are generally too “stale, male, and pale” (or variations on that). Numerous commentators and candidates have lamented the lack of women, ethnic minorities, and youth in local government. ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.Climate change, environment Paul Gorman (Stuff): How would you spend an unlimited war chest for ...
A review into the Ministry for Culture and Heritage will look into the relationship between a staffer and the external developer responsible for a massive data breach. ...
Covering Climate Now: The Spinoff crew who took on climate change with a vegan diet for the week reflect on the highs, the lows, the pies and the fries. The Spinoff’s participation in Covering Climate Now is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. Join us here!As I write, I’m tucking into ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roger Crisp, Professorial Fellow, Dianoia Institute of Philosophy, Australian Catholic University As world chiefs and youth leaders gather in New York at the United Nations Climate Action Summit, many of us as individuals are feeling powerless and overwhelmed. Making big personal changes ...
The head of one of the country's biggest news media firms is the latest subject of criticism for darkening his face at a staff party he attended dressed as US basketballer Lamar Odom. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Coral Gartner, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland Health authorities in the United States are investigating 530 cases of lung illness, including seven deaths, reportedly connected to vaping. Some of these patients have been diagnosed with lung inflammation ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 The Testaments by Margaret Atwood (Chatto & Windus, $48)Obvs. (Read our review by Pip Adam here)2 Three ...
When comedy documentary Funny As was made, a lot of interviews got left on the cutting room floor which NZ On Screen quickly picked up. Here are some of our favourites.We’re a pretty funny bunch us Kiwis. Trapped on a tiny island at the end of the earth it appears ...
Auckland rapper JessB has just released a new EP and wraps up a national mini-tour tonight in her home town. Jogai Bhatt talked to her about her world travels, performing at Ihumātao, and how her community and her music intersect.It’s only been two years since JessB entered the public radar ...
A new poem by Waiheke poet Rata Gordon.PacingA deep bow to NerudaIt so happens I am sick of being a woman. It happens that I walk into BP stations and supermarkets greasy, swollen, like a cow made of soap, losing my way in a field of placentas and pesticides.The smell ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda Gardiner, Lecturer, Edith Cowan University In August, a 24-year-old woman appeared before the Western Australian District Court after pleading guilty to concealing the birth of her newborn baby in 2018. The charge of concealment of birth refers to hiding the dead ...
Voting papers are being sent out today, and lots of people say they won’t fill them out because they don’t know anything about the candidates. Respected website ‘The Spinoff’ is trying to fix that through its Policy Local tool. But it’s not the only one. Catherine Jeffcoat talks to the ...
This week's biggest-selling New Zealand books, as recorded by the Nielsen BookScan New Zealand bestseller list and described by literary editor Steve Braunias ...
Writer and cannabis legalisation expert Russell Brown watched episode two of Patrick Gower on Weed, and found it highly entertaining but dangerously light on facts. Patrick Gower is good value when he’s high. In the second part of his documentary Patrick Gower on Weed, he does what you’d expect in a ...
Sydney shock-jock Alan Jones has written to Jacinda Ardern saying he didn't intend any violence towards her when he said on air that Australia's Prime Minister should "shove a sock down [her] throat". ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caio Seguin, PhD candidate, University of Melbourne Brain regions exchange information by sending and receiving signals through a network of nerve connections. This exchange is crucial to all aspects of the brain’s functioning, including how we experience the world, form and retrieve ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Miranda Kaye, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney Over the next 12 months, a joint parliamentary committee will examine Australia’s family law system. It will be led by conservative Liberal MP Kevin Andrews and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Barbara Allen, Senior Lecturer in Public Management, Victoria University of Wellington This story is part of Covering Climate Now, a global collaboration of more than 250 news outlets to strengthen coverage of the climate story. For three years in a row, the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Moscova, Senior Lecturer in Anatomy, UNSW Women’s nipples have long been a source of fascination and controversy, from celebrity gossip stories of wardrobe malfunctions and “nip slips” to feminist movements for gender equality. Nipples even became a fashion accessory. Men’s nipples ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Holmes, Director, Climate Change Communication Research Hub, Monash University One of the great paradoxes of climate change communication in Australia is that politicians command the most attention on the issue, yet are among the least trusted sources of climate information. Research ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachael Sharman, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, University of the Sunshine Coast This story is part of Covering Climate Now, a global collaboration of more than 250 news outlets to strengthen coverage of the climate story. Thousands of school students across Australia are ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin., Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Newstart recipients and other Australians on benefits get their half-yearly pay rise today (and also on March 20). This one is vanishingly small. Announced very quietly by Social Services Minister ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Warren Hogan, Industry Professor, University of Technology Sydney The budget was for practical purposes in neither deficit nor in surplus in 2018-19, the final figures released by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann on Thursday reveal. The underlying cash deficit ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW This week NBN Co announced pricing changes for the National Broadband Network. It includes a new plan boasting a download speed of 1 gigabit per second and an upload speed of 50 megabits per second for ...
Covering Climate Now: Just how much of an impact would a shift to vegetarian diets have on the battle to halt climate change, asks Mirjam Guesgen.The Spinoff’s participation in Covering Climate Now is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. Join us here!Kiwi cuisine is replete with meat: fish and chips, meat and ...
It's not a risk assessment, but it's a start: an instruction manual for the experts who'll be writing New Zealand's first national climate risk report for the government was released on Thursday. ...
The Wellington Mayor's main rival in the upcoming local elections, Andy Foster, won't say how much Sir Peter Jackson has stumped up in a bid to get him elected. ...
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: GDP growth slows in the latest quarter, questions raised over utter NZDF incompetence, and NZTA sends money intended for light rail elsewhere.The numbers are in, and GDP growth has slowed down for the second quarter of the year. Radio NZ reports it ...
As climate change crumbles coasts, lengthens droughts and increases extreme weather events, New Zealand’s seed bank for threatened indigenous plants lacks on-going funding. ...
A classical approach to freshwater policy only serves to enforce well-established views, argue Maria Armoudian and Nicolas Pirsoul. Here they offer some more innovative alternatives. ...
Steve Tew marked the magnitude of the day by openly attacking the Six Nations power bloc and suggesting former ABs should be free to play for Samoa, Tonga or Fiji. ...
Freedom camping, public transport and affordable housing are challenges Queenstown’s Mayor Jim Boult says he’s uniquely poised to solve – if only people would do what they’re told.The Spinoff local election coverage is entirely funded by The Spinoff Members. For more about becoming a member and supporting The Spinoff’s journalism click ...
Broadcaster Mark Sainsbury is calling for a “champion for the elderly”. But the truth is, every single politician in parliament already fits that bill. Just look at the enduring nature of NZ Super, writes TOP leader Geoff Simmons. No doubt Mark Sainsbury’s call for an elderly commissioner to be created will ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra John Howard is remembered by his Liberal tribe as a reformer, but his legacy is mixed. The GST has endured but he essentially doomed his government when he let his ideological obsession with industrial relations ...
As submissions close on the government's Abortion Legislation Bill, some parents of children with disabilities say they're concerned the bill will lead to more abortions on the grounds of disability. ...
Open mike 17/03/2016 
Open mike is your post.
Today is the first day of the global climate strike. Led by schoolkids, people all around the world are going to protest to demand action on climate change. New Zealand isn't doing it till next Friday (join us!), but if you want to get active early, there's plenty to do ...8 hours ago
To Protect and Serve: When the Prime Minister finds herself enmeshed in the coils of a full-blown political scandal, her colleagues and party comrades have only one priority: to release her as swiftly – and with as little lasting injury – as possible. Is this what Jacinda Ardern’s colleagues and ...10 hours ago
When military leaders cover up and lie to elected civilian authorities, the foundation of democratic civil-military relations is undermined because it is those authorities who are entrusted to hold the military accountable to the public that they mutually serve. But this is only true if civilian political authorities take their ...11 hours ago
by Daphna Whitmore The long years of Netanyahu’s reign are drawing to an end. For years he has epitomized reactionary zionism as he oversaw hundreds of thousands of Jewish settlers seize land in the West Bank. There are now 700,000 settlers, putting an end to the myth that Israel was ...12 hours ago
BP, Z and Mobil all insist that petrol price hikes are temporary, “in a very literal sense.” The nation’s major petrol providers are trying to allay customer fears over prices, promising that they’ll move to lower them again “immediately” when the Middle East is returned to its formerly peaceful state. ...1 day ago
South African coach Rassie Erasmus says he has no idea what they’re going to do about the boat. In a highly anticipated press conference this afternoon, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has finally unveiled the team’s boat for its Rugby World Cup 2019 campaign. In a press conference that went ...1 day ago
Get Back Jojo! The elation in Mayor Phil Goff’s camp may be easily imagined as they watched social media light up in indignation at challenger John Tamihere’s "Sieg Heil to that" quip. Just when JT’s notoriously right-wing, sexist and homophobic stains were beginning to fade back into his ‘colourful’ past, ...2 days ago
Patrick Gower is good value when he's high. Not that I've ever, you know, got stoned with him. But in the second part of his documentary Patrick Gower on Weed, he does what you'd expect in a modern weed documentary and immerses himself – first with a doctor, then a ...2 days ago
We surveyed candidates on their attitudes to issues facing the Western Bay Region, find out what they think: “Closing the Gap” Tauranga, one of the area groups of Income Equality Aotearoa NZ Inc., has surveyed all candidates in the three local body elections to discover attitudes to some basic issues ...2 days ago
Why is New Zealand climate change policy so crap? The Herald this morning has a long article on the twists and turns of climate change policy in New Zealand [paywalled / depaywall script], which shows where we've been. The short version is that the government first began worrying about this ...2 days ago
The All Blacks have been, for more than a century, arguably the most successful International sports team in the world. But they are more than that; even for those Kiwis who are immune to the charms of rugby (and there are more than a few), the All Blacks are ambassadors ...3 days ago
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In times of hysteria about the “World coming to an end” and “rising sea levels” so-called ‘Journalists’ who can barely spell words longer than four letters are having a ball! Though the majority of the Public have worked out that manmade climate change is nothing short of pseudo-science, and the ...4 days ago
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Dangerous Foes: For those readers of Bowalley Road who feel disposed to dismiss any prospect of an Israeli destabilisation of New Zealand politics, the example of the United Kingdom repays close attention. Ever since the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the British Labour Party, the Israelis have sanctioned, funded and ...4 days ago
Make It 16, the youth-led campaign to lower New Zealand's voting age, is holding an official campaign launch at Parliament this Friday from 16:30. If you'd like to attend, you can register using EventBrite here. ...4 days ago
by Don Franks It was a lovely sunny Wellington afternoon with blue skies above the beaches. In Courtenay Place, political activists packed out a stuffy upstairs room for an important meeting. The assembled pacifists, anarchists, communists and independent young radicals of Peace Action Wellington felt the need for a mission ...4 days ago
From the Wall Street Journal:Inside a room of the ornately decorated Hotel du Palais during last month’s Group of Seven summit in Biarritz, France, President Trump awaited a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi. Mr. Trump looked over a gathering of American and Egyptian officials and called out in ...5 days ago
. . This blogpost is different to my usual format of reporting on issues… Since July 1011, I have blogged on a variety of political issues; near always political and/or environmental; mostly highly critical of the previous National Government. Other issues included Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and repression of ...7 days ago
Those close to the Police Minister believe the initiative may be the result of Nash “seeing a great deal” on AliExpress. In a move that comes seemingly out of nowhere, Police Minister Stuart Nash announced this afternoon that he expects all frontline staff to don bearskin hats, famously worn by ...1 week ago
Moving And Shaking: There was a time when people spoke matter-of-factly about the “labour movement” – a political phenomenon understood to embrace much more than the Labour Party. Included within the term’s definition was the whole trade union movement – many of whose members looked upon the Labour Party as ...1 week ago
By Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern I am every bit as angry as you are. I am every bit as disappointed as you must be. The people with power, oversight and the ability to do something about these processes within the Labour Party should be ashamed. Whoever those people are, I ...1 week ago
Two-Faced? Labour insiders' commitment to the neoliberal status quo puts them at odds with their party’s membership; its trade union affiliates; and a majority of Labour voters, but this only serves to strengthen the perception they have of themselves as a special elite. Among the lesser breeds, they’ll talk up a ...1 week ago
By Simon Bridges. The following is a press release from the office of Simon Bridges, leader of The National Party. Key ora, New Zealand. Happy Maori Language Week. Look, I’m writing to you today because I want to clear something up. There’s been a lot of kerfuffle around some things ...1 week ago
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Chris Trotter is doing a hatchet job on Little and labour on henry at the moment.!!
Its probably not as impressive as the self-inflicted hatchet job that Littles carrying out on himself
Polly want cracker!
So true.
So fucking true
Pagani and Quinn must be rostered off today so compliant chris obliges with more muddle of the road criticism from his paid soapbox.
You don’t get the gig unless you stick to the Weldon script.
Trotter is part of the VRC now? Fuck me.
He is a paid commentator fulfilling a messaging requirement at weldons outlet. Thats your whacky conspiracy meme dude.
I repeat: fuck me.
It is a cold day in hell.
I’m agreeing with The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell
Chris will say what he likes in the defence of social democracy. I give him beans for being a social democrat -Trotter that is. But I have never doubted in all the time I’ve know him, that he is a social democrat.
…and how offensive, to claim he’s allowed himself to be bought off.
What are Dipshit Henry’s ratings like these days?
yep and CV is doing it on the other thread.
Labour must fail, or else the purists an dis-enchanted have a sad.
really who cares.?
So predictable, must be a smear or two due soon to prop up a meme they’ve chosen to go with.
I’ve always stayed away from the t word but trotter was concern trolling like pro
Thats his role as a mr reasonable. Another comfy well looked after tool of the machine.
No the labour party is just another liberal party, and some of us support the interests of labour. You know, working people who deserve more than sad platitudes from the weak and pitiful liberal class who goes after corporate money. The same liberals who say very little on workers rights, and are deathly silent on the poor and struggling in this country.
When was the last time the labour party said anything to offer hope to the unemployed?
When was the last time the labour party did anything to enhancing democracy?
I know a lot of you are the labour party cheer squad, but you are stuck at 30% with an ever increasing percentage of the population unwilling or unable to engage in politics.
If one, just one of this current crop was half the man Peter Fraser was, I would cut you some slack. But not one of them is fit enough, nor humanistic, nor even socialist enough to come even close.
It’s not about labour failing, it would be nice if the labour party acknowledged they were the ones who opened the door to the ideology of extreme liberalism. That they hurt people by shifting the wealth away from the poorest in this country towards the already wealthy.
I don’t see that happening – do you?
Oh, and poppet’s, criticism does democracy make. If you wet liberals canny handle it, you can always go join the national party, they don’t take criticism well either.
Unconditional Basic Income
End of Zero Hours
So, not that long ago.
Well, you got me there. Labour no more wants democracy than does National. Individuals don’t get rich when the people make the rules rather than the elites.
Probably true there as well. The First Labour Government actually had a vision about the change that they wanted to bring about. The present Labour caucus seems more about keeping things as they are despite the obvious failings.
We need a new vision and we need to organise and work towards that vision.
And exactly what is that the Labour Party is proposing regarding the UBI?
All they have said is that they are proposing that there should be a debate about the concept. Everything else has simply been, as the comments on this site have been, about what people like to think it would mean.
Until Little comes out with at least a bit of detail they can’t really be said to have “done” anything.
I came up with one idea that I have suggested to my local MP, a good Labour fellow, I proposed that while Andrew is in bank-bashing mode he should instruct the banks that they must provide 1% mortgage loans to all union members who want them.
That would help the working people and revive the moribund union movement. Membership of the unions would rocket I should think.
He seemed very interested so I can imagine it being Labour policy in a week or two. It wouldn’t be any sillier than some of their other ideas.
Nice spin.
“When was the last time the labour party said anything to offer hope to the unemployed?” becomes a demand for a details and that something have been “done”.
Polly wanna cracker?
“Polly wanna cracker?”
An admission of guilt.
Hope or a vision. Nothing a liberal like yourself McFlock can understand ah?
“Admission of guilt” my arse.
You asked when was the last time Labour said anything that offered hope to the unemployed. DTB gave two recent examples. Alwyn then spun away as if you’d asked for something more than what you’d requested. Hence the parrot reference.
So an admission of guilt of what? Doing something other than gnashing my teeth whenever Labour caucus members open their mouths? If that’s a demonstration of your personal hope and vision, I’ll stick with dreary old “actually reading what the left wing parties say, rather than making shit up”.
So Alwyn what are the announced tax cuts in 2017?
Neither I, nor anyone else has the faintest idea of the details.
However if you are going to say that Little has done something for the unemployed with the little he has said about a UBI you would have to regard Key’s statements so far as doing something for the low and middle income New Zealanders.
I certainly wouldn’t say that about either of the parties announcements. You appear to be willing to go along with airy-fairy waffle though, at least as long as it is by your side.
I apologise. You did contribute to the UBI comments but yours were not in the category of “Oh how wonderful is Labour”.
I shall grovel for a few minutes.
Only a FEW minutes!!!!
Thank you
I’m not sure on their take on the UBI. The framing is – well lose, and it is not being presented as a message of hope.
I think Bill here did a great piece on UBI and presenting it as something which can offer people hope.
The other thing is, a UBI is fine, but what about the homeless and hungry right now – not some mythical time in the future?
The hope I’m talking about is for people on benefits and not on benefits now!
And the end of zero hour contracts is a win, but a defensive win. Which has been what the liberal elites have convince people they should do ever since big money came into the game.
You do realise that it’s possible for a political party to work on more than one thing at a time don’t you? And haven’t you forgotten that Labour promised 10,000 per year homes?
To some degree that’s all we’ve been getting since forever but it’s managed to change things for the better over time.
Nora the explorer, Of course I get how political parties work.
My problem is a party who uses the name labour, is weak on issues of labour. Especially the underemployed and the unemployed.
Defensive politics is a lose, lose proposition. Ever since, the fall of the third labour government, political, labour, and human rights have been on the decline. The left has been suckered into an endless back footed defensive position. You would think after 40 odd years, they might wake up to the fact it is not a winner.
People who vote – know it’s not a winner, and they don’t like it.
People want results, and to feel they are getting somewhere for themselves and/or their children. The style of politics which is defensive in nature, will never give people that feeling.
I’d like to see more comment on what could be done, along side the criticism. When I start asking for detail often I get brushed off or told off. It’s very easy to see what is wrong with Labour. Not so easy to see what they or we can do about it given the realities.
Labour are in opposition, hard to know how they could have offensive wins, but perhaps you could explain what you mean by that?
ffs adam, can we try and not talk in ideological stereotypes? Who are the liberal class exactly? Which of the people you talk to here do you consign to that? Who is the Labour cheer squad? I’ve had people insinuate that I’m part of that which tells me that the people saying that are either idiots, or disingenuous, or are not actually listening to what I am saying.
Yes there are Labourites here, and yes the odd one is rightish, but most aren’t. Then there is the larger number of people like myself who aren’t Labourites (many don’t even vote Labour) and who have a different perspective to yourself and to the Paganis of the world. I just wish the people who want Labour to be a labour party would realise that they aren’t anymore and haven’t been for a long time and continually attacking Labour isn’t going to change that. CV’s strategy appears to be that if Labour collapsed something would rise in its place, but he won’t be up front about that and have an honest discussion about. I also really think much of what he does here re Labour is personal and as such it skews his behaviour and probably his politics.
Misrespresenting Labour and Little on immigration today is a low point even for him. I’m all for dissent, I just want honest dissent.
” I’ve had people insinuate that I’m part of that “.
That is ridiculous weka. You are part of the Green party Cheer Leaders organisation. Got your training from the Dallas Cowboys no doubt.
Even you should be able to tell the difference between one party and another. Hint, they have different names.
And don’t worry, I have plenty of criticisms of the Green Party.
” I just wish the people who want Labour to be a labour party would realise that they aren’t anymore and haven’t been for a long time and continually attacking Labour isn’t going to change that.”
I agree, I’m not wanting to change the labour party. Indeed I thought it I framed my argument as such. The labour party need to realise they are not the only people who want a better future for working people. My beef, is the fact they can’t handle criticism, especially when it is pointed out they are a liberal party.
Which raises the question, are you happy to hand the ideological debate to the Tories? Seriously, think about what you said – to me, it sound like you were happy to have the political debate framed in classical liberal terms. I know you are not, I’ve read what else you have written.
Colonial Viper has a right to be mad. It seems, rightly or wrongly that the labour party use Chinese as their fall guy. If it is concious decision to play on the hangover of the “yellow peril” argument, I’m standing with Colonial Viper all the way. It just feels like we are back to the same debate we had when the twit Twyford brought up home buying in Auckland.
So new low, I’m not so quick to judge. Lets wait and see.
I don’t know what ‘classical liberal terms’ means. When you start talking about people here on ts as liberals I have no idea who you are talking about and it just comes across as an easy pejorative (I don’t know why liberal is a pejorative, but it has a different meaning where I come from).
Hence I don’t understand what you said here,
Which raises the question, are you happy to hand the ideological debate to the Tories? Seriously, think about what you said – to me, it sound like you were happy to have the political debate framed in classical liberal terms. I know you are not, I’ve read what else you have written.
Can you please clarify in lay person terms?
*
Of course CV has a right to be mad. I’m seriously fucked off with Labour too, and with Labour party members, including CV. And all the lefties who moan about Labour but won’t vote Green. You have to remember I’ve never voted Labour, I’ve always been to the left of them. CV’s big problem now is that so many people here don’t trust him, including many of us who also don’t trust Labour, and they’ve got a right to that too.
I don’t know what Little did. To me it looks much more like his naive relationship with the media as anything. And I agree there may be conscious or even unconscious bias or prejudice against Asians. I’d guess it’s because it’s politically convient rather than overt racism, but CV knows Labour far better than I and I also know that racism is racism on the receiving end no matter the intent, so it’s not acceptable that Labour are still making these mistakes, or god forbid, making these political moves intentionally.
But, and it’s a big but, we simply don’t know. And all CV has done is throw some petrol on the fire of resentment on the standard about his Labour-bashing. He’s also taken an important issue and completely fucked up the narrative and pushed a whole bunch of people into a stupid arse conversation that will never get anywhere because now it’s contaminated with too many variables including his own bigotry about the left.
I’m also mindful of the fact that CV has had to put up with significant racism here on ts in previous conversations about Asian people in NZ. The conversation I’m remembering must be one of the standard’s lowest points and he and other people of Asian whakapapa shouldn’t have to deal with that.
Short handed cut and paste from Chegg.
Definition of Classical Liberalism
Classical liberalism is a political ideology that values the freedom of individuals — including the freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and markets — as well as limited government. It developed in 18th-century Europe and drew on the economic writings of Adam Smith and the growing notion of social progress. Liberalism was also influenced by the writings of Thomas Hobbes, who argued that governments exist to protect individuals from each other. In 19th- and 20th-century America, the values of classical liberalism became dominant in both major political parties. The term is sometimes used broadly to refer to all forms of liberalism prior to the 20th century. Conservatives and libertarians often invoke classical liberalism to mean a fundamental belief in minimal government.
http://www.chegg.com/homework-help/definitions/classical-liberalism-53
So I’d argue it is a set of ideas which means debate is discusses in a certain way. So it’s good to talk about, markets, individual rights, but bad to make any assertions of collectivity, culture or the environment.
National are very much a liberal party, thus when Hooton rants against them being liberal – he is being either disingenuous, or a totalitarian turd of epic proportions.
And whilst I think liberalism was great in the 18th century, in the 21st century it is the enemy. It ignores women, it ignores race, it accepts poverty as part of the human condition, it makes wealth the expression of good, and has made markets a god.
I’m a Christian Anarchist, as you know, so for me communality, the environment, and people living rewarding lives – is always my main goal. I don’t want limited government, I want us to work toward living without a state.
So framing of an argument becomes important. For example, not using sexist language, but that is not enough, actually think about ways when we write and talk to put to an end to patriarch. It’s about not writing in a way which assumes male privileged and power, and indeed challenges it. Note I’m still not the best at that, so I sorely miss the great women who use to write on the standard.
Long rant, I hope that clarifies what I was meaning.
A government is necessary – you have to have governments, it is essential, 7 billion people on the earth, we must have governments – it is imperative. There is so much to look after, leaving it up to a mass of individuals who are too busy with their own lives – would be a catastrophe.
And there is nothing wrong with men in power, I see nothing wrong with it, but all men, need a strong leader, especially a male role model, they can look up too. Men ‘in society’ need ‘strong male role models’.
Men (regarding their careers and professional lives) look up to other men, as women look up to other woman. It is because we relate to the same sex as ourselves – we just do. Not all the time, but most of the time.
We shouldn’t demean Men by taking away their patriarchal power, why? We should enhance it – and allow them to have the power they so rightfully deserve, men by nature are more naturally aggressive, and with an intelligent mind to match – tend to be great leaders, and protectors.
We must enhance this, and nurture this, so men become ‘whole’ – then when a strong woman comes along, they do not feel threatened, but intrigued, a non-threatened man will integrate with another power-house (a female), because she has different attributes to offer, and then success is more likely.
I think men and women, working together is how we will acquire ‘balance’.
But men, they are great leaders, and extremely inspirational, this should never be taken away from the man.
Little boys need STRONG men to look up too. We must have strong men IN POWER – we must.
The Opposition need to stay on target. They started the week with Fonterra and banks.
PM is exposed so looks for a new hook.
Opposition obliges.
Labour Comms team needs far greater discipline.
Apart from Little saying nothing but “dairy crisis” I don’t know what he could have done. When you see the statements in context there is nothing radical in what he was saying. He expressed a preference for local workers to be used and wanted immigration regulated depending on conditions.
The pile up supported by some must have CT grinning from ear to ear. We have a PM who regularly redefines meanings of simple words depending on how much spin he applies but we have an opposition leader whose words are parsed and misconstrued and he is then attacked and written off by a bunch of nodding heads. Trotter should be ashamed of himself.
Trotter has no shame along with all these rent a quote DP tools like farrar, hooten, pagani etc
+100
In the last 8 years Labour has been controlled opposition, the illusion of choice.
I hate John Key, understand that, he is instrumental in destroying New Zealand sovereignty and stripping our assets,
but attacking the opposition doesn’t win votes, you have to demonstrate that your party is better for the country and the voters, otherwise voters wont give you the power to change anything.
Labour Comms team needs far greater discipline
How long have we been saying that? Since 2008?
“KEEP CHINESE CHEFS OUT, WE NEED MORE DECENT KIWIS COOKING IN OUR CHINESE RESTAURANTS”, jesus…
Have words lost their meaning? It was a comment to a question. It was not part of a PR strategy.
Every political utterance must be part of a coherent comms strategy, or it is easily misused by others. Ooh, look what’s happening – who could have predicted it?
What do you think Little should have said/done instead? (a guess given we don’t know what the original question was).
Um, not used Chinese as an example, at the bare minimum.
Sure, that’s the easy bit. But how do you do that and engage competently with the media? Some people are suggesting that whatever Little says and does is going to get manipulated because of CT and because of the media approach.
That’s a given,yes – so you plan your framing and key messages thoroughly anticipating it, and do not get led off-message or go all lawyerly and prevaricating on it.
I just have no idea why Labour does not seem to grasp this most fundamental ingredient of organised politics after years of having their noses rubbed in it.
Go the Bus Drivers!
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/299147/free-ride-for-some-auckland-bus-commuters
Excellent.
Thousands of passengers will not have to pay to travel on some Auckland buses today, as part of a series of driver strikes.
First Union represents bus drivers working for Howick & Eastern Buses, and said its members would be refusing to take cash or AT HOP card fares today.
Howick & Eastern Buses serves many of the routes in east Auckland.
The action is the latest in a series of industrial actions by bus drivers across Auckland, who remain locked in disputes with the region’s bus providers.
A union spokesperson said the Howick & Eastern Buses drivers were fed up with attempts to remove overtime and weekend rates.
Thing is, considering the way that bus services in Auckland are now set up, I doubt if it’s going to hurt the bus companies at all. They’re paid by Auckland Transport and the money that they’re not collecting goes directly to Auckland Transport and not to the bus companies.
However it is very good PR with the public who use the service.
It would also have one other positive effect.
It’ll show how much the buses are really in demand. Given such information AT and the council could very well draw up a plan to make buses free.
Unfortunately, that’s probably unlikely due to their sticking to the failed neo-liberal model.
Can AT review the contract if the money stops coming in?
I don’t know. There’s possibly something like that in the contracts.
When will Andrew Little realise that anything he says that is mildly controversial will immediately be twisted and spun by the right and used by the Henrys and Hoskings of the media and their enablers to attack him, Labour and left politics generally?
Don’t they have the media training to ensure they keep statements clear with a few repetitive bullet points that everyone repeats?
Labour never ever learn.
A much simpler short set of slogans that cant be twisted has been required for 8 years now…..fn amateurs.
Anything he says, full stop.
And it’s not just “the right” who make shit up about the most uncontroversial statements made by the Labour caucus.
“Media training” for the Labour party and anyone on the left is as useful as training on how to make friends with a rabid lion.
Then there are the people in the audience poking the gladitors with sticks, even the gladiators’ allies.
distinguishing a lion from a tabby is a good start.
every reporter is a lion.
some are more rabid than others
He’ll get attacked by the MSM and misreported even if he says that the sky is blue.
Commentators here going on about Andrew Little not being able to get across in concise language what we need to hear and that Labour need media training. At least he looks and attempts to get it across in an honest manner, although he does speak quietly. He also has a pair of honest eyes. Our leader cannot articulate the English language at all, sounds like he is drunk all the time and lies so openly even a half wit would read through them. He also owns a pair of dead eyes which give me the creeps. Give Andrew a break, its National running scared and a MSM which is in the pay of the right. Labour has to dig deep and sock it to the government, anyone who lives in Auckland knows he is telling it as it is, something has to happen to this country and curbing immigration in the interim until we can get housing, employment and our traffic problem sorted is so sensible it beggars belief anyone would question otherwise.
+ 1
+1+1
+1
Well said.
My goodness – the trolls are out in force this morning. Can’t they find anything better to do.
Meanwhile, in the UK they’re slapping a big sugar tax on fizzy drinks – a huge change in attitude – and hugely worrying for those multi-nationals like Coca-Cola, but really good for the people’s future health.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11606810
and they also just voted to remove Tax Credits for 800.000 people (mainly on lower income) and to remove 30quid from disabled people who will sign up for a disability benefit from 2017 onwards.
fuck the sugar tax is just hogwash, like the cigarette tax. Peoples future health would be better if they could afford decent food at decent prices.
Removing GST from food would be a decent way to go about that.
This is interesting, I hope the Kurds just do this.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/03/16/kurds-are-planning-a-breakaway-region-in-syria-and-it-wont-go-down-well/
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-federalism-idUSKCN0WI0ZT
And on the local front, Christchurch get’s the short shift again.
What the…
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/77971099/thousands-of-sheets-of-steel-mesh-sold-with-wrong-certification
More likely to see Syria re-formed as a confederation. Something like Iraq has already.
Shrift.
Short shift is meaningless.
“Short shift is meaningless”.
No it’s not. It is what you are likely to get if you are currently on a zero hour contract. Luckily our Government is changing that.
The likes of Barry Soper seem perfectly happy for all the jobs to go to immigrants, and for thousands of New Zealanders to get nothing.
As long and he gets his nasi goering, who gives a shit about young people being chucked on the scrapheap.
I think you might be more comfortable here:
http://nzfirstparty.org.nz/join.html
And you here
http://www.heritage.org/
Judging by the unwillingness of the Herald to publish the comments section following opinion pieces critical of Labours’ stance on banks and immigration – I reckon Littles’ comments have struck a chord with voters.
Leaving National and its apologists (hi Claire,Audrey , Baz ,and Hosko) defending the Banks’ greed and uncontrolled immigration .
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11606612
Shock horror ! Someone called Hosking a “git”, “arrogant”, and told him to “grow up”.
Get a life Hosking !
I think it is referred to as karma for the git
It’s a pity to see them all misusing the word ‘troll’ too, which has quite specific definitions online and isn’t the same as calling someone names. But I guess Hoskings and the Herald journalist still don’t know how the internet works.
Glen Grenwald on “objective” journalism and Donald Trump
“Large corporations hate controversy (it alienates consumers) and really hate offending those who wield political power (bad for business). Imposing objectivity rules on the journalists who work for their media divisions was a means to avoid offending anyone by forcing journalists to conceal their perspectives, assumptions, and viewpoints, and, worse, forcing them to dishonestly pretend that they had none, that they float above all that.”
https://theintercept.com/2016/03/14/the-rise-of-trump-shows-the-danger-and-sham-of-compelled-journalistic-neutrality/
IF anything Trump has been exposing Media corruption and bias, this makes me question Glen Grenwald’s objectivity.
Rupert Murdoch,Koch Bros, George Soro, Kissenger, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal,
partial list of people financing media campaigns against Trump,
Vilification of Trump on this site on a daily basis, sourcing their”information” from unknown bloggers, twitter and face-book journalists.
When media tries to shape my opinion, instead of provide me with facts so I can form an opinion of my own that is propaganda.
+100…Trumps enemies would make you want to support him
https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/335214-trump-us-presidency-candidate/
‘People support Trump as politicians they hate, hate him’
https://www.rt.com/op-edge/335791-trump-clinton-us-primaries/
I’m sure he’s said worse things about others, e.g., Kim dotcom and hiw wee rant before the “moment of truth”..
argh shit, that was supposed to be in reply to North talking about all the rude words hosking gets called.
I was wondering what you were on about. But then it’s one of those days 😉
People up and arms and saying that Little’s comments weren’t targeting all immigrants, and that he was being carefully selective as to what he said, and it was all taken out of context… blah, blah, blah
It would be like National targeting specific groups that rort the benefit system, and wanting to take decisive action, but being accused by the left of bashing everyone on a benefit…
…oh wait.
I don’t think I can voter Labour anymore. They really don’t do anything for me, and are so stupid, they make announcements and give the whole media of New Zealand ammo to shoot them with. I’m talking immigration. Is Andrew a complete and utter dick or what. I mean did he think for a minute. A second on this.
In a climate where the press are looking to avenues to denigrate the opposition and have never written a pro piece since I can remember on any party Not National or right wing leaning, Andrew blathers on about immigration. When he does speak it’s a complete cock up and gets twisted all over the media with everyone laughing at him.
Seriously needs a slap to the head.
Between Labours multitude of own goal gaffs on and on stupidity of character and nationals piss poor performance on running the Nation you are wrecking the place.
If you cannot get it together and put up a decent publicity campaign, mindful of the press and attractive to voters on a professional level like Keys machine, fuck off.
If that sounds mean Labour needs it. Needs a bloody good kick up the arse, you send me multitudes of begging letters wanting money for this and that.. Money..
Do I have any Money.
Then you just do stupid things like bring up immigration when your opposition. Real popular subject, a favorite amongst the press of NZ who get a free kick labours leader and party card.
Am I wrong?
Fk fkfkfkfkfk MORONS!
Yes, you are wrong. He didn’t bring up immigration, a journalist did.
Join the winning side Richard and vote Blue.
yessss, come to the dark side. Feel the fear and anger coursing through you. Unleash the power of your hate, young jedi, and take Jason Ede’s place at my side…
http://mediacdn.snorgcontent.com/media/catalog/product/d/a/darkside_fullpic.png
Ha ha good stuff.
http://iforce.co.nz/i/ofgodrrc.ziv.jpg
Some of us have real aspirations for our society, not just greed.
“I don’t think I can voter Labour anymore. …” Did you ever?
Is Jim Mora the nadir of what is commonly called the chattering class?
yes
The absolute nadir of the chattering class is Mike “Contra” Hosking, with Mora just a tad better than he is. Mora is clearly more educated, smarter and sharper. He has a pleasant manner, only occasionally letting the mask slip and speaking curtly to guests who irritate him for whatever reason. Unlike Hosking or the equally dire Paul Henry, Mora is capable of speaking thoughtfully about most subjects.
Despite the massive advantage he has over the likes of Hosking, Henry and Larry “Lackwit” Williams, there is precious little difference in the quality of their programmes. Mora almost entirely eschews serious discussion, instead choosing to dwell on insultingly puerile topics straight off teenage-level Facebook pages, and employing dog-whistle appeals to bigotry as shamelessly as any Crosby Textor-driven National Party politician.
So, yes, Mora is the epitome of chattering class vacuity and vanity, but his superficial charm and (sadly under-used) intellect lift him just above the horror shows on the commercial stations.
I second that.
They all qualify to be lifetime members of Kipling’s Bandalog.
Just in case you’re on the verge of throwing a rope over one of the rafters and ending it all due to the dire nature of the MSM in New Zealand…
Rejoice! Because it’s just as spirit-crushingly awful in Australia.
Watch, and laugh in a sick, sad “I’m only laughing because the alternative is too depressing to contemplate” kind of way…
New Zealand really needs a Jordan Shanks.
good stuff, i’ll put the rope back around the neighbour, they like Nact”s
They should be in prison of course, but at least these
two scoundrels have been forcefully repudiated by the voters
In the same week that President Hopey Changey presumes to lecture Cuba about human rights, and as two of the most loathsome people in the United States look to be heading for victory in the Republican and Democratic races, here’s something that makes you realize there’s still some decency in at least some voters over there….
Black Lives Matter Voters Oust Tamir Rice Prosecutor
About time.
“Police will have to smash a cloned hard drive and memory card seized during an “unlawful” search of the home of investigative journalist Nicky Hager before returning seized computer equipment and files tomorrow.
Hager and his lawyer Steven Price will be at the High Court at Auckland to witness the destruction of the hard drive and memory card, which contain copies of files made by detectives during the 2014 raid, according to a press release this afternoon.”
Ian, please please add the link to the article you’re quoting. Makes it much more powerful when shared in other forums. Thanks.
Oops.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11607327
Thanks.