You would have to assume that the farming community in Hawkes Bay want to simply want to take this river all for themselves for use an irrigator and a cow-sewer drain.
They think everything and everyone is just a commodity.
No, it’s actually worse than that – they think everything and everyone is there for their convenience. Thing is, we’ve actually been telling them that for the last 100 years or so.
“…You would have to assume that the farming community in Hawkes Bay want to simply want to take this river all for themselves for use an irrigator and a cow-sewer drain…”
Take out the word assume…
Effectively, what they want is to take control of a public asset (water) for their exclusive private profit (dairy conversions) and expect the ratepayers and taxpayers to pay for the consequences.
The brazen cheek of it, the complete and utter dismissal of environmental issues, the zero concern for the flora and fauna which currently inhabits the area (i.e. kill the animals, no worry), the lack of respect, the lack of care.
It is the colonial settler approach to the environment.
@vto….especially the corporate farming sector( and I would overseas newly arrived …last 20 years….Brits etc who dont give a toss about NZ’s natural environment …..just their back pocket dairy and property development profits)…..there are a lot of small non dairy NZ farmers who are environmentalists….as are many people living in the country who want their rivers back at full flow and clean so they can swim in them again…..
I’d like to ‘gag’ some of the male cats around my whare, sniffing around ‘Minnie’ and spraying on the freakin doorsteps. oooh, could be a few metaphorical analogies to be found in there… đ
“What the fuck is the matter with the farming sector? Bloody ignorant and selfish in the extreme”
True-ish. But then there are the regulators, and the people that give them the power to regulate. How many people are taking regional council elections seriously at the moment? (sorry Canterbury).
Could this from John Armstrong in the Herald this morning be a sign that Armstrong is contemplating getting into his craft in an honourable and serious way ?
I expect there will be a few flashbacks to banal and lazy facileness but he’s starting to look not bad is Armstrong.
There does remain for correction/apology that risible hallucination of yore – “John Key has gravitas……”
I don’t mean to be nasty, but it seems that his Parkinsons’ had got the better of him.
You can say many things about Key, but that he has gravitas…it made me laugh out loud.
“The barrage against Cunliffe has started, [Key] accusing him of being far-left”
Well I guess to an extreme neo-liberal common social democratic policies might seem a bit difficult to understand. In successful Euro countries they’re just BAU.
I think he just found it refreshing to find someone who isn’t an oratorical retard in charge of the Labour party, to which I can only amen and hallelujah brother.
Agreed – except that I don’t regard someone versed in corporate-speak and buzz as being any better. Still – I bet he’s had ‘learnings’ since then, and we should never underestimate the ability of the s-h-r to survive. He (Key) said that he’ll treat Cunliffe with “respect”. That’ll be a change at least. Here’s hoping he treats parliament and democratic principles the same way.
Armstrong doesn’t seem to have understood that the caucus, not Cunliffe, decide the deputy & whip. Cunliffe can state his preference, and maybe do some lobbying, but ultimately he only has one vote on those roles in the caucus.
Thanks. In all the well-justified excitement around the Labour leadership election, the re-invigoration of the left, and the great start that DC has gotten off to .. it’s been easy to let these very large and fundamental matters slip off the radar.
The article you linked to is, of all the very many pixels I’ve devoured on the topic, one of the very most concise and cogent. Well worth the read.
Cunliffes had one day in charge and already he has taken the challenge to John Key on the copper issue, raised the issue of the nations children and poverty and made it clear he will do what’s necessary to bring about unity in the Labour caucus.
Key is doing his best to try and portray “Im not worried” but you can see in his eyes he is.
I know its very early days but no matter what side of the political spectrum you are on I think most would agree Cunliffe got off to a very good start on day one.
In the fall of 2008, the U.S. economy nearly collapsed thanks to an unprecedented wave of mortgage foreclosures. In âAfter the Meltdown â Where are they now?â the Center for Public Integrity revisits the subprime lenders, Wall Street banks and government regulators that were most responsible for the crash â and finds few if any have been held accountable.
an example,
Richard Fuld, former CEO of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.
Fuld earned about $69.5 million in 2007, the year before Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy in Sept. 2008. From 2000 to 2007, he was awarded about $889.5 million and cashed out about $529 million of that before the company went bankrupt.
He owns homes in Greenwich, Connecticut, Jupiter Island, Florida and a ranch in rural Idaho.
Fuld has since started a consulting firm called Matrix Advisors LLC.
Yep when you get the money you can keep the honey.
Yup, the system is nicely stitched up, with Maddoff the only real fall guy inside the imperialist financial sector, and thats because he ripped off the very wealthy!
Otherwise its been SNAFU, with the banks/insurance/financial vehicles all steaming ahead, at expense of the planet, and its inhabitants!
All and any distractions, such as can be seen in the Middle East, are part of the on-going wars, which the controllers of the banking/financial/military industrial complex, are directing!
It takes unimaginable power, to brush off the largest crimes that history has ever known, as if they never happened at all!
Hey Muzza, yep I’m great (getting married in 3 weeks!!!)
I find it amazing that these scum have ended up (in truth they never had any fall at all) back earning the big bucks as if the meltdown and their greed never happened WTF!!!
marty, while what you say is true, these scum will eventually have meltdown of another kind not to do with money and greed, for meltdowns still happen to the wealthy. How many big bucks will they take with them (for they actually are going to die before very long!)? All I can suggest is that they ensure burial in solid gold coffins! That might make their uneasy souls feel a little better?
Yes Dr Terry so true – ‘Don’t fear the reaper’ – I think they would be wise to, considering the amount of suffering to others they have directly caused and are still causing. I’m sure when the inevitable becomes obvious to them they will turn up at the nearest soup kitchen to try and make amends lol – very few of them distribute their ill-gotten gains before the big scythe starts moving in their direction, more’s the pity.
Congratulations Marty, busy/exciting times for all involved.
I find it amazing that these scum have ended up (in truth they never had any fall at all) back earning the big bucks as if the meltdown and their greed never happened WTF!!!
The financial system is the biggest lie going, and with the architecture that is its design, it is with certainty, that the same entities come out on top, so tight are the industries which hang off global finance and markets.
Sure some businesses will falter and fail, but it makes no difference, the name of the game is monopoly, and that is more or less what the world has to deal with, control being the MO, and there is no view of it ending, if it does, it is going to be bad news, for pretty much all parts of the globe.
So in effect your right, there has been no fall off, if there was, the system would more or less collapse, derivatives running at orders of magnitude to what the planets energy, human/otherwise is able to support, pretty much locks in some rather nasty outcomes, not sure the bankers owners though, and their minions.
They are busy off buying real assets, life supporting assets, while the rest are left with debt, which requires energy to pay back, or if people are lucky, they will be left holding worthless paper, which wonât keep you alive if TSHTF!
…..this morning between 8.30 and 9.00am they had Peter Dunne giving his opinion that David Cunliffe was not going to be any good against John Key in parliament…..a pathetic personal attack!….(I thought we were over these)
….It was a statement not related to anything….just slotted in….just a bald party political broadcast from National undercutting and dissing David Cunliffe at a personal level….to Radio NZ listeners .
…..and since when has this badly discredited Peter Dunne…. some would say immoral and cynically expedient politician, recently found without a party…and scrambling to get membership….. without any moral compass except to stay in parliament, keep his money and perks…. and boot- lick John Key……been a political commentator on Labour and Labour Party members choice of a Leader….It is disgraceful! The gall and ego of this little, religious hypocritical turncoat greedy man parrot….
And SHAME on RadioNZ….who is in charge of ‘news’?!….are they also National Party boot- lickers?
It had nothing to do with anything …and it was great disrespect to Labour Party voters…is this a calculated indoctrination torture drip treatment to Radio NZ listeners …who expect fair play .
Pter Dunne being interviewed by Demelza Leslie on Radionz with his well modulated baritone avuncular voice. Talking about John Key’s vast ability at understatement. Would that be like ‘Well Peter this policy is really important to us but of course you must decide its merits for yourself, and we will wait with pregnant anticipation to see if you deliver’. Like that maybe!
If people who have nothing to hide have nothing to fear in NZ, what does he think that Dnnne got to hide because he wont release his emails?
alternative
Given people who have nothing to hide have nothing to fear in giving up their communications why does this government have the worst record of Ministerial releases pursuant to the OIA?
From RadioNZ news at 10, David Cunliffe is said to favor David Parker as both His Finance Spokesperson and His deputy,
The claim goes further saying that Cunliffe is promoting Grant Robertson as ‘leader of the House’ which would leave Trevor Mallard out in the cold,
Those of course are not the words of David Cunliffe himself, and this maybe National Radio involving itself in a spot of underhand Jonolism which it will probably use if the Caucus elects Robertson as deputy, to set up a ‘Cunliffe got rolled slur’…
I think Grant would be a great leader of the house provided he has a great grasp of all the rules. We dont need another Brownlee in the house who despite 20 years in the place doesnt know the rules.
Lolz, other than repeating RadioNZ’s speculation i am not going to speculate, except LOLZ, to say that David Cunliffe obviously has the smarts to collect around Him a core group who He knows will give their full support to His Leadership,
Should Labours back-benches suddenly take on the look of the old folks home signalling bye bye to any number of familiar faces in 2014 i will Lolz all the louder,
Hopefully Party Central are now beginning to take a long hard look at the Party List with a view to arranging this so as to give David Cunliffe some top flight candidates for the future,
i do tho have to wonder what will become of that well known Gypsy Journo ‘Jane’, where next will Her fine feathers find a nest…
RadioNZ are giving more detail right now and it appears that they have got their detail from an earlier meeting between David Cunliffe,Grant Robertson,Shane Jones and Moira Coatsworth…
which still leaves the question of, why the leak? Unless someone in there isnt happy with what they are going to get and is using the media to get the message out so feelings can be expressed to change a mind?
No i don’t think it was a leak, seems to have been a deliberate fronting of the media after the meeting of the above by the above, if you can follow that,
More a show of ‘we are working this out together’ and quite happy to let the media and therefor the public see us doing that working out…
I think – am I being petty? Answer is yes I am. I think I’m jealous because I couldn’t dare to expose myself and my fat in lycra. Note to myself – leave the lycra alone but get sleek like a seal without it. Maybe I’ll start today.
Korn’s (not the band ), Alejandro (1830-1936) , born in San Vicente, Argentina, reading of Kant and Schopenhauer led him to move away from the *positivism predominant in Latin American philosophy in the late 19th century.While still retaining their central claim that knowledge must be based on experience, he went on to assert that philosophy must not be reduced to analysis of empirical facts, but is fundamentally concerned with values.In La libertard creadora he proposed a creative concept of *freedom according to which the ends of human actions is to overcome the laws of necessity that govern the objective world, through the realization of creative impulse, manifested in self-control and the technological (stewardship) of nature. Axiologia , his most important work (1930) defends a subjectivist position, wherein value is understood as relative to human evaluation.
-Solomon Lipp, Three Argentine Thinkers :New York, 1969.
I just throw in this fascinating, lively–minded, mobile action philosopher on something different from capitalism – what, how, beyond words. Follow Slavoj Ĺ˝iĹžek: Don’t Act. Just Think. Wise!
friend of mine follows his thought and work; must get a text.Anyway, interesting parallels between those Greek history references of yours and the Stephanides family central to the Eugenides grand social realism narrative middlesex . Can see why it won The Pulitzer.
Rogue T
Took a note of that for later, into my browser notes and saw an earlier one that someone mentioned . Here is a youtube of people singing something beautifully to brighten your day.
Ave Verum http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UU4adUfck-AjT2y1pY1Qt9gQ
If I was advising Key I’d suggest to let Cunliffe have his honeymoon and only do some very gentle ribbing, something along the lines of hoping Cunliffe getts the same support he gave Goff and Shearer or something similar maybe involving Robertson…nothing major though
If i was advising Slippery i would tell him to book the tickets to Hawaii now and save a few bucks on the fare,
Now who did the little shyster shaft to get the top job in the National Party again, i forgot there’s been so many, Bill from Dipton??? Doctor Dullard Don Brash???, the detail escapes me around the laughter,
One more bad poll and Judith Collins will start counting the numbers among the back bench who are all counting the numbers right now to see who’s left after 41% and falling…
Kind of the point.
On 41%, with no friends other than Banks, Dunne and the Maori Party remnants, the nats are fucked. Or are you pinning your hopes on Winston.
And post-election, the government selleth, the government can also taketh away…
I’m quietly confident that National will be returned to power based on how the country has been run for the last couple of years and that Labour will (once again) shoot itself in the foot
So given the level of support of your current coalition partners are you suggesting that National will actually increase its vote and garner a majority to govern alone?
Of course he is. Nat support is increasing – 45% in 2008, 47% in 2011, at that rate they’ll be on 49/50% in 2014. Possibly even enough to govern alone!
Of course, reality might choose to show it’s liberal bias…
Seeing is ‘those numbers’ as you put it have been arrived at via 51% and 47% i would suggest that they are indeed numbers to die for as far as Slippery’s National Government is concerned,
And might add if it gets below 40% it’s odds on that it will be Judith Colin’s National Government that contests and loses(horribly) the 2014 election…
By your reckoning, then, over on the West Island, Tony Abbott must have got his arse handed to him when he only scored 31.76% of the vote compared with Kevin Rudd’s 33.83%.
Here’s a new word for you to learn: C o a l i t i o n.
Kropotkin, Peter (1842.-1921) was the most influential theorist of *anarchism for several decades following the death of Bakunin in 1876. (in the great scheme of things, not a long, long time ago, and considering the persistence of Putin…anyway I digress). Early in his life he rejected his aristocratic background, and while consistently maintaining his faith in the supreme goodness of human nature, attributed the evidence to the contrary (of which there is much, sadly) to the insidious influence of state authority and exploitative capitalism. For him, any external authority was corrupted by definition. This conviction underlay his disinclination to describe the organizational principles of an anarchist movement or society, believing that it was preferable the oppressed masses arrange the system under which they live.In addition to his attempts to imbue society with ethical principles, Kropotkin produced many practical plans for the improvement of the agricultural and industrial communities of his time.
His biting đ criticisms of the terrible power of the state to disrupt and destroy what he considered natural communities remain impressive and moving today.
Vote? Yes! Belong to a party if it meets needs for authenticity ; I will, what’s $5? Being John Malkovich fan and all that. haha đ (it’s all-comers time again, politically, I mean đ ).
Stable anyone?
Kuhn, Thomas (1922-1996), wrote the most influential book in modern philosophy of science, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962). In it he argued that scientists work within and against the background of ‘paradigms’, unquestioned theories and sets of beliefs.Sometimes these paradigms become unstuck, or redundant, and it is necessary that a new one be established. Stimulating, and controversial to Kuhn’s position (in addition to Polanyi’s claims of plagiarism), is his central claim that there can be no strictly logical reason for paradigm change; like political revolutions đ , partisans argue in a circular fashion from within their own camps. This claim was an anathema to traditional rationalists like Popper, for whom science is the apotheosis of sound and logical defensive thought (wonder where sarin and VX fit into that equation).
Paradoxically, however, both Kuhn and Popper are evolutionary epistemologists, seeing essential analogies between their (quite different) views on scientific change and the evolution of organisms.
G.Gutting, Paradigms and Revolutions :Notre Dame, Indiana, 1980.
“her father was a Grand Wizard in the KKK”- Iced T.
CV / DtB (in particular), Have you guys seen this? Not anything you probably haven’t read countless times elsewhere but interesting to see it all laid out in one article đ
Fully agree. Have a sniff around some of his other articles too – he manages to dig up the odd fillip of information that I haven’t previously seen or had context of. Likewise Matt Taibbi (although I don’t much share his political views).
Truth??? Well it certainly aligns with everything else that I have been following/reading/researching for the last few years and IMHO Greg Palast has been pretty reliable.
YMMV of course but such are the joys of critical thinking đ
Yep its going to be good we get our country back next election and the fascist austerity mongering thieving national party will be gone for good
First job to get the 1% to pay the 7 billion in tax they owe the rest of us so we can own what we’ve built since the beginning of time
And jail these so called elected officials who ruin this country with their back room deals
We need a system that will scare the powerful straight and make them personally accountable. Too much has happened in this country that has lead it on the rotten path to where we are now by politicians who have abused the offices the administer
And their estates should be liable as well
This is very sad, that have taken to write letters to yourself publicly to remind yourself of the mantra you have been brainwashed to believe in order to uphold the failed political views that you support.
Wouldn’t it be easier to revise your views and base them on what has occurred in the last few years?
The 1% is what keeps the government fiscally afloat. You know so you can get your welfare check each week.
Wrong as usual, shitlands. It’s actually the government which keeps the 1% afloat. By not taxing capital, by not closing tax loop holes, by allowing asset price speculation and by tolerating rentier behaviour.
Put another way, if the 1% want their social license to operate to continue, they better sort out their own more sociopathic members and demonstrate a little more solidarity and community with everyone else.
LOL @ you pretending to be in the 1%… apirational maybe but not actual…hence being led around by the nose by the 1% and their reps dangling the carrot of breaking into the 1% under your nose. They laugh at you more than I do.
Remember three weeks ago when you said you didnt care enough about politics to get emotional about it, when did that change because you’ve been quite aggressive and name-cally for a couple of weeks?
I have worked as a cleaner and know that a cleaner withdrawing their labour is much more effective than an academic. The thing is, SSlands would keep cleaning up their mess in the middle of a strike, all the while thinking he was one of them.
I meant no disrespect to cleaners, but will take the opportunity to tell a little story. One time, when I was at work in Brazil, a cleaner was in my office and we were chatting about Carnaval and stuff. One of the big professors entered and butted in. I told him “Excuse me, but I’m talking to Conceição.” He was appalled and asked me later what I thought I was doing. I told him I was giving equal value to all human beings, which seemed a bit of a novel concept. It made me a bit of a legend among the cleaners, the maintenance people, the security guards, and the kids from the favela. Even some of the students liked it. More importantly, the cleaners started to question why they were treated like shit on a daily basis.
Good story, Murray. I know you meant no disrespect to cleaners. I understood your point that you were making with Srylands. Indeed, the power elite need to have people like Srylands cleaning up after them whilst persuading these dupes that they are part of the elite.
It comes out in some working class folk who vote tory because that’s how their betters vote, and should be emulated, as some of the crumbs off the table just might come their way. A form of snobbery, a hope of inclusion by association, a need for security.
My point was about social value for money paid. Can’t let the 1% think they’re actually doing something useful for humanity, after all.
My cleaner story involved a mate at Uni who earned money in the evening cleaning at St Andrew’s College. Whilst sweeping out the prep room he noticed a student had made an error in his French homework and pointed it out. The student was amazed that a cleaner could actually know French, and be educated, and even know more than he did. Bill became quite popular in that prep room helping out with the HW- French, German, English.
Stated simply: every time you “charge it” and a credit card is swiped, literally or metaphorically, the NSA knows all about it and if it triggers a specific filter, congratulations: the NSA will be tracking your every transaction in perpetuity.
Diane Ravitch on the hoax that will be introduced next year.
The money allocated to privately managed charters and vouchers represents a transfer of critical public resources to the private sector, causing the public schools to suffer budget cuts and loss of staffing and services as the private sector grows, without providing better education or better outcomes for the students who transfer to the private-sector schools.
just in case, this is not in another thread.
-Nat announce 90M to Partnership Schools.
+to an offshoot of an existing Private School in Remmers
+in Mangere East, the Partnership School will not be teaching evolution
+no guarantee disadvantaged children’s needs will be met
+ the only barrier to privileged migration being geographic location
“Trish Rea, a spokeswoman for Legasea – which represents recreational fishers – said the changes would hurt mum and dad fishers who fished in inshore areas where 50 per cent of fish caught were below 30cm.”
Thanx Naaythaan Guuuyyyy,
What’s happened to the “mum and dad National Party”, oh yeah I forgot….they fulla shite
And that reminds me: what happens when due to unforeseen financial circumstances a purchaser can’t come up with the second instalment for their Meridian shares despite receiving dividends for 18 months, after only paying half the total cost on purchase day?
Question Time: 17.9.2013
Q.1 (on the Commerce Commission and Chorus)
-Key, the Clown, sooo bitchy; not even funny, hence the ‘canned laughter’ from the Nat benches (Carter The Ringmaster).
“govt. not going to provide demand-side incentivization re fibre uptake.” (was policy labour adopted under DC as Min. Telecommunications).
The ‘discussion document “every scenario” excludes Commerce Commission recommendations, ie, Nat are over-riding the regulator.
Q.3: Russel Norman on the RWSS.
-Nick Smith did discuss the DOC submission to the Board of Enquiry.
-avoids responsibility and passes the buck to the Deputy Director General.(this question needed to be asked three times).
-Thank Goodness for the Sky: into each community a little rain may fall.
-followed by more circularity (weak man) passes off to Adams (Adams fails to score; maybe a Four-Day meth. binge coming up for her).
-finally, NS acknowledges DOC’s role in fresh water quality issues; draft document went to the Minister. Russel called their bluff when Brownlee tried to block tabling the ‘draft’; no objection.
Q.3: essentially, Fed placing downward pressure on emerging economy currencies
and Syria /Oil
Q.5: The Sweetener; reductions in ACC levies.
Q.6: (Chippie looked down in the dumps with the other Chris) đ
Q.8: Twyford on housing affordability to Nick Smith who cherry-picked his statistical data (Roost Home Affordability Index; contrast with 2007 and the present) before the increases in inequality.
Q.9: ‘Vanguard Military School’- says it all really. (although, both Parata and Smith sounded tipsy).
Q.9: wonder what the Right have to say about the “carving tutors”; % of registered teachers (core curriculum delivery) 100- 79- so on down the line…….
Q.10: well, even Dunne asserts that environmental matters will be worse under the Minister amy adams (small initials).
Has anyone asked PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA when he will be doing tours of the 1200 homes in his electorate which are for sale under half a mill.
I know I seem to be picking on him but he promised so much back in 2009
“Monday, May 11. 2009
Nationalâs work in Maungakiekie only just begun
My work in Onehunga has only just begun with my electorate office now up and running says Maungakiekie MP Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.
More than 300 people braved the wind and rain last Friday night to attend the official opening of Samâs office by Prime Minister, John Key.
âThe Prime Minister said our win in Maungakiekie last year was one of the three great results from the 2008 election. He also said the diverse communities which make up Maungakiekie are the new face of New Zealand.
âI couldnât agree with him more. I am committed to working hard for the people of Maungakiekie. I have an open door at my office and want to encourage people passing by to stop and meet the team.
âI was also honored to have Auckland City Mayor, the Hon. John Banks speak at the office opening. He is right behind my work in securing a positive outcome for the Onehunga Bay restoration project.
âI want to thank all the people and community groups, including the Maungakiekie Community board, the Onehunga Enhancement Society, and Progressive Panmure Business Association, who came along to celebrate the opening.
âTogether, we can work together to build a strong community. Nationalâs work in Maungakiekie has only just begun. We are here to stayâ.
“
All they need is a hardworking candidate that can take it too the snakey sam and highlight his statements and behaviours, he pretty much got a free ride from the ineffective Beaumont in 08 and 11.
Sam even put back up the loansharking legislation that beaumont had voted down to which she made no fuss about in town hall debates during the 11 campaign.
An example of a seat that can be won back by labour with the right candidate.
They are very effective though at using the parliamentary dosh to poke flyers in the letterboxes on a regular basis.
Just watched a clip from question…oh dear Cunliffe its too early to be losing momentum just now so best be upping your game or you’ll just make it too easy for JK
41% and falling ain’t quite a definite bye bye Slippery card, 40 tho is definitely the redundancy notice with a convenient map of the way to the exit printed on the reverse…
sorta like they say; Paper Fish; Rec. down to 7 and up to 30cm min; Commercial remains at 25cm (heaps of discarded by-catch) A few more hundy tonne for Rec (yet requiring greater discards and so on, sigh.). Observers (cameras?) on all Comm. boats by 2018.
and then, there is always the local chippie… đ (gotta go and research what a ‘nerf’ is).Demonstration effect. Ha.Hilarious.
I hope something effective can be done against dumping, but I won’t be holding my breath with this government. I’d also love to see more marine reserves.
well, with this proposed ‘National Significance’ plan change Board of Freakin’ Enquiry for the RWSS the NActs are ignoring aspects of legislated Fresh Water Management, Coastal Management, and the current RMA, so no need to hold our breaths, there will be f*ck all water.
(learnt to Wheelie, and so Forth, on those riverbanks, and a few other rites of passage).
Campbell Live tonight – the Maungakiekie electorate held by selfish, mainchance, self-promoting National Party MP Peseta Sam Lotu-Iinga – the claims he made on TV3’s 3rd Degree last week as to (1) availability and (2) affordability of first home-buyer housing in his electorate:
It is palpable and indisputable. He was spectacularly wrong on both counts. Not just a little bit wrong, spectacularly wrong.
There are two stark choices – (a) Sam is so ignorant of the realities in his electorate as to be guilty of recklesslessness/negligence, or (b) he knows the realities but wilfully misrepresents.
Take your pick. Either way he is unfit and a scab on his people. Oh how ShonKey Python’s much vaunted “higher standards” have cleansed and enhanced NZ politics.
The whole CL segment was depressing to this renter. Property madness is totally out of control. One suburb after another gets taken over by people desperate to pay more than the land’s worth to get their own little patch. Meanwhile the poor are squeezed out of yet more suburbs.
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Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This weekâs announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House â but itâs not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand:Â The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasuryâs forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when â during an interview on RNZâs Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? âIt's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their âfutureâ amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected â and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers â as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP â critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori âstrenuouslyâ objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to âtheirâ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – âAn SEP,â he said, âis something that we canât see, or donât see, or our brain doesnât let us see, because we think that itâs somebody elseâs problem. Thatâs what SEP means. Somebody Elseâs Problem. The brain just edits it out, itâs like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper â released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today ….  Buzz from the Beehive There we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Petersâ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard âboilerplateâ Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of âbenignâ becoming âmalignâ and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review â The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didnât make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalemâs statement â âImplementation of âCass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – ITâS A COMMONPLACEÂ of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: âWeâll govern for all New Zealanders.â On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
 Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-rightâs plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of Historyâs clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.ITâS A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Actâs and NZ Firstâs extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country heâs described as âfragileâ, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of MÄori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz  from the Beehive The governmentâs official website â which Point of Order monitors daily â not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winterâs night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfatherâs house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of MÄori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary â including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal â that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealandâs media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been Nationalâs media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but heâs not ...
Chris Trotter writes –Â New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Keyâs flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMPâs five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as âits largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliffâ. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Governmentâs Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. Itâs important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the countryâs leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that âcorruptâ the nationâs ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealandâs growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesnât know or care about the frontline cuts sheâs making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. Â ...
Todayâs Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and itâs only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. âThis is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. âThe government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicineâ, said Ayesha Verrall âThis is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoonâs interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour childrenâs spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te PÄti MÄori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veteransâ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veteransâ affairs spokesperson Greg OâConnor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxonâs management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonightâs court decision to overturn the summons of the Childrenâs Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about MÄori without evidence, says Te PÄti MÄori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. âThe judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last yearâs severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labourâs environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our countryâs most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Governmentâs Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a âget out of jail freeâ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te PÄti MÄori Justice Spokesperson, TÄkuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, MÄori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealandâs good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National governmentâs lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te PÄti MÄori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. âThis act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.â Said Te PÄti MÄori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for TÄmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today.  "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Councilâs Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today.  Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. âThese reforms are long overdue. New Zealandâs insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. âThree years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. âBeing able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canadaâs refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ânext moveâ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Childrenâs Commissioner. âThe Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.    âThe coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. âOur Governmentâs thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening â  Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealandâs foreign policy, weâd like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. âCreating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northlandâs marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. âThis is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the countryâs total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. âThe beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ĺ-RÄkau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mĹ Ĺ-RÄkau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ĺ-RÄkau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Governmentâs plan to supercharge New Zealandâs EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four â and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Governmentâs plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. âI have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People â Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Governmentâs plan to restore law and order. âSpeaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealandâs human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). âNew Zealandâs goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. âIâm putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure âone stop shopâ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. âThe NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
WhÄnau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. âGiving these whÄnau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Governmentâs goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave OâSullivan (OBE). âOur sympathies are with the OâSullivan family with the sad news of Dave OâSullivanâs recent passing,â Mr Peters says. âHis contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmacâs largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff.  âAccess to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwisâ lives. Weâve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,â says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. âWe know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,â Dr Reti says. âEvery day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikoheâs new $14.7 million sports complex. âThe completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,â Mr Jones says. âThis facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Petersâ engagements in TĂźrkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges.  âReturning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,â Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen â good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood â a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - Â It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Â Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Â Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. âOur Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealandâs hydrogen future, with the opening of the countryâs first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. âI want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
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You would have to assume that the farming community in Hawkes Bay want to simply want to take this river all for themselves for use an irrigator and a cow-sewer drain.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/221858/doc-paper-says-dam-proposal-'risky‘
Eating the environment. Again.
What the fuck is the matter with the farming sector? Bloody ignorant and selfish in the extreme
They think everything and everyone is just a commodity.
Their grandchildren will not thank them.
No, it’s actually worse than that – they think everything and everyone is there for their convenience. Thing is, we’ve actually been telling them that for the last 100 years or so.
I do agree that theres too many dairy farms being set up in areas where they shouldn’t be
“…You would have to assume that the farming community in Hawkes Bay want to simply want to take this river all for themselves for use an irrigator and a cow-sewer drain…”
Take out the word assume…
Effectively, what they want is to take control of a public asset (water) for their exclusive private profit (dairy conversions) and expect the ratepayers and taxpayers to pay for the consequences.
Yep. I am gobsmacked.
The brazen cheek of it, the complete and utter dismissal of environmental issues, the zero concern for the flora and fauna which currently inhabits the area (i.e. kill the animals, no worry), the lack of respect, the lack of care.
It is the colonial settler approach to the environment.
Completely irresponsible.
@vto….especially the corporate farming sector( and I would overseas newly arrived …last 20 years….Brits etc who dont give a toss about NZ’s natural environment …..just their back pocket dairy and property development profits)…..there are a lot of small non dairy NZ farmers who are environmentalists….as are many people living in the country who want their rivers back at full flow and clean so they can swim in them again…..
“could kill the Tukituki River; focus on phosphorus to the exclusion of nitrogen level increases toxic”.
Where America goes….
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ag-Gag
I’d like to ‘gag’ some of the male cats around my whare, sniffing around ‘Minnie’ and spraying on the freakin doorsteps. oooh, could be a few metaphorical analogies to be found in there… đ
“What the fuck is the matter with the farming sector? Bloody ignorant and selfish in the extreme”
True-ish. But then there are the regulators, and the people that give them the power to regulate. How many people are taking regional council elections seriously at the moment? (sorry Canterbury).
Could this from John Armstrong in the Herald this morning be a sign that Armstrong is contemplating getting into his craft in an honourable and serious way ?
I expect there will be a few flashbacks to banal and lazy facileness but he’s starting to look not bad is Armstrong.
There does remain for correction/apology that risible hallucination of yore – “John Key has gravitas……”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/john-armstrong-on-politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502865&objectid=11125624
I don’t mean to be nasty, but it seems that his Parkinsons’ had got the better of him.
You can say many things about Key, but that he has gravitas…it made me laugh out loud.
But, back to reality. The barrage against Cunliffe has started, he’s accusing him of being far-left – like it is a bad thing?
Get real, PinoKeyo.:
Key snipes at rival on trade
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11125594
“The barrage against Cunliffe has started, [Key] accusing him of being far-left”
Well I guess to an extreme neo-liberal common social democratic policies might seem a bit difficult to understand. In successful Euro countries they’re just BAU.
Cunliffe already stated that he is not scared by the far left label, in his RNZ interview yesterday.
“The unions decided the leader of the Labour Party,” Mr Key said at his post-Cabinet press conference.
To which the retort is Sky City, Merrill Lynch and Warner Brothers selected the leader of the National Party.
Labour: democratic
National: kleptocratic
Good billboard.
lol
since national standards have come in, there’ll be a raft of crashes as people try to figure out what “kleptocratic” means.
Who needs to prescribe newspeak, when all you have to do is fail to adequately teach oldspeak….
“You can say many things about Key, but that he has gravitasâŚit made me laugh out loud.”
Well you’ll recall right fro the outset, people (oops, I meant MSM) described him as having ‘charisma’! FFS! Maybe to an ugboot
I think he just found it refreshing to find someone who isn’t an oratorical retard in charge of the Labour party, to which I can only amen and hallelujah brother.
Agreed – except that I don’t regard someone versed in corporate-speak and buzz as being any better. Still – I bet he’s had ‘learnings’ since then, and we should never underestimate the ability of the s-h-r to survive. He (Key) said that he’ll treat Cunliffe with “respect”. That’ll be a change at least. Here’s hoping he treats parliament and democratic principles the same way.
Armstrong doesn’t seem to have understood that the caucus, not Cunliffe, decide the deputy & whip. Cunliffe can state his preference, and maybe do some lobbying, but ultimately he only has one vote on those roles in the caucus.
This is an interesting article about systemic evil, civil disobedience and attitudes to whistleblowers.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/15/the-banality-of-systemic-evil/?_r=2&
Tautoko V,
Thanks. In all the well-justified excitement around the Labour leadership election, the re-invigoration of the left, and the great start that DC has gotten off to .. it’s been easy to let these very large and fundamental matters slip off the radar.
The article you linked to is, of all the very many pixels I’ve devoured on the topic, one of the very most concise and cogent. Well worth the read.
back so soon RL; just couldn’t stay away. đ
Cunliffes had one day in charge and already he has taken the challenge to John Key on the copper issue, raised the issue of the nations children and poverty and made it clear he will do what’s necessary to bring about unity in the Labour caucus.
Key is doing his best to try and portray “Im not worried” but you can see in his eyes he is.
I know its very early days but no matter what side of the political spectrum you are on I think most would agree Cunliffe got off to a very good start on day one.
The fear is in Key’s dead-fish eyes – who cares what his mouth says?
This is worth a read – http://www.publicintegrity.org/finance/after-meltdown
an example,
Yep when you get the money you can keep the honey.
Hey Marty, hope you’re well.
Yup, the system is nicely stitched up, with Maddoff the only real fall guy inside the imperialist financial sector, and thats because he ripped off the very wealthy!
Otherwise its been SNAFU, with the banks/insurance/financial vehicles all steaming ahead, at expense of the planet, and its inhabitants!
All and any distractions, such as can be seen in the Middle East, are part of the on-going wars, which the controllers of the banking/financial/military industrial complex, are directing!
It takes unimaginable power, to brush off the largest crimes that history has ever known, as if they never happened at all!
Hey Muzza, yep I’m great (getting married in 3 weeks!!!)
I find it amazing that these scum have ended up (in truth they never had any fall at all) back earning the big bucks as if the meltdown and their greed never happened WTF!!!
marty, while what you say is true, these scum will eventually have meltdown of another kind not to do with money and greed, for meltdowns still happen to the wealthy. How many big bucks will they take with them (for they actually are going to die before very long!)? All I can suggest is that they ensure burial in solid gold coffins! That might make their uneasy souls feel a little better?
Yes Dr Terry so true – ‘Don’t fear the reaper’ – I think they would be wise to, considering the amount of suffering to others they have directly caused and are still causing. I’m sure when the inevitable becomes obvious to them they will turn up at the nearest soup kitchen to try and make amends lol – very few of them distribute their ill-gotten gains before the big scythe starts moving in their direction, more’s the pity.
Congratulations Marty, busy/exciting times for all involved.
The financial system is the biggest lie going, and with the architecture that is its design, it is with certainty, that the same entities come out on top, so tight are the industries which hang off global finance and markets.
Sure some businesses will falter and fail, but it makes no difference, the name of the game is monopoly, and that is more or less what the world has to deal with, control being the MO, and there is no view of it ending, if it does, it is going to be bad news, for pretty much all parts of the globe.
So in effect your right, there has been no fall off, if there was, the system would more or less collapse, derivatives running at orders of magnitude to what the planets energy, human/otherwise is able to support, pretty much locks in some rather nasty outcomes, not sure the bankers owners though, and their minions.
They are busy off buying real assets, life supporting assets, while the rest are left with debt, which requires energy to pay back, or if people are lucky, they will be left holding worthless paper, which wonât keep you alive if TSHTF!
Q.E delivered a gift of 2.75 Trillion to the Markets; see what happens when the Fed signals shutting off the slush fund again.
Yet all’s well – for some.
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/09/debates-of-the-great-recession-are-over-hooray.html
Cunliffe’s address to the Black Salt Bar, Sun Sept 15
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIl3x1fQay4
Hat tip Jim Nald…
Heh.
I was requesting for it and asking for it (http://thestandard.org.nz/labour-leader/#comment-696822).
And then the video turned up! Thanks to the bright soul who recorded it.
Excellent – rousing stuff. Thanks.
Peter Dunne calls David Cunliffe “pompous”.
Mwahahahahahahahahhhahahah!
Yeah, I thought that was a bit rich.
a writer in the guardian did a totally unhinged/logic-free anti-pot rant..
..and i tried to..but i couldn’t just let it go past..
..i had to unpack it..
..it’s taken about 30 bloody mins to do..!
..fighting the spreading of ignorance is no easy task..
http://whoar.co.nz/2013/ed-an-old-school-anti-pot-rant-so-impressive-in-examples-of-logic-failure-it-deserves-unpacking/
phillip ure..
What is wrong with Radio NZ News?
…..this morning between 8.30 and 9.00am they had Peter Dunne giving his opinion that David Cunliffe was not going to be any good against John Key in parliament…..a pathetic personal attack!….(I thought we were over these)
….It was a statement not related to anything….just slotted in….just a bald party political broadcast from National undercutting and dissing David Cunliffe at a personal level….to Radio NZ listeners .
…..and since when has this badly discredited Peter Dunne…. some would say immoral and cynically expedient politician, recently found without a party…and scrambling to get membership….. without any moral compass except to stay in parliament, keep his money and perks…. and boot- lick John Key……been a political commentator on Labour and Labour Party members choice of a Leader….It is disgraceful! The gall and ego of this little, religious hypocritical turncoat greedy man parrot….
And SHAME on RadioNZ….who is in charge of ‘news’?!….are they also National Party boot- lickers?
It had nothing to do with anything …and it was great disrespect to Labour Party voters…is this a calculated indoctrination torture drip treatment to Radio NZ listeners …who expect fair play .
Where is Morriessy?
Pter Dunne being interviewed by Demelza Leslie on Radionz with his well modulated baritone avuncular voice. Talking about John Key’s vast ability at understatement. Would that be like ‘Well Peter this policy is really important to us but of course you must decide its merits for yourself, and we will wait with pregnant anticipation to see if you deliver’. Like that maybe!
Or more to the point, ”You don’t want the public to read all those steamy emails between you and Andrea Vance do you”…
LOL
Could someone ask key the following question?
If people who have nothing to hide have nothing to fear in NZ, what does he think that Dnnne got to hide because he wont release his emails?
alternative
Given people who have nothing to hide have nothing to fear in giving up their communications why does this government have the worst record of Ministerial releases pursuant to the OIA?
From RadioNZ news at 10, David Cunliffe is said to favor David Parker as both His Finance Spokesperson and His deputy,
The claim goes further saying that Cunliffe is promoting Grant Robertson as ‘leader of the House’ which would leave Trevor Mallard out in the cold,
Those of course are not the words of David Cunliffe himself, and this maybe National Radio involving itself in a spot of underhand Jonolism which it will probably use if the Caucus elects Robertson as deputy, to set up a ‘Cunliffe got rolled slur’…
I think Grant would be a great leader of the house provided he has a great grasp of all the rules. We dont need another Brownlee in the house who despite 20 years in the place doesnt know the rules.
mallard’s day is gone. He knows that, right?
Lolz, other than repeating RadioNZ’s speculation i am not going to speculate, except LOLZ, to say that David Cunliffe obviously has the smarts to collect around Him a core group who He knows will give their full support to His Leadership,
Should Labours back-benches suddenly take on the look of the old folks home signalling bye bye to any number of familiar faces in 2014 i will Lolz all the louder,
Hopefully Party Central are now beginning to take a long hard look at the Party List with a view to arranging this so as to give David Cunliffe some top flight candidates for the future,
i do tho have to wonder what will become of that well known Gypsy Journo ‘Jane’, where next will Her fine feathers find a nest…
@bad12….she has increasingly been seen edging leftwards along the perches……. in terms of rooster politics…maybe she is waiting for Mr.Lefty Left?
….she likes the front perches
….who is going to push Trev off his perch?….he never was good enough for her……
RadioNZ are giving more detail right now and it appears that they have got their detail from an earlier meeting between David Cunliffe,Grant Robertson,Shane Jones and Moira Coatsworth…
which still leaves the question of, why the leak? Unless someone in there isnt happy with what they are going to get and is using the media to get the message out so feelings can be expressed to change a mind?
No i don’t think it was a leak, seems to have been a deliberate fronting of the media after the meeting of the above by the above, if you can follow that,
More a show of ‘we are working this out together’ and quite happy to let the media and therefor the public see us doing that working out…
“..mallardâs day is gone..”
you can trace the decline and fall of the mallard..
..directly back to when he first donned/dabbled in..the lycra..
..no-one could possibly take him seriously again..
..after exposure like that…
..phillip ure..
I think – am I being petty? Answer is yes I am. I think I’m jealous because I couldn’t dare to expose myself and my fat in lycra. Note to myself – leave the lycra alone but get sleek like a seal without it. Maybe I’ll start today.
@ greywarbler…you may have to go Vegan to look good in lycra….and get off the computer and on to a bike
Chooky
Ummm…I want a second opinion.
Mallard’s precipitous decline started when he started closing down schools in Labour heartland.
Korn’s (not the band ), Alejandro (1830-1936) , born in San Vicente, Argentina, reading of Kant and Schopenhauer led him to move away from the *positivism predominant in Latin American philosophy in the late 19th century.While still retaining their central claim that knowledge must be based on experience, he went on to assert that philosophy must not be reduced to analysis of empirical facts, but is fundamentally concerned with values.In La libertard creadora he proposed a creative concept of *freedom according to which the ends of human actions is to overcome the laws of necessity that govern the objective world, through the realization of creative impulse, manifested in self-control and the technological (stewardship) of nature. Axiologia , his most important work (1930) defends a subjectivist position, wherein value is understood as relative to human evaluation.
-Solomon Lipp, Three Argentine Thinkers :New York, 1969.
I just throw in this fascinating, lively–minded, mobile action philosopher on something different from capitalism – what, how, beyond words. Follow Slavoj Ĺ˝iĹžek: Don’t Act. Just Think. Wise!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavoj_ŽiŞek
friend of mine follows his thought and work; must get a text.Anyway, interesting parallels between those Greek history references of yours and the Stephanides family central to the Eugenides grand social realism narrative middlesex . Can see why it won The Pulitzer.
Rogue T
Took a note of that for later, into my browser notes and saw an earlier one that someone mentioned . Here is a youtube of people singing something beautifully to brighten your day.
Ave Verum http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UU4adUfck-AjT2y1pY1Qt9gQ
If I was advising Key I’d suggest to let Cunliffe have his honeymoon and only do some very gentle ribbing, something along the lines of hoping Cunliffe getts the same support he gave Goff and Shearer or something similar maybe involving Robertson…nothing major though
Then after a couple of days go into attack mode
đ
fender
I’m expanding my icons. How did you get the blinky one.
It’s the roll eyes one Greywarbler, there’s many to see here
fender ta okay – struck me as better than ones I use. I’ll check them out.
“Then after a couple of days go into attack mode”
Except Key is out of the country for the next few weeks.
Fair point, then start it up when he gets back
If he’s still PM
If i was advising Slippery i would tell him to book the tickets to Hawaii now and save a few bucks on the fare,
Now who did the little shyster shaft to get the top job in the National Party again, i forgot there’s been so many, Bill from Dipton??? Doctor Dullard Don Brash???, the detail escapes me around the laughter,
One more bad poll and Judith Collins will start counting the numbers among the back bench who are all counting the numbers right now to see who’s left after 41% and falling…
“41% and falling”
– You do realise those are numbers Labour would die for
lolz there will be a change of government with Labour on 35% mate.
It’s amazing what one can do when one has friends đ
Even more amazing when one has the treasury benches…
Kind of the point.
On 41%, with no friends other than Banks, Dunne and the Maori Party remnants, the nats are fucked. Or are you pinning your hopes on Winston.
And post-election, the government selleth, the government can also taketh away…
I’m quietly confident that National will be returned to power based on how the country has been run for the last couple of years and that Labour will (once again) shoot itself in the foot
So given the level of support of your current coalition partners are you suggesting that National will actually increase its vote and garner a majority to govern alone?
Of course he is. Nat support is increasing – 45% in 2008, 47% in 2011, at that rate they’ll be on 49/50% in 2014. Possibly even enough to govern alone!
Of course, reality might choose to show it’s liberal bias…
@ Winston Smith
Perhaps it is you that must learn to see the difference between dreams and reality.
hahaha
Seeing is ‘those numbers’ as you put it have been arrived at via 51% and 47% i would suggest that they are indeed numbers to die for as far as Slippery’s National Government is concerned,
And might add if it gets below 40% it’s odds on that it will be Judith Colin’s National Government that contests and loses(horribly) the 2014 election…
You must learn the difference between dreams and reality
Yawn please someone send a far more intelligent species of Wing-Nut than the current knuckle-scrapers…
By your reckoning, then, over on the West Island, Tony Abbott must have got his arse handed to him when he only scored 31.76% of the vote compared with Kevin Rudd’s 33.83%.
Here’s a new word for you to learn: C o a l i t i o n.
if you really were ‘advising’ key..there..winston..
..surely you’d advise..that in his best interests..
..he should just continue on his holidays..?
..and let collins drive the national-train into dead(wo)mans’-gultch..
..eh..?
phillip ure..
Key doesnt take advice.
For a guy running the country and not bovvered by labour, he sure is quick to have an opinion on the ins and outs of labour party workings.
” PM John Key says David Parker’s likely promotion to Labour deputy leader emphasises the rifts within the party’s caucus. ”
Whereas Tolley and Collins speaking out about their emails, that wasn’t a rift, right John?
Kropotkin, Peter (1842.-1921) was the most influential theorist of *anarchism for several decades following the death of Bakunin in 1876. (in the great scheme of things, not a long, long time ago, and considering the persistence of Putin…anyway I digress). Early in his life he rejected his aristocratic background, and while consistently maintaining his faith in the supreme goodness of human nature, attributed the evidence to the contrary (of which there is much, sadly) to the insidious influence of state authority and exploitative capitalism. For him, any external authority was corrupted by definition. This conviction underlay his disinclination to describe the organizational principles of an anarchist movement or society, believing that it was preferable the oppressed masses arrange the system under which they live.In addition to his attempts to imbue society with ethical principles, Kropotkin produced many practical plans for the improvement of the agricultural and industrial communities of his time.
His biting đ criticisms of the terrible power of the state to disrupt and destroy what he considered natural communities remain impressive and moving today.
+1 Rogue Trooper on anarchism….interesting….agree with their critique of Capitalist State ….but not with their views on not voting
Vote? Yes! Belong to a party if it meets needs for authenticity ; I will, what’s $5?
Being John Malkovich fan and all that. haha đ (it’s all-comers time again, politically, I mean đ ).
Stable anyone?
btw, Ripley’s Game đ
Kuhn, Thomas (1922-1996), wrote the most influential book in modern philosophy of science, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962). In it he argued that scientists work within and against the background of ‘paradigms’, unquestioned theories and sets of beliefs.Sometimes these paradigms become unstuck, or redundant, and it is necessary that a new one be established. Stimulating, and controversial to Kuhn’s position (in addition to Polanyi’s claims of plagiarism), is his central claim that there can be no strictly logical reason for paradigm change; like political revolutions đ , partisans argue in a circular fashion from within their own camps. This claim was an anathema to traditional rationalists like Popper, for whom science is the apotheosis of sound and logical defensive thought (wonder where sarin and VX fit into that equation).
Paradoxically, however, both Kuhn and Popper are evolutionary epistemologists, seeing essential analogies between their (quite different) views on scientific change and the evolution of organisms.
G.Gutting, Paradigms and Revolutions :Notre Dame, Indiana, 1980.
“her father was a Grand Wizard in the KKK”- Iced T.
Rogue Trooper….+1….again very interesting on ‘evolutionary epistemology’…paradigm change, rationality and scientific revolution…..
….maybe ideas are alive like viruses?….(at a deep , deep level…ha ha?)
CV / DtB (in particular), Have you guys seen this? Not anything you probably haven’t read countless times elsewhere but interesting to see it all laid out in one article đ
http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/larry-summers-and-the-secret-end-game-memo
Ahhh thank you, that nicely fleshes out what I have already come across. The elite enrich themselves, and tens of millions of ordinary people pay.
This should warn us of the kind of shit the TPPA is likely full to the brim of.
Fully agree. Have a sniff around some of his other articles too – he manages to dig up the odd fillip of information that I haven’t previously seen or had context of. Likewise Matt Taibbi (although I don’t much share his political views).
Cheers.
its a 19th century aristocracy with people like Key in the big house
truth???
Truth??? Well it certainly aligns with everything else that I have been following/reading/researching for the last few years and IMHO Greg Palast has been pretty reliable.
YMMV of course but such are the joys of critical thinking đ
Mike Moore , knows nothing about all this , obviously, and neither did Helen /sarc!
Robert Rubin is John keys handler, among others.
Yep its going to be good we get our country back next election and the fascist austerity mongering thieving national party will be gone for good
First job to get the 1% to pay the 7 billion in tax they owe the rest of us so we can own what we’ve built since the beginning of time
And jail these so called elected officials who ruin this country with their back room deals
We need a system that will scare the powerful straight and make them personally accountable. Too much has happened in this country that has lead it on the rotten path to where we are now by politicians who have abused the offices the administer
And their estates should be liable as well
PM gone by the pm ?
+1 Democracy
a leadership change is a start, without hard work and some luck some folks are going to be very disappointed. no fait accompli here.
“First job to get the 1% to pay the 7 billion in tax they owe the rest of us so we can own what weâve built since the beginning of time
Dear crazy person:
The 1% is what keeps the government fiscally afloat. You know so you can get your welfare check each week.
We don’t owe you shit.
Srylands,
This is very sad, that have taken to write letters to yourself publicly to remind yourself of the mantra you have been brainwashed to believe in order to uphold the failed political views that you support.
Wouldn’t it be easier to revise your views and base them on what has occurred in the last few years?
Wrong as usual, shitlands. It’s actually the government which keeps the 1% afloat. By not taxing capital, by not closing tax loop holes, by allowing asset price speculation and by tolerating rentier behaviour.
Put another way, if the 1% want their social license to operate to continue, they better sort out their own more sociopathic members and demonstrate a little more solidarity and community with everyone else.
“We donât owe you shit.”
Right you are, it’s the IRD you owe it to.
or,
“we don’t owe you shit”
No, you’ve given ‘us’ enough, thanks, time for ‘us’ to give it back.
LOL @ you pretending to be in the 1%… apirational maybe but not actual…hence being led around by the nose by the 1% and their reps dangling the carrot of breaking into the 1% under your nose. They laugh at you more than I do.
Remember three weeks ago when you said you didnt care enough about politics to get emotional about it, when did that change because you’ve been quite aggressive and name-cally for a couple of weeks?
Cleaning their toilets doesn’t make you part of the 1%, SSlands.
But cleaning toilets make you one of the 1% who produce most social value! Better than bankers.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/dec/14/new-economics-foundation-social-value
Disclaimer: I work as a cleaner.
I have worked as a cleaner and know that a cleaner withdrawing their labour is much more effective than an academic. The thing is, SSlands would keep cleaning up their mess in the middle of a strike, all the while thinking he was one of them.
I meant no disrespect to cleaners, but will take the opportunity to tell a little story. One time, when I was at work in Brazil, a cleaner was in my office and we were chatting about Carnaval and stuff. One of the big professors entered and butted in. I told him “Excuse me, but I’m talking to Conceição.” He was appalled and asked me later what I thought I was doing. I told him I was giving equal value to all human beings, which seemed a bit of a novel concept. It made me a bit of a legend among the cleaners, the maintenance people, the security guards, and the kids from the favela. Even some of the students liked it. More importantly, the cleaners started to question why they were treated like shit on a daily basis.
Good story, Murray. I know you meant no disrespect to cleaners. I understood your point that you were making with Srylands. Indeed, the power elite need to have people like Srylands cleaning up after them whilst persuading these dupes that they are part of the elite.
It comes out in some working class folk who vote tory because that’s how their betters vote, and should be emulated, as some of the crumbs off the table just might come their way. A form of snobbery, a hope of inclusion by association, a need for security.
My point was about social value for money paid. Can’t let the 1% think they’re actually doing something useful for humanity, after all.
My cleaner story involved a mate at Uni who earned money in the evening cleaning at St Andrew’s College. Whilst sweeping out the prep room he noticed a student had made an error in his French homework and pointed it out. The student was amazed that a cleaner could actually know French, and be educated, and even know more than he did. Bill became quite popular in that prep room helping out with the HW- French, German, English.
“welfare check”
“LOL @ you pretending to be in the 1%”
That’s cheque, mate. đ
Play for Today đ
Cochise đ
Kemosabe (Comanche) đ
No it’s not. The 1% are the ones preventing real development of our society and economy.
has doncoyote choked on his red sock yet?
Question time and Cunliffe’s first question is on Chorus. And in a follow up the Securities Act is mentioned. Interesting …
here’s another headline in the making from DimPost on Paula Bennett’s contraceptives for beneficiaries farce
http://dimpost.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/long-term-contraception-for-beneficiaries-revisted/
More than 500 separate signals intelligence platforms employing around 30,000 people with a $10 billion budget, quite an empire.
http://theweek.com/article/index/249658/the-nsas-secret-org-chart
http://www.mindmeister.com/326632176/national-security-agency-operates-more-than-500-separate-signals-intelligence-platforms-employs-roughly-30-000-civilians-and-military-budget-10-billion
Murkier and murkier .
Stated simply: every time you “charge it” and a credit card is swiped, literally or metaphorically, the NSA knows all about it and if it triggers a specific filter, congratulations: the NSA will be tracking your every transaction in perpetuity.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-09-15/swift-takeover-follow-money-nsa-knows-all-about-your-spending-habits
edit: more
http://blogs.computerworld.com/android/22806/google-knows-nearly-every-wi-fi-password-world
http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/07/does-nsa-know-your-wifi-password-android-backups-may-give-it-to-them/
http://ochronus.com/google-apple-know-wifi-passwords-world/
thanks for the abstract joe, it helps at times. You know, don’t you. đ
Its called customer and payments, its a regulatory and compliance function, also known as ‘anti money laundering’
Jurisdictional boundaries act as boarder controls, they keep the little people in check, while the players walk through open doors in certain locales.
I’m sure a few here could name some of the locales!
Diane Ravitch on the hoax that will be introduced next year.
The money allocated to privately managed charters and vouchers represents a transfer of critical public resources to the private sector, causing the public schools to suffer budget cuts and loss of staffing and services as the private sector grows, without providing better education or better outcomes for the students who transfer to the private-sector schools.
http://www.salon.com/2013/09/15/diane_ravitch_school_privatization_is_a_hoax_reformers_aim_to_destroy_public_schools/
just in case, this is not in another thread.
-Nat announce 90M to Partnership Schools.
+to an offshoot of an existing Private School in Remmers
+in Mangere East, the Partnership School will not be teaching evolution
+no guarantee disadvantaged children’s needs will be met
+ the only barrier to privileged migration being geographic location
-John Gerritsen, RNZ
Snapper anyone?
red cod!
“Trish Rea, a spokeswoman for Legasea – which represents recreational fishers – said the changes would hurt mum and dad fishers who fished in inshore areas where 50 per cent of fish caught were below 30cm.”
Thanx Naaythaan Guuuyyyy,
What’s happened to the “mum and dad National Party”, oh yeah I forgot….they fulla shite
When national said they want a society that shares, they meant they want a society that buys shares and that’s who they work for.
And that reminds me: what happens when due to unforeseen financial circumstances a purchaser can’t come up with the second instalment for their Meridian shares despite receiving dividends for 18 months, after only paying half the total cost on purchase day?
it will be like a bank bailout
Question Time: 17.9.2013
Q.1 (on the Commerce Commission and Chorus)
-Key, the Clown, sooo bitchy; not even funny, hence the ‘canned laughter’ from the Nat benches (Carter The Ringmaster).
“govt. not going to provide demand-side incentivization re fibre uptake.” (was policy labour adopted under DC as Min. Telecommunications).
The ‘discussion document “every scenario” excludes Commerce Commission recommendations, ie, Nat are over-riding the regulator.
Q.3: Russel Norman on the RWSS.
-Nick Smith did discuss the DOC submission to the Board of Enquiry.
-avoids responsibility and passes the buck to the Deputy Director General.(this question needed to be asked three times).
-Thank Goodness for the Sky: into each community a little rain may fall.
-followed by more circularity (weak man) passes off to Adams (Adams fails to score; maybe a Four-Day meth. binge coming up for her).
-finally, NS acknowledges DOC’s role in fresh water quality issues; draft document went to the Minister. Russel called their bluff when Brownlee tried to block tabling the ‘draft’; no objection.
Q.3: essentially, Fed placing downward pressure on emerging economy currencies
and Syria /Oil
Q.5: The Sweetener; reductions in ACC levies.
Q.6: (Chippie looked down in the dumps with the other Chris) đ
Q.8: Twyford on housing affordability to Nick Smith who cherry-picked his statistical data (Roost Home Affordability Index; contrast with 2007 and the present) before the increases in inequality.
Q.9: ‘Vanguard Military School’- says it all really. (although, both Parata and Smith sounded tipsy).
Q.9: wonder what the Right have to say about the “carving tutors”; % of registered teachers (core curriculum delivery) 100- 79- so on down the line…….
Q.10: well, even Dunne asserts that environmental matters will be worse under the Minister amy adams (small initials).
đ
Has anyone asked PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA when he will be doing tours of the 1200 homes in his electorate which are for sale under half a mill.
I know I seem to be picking on him but he promised so much back in 2009
“Monday, May 11. 2009
Nationalâs work in Maungakiekie only just begun
My work in Onehunga has only just begun with my electorate office now up and running says Maungakiekie MP Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.
More than 300 people braved the wind and rain last Friday night to attend the official opening of Samâs office by Prime Minister, John Key.
âThe Prime Minister said our win in Maungakiekie last year was one of the three great results from the 2008 election. He also said the diverse communities which make up Maungakiekie are the new face of New Zealand.
âI couldnât agree with him more. I am committed to working hard for the people of Maungakiekie. I have an open door at my office and want to encourage people passing by to stop and meet the team.
âI was also honored to have Auckland City Mayor, the Hon. John Banks speak at the office opening. He is right behind my work in securing a positive outcome for the Onehunga Bay restoration project.
âI want to thank all the people and community groups, including the Maungakiekie Community board, the Onehunga Enhancement Society, and Progressive Panmure Business Association, who came along to celebrate the opening.
âTogether, we can work together to build a strong community. Nationalâs work in Maungakiekie has only just begun. We are here to stayâ.
“
All they need is a hardworking candidate that can take it too the snakey sam and highlight his statements and behaviours, he pretty much got a free ride from the ineffective Beaumont in 08 and 11.
Sam even put back up the loansharking legislation that beaumont had voted down to which she made no fuss about in town hall debates during the 11 campaign.
An example of a seat that can be won back by labour with the right candidate.
They are very effective though at using the parliamentary dosh to poke flyers in the letterboxes on a regular basis.
Campbell live is going to be having a look at ‘property for sale’ in the Maungakiekie electorate tonight…
Just watched a clip from question…oh dear Cunliffe its too early to be losing momentum just now so best be upping your game or you’ll just make it too easy for JK
Oh dear Winston, there goes your grip on reality again.
Keep up the excellent work, Labour Party caucus.
41% and falling ain’t quite a definite bye bye Slippery card, 40 tho is definitely the redundancy notice with a convenient map of the way to the exit printed on the reverse…
Government ups snapper quota to 7, but will the recreational fishermen swallow it.
I’d swallow it, depending on what happens with commercial fisheries.
sorta like they say; Paper Fish; Rec. down to 7 and up to 30cm min; Commercial remains at 25cm (heaps of discarded by-catch) A few more hundy tonne for Rec (yet requiring greater discards and so on, sigh.). Observers (cameras?) on all Comm. boats by 2018.
and then, there is always the local chippie… đ (gotta go and research what a ‘nerf’ is).Demonstration effect. Ha.Hilarious.
I hope something effective can be done against dumping, but I won’t be holding my breath with this government. I’d also love to see more marine reserves.
well, with this proposed ‘National Significance’ plan change Board of Freakin’ Enquiry for the RWSS the NActs are ignoring aspects of legislated Fresh Water Management, Coastal Management, and the current RMA, so no need to hold our breaths, there will be f*ck all water.
(learnt to Wheelie, and so Forth, on those riverbanks, and a few other rites of passage).
Campbell Live tonight – the Maungakiekie electorate held by selfish, mainchance, self-promoting National Party MP Peseta Sam Lotu-Iinga – the claims he made on TV3’s 3rd Degree last week as to (1) availability and (2) affordability of first home-buyer housing in his electorate:
It is palpable and indisputable. He was spectacularly wrong on both counts. Not just a little bit wrong, spectacularly wrong.
There are two stark choices – (a) Sam is so ignorant of the realities in his electorate as to be guilty of recklesslessness/negligence, or (b) he knows the realities but wilfully misrepresents.
Take your pick. Either way he is unfit and a scab on his people. Oh how ShonKey Python’s much vaunted “higher standards” have cleansed and enhanced NZ politics.
The whole CL segment was depressing to this renter. Property madness is totally out of control. One suburb after another gets taken over by people desperate to pay more than the land’s worth to get their own little patch. Meanwhile the poor are squeezed out of yet more suburbs.
When will it end?
Parody or too true
http://ellipsister.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/too-pc-or-not-pc/
In Theory, Brian Edwards, Gavin Ellis, Bill Ralston and a gadfly walk into a bar…
Christ, that was funny!