This (leaving aside all the horrors inflicted since) is why all the plans that have Assad’s regime staying in power will simply not work. It would be like trying to restore the Baathists in Iraq.
It is really up to the people of Syria to decide who they want as leader of their country ( not USA or Israel) ….and the people of Syria voted for Assad overwhelmingly…
So that’s as far as that mandate extends, such as it’s worth.
But you may have noticed that a sizable number of Syrians don’t want him as leader; to the extent they have taken up arms and shit. You may have also noticed that he has completely failed to put their revolt down; to the extent that he has had to invite the Russians, hezbollah, Iraqi shia militia, and the Iranians in to assist. You may have even noticed that millions have fled.
I’m actually delighted that business woman Victoria Crone is standing in the 2016 Auckland Mayoralty.
That takes the pro-Supercity / pro-corporate 2016 Auckland Mayoral candidates to four:
Stephen Berry
Mark Thomas
Phil Goff
Victoria Crone
Surely all those highly-paid corporate spin-doctors haven’t forgotten ‘Electoral Politics 101’?
DON’T SPLIT THE VOTE?
How DUMB is that?
Hate to remind you – but in 2013 – only 36% of Auckland voters bothered?
So – here’s the thing.
Nearly two thirds of Auckland voters didn’t in 2013 – which is a rather large number of potential voters?
What if significant numbers of previous non-voters feel inspired to vote for a Mayoral candidate – who clearly doesn’t represent corporate interests?
And the third of Auckland voters who did vote in 2013, are now ‘spoiled for choice’ with the ever-growing numbers of pro- corporate / pro- ‘Supercity’ candidates – ie: the vote is potentially significantly split.
Actually – I think you will find increasing numbers of Auckland voters are starting to realise that a Mayoral candidate who is campaigning for Auckland Council and CCOs to be held accountable to the ‘rule of law’ regarding citizens and ratepayers’ LAWFUL rights to ‘open, transparent and democratically accountable’ local government – is an increasingly attractive proposition.
(That’s what I’ve been finding out in the Eastern suburbs ….:)
My ‘vision’ Tracey, is to ensure that Auckland Council and Auckland Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs) are held accountable to the ‘Rule of Law’ regarding citizens LAWFUL rights to ‘open, transparent and democratically accountable’ local government.
The Auckland Mayor has a dedicated budget to help ensure the implementation of the Mayoral vision.
(In the 2014 – 2015 financial year, the Auckland Mayoral Office budget was $4.15 million.)
So – in order to achieve this – I shall employ a small team of professional, highly competent forensic accountants / auditors, who will ‘go through the books with a fine tooth comb’, in order to find out exactly where public monies in the Auckland region are being spent, invested and borrowed.
I shall then make that information available for public scrutiny.
How can you carry out ‘cost benefit’ analyses for ‘cost-effectiveness’ in the spending of public monies, if you don’t know exactly where the costs fall?
How can you exercise ‘prudent stewardship’ / ‘fiscal responsibility’ – if you don’t know exactly where the ‘costs’ fall?
When I am elected Mayor of Auckland, and the Public Records Act 2005 (in particular), is implemented and enforced in a proper, lawful way, transparency, in my view, will be transformed.
My vision is also that the public majority of Auckland citizens, not a private corporate minority, should benefit from public monies.
That Auckland ‘local government’ – should focus on being citizen and local community ‘friendly’ – not multi-national ‘business friendly’.
My vision is that unless rigorous ‘cost-benefit’ analysis supports the contracting out (privatisation) of Auckland Council services and regulatory functions, then they should be brought back ‘in house’, under the public service model.
My vision includes replacing the CCO model for infrastructure and trading functions, and bringing these back under direct Council control.
The corporate ‘Rogernomics’ vision has been ‘commercialise, corporatise – PRIVATISE’.
First CCOs (Council ‘CORPORATE’ Controlled Organisations) – then PPPs (Public Private Partnerships).
Beware the ‘weasel words’!
Does Phil Goff support or oppose CCOs?
Does Phil Goff support or oppose PPPs?
Yes, as has been explained to madame candidate many times now. If someone wants to change the supercity structure then they need to be in government, not in council.
“My vision includes replacing the CCO model for infrastructure and trading functions, and bringing these back under direct Council control.”
Hi Penny,
I am interested in your vision. If you were elected would you not be hamstrung by the legislation – The Local Government Auckland Council Act of 2010?
Are you campaigning on an issue that you would have no control over, after you became Mayor?
I think Rodney Hide stitched the Auckland Council up tightly, in his corporate/privatization reforms, and the Mayor does not have any power to change that.
Eastern suburbs consult with Auckland Transport on new bus network
11 December 2015
Concerned bus users in Auckland’s eastern suburbs were pleased with the outcome of a recent public meeting.
Activist Penny Bright facilitated a meeting between residents and Auckland Transport officials as they discussed the new bus network proposal.
St Heliers-Glendowie Residents Association member Robert Johnston was pleased with AT’s willingness to listen to suggestions.
“With public transport, if you’re going to make it work you’ve got to make it attractive to people to use,” he says.
He says that one of the main concerns the residents had was AT’s intention to direct some bus routes to the Orakei and Meadowbank train stations.
Resident John Coutts agrees that some of the routes need improvement over what was initially suggested.
“We want to maintain a direct link to the city and not feed the trains,” he says.
Coutts says that the Orakei area in particular is so close to the city that it would make more sense to have Britomart as their “hub” station, instead of extending their journey by 20 to 30 minutes by forcing a transfer at Orakei Station.
Public consultation on the new network was extended to December 14.
Public transport network manager Anthony Cross says that AT will take all of the feedback into consideration as they refine the new network design.
They do have a point about Orakei, but they are otherwise bucking the overall regional integrated network design by opposing short bus spokes to train hubs. That is how AT propose to get twice as many passenger trips from the same number of buses and drivers, all over the region. It’s also why the CRL is crucial, to double the rail network’s capacity so it can handle all those extra tranferring passengers. In short, sorry Easties but you are not special.
“The potential for school closure is a strength, not a weakness, of the Partnership Schools model.” – These bastards forget that these are kids lives we are talking about, so what if they spend a year or 2 at a substandard fucked up experimental school, no worries, try again next year. These are the parents making “poor choices” IMO.
Other OECD countries – we tend to be in the middle of most measures (taxes, spread of wealth, social spending, etc)
Social agenda – New Zealand has gay marriage, no smacking – the PM voted for both.
International deployments – NZ has trainers in Iraq , but no combat role, like about 50 other countries in the coalition.
Previous New Zealand governments – most commentators put National with Key a bit to the right of Labour under Helen Clark – but in both cases they are near to the centre. National has kept interest free loans for students, Working for Families, kept the ERA, not changed ACC. It even got Labour to vote for the latest RMA reforms.
To justify your claim you need to be able to substantiate it with actual examples. And TPP does not count, unless you think Canada, Chile and Vietnam are also extreme right wing countries.
hi wayne, i will bite.
“To justify your claim you need to be able to substantiate it with actual examples”
selling to us something we already own, our power companies.
getting a multi national corporation to run our prisons.
(without researching it i am picking sercos parent company has a bigger balance sheet than aoteroa)
bail out scf.
running a school experiment that doesnt work, cost heaps and and mucks up childrens education.
all of it hard right ideology
and this is just some of the stuff we know about.
what are the pandas hiding?
is it a court case for a high profile person?
Chile had its leftish government overthrown with publicly exposed USA intervention, and was under an awful regime of RW for many years, probably never has got over that. Vietnam another country that was attacked by the USA and has been left with a large amount of illness caused by Agent Orange.
These countries have had decades of trying to restabilise themselves after being broken by USA intervention.
Canada – has been sued by USA interests, and had its ability to handle its own resources and economy undermined by treating with the USA – now with a less RW leader who knows what will happen? A Chile right on the USA’s doorstep might be a bit smelly. But there are other ways of bringing them to heel. A country’s political orientation can be fairly easily subverted – look at our own.
Our very own esteemed Labour Party was taken over by subversives trained probably at Harvard as easily as a local community group can be overwhelmed and subsumed by a rigged membership voting for their own hostile, financially predatory candidates.
Cutting taxes for the rich and raising taxes for the poor and justifying it with “broader economic growth” that has 0 scientific rigour behind it, only to then be surprised when the economy doesn’t do as well as predicted.
Running up the largest debt this country has ever seen, after it was paid down to a net-0 position by the previous government. Largely this was a result of the tax cuts.
Refusing any sort of proper market intervention in the Auckland housing crisis, until eventually being forced to put in a weak version of CGT (2 year bright line test). Maintaining the existing “accommodation supplement” payments which just end up in the pockets of the landlords which only fuels the Auckland housing crisis, an extreme version of middle and upper-class welfare (far far worse than interest free student loans).
Economic policy is well to the right of what is reasonable – I know managed decline is your de facto strategy but a lot of kiwis want that growth and jobs you lied about. Cheap farm labourers is a false economy while there are out of work New Zealanders.
It’s the dishonesty and the incompetence we don’t like – if you actually had a working plan instead of a disinformation machine you’d get more respect – but you run up Grecian levels of debt and try to pretend you’re geniuses.
Iceland jailed a more honest and competent government than yours.
Extreme economic ideologues, Wayne. I’m not talking about social policies, but plain old neo-liberalism.
You have heard of the extreme philosophies of Ayn Rand and Milton Friedman, haven’t you? We have been guinea pigs for their ideology since 1984.
Canada, under Harper was an extreme right wing country,dedicated to tar sands, ultra support of Israel and attacks on civil rights. But you knew that, didn’t you?
And the TPP is an attempt by corporates to control the legislative powers of democratic countries.
Why are you so subservient to corporate interests? Do they pay you well?
Either you are being willfully ignorant on all of this or you are being duplicitous for your corporate masters.
Our disgusting PM makes jokes about rape in prison and pulls young girls pony tails.
And a contemptible number of middle class property owning New Zealanders like him because their house prices keep going up.
They deserve the consequences.
Unfortunately others don’t.
His ordinary Kiwi bloke image is exactly that. An image. And those that still believe that PR construct are either willfully ignorant or suckers for advertising. Others, including some of the RWNJs who troll this site, who repeat the statement that John is just like an average NZers, are part of the lie.
They know very well that he is far more comfortable playing golf with his buddies from Merrrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs on the golf courses of Hawaii than frequenting his local RSA.
People who vote for Key deserve the consequences of supporting his extreme neo-liberal government.
….but it seems USA politicians are a law unto themselves and dont listen to their own CIA and military intelligence advisers…and are dominated by short term electoral results and certain funding /lobby groups in USA
…ask yourself…who has most to benefit from the destabilisation of the Middle East?
Headline says, “Little now backs SAS in Isis war”
But of course there has to be provisos.
“Labour leader Andrew Little said Labour would support sending SAS troops to fight Isis if the right conditions were met.
Those conditions were having a clear and realistic objective, that it would have to be part of a multinational mission mandated by the United Nations and that the level of risk needed to be acceptable.”
Multilateralism and the UN have always been a core part of Labour policy, but I wonder if resolution 2249 would be construed as explicit UN authorisation which:
Calls upon Member States that have the capacity to do so to take all necessary measures, in compliance with international law, in particular with the United Nations Charter, as well as international human rights, refugee and
humanitarian law, on the territory under the control of ISIL also known as Da’esh, in Syria and Iraq, to redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by ISIL also known as Da’esh as well as ANF, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with
Al Qaeda…
‘John Key frequently over steps the mark and even embarrasses himself, like he did when he regularly pulled a waitress’ ponytail, clearly not intending to cause offence but apologising for overstepping the behavioural boundary.’
Yes. I shall repeat his words.
‘when he regularly pulled a waitress’ ponytail, clearly not intending to cause offence’….
What a disgraceful apology for journalism, Mr Soper. Are you expecting favour from the court of John Key?
I wonder what Heather du Plessis-Allan thinks of Key’s abuse of young women in this way?
These media lackeys, courtesans and courtiers need to be held to account.
Heather is saying nothing is important because whatever it is they’re saying there is more important stuff that trumps it. She would say that the 29 in Pike River is not important because hundreds died in Chineses mines. Or something.
This morning Morning Report discussed the latest Key singing and soap story. The verdict pointed out that Key avoids the harder interviews and concentrates on soft radio programs where listeners don’t care about the politics and want just the entertaining. So no harm done?
Put me in mind the lashing that Colin Craig got for being interviewed in a sauna. Disgraceful said the media. But the response to Key’s unbecoming behaviour? Michelle Boag gives it gentle approval. So that’s OK.
A new monthly newsleter has ‘hit the stands’ which promises ” a practical, dispassionate analysis of politics”. At $35 per month you too can read the premium analytical journal in the land. Danyl McLauchlan has kindly critiqued the first edition:
“Philip Zimbardo is the American psychologist whose 1971 study on prison mentality exposed the ease at which participants playing the role of guards, began psychologically torturing their prisoners.The Stanford Prison Experiment centred on a group of college students who were deemed prisoners or guards at the flip of a coin and showed that within 24 hours those with power, used it mercilessly – and the group who were prisoners succumbed to submission just as easily.
In recent years he has turned his attention to the disconnect between males and the real world because of online pornography, and a lack of role models and positive interactions. Professor Zimbardo is also behind a new initiative Heroic Imagination Project, which stems from his work on what makes people do bad things – and instead focuses on what qualities make people act in heroic ways.”
Echoes of that reaction were in the “Blue eyes v Brown eyes” experiment where those in a classroom with brown eyes were persecuted by the rest of the class to demonstrate just how cruel discrimination is. The “good” ones became so involved with their roles that they scared themselves.
I saw a programme on that experiment. Part of the process involved role reversal as the brown eyes got their time as being superior. The learnings by the students lasted for decades as their testimony showed. Great process and great teaching.
Here’s a news item from America where young non-Muslim female students have adopted wearing Muslim head scarves in solidarity with their Muslim fellows.
The article mentions what treatment they are likely to receive in Trumphant (sic, my words) America.- a real life experiment in walking in someone else’s shoes.
Yep. Know that one too CR. Some revelled in the shock giving. Most didn’t.
An historian said that in mortal combat most drafted soldiers would avoid killing anyone if they could. But in every unit were a few who went out of their way to kill others and laughed while doing so. Even killing those who were no longer a threat. Bit disturbing that amongst us there are such people. Me. I help insects to escape outside.
National has shown surprising contempt for schools in some of its most blue South Island electorates since it took office. It has closed the Prime Minister’s old school (about 400 metres down the road from me)and rezoned it for developers to build on. No rhyme or reason for it since Ilam electorate schools thanks to Labour, were already nearly full, having had roll expansions anywhere between 50-100%.
Recently Hekia Parata said she was going to close Redcliffs School and that she had been fair and given the school the opportunity to make a stand. Hekia was always going to close the school. She has ignored the fact that the school can be made nearly completely safe from rock fall, and that the small bit that could not be, the school was prepared to surrender. Not only that, but a contractor was prepared to do the remedial work for free.
Would love to see the back of this Government, but not wholly convinced Labour can deliver the goods.
Just gone off to read Kelvin’s site thanks rapateet. His report on the Ministry misdeeds to steal $18million off the Rangiora College community is breathtaking. The Ministry removed the BOT and the Principal so that they could use a Commissioner to strip the assets as had been for decades legally in the control of BOT and Principal on behalf of the Community. The grounds for sacking included “financial mismanagement” but the books have been audited and were always were totally clear. Ministry Mischief?
The Principal had gone to a course which the Ministry said was unauthorised and they removed her. The course was authorised by the BOT and correctly came out of the Principal’s Professional Development budget. Mischief?
Thank goodness someone is raising these issues like Phillipstown School forcefully merged and now the new site is overcrowded. Redcliff School forcefully closed with no justification. Parata and her Ministry are working against the interests of children.
As repateet wrote visit https://networkonnet.wordpress.com
Fomenting Happy Mischief since Monday;
My recent excursions on to David Farrar’s Kiwiblog.
Thursday 17 December 2015
It is an irrefutable fact that The Standard has far superior, more intelligent and liberal contributors than either Kiwiblog or Whaleoil. That’s why I spend most of my spare time here. Now and again, however, I like to stir things up in Dullsburgh and Stupidville, and pay our extreme right wing friends a visit.
Since being banned for life over on Whaleoil, I have had to turn to David Farrar’s Kiwiblog for my occasional fix of boor-baiting. I had made a couple of comments there over the years, but usually forgot to go back and check up on the responses. On Monday, however, I re-registered and sent my first little missive into the chickenhawks’ cage. Since then, I’ve earned myself close to one hundred down votes on a variety of posts….
Kiwiblog has a system whereby very popular posts are highlighted in yellow. Very unpopular posts, on the other hand, are highlighted in pink. Consider, for instance, this message that I posted there yesterday….
I also posted that message on this forum, where it attracted only approving comments. On Kiwiblog, however, it has so far attracted 29 down votes, as well as, encouragingly, 2 up votes. (Thank you, whoever you are!)
A couple of hours after that, someone called “kowtow” wrote, hilariously….
I see we have a new racist here called morrissey
“Simon Pound reminded us that Los Angeles children are under far more danger from white home-grown Christian terrorists than they are from any Islamic terrorists.”
I suspect Los Angeles children are in more danger from blacks and browns than from whites.
A bit later, “Longknives” delivered the following zinger….
Viz Magazine used to sell ‘Morrissey is a Twat’ T-Shirts.
Just thought that was timely..
(That garnered 11 up votes.)
Still, it’s gotta be said, despite the alarming complacency and the militant ignorance of so many of the commenters—imagine a board full of Gosmans—that Farrar’s blog, which does permit dissent and argument, is immensely more civilised and intelligent than Whaleoil’s boor-fest.
From Bewilderment Valley, this is Morrissey Breen reporting for Daisycutter Sports Television.
Thanks for the encouraging words, Sans Cle. Actually, there are quite a few dissenting voices on Kiwiblog, and a good level of debate there. It’s well worth a visit.
Although, as is almost immediately clear to anyone who spends some time there, the intellectual tone of Kiwiblog is far below that of the Standard.
Morrissey…I confess to wandering over there occasionally, and find myself only reading the comments that attract the most down votes.
And reading replies to the comments that attract the most down votes.
“Boor baiting”…spot on.
(I nearly, nearly signed up myself the other day, incensed by the post as well as some of the comments….(get your facts right for gods sakes!!!)…but I resisted…I would have to shower after, and we’re conserving water…
The whole “John Key is a really cool jokey blokey type” narrative…rips my undies….yuuuck.
Chocolate fish to you Sir, for boldly going and all that…
I used to comment on Kiwiblog before world+dog went there and it became a haven for the worst rednecks racists and violent idiots. Anyone with a semblance of sanity gets voted down hard. It does make one sad about the state of kiwi blokedom (it’s 99% dudes commenting there) and the ability of my fellow humans to think logically or have any charity
The action relates to the way the agencies dealt with changes to property advertising on the Trade Me website, the commission said.
It has filed proceedings in the Auckland High Court for alleged price fixing and anti-competitive behaviour by 13 national and regional real estate agencies, three individuals, as well as a company owned by a number of national real estate agencies.
Adam Smith said:
We rarely hear, it has been said, of the combinations of masters, though frequently of those of the workman. But whoever imagines, upon this account, that masters rarely combine, is as ignorant of the world as of the subject.
I’ve had a bit of a read of this one and I’m struggling a bit. As far as I can see real estate agencys decided they didn’t want to absorb/consume Trade me’s offering at the increased prices.
One reaction was for clients to have the trade me cost charged through to them (which is done with a number of other marketing techniques).
The other was to drive more business the way of the real estate industry’s dedicated site.
These reactions were discussed between agencies.
Clients of agencies could presumably still negotiate their marketing package & costs with any agents they wished to use and there is no evidence as far as I can see that this did not happen.
So effectively agencies decided to boycott(or pass on increased costs) to some extent the Trade me costs.
So my question is that if a group of people decide not to consume or use a service,
is that not their right ?
If the neighbourhood got together and decided to boycott the local supermarkets in favour of getting their own veggie truck from Pukekohe isn’t that similar?
I’ve had a bit of a read of this one and I’m struggling a bit. As far as I can see real estate agencys decided they didn’t want to absorb/consume Trademe’s offering at the increased prices.
One reaction was for clients to have the trade me cost charged through to them which is done with a number of other marketing techniques).
The other was to drive more business the way of the real estate industry’s dedicated site. These reactions were discussed between agencies.
The discussion between agencies would be the problem – it’s cartel behaviour.
So my question is that if a group of people decide not to consume or use a service, is that not their right ?
That is their right but that doesn’t bring about charges of price fixing and High Court cases.
If the neighbourhood got together and decided to boycott the local supermarkets in favour of getting their own veggie truck from Pukekohe isn’t that similar?
That would be dependent upon if people in the neighbourhood were free to go elsewhere.
She is pleased that her mates in Serco are making a few million $$$ more out of the taxpayer due to increased rates of incarceration. She is also pleased that the cops are skewing their crime reporting stats to make NatCorp™ look good.
Nobody gives a f*ck about actual crime rates or victims thereof, in fact their ACC is being cut off
Police did though find a .22 rifle and some other items that could be related to drug use, though this was yet to be confirmed.
Can’t say that I’ve ever used a rifle in my drug use. I’m pretty sure that the oils on it would give the whiskey a funny flavour and it would also be incredibly difficult to drink out of.
It was earlier reported two CYF social workers had visited the property earlier in the day and became ill later in the afternoon.
CYF released a statement saying the workers were treated for “possible exposure to dangerous chemicals”.
Yes, but were they actually tested for “possible exposure to dangerous chemicals” which I think would probably be a better idea before applying the wrong treatment and assuming that the right one was applied. Also, was the house itself tested for the dangerous chemicals?
Detective Senior Sergeant Dave de Lange said police got information from “various sources” that led them to believe there was a meth lab inside the Elliot St, Taradale house.
Residents of houses on the quiet street said the family living in the house had been renting it for about a year and they tended to keep to themselves.
Why do I get the feeling that the ‘various sources’ are the neighbours who are simply suspicious of people who keep to themselves?
Wellington High Court judge Justice Clifford issued his judgement today on the legality of the police search of Nicky Hager’s home on 2 October 2014.
The judge found that the search was illegal. He said that the Police had failed to disclose relevant information to the Judge who issued the warrant. As a result, he formally declared that the warrant was “fundamentally unlawful”. He also found that the search was therefore unlawful. Justice Clifford also expressed concerns about other aspects of the Police’s actions.
More to go but I’m not expecting any real difference in the court findings.
Now we need for the people who conducted this illegal search to be held accountable. Unfortunately, we can probably expect urgent legislation from this government making it legal.
Great result for Nicky and his team. A true Kiwi standing up against a sick establishment. I hope he wins some kind of compensation after this saga. Were the cops attempting to stifle his next book about Police malfeasance?
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A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
Chris Trotter writes – MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. The data is from February this ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications:Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes – The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
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 Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s 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. ...
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 Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara Solomon Islands’ incumbent prime minister Manasseh Sogavare has been re-elected in the East Choiseul constituency. It is the opening move in the political chess match to form the country’s next government. Returning officer Christopher Makoni made the declaration late last night after ...
Headline: The moment of friction. – 36th Parallel Assessments In strategic studies “friction” is a term that it is used to describe the moment when military action encounters adversary resistance. “Friction” is one of four (along with an unofficial fifth) “F’s” in military strategy, which includes force (kinetic mass), ...
The Fast-track Bill, if passed, would allow three Ministers, unchallenged and unchecked, to approve the immediate extraction and exhaustion of one-off resources. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne iamharin/Shutterstock For many people, the term “bulk billed” refers to a GP visit they don’t have to pay ...
Emmas Hislop, Sidnam and Wehipeihana discuss what’s in a name. Emma Sidnam: Hello Emmas! Thank you so much for agreeing to do this with me. My first question for you is related to what’s been on my mind for a while. It’s very important. You see we’ve recently had some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Sievers, Research Fellow, Global Wetlands Project, Australia Rivers Institute, Griffith University Chris Brown Humans love the coast. But we love it to death, so much so we’ve destroyed valuable coastal habitat – in the case of some types of habitat, ...
Josh Thomson on the 80s milk ad jingle he can’t stop singing, the beauty of The Simpsons, why Jersey Shore is as good as Shakespeare and more. For someone who spends a lot of time on our screens, popping up in everything from 7 Days to Taskmaster, Educators to Good ...
In apparent defiance of the Biden administration, the Netanyahu government has now initiated missile strikes against Iran. Last Saturday night (Sunday morning in New Zealand) Iran launched more than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles against Israeli military targets. With the assistance of US, UK and possibly French forces, ...
Māori representation brings a perspective that encompasses not only the interests of Māori communities but also a broader, holistic approach to environmental stewardship and community well-being, principles deeply embedded in Te Ao Māori (the Māori ...
This week in Auckland, a group of young people took over the microphone at a ministerial press conference, to explain why they oppose the Fast-Track Approvals Bill. One young woman said, ‘We’re here because we love Aotearoa New Zealand. We want to raise our children in an environment that’s thriving, ...
The summer was wonderful. Evie was wonderful, too; finally a teenager, finally worthy of long, hot days. She shaved her legs for the first time and bought cut-off shorts from the op-shop that made them look long. She got a Warehouse singlet so tight on her new shape that her ...
When Thomas James was on his solo camp as part of Outward Bound, the keen outdoorsman didn’t find it too challenging, as others often do. In what might just be the perfect illustration of his character, he saw it as a great opportunity to solve a few problems. “I thought, ...
From the unstable and drippy to the hi-tech and pretty, here’s our ranking of all the tunnels you can drive through in this country. The first tunnel seems to have been built in 2200BC in Babylonia, kicking off a global phenomenon for digging holes in order to get places more ...
Lucinda Bennett on the art of being greedy but resourceful. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. When I picture the market, it is always this time of year. Crisp air, dripping nose, counting coins with cold fingers. Sunlight pale, filtered through specks of dew still ...
Zoë Colling’s favourite piece in the ‘That’s So Last Century’ collection is a lubrication chart for a sewing machine from the ’60s. It’s about the size of a postcard, and carefully maintained. “I like it that this piece of ephemera highlights that manual and technical side of the skill involved ...
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...
Our response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...
The new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...
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http://www.buzzfeed.com/franciswhittaker/syrian-prisoners-executed-and-tortured?utm_term=.ldQXZyQwQ#.grK80N6b6
This (leaving aside all the horrors inflicted since) is why all the plans that have Assad’s regime staying in power will simply not work. It would be like trying to restore the Baathists in Iraq.
It is really up to the people of Syria to decide who they want as leader of their country ( not USA or Israel) ….and the people of Syria voted for Assad overwhelmingly…
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/04/bashar-al-assad-winds-reelection-in-landslide-victory
https://www.rt.com/news/163696-assad-win-president-syria/
“polling only held in government-held areas ”
So that’s as far as that mandate extends, such as it’s worth.
But you may have noticed that a sizable number of Syrians don’t want him as leader; to the extent they have taken up arms and shit. You may have also noticed that he has completely failed to put their revolt down; to the extent that he has had to invite the Russians, hezbollah, Iraqi shia militia, and the Iranians in to assist. You may have even noticed that millions have fled.
But sure, he had a shitty little ballot.
I’m actually delighted that business woman Victoria Crone is standing in the 2016 Auckland Mayoralty.
That takes the pro-Supercity / pro-corporate 2016 Auckland Mayoral candidates to four:
Stephen Berry
Mark Thomas
Phil Goff
Victoria Crone
Surely all those highly-paid corporate spin-doctors haven’t forgotten ‘Electoral Politics 101’?
DON’T SPLIT THE VOTE?
How DUMB is that?
Hate to remind you – but in 2013 – only 36% of Auckland voters bothered?
So – here’s the thing.
Nearly two thirds of Auckland voters didn’t in 2013 – which is a rather large number of potential voters?
What if significant numbers of previous non-voters feel inspired to vote for a Mayoral candidate – who clearly doesn’t represent corporate interests?
And the third of Auckland voters who did vote in 2013, are now ‘spoiled for choice’ with the ever-growing numbers of pro- corporate / pro- ‘Supercity’ candidates – ie: the vote is potentially significantly split.
Actually – I think you will find increasing numbers of Auckland voters are starting to realise that a Mayoral candidate who is campaigning for Auckland Council and CCOs to be held accountable to the ‘rule of law’ regarding citizens and ratepayers’ LAWFUL rights to ‘open, transparent and democratically accountable’ local government – is an increasingly attractive proposition.
(That’s what I’ve been finding out in the Eastern suburbs ….:)
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
Can you outline your top 5 priorities once elected?
My ‘vision’ Tracey, is to ensure that Auckland Council and Auckland Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs) are held accountable to the ‘Rule of Law’ regarding citizens LAWFUL rights to ‘open, transparent and democratically accountable’ local government.
The Auckland Mayor has a dedicated budget to help ensure the implementation of the Mayoral vision.
(In the 2014 – 2015 financial year, the Auckland Mayoral Office budget was $4.15 million.)
So – in order to achieve this – I shall employ a small team of professional, highly competent forensic accountants / auditors, who will ‘go through the books with a fine tooth comb’, in order to find out exactly where public monies in the Auckland region are being spent, invested and borrowed.
I shall then make that information available for public scrutiny.
How can you carry out ‘cost benefit’ analyses for ‘cost-effectiveness’ in the spending of public monies, if you don’t know exactly where the costs fall?
How can you exercise ‘prudent stewardship’ / ‘fiscal responsibility’ – if you don’t know exactly where the ‘costs’ fall?
When I am elected Mayor of Auckland, and the Public Records Act 2005 (in particular), is implemented and enforced in a proper, lawful way, transparency, in my view, will be transformed.
My vision is also that the public majority of Auckland citizens, not a private corporate minority, should benefit from public monies.
That Auckland ‘local government’ – should focus on being citizen and local community ‘friendly’ – not multi-national ‘business friendly’.
My vision is that unless rigorous ‘cost-benefit’ analysis supports the contracting out (privatisation) of Auckland Council services and regulatory functions, then they should be brought back ‘in house’, under the public service model.
My vision includes replacing the CCO model for infrastructure and trading functions, and bringing these back under direct Council control.
The corporate ‘Rogernomics’ vision has been ‘commercialise, corporatise – PRIVATISE’.
First CCOs (Council ‘CORPORATE’ Controlled Organisations) – then PPPs (Public Private Partnerships).
Beware the ‘weasel words’!
Does Phil Goff support or oppose CCOs?
Does Phil Goff support or oppose PPPs?
Hope this helps.
Kind regards
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
“replacing the CCO model for infrastructure and trading functions, and bringing these back under direct Council control…”
Would that require Legislative change?
Yes, as has been explained to madame candidate many times now. If someone wants to change the supercity structure then they need to be in government, not in council.
“My vision includes replacing the CCO model for infrastructure and trading functions, and bringing these back under direct Council control.”
Hi Penny,
I am interested in your vision. If you were elected would you not be hamstrung by the legislation – The Local Government Auckland Council Act of 2010?
Are you campaigning on an issue that you would have no control over, after you became Mayor?
I think Rodney Hide stitched the Auckland Council up tightly, in his corporate/privatization reforms, and the Mayor does not have any power to change that.
Once elected as Mayor, she’ll picket outside the Beehive until they change the law as she demands.
That is the flaw in Pennys “vision” as laid out. She needs to address that.
She’ll hold her breath, that’ll learn those big meanies in the beehive.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11562015
I note that the Herald and Phil Quin do not reveal his prior ties to Labour in hus by-line.
See folks – despite the often bad press – ‘Activists’ get things done.
Seen this?
______________________________________________________________________________________
http://i.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/east-bays-courier/75003039/Eastern-suburbs-consult-with-Auckland-Transport-on-new-bus-network
Eastern suburbs consult with Auckland Transport on new bus network
11 December 2015
Concerned bus users in Auckland’s eastern suburbs were pleased with the outcome of a recent public meeting.
Activist Penny Bright facilitated a meeting between residents and Auckland Transport officials as they discussed the new bus network proposal.
St Heliers-Glendowie Residents Association member Robert Johnston was pleased with AT’s willingness to listen to suggestions.
“With public transport, if you’re going to make it work you’ve got to make it attractive to people to use,” he says.
He says that one of the main concerns the residents had was AT’s intention to direct some bus routes to the Orakei and Meadowbank train stations.
Resident John Coutts agrees that some of the routes need improvement over what was initially suggested.
“We want to maintain a direct link to the city and not feed the trains,” he says.
Coutts says that the Orakei area in particular is so close to the city that it would make more sense to have Britomart as their “hub” station, instead of extending their journey by 20 to 30 minutes by forcing a transfer at Orakei Station.
Public consultation on the new network was extended to December 14.
Public transport network manager Anthony Cross says that AT will take all of the feedback into consideration as they refine the new network design.
– Stuff
______________________________________________________________________________________
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate
This sounds precisely like Auckland Transport reforming, listening and doing a good job, and the NZHerald noticing exactly that.
BTW, since he’s named, Anthony Cross is an outstanding public servant.
Ah, so the residents complained about AT making public transport more efficient.
They do have a point about Orakei, but they are otherwise bucking the overall regional integrated network design by opposing short bus spokes to train hubs. That is how AT propose to get twice as many passenger trips from the same number of buses and drivers, all over the region. It’s also why the CRL is crucial, to double the rail network’s capacity so it can handle all those extra tranferring passengers. In short, sorry Easties but you are not special.
A direct link to the city – so more traffic on the Tamaki Drive.
https://youtu.be/R6KDoBSOXaA
Thoughts?
On a side note, this guy (above) reminds me of Russel Norman.
You source some interesting interviews.
Thank you.
Cool, thank you.
Another goodie. Thans TC
Exceptional pertinent point made by Loewenstein approx. 4mins. in:
“Media coverage of wars, disasters often ignores corporations profiting from them”
Thanks for interesting clip Chairman. Yes Loewenstein reminds me of Russel too.
“The potential for school closure is a strength, not a weakness, of the Partnership Schools model.” – These bastards forget that these are kids lives we are talking about, so what if they spend a year or 2 at a substandard fucked up experimental school, no worries, try again next year. These are the parents making “poor choices” IMO.
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11562044
Extreme ideologues are running the country.
‘Centre right.’
Just another media lie.
“Extreme ideologues are running the country”
Compared to what?
Other OECD countries – we tend to be in the middle of most measures (taxes, spread of wealth, social spending, etc)
Social agenda – New Zealand has gay marriage, no smacking – the PM voted for both.
International deployments – NZ has trainers in Iraq , but no combat role, like about 50 other countries in the coalition.
Previous New Zealand governments – most commentators put National with Key a bit to the right of Labour under Helen Clark – but in both cases they are near to the centre. National has kept interest free loans for students, Working for Families, kept the ERA, not changed ACC. It even got Labour to vote for the latest RMA reforms.
To justify your claim you need to be able to substantiate it with actual examples. And TPP does not count, unless you think Canada, Chile and Vietnam are also extreme right wing countries.
Reality.
hi wayne, i will bite.
“To justify your claim you need to be able to substantiate it with actual examples”
selling to us something we already own, our power companies.
getting a multi national corporation to run our prisons.
(without researching it i am picking sercos parent company has a bigger balance sheet than aoteroa)
bail out scf.
running a school experiment that doesnt work, cost heaps and and mucks up childrens education.
all of it hard right ideology
and this is just some of the stuff we know about.
what are the pandas hiding?
is it a court case for a high profile person?
“And TPP does not count, unless you think Canada, Chile and Vietnam are also extreme right wing countries.”
none which have ratified it….and one of which that just threw out the government that supported it.
Chile had its leftish government overthrown with publicly exposed USA intervention, and was under an awful regime of RW for many years, probably never has got over that. Vietnam another country that was attacked by the USA and has been left with a large amount of illness caused by Agent Orange.
These countries have had decades of trying to restabilise themselves after being broken by USA intervention.
Canada – has been sued by USA interests, and had its ability to handle its own resources and economy undermined by treating with the USA – now with a less RW leader who knows what will happen? A Chile right on the USA’s doorstep might be a bit smelly. But there are other ways of bringing them to heel. A country’s political orientation can be fairly easily subverted – look at our own.
Our very own esteemed Labour Party was taken over by subversives trained probably at Harvard as easily as a local community group can be overwhelmed and subsumed by a rigged membership voting for their own hostile, financially predatory candidates.
Cutting taxes for the rich and raising taxes for the poor and justifying it with “broader economic growth” that has 0 scientific rigour behind it, only to then be surprised when the economy doesn’t do as well as predicted.
Running up the largest debt this country has ever seen, after it was paid down to a net-0 position by the previous government. Largely this was a result of the tax cuts.
Refusing any sort of proper market intervention in the Auckland housing crisis, until eventually being forced to put in a weak version of CGT (2 year bright line test). Maintaining the existing “accommodation supplement” payments which just end up in the pockets of the landlords which only fuels the Auckland housing crisis, an extreme version of middle and upper-class welfare (far far worse than interest free student loans).
Applause
+1 BIG_FOOT
Bloody oath mate
Economic policy is well to the right of what is reasonable – I know managed decline is your de facto strategy but a lot of kiwis want that growth and jobs you lied about. Cheap farm labourers is a false economy while there are out of work New Zealanders.
It’s the dishonesty and the incompetence we don’t like – if you actually had a working plan instead of a disinformation machine you’d get more respect – but you run up Grecian levels of debt and try to pretend you’re geniuses.
Iceland jailed a more honest and competent government than yours.
Extreme economic ideologues, Wayne. I’m not talking about social policies, but plain old neo-liberalism.
You have heard of the extreme philosophies of Ayn Rand and Milton Friedman, haven’t you? We have been guinea pigs for their ideology since 1984.
Canada, under Harper was an extreme right wing country,dedicated to tar sands, ultra support of Israel and attacks on civil rights. But you knew that, didn’t you?
And the TPP is an attempt by corporates to control the legislative powers of democratic countries.
Why are you so subservient to corporate interests? Do they pay you well?
Either you are being willfully ignorant on all of this or you are being duplicitous for your corporate masters.
Our disgusting PM makes jokes about rape in prison and pulls young girls pony tails.
And a contemptible number of middle class property owning New Zealanders like him because their house prices keep going up.
They deserve the consequences.
Unfortunately others don’t.
His ordinary Kiwi bloke image is exactly that. An image. And those that still believe that PR construct are either willfully ignorant or suckers for advertising. Others, including some of the RWNJs who troll this site, who repeat the statement that John is just like an average NZers, are part of the lie.
They know very well that he is far more comfortable playing golf with his buddies from Merrrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs on the golf courses of Hawaii than frequenting his local RSA.
People who vote for Key deserve the consequences of supporting his extreme neo-liberal government.
Unfortunately others don’t.
This is a good one.
https://youtu.be/odR37GoXlaw
Thoughts?
thanks…interesting…scary…he always makes a lot of sense..he is warning of creeping fascism…and control of Europe by USA and friends
even the CIA is concerned about what is happening in Europe
https://www.rt.com/shows/sophieco/325829-syria-isis-us-allies/
https://www.rt.com/shows/sophieco/325569-strategy-isis-terrorism-attacks/
….but it seems USA politicians are a law unto themselves and dont listen to their own CIA and military intelligence advisers…and are dominated by short term electoral results and certain funding /lobby groups in USA
…ask yourself…who has most to benefit from the destabilisation of the Middle East?
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/03/world/middleeast/syria-civil-war-israel-golan-heights.html?_r=0
A Trump fan with a Reagan as masthead.
Fuck off.
???
What is the relationship of your comment to the RT piece on the Paris terrorist attacks?
+100 CV…doesn’t make sense as part of this thread …
Nothing*.
(Poster has form posting dishonest anti-choice propaganda so link to the source rather than an account containing RWNJ propaganda or fuck right off.)
*
China vows to aggressively falsify air pollution numbers
http://www.theonion.com/article/china-vows-to-begin-aggressively-falsifying-air-po-37429
They can get some software from VW
Headline says, “Little now backs SAS in Isis war”
But of course there has to be provisos.
“Labour leader Andrew Little said Labour would support sending SAS troops to fight Isis if the right conditions were met.
Those conditions were having a clear and realistic objective, that it would have to be part of a multinational mission mandated by the United Nations and that the level of risk needed to be acceptable.”
So not quite the impression that Audrey likes to suggest.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11562158
Just another media distortion.
The msm are owned by massive corporations.
They are courtesans to them.
Multilateralism and the UN have always been a core part of Labour policy, but I wonder if resolution 2249 would be construed as explicit UN authorisation which:
Little should simply say – as it stands today, there is no way that NZ troops should be in Iraq or Syria.
And Labour shifts further to the RWNJ side.
I think it was a Herald gotcha story – Labour claim no policy change. Might’ve flown a kite though.
I 100% agree with Mr Little ,on the ground targeted forces are miles ahead of the current methods.
Back once again with the ill behaviour.
https://youtu.be/-izn1i5MlBI
Barry Soper excuses John Key’s pony tail pulling.
‘John Key frequently over steps the mark and even embarrasses himself, like he did when he regularly pulled a waitress’ ponytail, clearly not intending to cause offence but apologising for overstepping the behavioural boundary.’
Yes. I shall repeat his words.
‘when he regularly pulled a waitress’ ponytail, clearly not intending to cause offence’….
What a disgraceful apology for journalism, Mr Soper. Are you expecting favour from the court of John Key?
I wonder what Heather du Plessis-Allan thinks of Key’s abuse of young women in this way?
These media lackeys, courtesans and courtiers need to be held to account.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11562360
Heather du Plessis-Allan would probably giggle, shes kinda lightweight.
You could be right.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/Heather-du%20Plessis-Allan/news/article.cfm?a_id=976&objectid=11438679
Heather is saying nothing is important because whatever it is they’re saying there is more important stuff that trumps it. She would say that the 29 in Pike River is not important because hundreds died in Chineses mines. Or something.
This morning Morning Report discussed the latest Key singing and soap story. The verdict pointed out that Key avoids the harder interviews and concentrates on soft radio programs where listeners don’t care about the politics and want just the entertaining. So no harm done?
Put me in mind the lashing that Colin Craig got for being interviewed in a sauna. Disgraceful said the media. But the response to Key’s unbecoming behaviour? Michelle Boag gives it gentle approval. So that’s OK.
A new monthly newsleter has ‘hit the stands’ which promises ” a practical, dispassionate analysis of politics”. At $35 per month you too can read the premium analytical journal in the land. Danyl McLauchlan has kindly critiqued the first edition:
http://thespinoff.co.nz/16-12-2015/politics-why-you-need-incite-in-your-life-a-review-of-cameron-slaters-35-monthly-e-newsletter/
Enjoy…
Read that Anne. Funny. Are they for real or are they attempting satire, or is Danyl just being mean.
I imagine a bit of all three. Worthy of posting by an author – humorous and refreshing during this bustling, stressful time of the year.
This is interview by Kathryn Ryan is very interesting:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201783038/us-psychologist-philip-zimbardo
‘US psychologist Philip Zimbardo’
“Philip Zimbardo is the American psychologist whose 1971 study on prison mentality exposed the ease at which participants playing the role of guards, began psychologically torturing their prisoners.The Stanford Prison Experiment centred on a group of college students who were deemed prisoners or guards at the flip of a coin and showed that within 24 hours those with power, used it mercilessly – and the group who were prisoners succumbed to submission just as easily.
In recent years he has turned his attention to the disconnect between males and the real world because of online pornography, and a lack of role models and positive interactions. Professor Zimbardo is also behind a new initiative Heroic Imagination Project, which stems from his work on what makes people do bad things – and instead focuses on what qualities make people act in heroic ways.”
Echoes of that reaction were in the “Blue eyes v Brown eyes” experiment where those in a classroom with brown eyes were persecuted by the rest of the class to demonstrate just how cruel discrimination is. The “good” ones became so involved with their roles that they scared themselves.
I saw a programme on that experiment. Part of the process involved role reversal as the brown eyes got their time as being superior. The learnings by the students lasted for decades as their testimony showed. Great process and great teaching.
Here’s a news item from America where young non-Muslim female students have adopted wearing Muslim head scarves in solidarity with their Muslim fellows.
The article mentions what treatment they are likely to receive in Trumphant (sic, my words) America.- a real life experiment in walking in someone else’s shoes.
http://www.occupydemocrats.com/non-islamic-chicago-schoolgirls-don-headscarves-in-show-of-support-for-muslim-classmates/
Experiential learning.
+1
http://www.simplypsychology.org/milgram.html
another famous and thought-provoking experiment
Yep. Know that one too CR. Some revelled in the shock giving. Most didn’t.
An historian said that in mortal combat most drafted soldiers would avoid killing anyone if they could. But in every unit were a few who went out of their way to kill others and laughed while doing so. Even killing those who were no longer a threat. Bit disturbing that amongst us there are such people. Me. I help insects to escape outside.
http://willnewzealandberight.com/2015/12/17/nationals-education-policy-part-i-christchurch/
National has shown surprising contempt for schools in some of its most blue South Island electorates since it took office. It has closed the Prime Minister’s old school (about 400 metres down the road from me)and rezoned it for developers to build on. No rhyme or reason for it since Ilam electorate schools thanks to Labour, were already nearly full, having had roll expansions anywhere between 50-100%.
Recently Hekia Parata said she was going to close Redcliffs School and that she had been fair and given the school the opportunity to make a stand. Hekia was always going to close the school. She has ignored the fact that the school can be made nearly completely safe from rock fall, and that the small bit that could not be, the school was prepared to surrender. Not only that, but a contractor was prepared to do the remedial work for free.
Would love to see the back of this Government, but not wholly convinced Labour can deliver the goods.
The contempt they show probably runs way deeper than you had thought.
If you are not familiar with this site you should look through it.
https://networkonnet.wordpress.com
Just gone off to read Kelvin’s site thanks rapateet. His report on the Ministry misdeeds to steal $18million off the Rangiora College community is breathtaking. The Ministry removed the BOT and the Principal so that they could use a Commissioner to strip the assets as had been for decades legally in the control of BOT and Principal on behalf of the Community. The grounds for sacking included “financial mismanagement” but the books have been audited and were always were totally clear. Ministry Mischief?
The Principal had gone to a course which the Ministry said was unauthorised and they removed her. The course was authorised by the BOT and correctly came out of the Principal’s Professional Development budget. Mischief?
Thank goodness someone is raising these issues like Phillipstown School forcefully merged and now the new site is overcrowded. Redcliff School forcefully closed with no justification. Parata and her Ministry are working against the interests of children.
As repateet wrote visit https://networkonnet.wordpress.com
Fomenting Happy Mischief since Monday;
My recent excursions on to David Farrar’s Kiwiblog.
Thursday 17 December 2015
It is an irrefutable fact that The Standard has far superior, more intelligent and liberal contributors than either Kiwiblog or Whaleoil. That’s why I spend most of my spare time here. Now and again, however, I like to stir things up in Dullsburgh and Stupidville, and pay our extreme right wing friends a visit.
Since being banned for life over on Whaleoil, I have had to turn to David Farrar’s Kiwiblog for my occasional fix of boor-baiting. I had made a couple of comments there over the years, but usually forgot to go back and check up on the responses. On Monday, however, I re-registered and sent my first little missive into the chickenhawks’ cage. Since then, I’ve earned myself close to one hundred down votes on a variety of posts….
http://img04.deviantart.net/2e04/i/2012/248/7/e/who_da_man__by_therese_b-d5dq2vs.jpg
Kiwiblog has a system whereby very popular posts are highlighted in yellow. Very unpopular posts, on the other hand, are highlighted in pink. Consider, for instance, this message that I posted there yesterday….
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2015/12/general_debate_16_december_2015.html#comment-1636210
I also posted that message on this forum, where it attracted only approving comments. On Kiwiblog, however, it has so far attracted 29 down votes, as well as, encouragingly, 2 up votes. (Thank you, whoever you are!)
A couple of hours after that, someone called “kowtow” wrote, hilariously….
A bit later, “Longknives” delivered the following zinger….
Thanks and good on you! You go where many of us fear to tread!
Thanks for the encouraging words, Sans Cle. Actually, there are quite a few dissenting voices on Kiwiblog, and a good level of debate there. It’s well worth a visit.
Although, as is almost immediately clear to anyone who spends some time there, the intellectual tone of Kiwiblog is far below that of the Standard.
Morrissey…I confess to wandering over there occasionally, and find myself only reading the comments that attract the most down votes.
And reading replies to the comments that attract the most down votes.
“Boor baiting”…spot on.
(I nearly, nearly signed up myself the other day, incensed by the post as well as some of the comments….(get your facts right for gods sakes!!!)…but I resisted…I would have to shower after, and we’re conserving water…
The whole “John Key is a really cool jokey blokey type” narrative…rips my undies….yuuuck.
Chocolate fish to you Sir, for boldly going and all that…
I used to comment on Kiwiblog before world+dog went there and it became a haven for the worst rednecks racists and violent idiots. Anyone with a semblance of sanity gets voted down hard. It does make one sad about the state of kiwi blokedom (it’s 99% dudes commenting there) and the ability of my fellow humans to think logically or have any charity
lol..very good!…so pleased you weren’t Boared to Death…just got a bit bored with the piggies
I think a few more down votes are coming my way….
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2015/12/little_says_okay_for_sas_to_fight_in_syria.html#comment-1637204
maybe you could hurl a real fire- cracker conversation starter in…and see what the piggies do…i mean it looks a wee bit tame over there in the pigsty
eg John Pilger
http://johnpilger.com/
Real estate agencies accused of price fixing
Adam Smith said:
So much for competition.
I’ve had a bit of a read of this one and I’m struggling a bit. As far as I can see real estate agencys decided they didn’t want to absorb/consume Trade me’s offering at the increased prices.
One reaction was for clients to have the trade me cost charged through to them (which is done with a number of other marketing techniques).
The other was to drive more business the way of the real estate industry’s dedicated site.
These reactions were discussed between agencies.
Clients of agencies could presumably still negotiate their marketing package & costs with any agents they wished to use and there is no evidence as far as I can see that this did not happen.
So effectively agencies decided to boycott(or pass on increased costs) to some extent the Trade me costs.
So my question is that if a group of people decide not to consume or use a service,
is that not their right ?
If the neighbourhood got together and decided to boycott the local supermarkets in favour of getting their own veggie truck from Pukekohe isn’t that similar?
The discussion between agencies would be the problem – it’s cartel behaviour.
That is their right but that doesn’t bring about charges of price fixing and High Court cases.
That would be dependent upon if people in the neighbourhood were free to go elsewhere.
How can she say this with a straight face?
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/292386/$17m-poured-into-under-fire-corrections
1. She is simply too stupid to realise what she’s saying
2. She’s a practised liar
Confused it with….
She is pleased that her mates in Serco are making a few million $$$ more out of the taxpayer due to increased rates of incarceration. She is also pleased that the cops are skewing their crime reporting stats to make NatCorp™ look good.
Nobody gives a f*ck about actual crime rates or victims thereof, in fact their ACC is being cut off
Such a great headline.
Can’t say that I’ve ever used a rifle in my drug use. I’m pretty sure that the oils on it would give the whiskey a funny flavour and it would also be incredibly difficult to drink out of.
Yes, but were they actually tested for “possible exposure to dangerous chemicals” which I think would probably be a better idea before applying the wrong treatment and assuming that the right one was applied. Also, was the house itself tested for the dangerous chemicals?
Why do I get the feeling that the ‘various sources’ are the neighbours who are simply suspicious of people who keep to themselves?
High Court finds police raid on Nicky Hager was illegal
More to go but I’m not expecting any real difference in the court findings.
Now we need for the people who conducted this illegal search to be held accountable. Unfortunately, we can probably expect urgent legislation from this government making it legal.
Great result for Nicky and his team. A true Kiwi standing up against a sick establishment. I hope he wins some kind of compensation after this saga. Were the cops attempting to stifle his next book about Police malfeasance?
Hmm.
If the officer in charge knowingly withheld the relevant information, does that make the search a home invasion?
‘
Read it and weep – http://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/cases/hager-v-attorney-general-1/at_download/fileDecision – just making my way through it now.
console yourself with the thought that the corruption doesn’t yet appear to have impacted the courts