“Ms Merkel was asked about how the meeting had gone, which Ms Ardern translated.
“They want to know if you found me likeable”.
“Time flew and it was nice,” Ms Merkel replied.
“It was very interesting and fun. So you can be proud of your Prime Minister. If you want to write this down for the New Zealand press. This will be the headline in the morning papers I trust.”
Yep, like a dog wanting a pat, panting for a trade agreement and agreeing to tow the line of foreign policy.
Since Helen Clark, NZ has lost a lot of credibility under John Key and I’m not sure questions like that, send the right message! Helen Clark could at least negotiate an agreement rather than signing anything away in NZ after a golf game and a photo op.
Oh well, at least the EU have some standards in their trade agreements not the race to the gutter under the US ones.
Hey, it’s not like this was the only question that was asked and answered. And Ardern might not have said what you’d like her to about the attack on Syria, but she also hasn’t said what was expected or wanted by the attackers and their supporters.
So far Ardern’s trip to Europe seems to be going very well. She’s laying the basis for a trade agreement that NZ has wanted for a long time, and she’s made it clear that any agreement would include clauses on workers’ rights, environmental protection and climate change. That seems like pretty good news to me.
Mutti der Nation : Ach so 🙂 …. very german, like oh dear or my oh my, then Merkel’s answer.
“Does that not show that we go along well that it was ‘wunderbar’, the time flew (the actual word used is ‘verflossen’ – more like drowned away – and we had a good meeting, it was highly interesting. It was ‘fun’ – es hat spass gemacht, it was highly enjoyable.
And you can be proud of your Prime Minister(in) – she used the female version – if you want to write that for the NZ press. That will surely be the headline tomorrow.
it is often said that us germans are really good with light bulbs but have a hard time with humor.
I sense the same can be said of certain Kiwis that have to find fault for faults sake.
Mrs. Merkel – die Mutter der Nation – congratulated NZ to Jacinda Ardern and at the same time complemented Jacinda Ardern. Now we might disagree with the politics and policies coming from the Labour Government, but i think we can agree that Mrs. Merkel is a seasoned politician, head of state and something akin to a role model for a young women like Jacinda Ardern who has a rank that few women on this planet have. And in this case the old women – Mutti – made a compliment to put the young women at ease and i guess to make her feel welcome. And she did it in a very german way. German jokes are not easily translated and the joke lies in this ,……Did we no show how well we went along? Is the highlight of german joking.
I haven’t seen Angela Merkel look so animated as she did with Jacinda Ardern. They obviously hit it off.
Merkel is a powerful lady . Very good sign for NZ.
Edit: @ savenz.
From what I could tell it was the journos who were asking Merkel about whether Jacinda was likeable. Jacinda was merely clarifying the question for Merkel. There’s no reason to read anything more into it than that.
@ Anne, No I agree it was the journalists asking the question, but maybe Jacinda didn’t need to translate it… Would Helen Clark have asked Merkle if she was likeable?
I think Jacinda’s been great for Labour and NZ, but worried that she’s falling into the same traps that has kept Labour unpopular and the globalist strategy escalated by John Key but now voter’s are now seeing the effects of and not exactly happy about them aka congestion, pollution, low wages, mouldy hospitals etc. They turned to a new government for a reason, they want change. Not more of the same.
And also agree that Germany and NZ being friends (whatever that means) is a good thing. But also think that too many of the world leaders are so busy meeting and greeting each other, they lose touch, bad and unfair things start happening domestically but they don’t have the time to concentrate on that, and then elections happen and they are surprised at the results when a much more right wing government is elected by the people, who surprise surprise use ‘foreign warfare’ to keep the domestic news out of the headlines (which only makes it invisible not solving the problem).
One day we will wake up and the power balance that had been towards democracy is over, because those once powerful countries are now internal cluster fucks that don’t function anymore because the leaders were figure heads having dinners and photo opportunities while a cohesive and robust and well thought out strategy was absent and their transport doesn’t work, their health doesn’t work, their jobs are poorly paid and people are not happy with government’s priorities.
…also think that too many of the world leaders are so busy meeting and greeting each other, they lose touch,…
It does seem like that sometimes but its what the media like to report on because it’s sexier [in coverage terms] than the serious side of running a country. I think the leaders are more than capable of doing both.
Now he’s back, a quick visit into Middlemore to use the health system and then fronting a budget demanding more money from ratepayers that he seems to have little interest in more like the offshore bigger businesses he seems to have more in common with, and no doubt back off somewhere else on an all expenses paid trip.
Meanwhile AD below seems not so much interested in Phil’s recovery but more that he’s well enough to be the ‘Labour’ figure head in the budget that Auckland rate payers will be forced to pay for.
That’s the society we have become.
As for Jacinda, not sure but was it the Pacific she’s just been in, a meeting with the queen, Merkel, next Chogm and god knows what after that.
You used to have a foreign minister that did all that and the PM kept an eye on the homefront and only did very few selected overseas visits.
Yep – would be good to see its demise and death if it was foolish enough to implement a paywall.
I quite like the idea of Roughan and OSullivan having to go out and literally scrub the toilets of the rich to make a crust – rather than just metaphorically, as they do now.
Agree 97%. Why 97%? Because there are a couple of Herald journalists I do still have respect for and want to read *- David Fisher, Matt Nippert, and Kirsty Johnston.
The thing is, you can’t ask people to pay for deliberately offensive clickbait “opinion” that is sourced from radio shock jocks and “quality analysis” content that is going to be largely an utterly predictable diet of boilerplate horse race political journalism, pro-business orthodoxy and facile common sense presented as great insight.
You need to bite the bullet and pay for the creation of content people will want to pay for before you set up a paywall.
Exactly but they seem to (half) believe that there is a market for that, which there probably is amongst a certain sector. But I say “half” because they keep talking about this paywall, but have not yet had the guts to test it.
‘Emissaries from the Beehive were dispatched to the Press Gallery to reinforce the point that not only that the gap between Ardern and Bridges 27 points, but that former leader Bill English had done way better against Ardern at the start of this year.
Not only that, they had further ammo targeting Bridges, who took over from English almost eight weeks ago: Bridges’ debut rating of 10 per cent compared poorly to John Key’s first rating as National Party leader at 27 per cent in 2006, and Jacinda Ardern’s first rating as Labour leader in at 26 per cent in 2017.
Labour’s home-grown leadership losers were not spared from the campaign to reinforce the apparently hopeless case of Simon Bridges – he had done even worse on debut than David Cunliffe, David Shearer and Andrew Little – historic data helpfully produced by Labour showed.
Acting Prime Minister Kelvin Davis was similarly briefed for his media messaging on Tuesday – comparing Bridges’ debut to Ardern’s.
Davis went more personal, saying Bridges own ego would have placed him a lot higher than 10 per cent. Bridges should be disappointed and embarrassed, Davis told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking.’
Nope, can’t think of any reason the Herald might come to that conclusion but in my opinion a government should always try to take out the opposition leader
Goff, Cunliffe, Shearer and Little were all targeted by National (mind you they had a lot of help from Labour in that regards) so Labour trying to discredit Bridges is only natural
I had a look at how Clark and Key rated as preferred PM at the same stage in their premierships.
Clark was at 48%. Key was at 55%.
Ardern’s 37% looks rather puny doesn’t it?
As far as Kelvin Davis’ opinion goes I think he would feature in the “who” category if anyone was asked about his ranking.
I was surprised to find he was still around. Is he really the best that the Labour Party can manage as their deputy? Still he makes Curran look smart by comparison.
Davis along with Willie Jackson was an important strategist in planning the demise of the Maori Party. Which was the 2nd most important factor (after Arderns likeability) in the defeat of National. So it’s very pleasing (poetic justice even) that someone whose abilities you despise is one of the main causes of your dismal whining and misplaced grief.
These two had been leaders of their respective parties for considerably longer, and both led governments that were more clearly dominated by one central party. Ardern is doing very well as leader.
(2) Ardern’s trajectory as Preferred PM has largely mirrored Clark’s.
Eg in the late Feb 2000 polls, Clark rated 36% (TV3 CM Research) and 43% (One News Colmar Brunton) as Preferred PM … while in the Jan-Feb 2018 polls, Ardern scored 38% (Newshub Reid Research). and 41% (One News Colmar Brunton).
It’s true that Clark then hit 48% in the Colmar Brunton … but you don’t mention the little fact that this represented her absolute apex of popularity during her first two years as PM … and that she immediately began a steep decline … mid 30s before the middle of 2000, down around 30% in the second half of the year.
(3) We’ve had 14 Prime Ministers since regular polling commenced in 1969: and Ardern is already out-rating 10 of her 13 immediate predecessors. Only Muldoon, Clark and Key were more popular (and with Muldoon, this was only in the relatively brief period when he reached his apex … he was rarely above early 30s most of the time).
(4) Bridges’ début is surprisingly poor … even dear old Bill English enjoyed a higher initial Preferred PM rating in 2001, before going on to take the Nats to that historic defeat in 02.
I chose the nearest Colmar/Brunton numbers that were available to the time period corresponding to this poll.
What happened to Clark after that date is irrelevant. How can we possibly know what will happen to Ardern’s numbers in the future? If you can tell me please apply your skill to telling me what the Lotto numbers for Saturday are.
I’ll take your word for Key being on 51%, Graphical results were readily available but finding tabular results with exact dates was surprisingly hard.
Steve Braunias challenged Bridges to table tennis after Bridges became Nat Leader. (Braunias did a series of these matches last year including one match with Ardern before the election and another after,)
Steve Braunias challenged Bridges to table tennis after Bridges became Nat Leader. (Braunias did a series of these matches last year including one match with Ardern before the election and another after,)
Sure hope Mayor Phil Goff recovers quickly in hospital with the angioplasty.
This is the first time since WW2 that Auckland and central government budgets (+fuel tax) have been aligned, and also their transport and housing strategies have been aligned.
I heard that after the Earthquake many tradies went down to Christchurch to get work, but it was taking so long for the insurance ‘assessments’ to take place that they could not afford to stay down there ‘waiting and waiting’ for the insurance to sign off so they could start. After months and months of delays they went back home.
Then there was the big ‘immigration’ drive a year later with CHCH being the buzz word, that segued into filling up Auckland with people to pushing up house prices to make people feel rich and get the Natz reelected with the fantasy ‘rockstar economy’.
The whole Chch rebuild was a clusterfuck micromanaged by the National government and it put local tradies out of business while creating the events leading to the complete screw up that Auckland has become today with congestion, mouldy hospitals and more taxes (for those that live here of course, don’t want to tax tourists or non residents!) while now the remedial work in CHCH is not up to standard and has to be re done.
Note to government – maybe actually make industry train tradies who live in NZ in the community they work in and can actually be accountable – likewise our insurance companies who use delay to reduce the payments. Having 10 subcontractors and assessors does not generally produce a quality result because a build is only as good as the weakest link.
Some people still do not have their house rebuilt after 7 years!
That EQC story needs to be explained in terms relative to Auckland latte prices, how many tunnels, yachting villages or light rail networks it equates to in order to matter politically unfortunately.
It should result in Gerry’s enormous head on a platter but won’t.
Our MSM’s “gotcha” style obsession with demanding the government tow the line on any and all actions taken by the USA and it’s incessant attempts to foot trip the government is doing my head in.
These dumb fucks in the media whined like little bitches when National party ministers refused anything but the most patsy of interviews and the National government did everything in it’s power to hide or not collect any data that the media could use to trip them up. But seeing how the MSM behaves with ministers who turn up and minister who release information, who in their right mind would blame Labour if they decided to adopt the same attitude to the media as National did?
I mean, who the fuck made the NZ MSM guardians of a knee jerk rightwing establishment foreign policy?
Going to a funeral today for a work colleague who was one of the pedestrians killed (>a href=”https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2018/04/18/guest-post-aucklands-road-safety-crisis/#pq=OkcawK”>as mentioned in this GreaterAuckland Post today) on Auckland’s roads last week.
Many in my work place were in shock last week at the news. And very traumatic for the family.
The post says:
Open road speeds are going up annually by 1%. For every 1% increase in speed there is a 4% increase in fatalities (corridors make up 4% of the network but 30% of fatalities and serious injuries)
My condolences to you and your work colleagues and the family/whanau, Carolyn Nth.
My internet security or something would not let me into the greater auckland site but I had noticed the media reports of the obviously lovely woman/partner/mother who was killed on the North Shore and presume this was your work colleague; and of the two pedestrians killed in Papatoetoe at the weekend. So sad for these lives to be cut short in an instance by driver speed/carelessness.
It was a very well attended funeral. The main church area was full with people standing at the back and the side, and others standing outside in the lobby. Our colleague had an enthusiasm for life, her family, her job (a vocation for her) and community service. She touched many lives, and their were many tributes celebrating the various areas of a very full life.
But the enthusiasm for life was still there when she died way before her time. She had much more to contribute.
Lots of respect and hugs to you, and the whanau, CN. Again , thinking of you and thanks for coming back to me – I appreciate it. Sleep well. Again, kia kaha.
I am not Maori but I am a NZer/pakeha (refuse to call myself a European etc; genes – Glaswegian meets true Cockney part-Jew) and I love and respect this country and its whakapapa and kaupapa beyond all else.
Good article by Mike Lee on the Auckland airport screw up, it’s pretty obvious to everyone that there should be a heavy rail line and apparently quicker and cheaper but as usual AT have their own ideas and analysis….
“However these carefully laid plans, as so often happens (Auckland has a history of this), were overturned by AT bureaucrats claiming a tram travelling from the CBD to the airport via Dominion Road despite stopping at 20 tram stops and numerous intersections while keeping to a 50 kph speed limit would get to the airport within one minute of an electric train travelling up to 110 kph. In late 2016 following the election of Phil Goff, the favoured Onehunga – Mangere rail corridor was deliberately blocked by AT when it demolished the Neilson Street overbridge immediately to the south of the Onehunga train station, placing the road straight across the rail corridor.”
In short a big reason that Auckland is such a screw up, is Auckland Transport who have been enabled to exist in their own peculiar silo that delivers an appalling service and appalling ideas! They can’t even organise a well thought through cycle land in Westmere for Pete’s sake, let alone a train!
Pretty sure it was found that Patrick Reynold’s was paid $41,000 for art purchased by Auckland Transport who was a prominent blogger on the site supporting the councils views and also wanted an unpaid seat at the AT board that Phil Goff supported while taking off official and democratically elected council representation of the AT board.
Reynolds was paid that over many years in his own right as a professional photographer. Mayor Goff decided to remove Councillors from sitting on both Council and CCO Boards to clarify accountability and he got enough support from Councillors to do that.
Nothing to do with Greater Auckland in either case.
Most people would think a $41k payments is not really independent thinking or is considered a conflict of interest. Of course now post Key, anything goes.
You said “As for greater Auckland, it’s a blog that got taken over by AT and council money.”
Still not hearing evidence. Are you saying that paying one member of a collective for completely separate work over a period of many years is enough to persuade that whole group of people to take a particular editorial angle?
Not everyone in this world is a scoundrel and most have a higher price than you seem to expect.
most have a higher price than you seem to expect… not in our low wage economy, most officials seem to be keen to sell us out for a decent meal and a plane ticket overseas, of course the $41k is the only payment that people have noticed… but I’d say it’s not so much payment it’s the insidious nature of keeping any different opinion from being voiced about transport that concerns me the most about AT and the council.
It’s a few people orchestrating and influencing an agenda, that if you haven’t noticed has NOT delivered competent transport outcomes in this city.
The evidence is before you, our transport is expensive and doesn’t work well. So anyone who pretends they have done a good job and defend them and wants more of the same problems, are just enablers who are actually part of the problem.
“it’s the insidious nature of keeping any different opinion from being voiced about transport that concerns me the most about AT and the council. “
Having heard Reynolds and Matt L speak, I have the same concerns. Reynolds proudly stated that they take care to personally frame issues to ensure that all questions lead to their conclusions. Not to allow open discussion. If you frame the problem in a specific way, only discuss limited options, then it is very difficult for other voices or perspectives to be heard.
With good intent, the focus of GA is on problems that exist within their knowledge or areas of interest, which limits the even-handedness of the site in terms of giving voice or priorities to the many areas that they don’t cover. GA also has gained a large following, and have established a working relationship with AT and Council that gives them a significant influence. One that is not tempered by deliberately balancing their views with that of other areas, or demographics.
It is not that GA is bad. It is that the limitations of using this as the primary resource for all things transport in Auckland, should be recognised and countered for.
There seems to be a basic lack of understanding that having different ideas in the boardroom or around the table on issues is actually valuable to solve problems.
But in the council people like Mike Lee are undermined because they question the official conclusions.
Often indépendant thinkers are not liked and ridiculed by the status quo.
The guy (John Houbolt) that had the idea of the technology to get US to the moon was undermined by NASA and thought to be a trouble maker.
The guy (Alan Turing) that helped win the 2nd world war by inventing the enigma machine was prosecuted by the UK government for being gay.
There are lots of people around who have different ideas, and to advance you need to have some sort of openness to listen.
The problem in Auckland, is that nobody will listen to any difference of opinion or range of ideas and actively try to attack anyone who voices alternatives even if they are a democratically elected councillor (who Spinoff among other’s actively tried to eradicate in the elections).
Mike Lee may not be perfect, but at least he’s not a clone and Auckland would have been better off with him and Christine Fletcher on the board. That’s left and right satisfied for a start.
Funny how all Mike Lee’s preferences are from the age of steam – what a true boilermaker he is.
Mike Lee is not arguing against light rail to the airport. He is arguing for the heavy rail link from Puhinui first. That’s all that it amounts to: prioritisation.
Design from Onehunga to the airport has been underway for years, and included the specific widening of the bridge and widening of George Bolt Memorial. The corridor is ready to go.
He doesn’t have the ability to understand that some light rail vehicles can actually go direct to routes, while others do all stops – just like buses do.
There are a series of announcements from Phil Twyford coming up in which works for both light rail to the airport and light rail up SH16 will be accelerated. It’s going to be as big a deal for Auckland as Sir John Allum agreeing to the motorway system in the 1950s.
There will also be announcements in the future about value capture.
Mike needs to stop quibbling, accept that Auckland and Wellington are in alignment for the first time ever, and let the Minister get on with it.
We hear the talk AD, pay the cash, but still no public transport and more people come. A bit like building all these affordable houses, we all hear how it was gonna happen, now not so much.
Alignment does not bring public transport. All they have aligned to do, is bleed more money out of people. The transport we are still waiting for.
Pop on up to Auckland.
City Rail Link is under construction now.
Bus routes have been completely redesigned.
Bus priority lanes continue to be rolled out.
Cycling has gone through the roof.
The most recent results from a decade of rebuilding Auckland’s transport are here:
under construction.. your comic touches continue to inspire. Maybe a job telling the homeless that their houses are on their way in a decade or two and the cheque is in the mail from Fletchers…
On Dominion Road, wait until they strip out every single parking space.
And wait until they take out all the buses, replacing them with light rail.
There’s plenty of space in that corridor to be played with.
On Mangere, the lanes are already provided for in the existing corridor.
One exception to that being the bridge over the Manukau. There’s more detail on GreaterAuckland posts about light rail. The design and feasibility is reasonably advanced, and is now being led within NZTA.
The design and feasibility is reasonably advanced… oh I love how paper is now the new transport to yee hah about! Close your eyes and smell the design and feasibility study commuters! Bet it works a treat if you live in Wellington.
I love this idea of 40 million passengers getting from Auckland airport via tram, who would have thought up this brilliant plan! sarcasm.
Must be the same person that decided that a family of 4 pay $34 to go 14km on the bus and take approximately 8 times longer than by car aka 1.5 hours or not having a public transport system of any description in many parts of the super city while taking 1.34m per year in Auckland rates for their efforts!
How well are the working people of Onehunga and Mangere and Favona served for public transport frequency compared to the citizens of New Lynn and Otahuhu and Panmure?
GreaterAuckland has done a number of posts on precisely this issue and why light rail is superior.
Well I do know the difference between a piece of paper and an actual bus/train/ferry to catch and I can read a rates bill to work out where the majority of Auckland Transport funding comes from. For 30 years we hear this stuff about our amazing public transport on it’s way… still waiting.
Genuine question. Just how ‘great’ do they see ‘Greater Auckland’?
Great enough to understand that it is the interbational gateway to most of the North Island?
Very wise words from Donna Kerridge about Maori health – and the health of all kiwis. I don’t know anywhere near enough about Rongoa Maori but what I do know is that it makes a lot more sense than the over-prescription of drugs and surgery.
Just thought this article needed to be read by many and couldn’t think of where else to share it. Perhaps I should say “where better to share it.”
You still don’t get it do you! When I get near a better device, we’ll have a discussion. Right now I’m witnessing something like it’s a macho man Julie Christie reality TV show.
Hopefully I’ll be able to ask you what is the best way of reducing immigrant numbers.
Is it by penalising the perpetrators of various shit education scams and work schemes….or is it better to penalise their victims?
Then of course there’s the whole issue of launderd big money and Thiel-like bolt holes – all part of the cistern that needs a bloody big flush.
Actually @Draco, you’re actually quite the binary-thinking authoritarian the more I see SOME of your comments. For me, quite a disappointment. Immediately I posed the Q above, you’ve lept to asking another of me.
I’m likely to disingage before too long in the hope others might have a go at answering without baggage.
Btw….I know you’re utterly gorgeous
Transport Minister Phil Twyford said today the Government was “open for business” for private investors for transport, urban development and housing.
“When we’re talking about light rail and rapid transit my expectation is that it’s likely that some of those big projects will be done in collaboration with private sector through PPP (public private partnership) models.”
Yes….this is how it begins Phil….yesss….good, very good, its always difficult the first time but then it becomes so much easier…and theres so many more projects that need help…
This is Dir of Security for Trump Org, Mathew Calamari Jr, he looks heavier here then in the sketch but… pic.twitter.com/xpb5mnsWyC— Loepoole (@PooleLoe) April 17, 2018
The Inspector-General has today announced the establishment of a Reference Group. The Group brings together a broad range of individuals and groups, all of whom have specific expertise and experience that in one way or another touches on the work of the Inspector-General’s office. The first meeting of the Reference Group was held last week in Wellington.
[…]
The members of the Inspector-General’s Reference Group are:
Ben Creet – Issues Manager, Internet NZ
Professor Rouben Azizian – Director, Centre for Defence and Security Studies, Massey University
Dr Nicole Moreham – Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington
Dr Paul Buchanan – Director, 36th Parallel Assessments
David Fisher – Journalist, New Zealand Herald
John Ip – Senior Lecturer, Assistant Dean (Academic), Faculty of Law, University of Auckland
Nicky Hager – Journalist, Author
Thomas Beagle – Chairperson, NZ Council for Civil Liberties
Treasa Dunworth – Associate Professor, Public International Law, University of Auckland
Suzanne Snively – Chair, Transparency International
“I would have thought there is a question about a journalist complying with their ethics in doing so, but that’s a judgement call in the end that they have to make.”
The Am Show jerry brown is ———- they did not have to bale out bills m8 south Canterbury finance to the tune of $2 billion they just had the obligation to fix those poor people houses in Christ Church right and properly .
T J Perenara is right in what he has tweeted people with high profiles have to realize that there words can hurt affect a lot of good people and Pacific and Maori people are the most vulnerable .
We would not have those problems in Christ Church if we built our society using the principals of sustainability mokopunas at the forefront of our plan and those houses would never have been built on old swamp land the filters of out enviroment .or built on some hills like in Tauranga some places should be left to mother nature and enhanced to help mother nature . Duncan we need to work with Papatuanuku .
OUR new leader is doing a fine job on her trip to Europe she is wooing them all Ka pai
Ka kite ano P.S Mark and Amanda it good to see Mark thinking about his mokopunas I got a few Amanda alot of times you give your children advice and they don’t take it you just have to wait and say I told you so Mark S congratulations to you for your mokopunas Mark you have to pay Google to wipe your internet history
Newshub well there you go Andrew Little has achieved the first step in the pike river coal mine debacle left behind by shonkys government the whano will be much happier .
I think the noodle should keep out to the Gay peoples debacle . You will work out who I am referring to. Michael Jones has it right he is intelligent and humane not like some people.
I use Emojes Eco Maori favorite is the smiley face with the Halo my mokopunas loved the move Emojes will become the universal written language culture can read .
Penny Bright is a Mana Wahine I support her cause for transparency of all public agency’s I hope she does not have cancer. P.S the sandflys keep trying to get people to tell me false stories lies I pick up there lies within a couple of minutes lol. Ana to kai Ka kite ano
The Crowd Goes Wild Mulls Rodger is going to look hard case in a tutu when he dances in Danceing with the Stars I say he will be a bit like me no swing my childern and wife laugh there asses off when I have had a couple of refreshments and try to dance .
Brad Shields is right he has to look after his and his familys future first and for-most
as know one else will Just like James Lowe he looks happy in Leinster. Leinster my son in laws fathers favorite soccer team.
James what happened you pulled a calf mussel cut it out those ——- moves A you will have to retire those jandals and wear some flash shoes lol
Ka kite ano
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What are police for? "Fighting crime" is the obvious answer. If there's a burglary, they should show up and investigate. Ditto if there's a murder or sexual assault. Speeding or drunk or dangerous driving is a crime, so obviously they should respond to that. And obviously, they should respond to ...
Michael Reddell writes – I got curious yesterday about how the Australia/New Zealand real exchange rate had changed over the last decade, and so dug out the data on the changes in the two countries’ CPIs. Over the 10 years from March 2014 to March 2024, New Zealand’s ...
Graham Adams writes that 20 years after the land march, judges are quietly awarding a swathe of coastal rights to iwi. Early this month, an hour-long documentary was released by TVNZ to mark the 20th anniversary of the land-rights march to oppose Helen Clark’s Foreshore and Seabed Act. The account ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: Suspended Green MP Darleen Tana has passed an unpleasant milestone: she has now been absent for as many parliamentary sitting days as she has been present for this year. Tana is on full pay while she is suspended, and will benefit from a ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is no coincidence that two Labour should-have-been MPs are making the most noise about public sector cuts. As assistant general secretary of the Public Service Association, Fleur Fitzsimons has been at the forefront of revealing where the next round of state sector job ...
Bryce Edwards writes – It’s becoming a classic case study for why lobbying deals with politicians need greater scrutiny. Former National Minister Steven Joyce runs a lobbying company with a major client – the University of Waikato. The University desperately wants $300m+ of taxpayer funding to establish a ...
This is one of the (extra) weekly columns on music or movies. Plenty of solid analyses of Possession exist online and most of them – inevitably – contain spoilers. This column is more in the way of a first-timer’s aid to getting your initial bearings. You don’t need to have ...
I am painting in oil, a portrait of a manWho has taken all the heart aches,And all the pain he can stand.I am using all the colors of blue,I have here on my stand.I am painting in oil, a portrait of a man.This has been an interesting week for me. ...
Helen Clark joins the Hoon as a special guest talking whether Aotearoa should join Aukus II, and her views on the fast track legislation and how Luxon and the new Government are performing. File Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts ...
With an election due in less than nine months, Britain’s embattled PM, Rishi Sunak, gave a useful speech earlier this week. He made a substantial case for his government, perhaps as compelling as is possible in the current environment. Quite an achievement. His overall theme was security, first pulling ...
Open access notablesPublicly expressed climate scepticism is greatest in regions with high CO2 emissions, Pearson et al., Climatic Change:We analysed a recently released corpus of climate-related tweets to examine the macro-level factors associated with public declarations of climate change scepticism. Analyses of over 2 million geo-located tweets in the U.S. showed that climate ...
You can be all negative about these charter schools if you want, but I’m here to accentuate the positive. You can get all worked up, if you want to, by the contradiction of Luxon saying We’re going to make sure that every school in the country is teaching exactly the same ...
Losing The Room: One can only speculate about what has persuaded the Coalition Government that it will pay no electoral price for unreasonably pushing ahead with policies that are so clearly against the national interest. They seem quite oblivious to the risk that by doing so they will convince an increasing ...
Name suppression decisions can be tough sometimes. No matter your views on free speech, you have to be hard-hearted not to be torn by the tug of the competing arguments. I think you can feel the Supreme Court wrestling with that in M v The King. The case for ...
The Merchants of Menace: The Coalition Government has convinced itself that the “Brahmins’” emollient functions have become much too irksome and expensive. Those who see themselves as the best hope of rebuilding New Zealand’s ailing capitalist system, appear to have convinced themselves that a little bit of blunt trauma is what their mollycoddled ...
When National first proposed its Muldoonist "fast-track" law, they were warned that it would inevitably lead to corruption. And that is exactly what has happened, with Resources Minister Shane Jones taking secret meetings with potential applicants:On Tuesday, in a Newsroom story, questions were raised about a dinner Jones ...
Buzz from the Beehive One day – hopefully – we will push that Russian rascal, Vladimir Putin, beyond breaking point. Perhaps it will happen today, when he learns that Foreign Minister Winston Peters is again tightening the thumbscrews. Peters announced further sanctions, this time on 28 individuals and 14 entities ...
How Labour’s and National’s failure to move beyond neoliberalism has brought New Zealand to the brink of economic and cultural chaos.TO START LOSING, so soon after you won, requires a special kind of political incompetence. At the heart of this Coalition Government’s failure to retain, and build upon, the public ...
“Members of Parliament don’t work for us, they represent us, an entirely different thing. As with so much that has turned out badly, the re-organising of MPs’ responsibilities began with the Fourth Labour Government. That’s when they began to be treated like employees – public servants – whose diaries had ...
It’s becoming a classic case study for why lobbying deals with politicians need greater scrutiny. Former National Minister Steven Joyce runs a lobbying company with a major client – the University of Waikato. The University desperately wants $300m+ of taxpayer funding to establish a third medical school in New Zealand, ...
Time To Choose: Like it or not, the Kiwis are either going into AUKUS’s “Pillar 2” – or they are going to China.HAD ZHENG HE’S FLEET sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks ...
Henry Ergas writes – When in Randall Jarrell’s Pictures from an Institution, a college president is accused of being a hypocrite, the novel’s narrator retorts that the description is grossly unfair. After all, the man is still far from the stage of moral development at which the charge ...
David Farrar writes – Radio NZ reports: The Education Review Office says too many new teachers feel poorly prepared for their jobs. In a report published on Monday, the review office said 60 percent of the principals it interviewed said their new teachers were not ready. ...
New Zealand’s economic performance and the PM’s vision Michael Reddell writes – When I wrote yesterday morning’s post, highlighting how poorly both New Zealand and its Anglo peer countries have been doing in respect of productivity in recent times (ie, in the case of New ...
Hi all,Firstly - thank you! You guys are awesome. The response I’ve received to last night’s mail has been quite overwhelming. It’s a ghastly day outside, but there are no clouds in here.In case you didn’t read my email and are wondering what on earth I’m talking about you can ...
If there was still any doubt as to who is actually running this government – and it isn’t the buffoon from Botany – then this week’s announcement of a huge spend up on charter schools has settled the matter. While jobs and public services continue to be cut in the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Gaye Taylor As widespread drought raises expectations for a repeat of last year’s ferocious wildfire season, response teams across Canada are grappling with the rapidly changing face of fire in a warming climate. No longer quenched by winter, nor quelled by the ...
Half of Christchurch City Holdings Ltd’s directors and its chair resigned en masse last night in protest at Christchurch City Council’s demand to front-load dividends File Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The chair of Christchurch City Council’s investment company and four of its independent directors resigned in protest last ...
The University of Waikato has reworded an advertisement that begins the tender process for its new $300 million-plus medical school even though the Government still needs to approve it. However, even the reworded ad contains an architect’s visualisations of what the school might look like. ACT leader David Seymour told ...
As a follow-up to the Rings of Power trailer discussion, I thought I needed to add something. There has been some online mockery about the use of the same actor for both the Halbrand and Annatar incarnations of Sauron. The reasoning is that Halbrand with a shave and a new ...
This isn’t quite as dramatic as the title might suggest. I’m not going anywhere, but there is something I wanted to talk to you about.Let’s start with a typical day.Most days I send out a newsletter in the morning. If I’ve written a lot the previous evening it might be ...
Buzz from the Beehive The promise of tax relief loomed large in his considerations when the PM delivered a pre-Budget speech to the Auckland Business Chamber. The job back in Wellington is getting government spending back under control, he said, bandying figures which show that in per capita terms, the ...
Yesterday de facto Prime Minister David Seymour announced that his glove puppet government would be re-introducing charter schools, throwing $150 million at his pet quacks, donors and cronies and introducing an entire new government agency to oversee them (the existing Education Review Office, which actually knows how to review schools, ...
Seeing that, in order to discredit the figures and achieve moral superiority while attempting to deflect attention away from the military assault on Rafa, Israel supporters in NZ have seized on reports that casualty numbers in Gaza may be inflated … Continue reading → ...
David Farrar writes – Newstalk ZB report: The man responsible for a horror hit and run in central Wellington last year was on a suspended licence and was so drunk he later asked police, “Did I kill someone?” Jason Tuitama injured two women when he ran a red ...
Muriel Newman writes – Former US President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation.” The fight for ...
Why Courts should have said Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Karen Chhour Gary Judd writes – In the High Court, Justice Isacs declined to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal to compel Minister for Children, Karen Chhour, to appear before it to be ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The number of voices raising concerns about the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill is rapidly growing. This is especially apparent now that Parliament’s select committee is listening to submissions from the public to evaluate the proposed legislation. Twenty-seven thousand submissions have been made to Parliament ...
An average of 166 New Zealand citizens left the country every day during the March quarter, up 54% from a year ago.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy and housing market is sinking into a longer recession through the winter after a slump in business and consumer confidence in ...
The government has made it abundantly clear they’re addicted to the smell of new asphalt. On Tuesday they introduced a new term to the country’s roading lexicon, the Roads of Regional Significance (RoRS), a little brother for the Roads of National (Party) Significance (RoNS). Driving ahead with Roads of Regional ...
School is outAnd I walk the empty hallwaysI walk aloneAlone as alwaysThere's so many lucky penniesLying on the floorBut where the hell are all the lucky peopleI can't see them any moreYesterday morning, I’d just sent out my newsletter on Tama Potaka, and I was struggling to make the coffee. ...
Hi,I wanted to check in and ask how you’re doing.This is perhaps a selfish act, of attempting to find others feeling a similar way to me — that is to say, a little hopeless at the moment.Misery loves company, that sort of deal.Some context.I wish I could say I got ...
I have hitherto been fairly quiet on the new season of Rings of Power, on the basis that the underwhelming first season did not exactly build excitement – and the rumours were fairly daft. The only real thing of substance to come out has been that they have re-cast Adar ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
“The thing is,” Chris Luxon says, leaning forward to make his point, “this has always been my thing.”“This goes all the way back to the first multinational I worked for. I was saying exactly the same thing back then. The name of our business needs to be more clear; people ...
Buzz from the Beehive It’s been a momentous few days for Children’s Minister Karen Chhour. The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision which blocked a summons order from the Waitangi Tribunal for her. And today she has announced the Government is putting children first by introducing to ...
In 2014 former Australian army lawyer David McBride leaked classified military documents about Australian war crimes to the ABC. Dubbed "The Afghan Files", the documents led to an explosive report on Australian war crimes, the disbanding of an entire SAS unit, and multiple ongoing prosecutions. The journalist who wrote the ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – According to the respected Pew Research Centre, “In seven of eight [European] countries surveyed, the most trusted news outlet asked about is the public news organization in each country”. For example, “in Sweden, an overwhelming majority (90%) say they trust the public broadcaster SVT”. ...
David Farrar writes – Kata MacNamara reports: Details of Tony Blakely’s involvement in the New Zealand Government’s response to the pandemic raise serious questions about the work of the Covid-19 Royal Commission of Inquiry over which he presides. It has long been clear that Blakely, a ...
Chris Trotter writes – Are you a Brahmin or a Merchant? Or, are you merely one of those whose lives are profoundly influenced by the decisions of Brahmins and Merchants? Those are the questions that are currently shaping the politics of New Zealand and the entire West. ...
RNZ reports – It’s supposed to be a haven of healing and spiritual awakening but residents of the Kawai Purapura community say they’ve been hurt and deceived. It’s the successor to the former Centrepoint commune, and has been on the bush block opposite Albany shopping centre since 2008. It ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. Usually we have a video chat to go with this wrap, but were unable to do one this week. We’ll be back next week.Several reports ...
The Transport Minister has set a hard 'fiscal envelope' of $6.54 billion for transport capital spending. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy is settling into a state of suspended animation as the Government’s funding freezes and job cuts chill confidence and combine with stubbornly high interest rates to ...
To be precise, the term “anti- Zionism” refers to (a) criticism of the political movement that created a modern Jewish state on the historical land of Israel, and to (b)the subjugation of Palestinians by the Israeli state. By contrast, the term “anti-Semitism” means bigotry and racism directed at Jewish people, ...
This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Because hurricanes are one of the big-ticket weather disasters that humanity has to face, climate misinformers spend a lot of effort muddying the waters on whether climate change is making hurricanes more damaging. With the official start to the hurricane ...
Yesterday the Mayor released what he calls his “plan to save public transport” which is part of his final proposal for the Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP). This comes following consultation on the draft version that occurred in March which showed, once again, that people want more done on transport, especially ...
And it's a pleasure that I have knownAnd it's a treasure that I have gainedAotearoa’s coalition government is fragile. It’s held together by the obsequious sycophancy of Christopher Luxon, who willingly contorts his party into the fringe positions of his junior coalition partners and is unwilling to contradict them. The ...
The Select Committee hearing submissions on the fast-track consenting legislation is starting to become a beat-up of regional councils. The inflexibility and slow workings of the Councils were prominent in two submissions yesterday. One, from the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association, simply said that the Waikato Regional Council’s planning decisions were ...
Back in April, the High Court surprised everyone by ruling that Ministers are above the law, at least as far as the Waitangi Tribunal is concerned. The reason for this ruling was "comity" - the idea that the different branches of government shouldn't interfere with each other's functions. Which makes ...
Buzz from the BeehiveTolling was mentioned when Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the government was re-introducing the Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme, with 15 “crucial” projects to support economic growth and regional development across New Zealand. All RoNS would be four-laned, grade-separated highways, and all funding, financing, and ...
or the past 14 years, ever since the Spanish government cheated on an autonomy deal, Catalonia has reliably given pro-independence parties a majority of seats in their regional parliament. But now that seems to be over. Catalans went to the polls yesterday, and stripped the Catalan parties of their majority. ...
David Farrar writes – Radio NZ report: Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins said the Electoral Commission should make sure the system ran smoothly and “taking away the right of thousands of people to vote” was not the answer. “Thousands of people enroled and voted on the day. If ...
The Government’s introduction of legislation that would enable landlords to end tenancies with no reason marks a dark day for the 1.4 million people who rent their home in Aotearoa. ...
The Minister for Mental Health has found the Suicide Prevention Office and mental health support for 111 calls slipping through his fingers, says Labour spokesperson for Mental Health Ingrid Leary. ...
Today’s justification from the Minister for Children for scrapping protections for our tamariki was either a case of ignorance or deliberate deception. ...
The Green Party says the Government’s misguided policy on gangs will fail, following the announcement of the establishment of a national gang unit and district gang disruption units to target gang activities. ...
“With Police pay negotiations still unresolved after six months in Government, Mark Mitchell has today rolled the Commissioner out for a rebrand of their approach to gang crime,” Labour police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said. ...
The Government bringing back 50 charter schools will not increase achievement and is a distraction from the core mission of the education system, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Te Pāti Māori is showing extreme concern over the Environment Select Committees adoption of a lucky dip draw to determine hearings for the Fast Track Approvals bill. Of the 27,000 submissions, 2,900 requested to present. All organisations will be heard; however, the remaining 2,350 submitters will be subject to a ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced that the Government will make it easier for lines firms to take action to remove vegetation from obstructing local powerlines. The change will ensure greater security of electricity supply in local communities, particularly during severe weather events. “Trees or parts of trees falling on ...
Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani were the top winners at this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy awards recognising the best in Māori dairy farming. Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced the winners and congratulated runners-up, Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board, at an awards celebration also attended by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister ...
"On the 27th of March, I sought assurances from the Chief Executive, Department of Internal Affairs, that the Department’s correct processes and policies had been followed in regards to a passport application which received media attention,” says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden. “I raised my concerns after being ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges, to replace Judges who have recently retired. Peter James Davey of Auckland has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction to be based at Whangarei. Mr Davey initially started work as a law clerk/solicitor with ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) to put ideology to the side and focus on students’ learning, in reaction to the union holding paid teacher meetings across New Zealand about charter schools. “The PPTA is disrupting schools up and down the ...
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...
Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...
New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019. “It is my pleasure ...
New Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...
A year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says. “This ...
Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
Today’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners. “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...
Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
“The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues Ladies and Gentlemen, Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office. “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
Arawata Shane Arawata Shane had wandered long In the wild tangled hills of the West Coast. He came to a stop on the mighty range And looked down at the wide river flats. He breathed in the clean air, And he took in the shadows playing across The face of ...
SPECIAL REPORT:Islands Business in Suva Today is the 24th anniversary of renegade and failed businessman George Speight’s coup in 2000 Fiji. The elected coalition government headed by Mahendra Chaudhry, the first and only Indo-Fijian prime minister of Fiji, was held hostage at gunpoint for 56 days in the country’s ...
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You can be proud of your PM – Angela Merkel
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12034480
Let me see… How can the Herald spin that…
Aha!
“LEADER OF EX-NAZI NATION DEMANDS NZ PRESS PRINT STORY ON FRONT PAGE – ARDERN SAYS NOTHING!”
Pretty patronising to be fair
“Ms Merkel was asked about how the meeting had gone, which Ms Ardern translated.
“They want to know if you found me likeable”.
“Time flew and it was nice,” Ms Merkel replied.
“It was very interesting and fun. So you can be proud of your Prime Minister. If you want to write this down for the New Zealand press. This will be the headline in the morning papers I trust.”
Yep, like a dog wanting a pat, panting for a trade agreement and agreeing to tow the line of foreign policy.
Since Helen Clark, NZ has lost a lot of credibility under John Key and I’m not sure questions like that, send the right message! Helen Clark could at least negotiate an agreement rather than signing anything away in NZ after a golf game and a photo op.
Oh well, at least the EU have some standards in their trade agreements not the race to the gutter under the US ones.
Hey, it’s not like this was the only question that was asked and answered. And Ardern might not have said what you’d like her to about the attack on Syria, but she also hasn’t said what was expected or wanted by the attackers and their supporters.
So far Ardern’s trip to Europe seems to be going very well. She’s laying the basis for a trade agreement that NZ has wanted for a long time, and she’s made it clear that any agreement would include clauses on workers’ rights, environmental protection and climate change. That seems like pretty good news to me.
‘This will be the headline in the morning papers I trust.’
Merky does sarky.
that is a bit harsh your translation.
J.A: they want to know if you found me likeable.
Mutti der Nation : Ach so 🙂 …. very german, like oh dear or my oh my, then Merkel’s answer.
“Does that not show that we go along well that it was ‘wunderbar’, the time flew (the actual word used is ‘verflossen’ – more like drowned away – and we had a good meeting, it was highly interesting. It was ‘fun’ – es hat spass gemacht, it was highly enjoyable.
And you can be proud of your Prime Minister(in) – she used the female version – if you want to write that for the NZ press. That will surely be the headline tomorrow.
it is often said that us germans are really good with light bulbs but have a hard time with humor.
I sense the same can be said of certain Kiwis that have to find fault for faults sake.
Mrs. Merkel – die Mutter der Nation – congratulated NZ to Jacinda Ardern and at the same time complemented Jacinda Ardern. Now we might disagree with the politics and policies coming from the Labour Government, but i think we can agree that Mrs. Merkel is a seasoned politician, head of state and something akin to a role model for a young women like Jacinda Ardern who has a rank that few women on this planet have. And in this case the old women – Mutti – made a compliment to put the young women at ease and i guess to make her feel welcome. And she did it in a very german way. German jokes are not easily translated and the joke lies in this ,……Did we no show how well we went along? Is the highlight of german joking.
I haven’t seen Angela Merkel look so animated as she did with Jacinda Ardern. They obviously hit it off.
Merkel is a powerful lady . Very good sign for NZ.
Edit: @ savenz.
From what I could tell it was the journos who were asking Merkel about whether Jacinda was likeable. Jacinda was merely clarifying the question for Merkel. There’s no reason to read anything more into it than that.
@ Anne, No I agree it was the journalists asking the question, but maybe Jacinda didn’t need to translate it… Would Helen Clark have asked Merkle if she was likeable?
I think Jacinda’s been great for Labour and NZ, but worried that she’s falling into the same traps that has kept Labour unpopular and the globalist strategy escalated by John Key but now voter’s are now seeing the effects of and not exactly happy about them aka congestion, pollution, low wages, mouldy hospitals etc. They turned to a new government for a reason, they want change. Not more of the same.
And also agree that Germany and NZ being friends (whatever that means) is a good thing. But also think that too many of the world leaders are so busy meeting and greeting each other, they lose touch, bad and unfair things start happening domestically but they don’t have the time to concentrate on that, and then elections happen and they are surprised at the results when a much more right wing government is elected by the people, who surprise surprise use ‘foreign warfare’ to keep the domestic news out of the headlines (which only makes it invisible not solving the problem).
One day we will wake up and the power balance that had been towards democracy is over, because those once powerful countries are now internal cluster fucks that don’t function anymore because the leaders were figure heads having dinners and photo opportunities while a cohesive and robust and well thought out strategy was absent and their transport doesn’t work, their health doesn’t work, their jobs are poorly paid and people are not happy with government’s priorities.
…also think that too many of the world leaders are so busy meeting and greeting each other, they lose touch,…
It does seem like that sometimes but its what the media like to report on because it’s sexier [in coverage terms] than the serious side of running a country. I think the leaders are more than capable of doing both.
It’s not fake news though Anne, it really is happening…
Only a few days ago “Auckland Mayor Phil Goff leaves this weekend for Hong Kong, a springboard into the mainland China market.”
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/04/phil-goff-off-to-hong-kong.html
Now he’s back, a quick visit into Middlemore to use the health system and then fronting a budget demanding more money from ratepayers that he seems to have little interest in more like the offshore bigger businesses he seems to have more in common with, and no doubt back off somewhere else on an all expenses paid trip.
Meanwhile AD below seems not so much interested in Phil’s recovery but more that he’s well enough to be the ‘Labour’ figure head in the budget that Auckland rate payers will be forced to pay for.
That’s the society we have become.
As for Jacinda, not sure but was it the Pacific she’s just been in, a meeting with the queen, Merkel, next Chogm and god knows what after that.
You used to have a foreign minister that did all that and the PM kept an eye on the homefront and only did very few selected overseas visits.
Clarky would have told Merky she was likeable.
Clark would have left the journalist asking the question with a flea in his/her ear.
Actually, we can not be proud of our PM.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/103109334/new-zealand-accepts-reasoning-behind-usled-strike-on-syria
Yep, I was surprised also Merkle seemed ok with the air strikes too…
And this from two days ago:
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/world/fascination-nzs-prime-minister-continues-far-home-jacinda-mania-comes-europe-joy-reid
Nat sycophant Audrey Young reckons the govt are scared of Soimon Bridges: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12034427
I do wonder who the Herald thinks will actually pay for that drivel when it goes behind a premium pay wall. Can’t come soon enough, IMHO.
I think they have serious doubts that anyone will which is why they keep putting it off.
I keep wondering if they get enough clicks to warrant keeping the place going.
Yep – would be good to see its demise and death if it was foolish enough to implement a paywall.
I quite like the idea of Roughan and OSullivan having to go out and literally scrub the toilets of the rich to make a crust – rather than just metaphorically, as they do now.
+1
Agree 97%. Why 97%? Because there are a couple of Herald journalists I do still have respect for and want to read *- David Fisher, Matt Nippert, and Kirsty Johnston.
Oh – and Rachel Stewart and Lizzy Marvelly.
So make that 95%.
* But not enough to pay.
The thing is, you can’t ask people to pay for deliberately offensive clickbait “opinion” that is sourced from radio shock jocks and “quality analysis” content that is going to be largely an utterly predictable diet of boilerplate horse race political journalism, pro-business orthodoxy and facile common sense presented as great insight.
You need to bite the bullet and pay for the creation of content people will want to pay for before you set up a paywall.
Exactly but they seem to (half) believe that there is a market for that, which there probably is amongst a certain sector. But I say “half” because they keep talking about this paywall, but have not yet had the guts to test it.
‘Emissaries from the Beehive were dispatched to the Press Gallery to reinforce the point that not only that the gap between Ardern and Bridges 27 points, but that former leader Bill English had done way better against Ardern at the start of this year.
Not only that, they had further ammo targeting Bridges, who took over from English almost eight weeks ago: Bridges’ debut rating of 10 per cent compared poorly to John Key’s first rating as National Party leader at 27 per cent in 2006, and Jacinda Ardern’s first rating as Labour leader in at 26 per cent in 2017.
Labour’s home-grown leadership losers were not spared from the campaign to reinforce the apparently hopeless case of Simon Bridges – he had done even worse on debut than David Cunliffe, David Shearer and Andrew Little – historic data helpfully produced by Labour showed.
Acting Prime Minister Kelvin Davis was similarly briefed for his media messaging on Tuesday – comparing Bridges’ debut to Ardern’s.
Davis went more personal, saying Bridges own ego would have placed him a lot higher than 10 per cent. Bridges should be disappointed and embarrassed, Davis told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking.’
Nope, can’t think of any reason the Herald might come to that conclusion but in my opinion a government should always try to take out the opposition leader
Goff, Cunliffe, Shearer and Little were all targeted by National (mind you they had a lot of help from Labour in that regards) so Labour trying to discredit Bridges is only natural
I had a look at how Clark and Key rated as preferred PM at the same stage in their premierships.
Clark was at 48%. Key was at 55%.
Ardern’s 37% looks rather puny doesn’t it?
As far as Kelvin Davis’ opinion goes I think he would feature in the “who” category if anyone was asked about his ranking.
I was surprised to find he was still around. Is he really the best that the Labour Party can manage as their deputy? Still he makes Curran look smart by comparison.
” Is he really the best that the Labour Party can manage as their deputy? ”
Best or most compliant…
Davis along with Willie Jackson was an important strategist in planning the demise of the Maori Party. Which was the 2nd most important factor (after Arderns likeability) in the defeat of National. So it’s very pleasing (poetic justice even) that someone whose abilities you despise is one of the main causes of your dismal whining and misplaced grief.
These two had been leaders of their respective parties for considerably longer, and both led governments that were more clearly dominated by one central party. Ardern is doing very well as leader.
alwyn
________________________________________________________________________________________________
(1) Key was on 51% … not 55%
(2) Ardern’s trajectory as Preferred PM has largely mirrored Clark’s.
Eg in the late Feb 2000 polls, Clark rated 36% (TV3 CM Research) and 43% (One News Colmar Brunton) as Preferred PM … while in the Jan-Feb 2018 polls, Ardern scored 38% (Newshub Reid Research). and 41% (One News Colmar Brunton).
It’s true that Clark then hit 48% in the Colmar Brunton … but you don’t mention the little fact that this represented her absolute apex of popularity during her first two years as PM … and that she immediately began a steep decline … mid 30s before the middle of 2000, down around 30% in the second half of the year.
(3) We’ve had 14 Prime Ministers since regular polling commenced in 1969: and Ardern is already out-rating 10 of her 13 immediate predecessors. Only Muldoon, Clark and Key were more popular (and with Muldoon, this was only in the relatively brief period when he reached his apex … he was rarely above early 30s most of the time).
(4) Bridges’ début is surprisingly poor … even dear old Bill English enjoyed a higher initial Preferred PM rating in 2001, before going on to take the Nats to that historic defeat in 02.
I chose the nearest Colmar/Brunton numbers that were available to the time period corresponding to this poll.
What happened to Clark after that date is irrelevant. How can we possibly know what will happen to Ardern’s numbers in the future? If you can tell me please apply your skill to telling me what the Lotto numbers for Saturday are.
I’ll take your word for Key being on 51%, Graphical results were readily available but finding tabular results with exact dates was surprisingly hard.
I’m surprised Davis is out of witness protection.
Probably just reading from a script 🙂
Yes, just like half the Labour caucus! Although Twyford went off script this week talking about PPP’s! He’ll no doubt get a phone call from someone.
in 2.2, you might need to be clearer about what you are quoting from Audrey’s fair hand and which words are yours.
It’s not coincidence it’s hard to tell the authors words from a hard right political poster eh
How come there is no longer a place for comments to opinion pieces any more?
lol that photo.
The story (and video) behind the photo.
Steve Braunias challenged Bridges to table tennis after Bridges became Nat Leader. (Braunias did a series of these matches last year including one match with Ardern before the election and another after,)
The result? Read/watch to find out.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12020864
The story (and video) behind the photo.
Steve Braunias challenged Bridges to table tennis after Bridges became Nat Leader. (Braunias did a series of these matches last year including one match with Ardern before the election and another after,)
The result? Read/watch to find out.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12020864
Sorry – system did not provide Edit time on either to allow me to delete one as a duplicate.
…..slimein britches ?
Sure hope Mayor Phil Goff recovers quickly in hospital with the angioplasty.
This is the first time since WW2 that Auckland and central government budgets (+fuel tax) have been aligned, and also their transport and housing strategies have been aligned.
Goff has got to be there to land this LTP budget.
Patrick Gower: EQC blowout “just like leaky homes”
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/04/patrick-gower-eqc-blowout-just-like-leaky-homes.html
I heard that after the Earthquake many tradies went down to Christchurch to get work, but it was taking so long for the insurance ‘assessments’ to take place that they could not afford to stay down there ‘waiting and waiting’ for the insurance to sign off so they could start. After months and months of delays they went back home.
Then there was the big ‘immigration’ drive a year later with CHCH being the buzz word, that segued into filling up Auckland with people to pushing up house prices to make people feel rich and get the Natz reelected with the fantasy ‘rockstar economy’.
The whole Chch rebuild was a clusterfuck micromanaged by the National government and it put local tradies out of business while creating the events leading to the complete screw up that Auckland has become today with congestion, mouldy hospitals and more taxes (for those that live here of course, don’t want to tax tourists or non residents!) while now the remedial work in CHCH is not up to standard and has to be re done.
Note to government – maybe actually make industry train tradies who live in NZ in the community they work in and can actually be accountable – likewise our insurance companies who use delay to reduce the payments. Having 10 subcontractors and assessors does not generally produce a quality result because a build is only as good as the weakest link.
Some people still do not have their house rebuilt after 7 years!
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/04/christchurch-man-goes-on-hunger-strike-over-insurance-claim.html
Not to bad a comparison from Panic pants Paddy there as leaky homes is 100% nationals also.
That EQC story needs to be explained in terms relative to Auckland latte prices, how many tunnels, yachting villages or light rail networks it equates to in order to matter politically unfortunately.
It should result in Gerry’s enormous head on a platter but won’t.
Our MSM’s “gotcha” style obsession with demanding the government tow the line on any and all actions taken by the USA and it’s incessant attempts to foot trip the government is doing my head in.
These dumb fucks in the media whined like little bitches when National party ministers refused anything but the most patsy of interviews and the National government did everything in it’s power to hide or not collect any data that the media could use to trip them up. But seeing how the MSM behaves with ministers who turn up and minister who release information, who in their right mind would blame Labour if they decided to adopt the same attitude to the media as National did?
I mean, who the fuck made the NZ MSM guardians of a knee jerk rightwing establishment foreign policy?
Easy answer to your last question: foreign/corporate globalist owners!
Their owners.
The global financial industry.
lol You need your own renegade radio show, quality stuff.
Going to a funeral today for a work colleague who was one of the pedestrians killed (>a href=”https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2018/04/18/guest-post-aucklands-road-safety-crisis/#pq=OkcawK”>as mentioned in this GreaterAuckland Post today) on Auckland’s roads last week.
Many in my work place were in shock last week at the news. And very traumatic for the family.
The post says:
My condolences to you and your work colleagues and the family/whanau, Carolyn Nth.
My internet security or something would not let me into the greater auckland site but I had noticed the media reports of the obviously lovely woman/partner/mother who was killed on the North Shore and presume this was your work colleague; and of the two pedestrians killed in Papatoetoe at the weekend. So sad for these lives to be cut short in an instance by driver speed/carelessness.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/103126206/pedestrian-killed-on-aucklands-north-shore-was-56yearold-mother-of-one
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/103112551/Two-pedestrians-dead-in-Papatoetoe-Auckland
This article from last August caught my eye as it also provides the horrifying statistic that pedestrian deaths increased last year by 75%. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11909394
But today for you is focusing on your colleague and her life. Kia kaha.
Thanks, veuto.
It was a very well attended funeral. The main church area was full with people standing at the back and the side, and others standing outside in the lobby. Our colleague had an enthusiasm for life, her family, her job (a vocation for her) and community service. She touched many lives, and their were many tributes celebrating the various areas of a very full life.
But the enthusiasm for life was still there when she died way before her time. She had much more to contribute.
So, a sad day.
Lots of respect and hugs to you, and the whanau, CN. Again , thinking of you and thanks for coming back to me – I appreciate it. Sleep well. Again, kia kaha.
I am not Maori but I am a NZer/pakeha (refuse to call myself a European etc; genes – Glaswegian meets true Cockney part-Jew) and I love and respect this country and its whakapapa and kaupapa beyond all else.
PS, I forgot to mention Female – and Leo. LOL.
Good article by Mike Lee on the Auckland airport screw up, it’s pretty obvious to everyone that there should be a heavy rail line and apparently quicker and cheaper but as usual AT have their own ideas and analysis….
“However these carefully laid plans, as so often happens (Auckland has a history of this), were overturned by AT bureaucrats claiming a tram travelling from the CBD to the airport via Dominion Road despite stopping at 20 tram stops and numerous intersections while keeping to a 50 kph speed limit would get to the airport within one minute of an electric train travelling up to 110 kph. In late 2016 following the election of Phil Goff, the favoured Onehunga – Mangere rail corridor was deliberately blocked by AT when it demolished the Neilson Street overbridge immediately to the south of the Onehunga train station, placing the road straight across the rail corridor.”
In short a big reason that Auckland is such a screw up, is Auckland Transport who have been enabled to exist in their own peculiar silo that delivers an appalling service and appalling ideas! They can’t even organise a well thought through cycle land in Westmere for Pete’s sake, let alone a train!
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/04/15/guest-blog-mike-lee-the-march-of-folly-continues-labour-and-the-greens-fall-into-lock-step-the-airport-rail-debacle/
Mike Lee hasn’t got a clue. For starters, if you could me in the direction of any AT train that goes 110km/h I’d be startled.
Perhaps you need to acquaint yourself with some of the stuff on greaterauckland about this, for example:
https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2017/04/03/what-about-airport-heavy-rail-from-puhinui/
and
https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2016/06/28/light-rail-preferred-to-airport/
Sanctuary, if you could point me to a well functioning train under AT I’d be startled too. But that’s not the point.
As for greater Auckland, it’s a blog that got taken over by AT and council money.
It’s just another pretence that there are independent voices out there.
Let’s see evidence to support your claim about Greater Auckland.
Pretty sure it was found that Patrick Reynold’s was paid $41,000 for art purchased by Auckland Transport who was a prominent blogger on the site supporting the councils views and also wanted an unpaid seat at the AT board that Phil Goff supported while taking off official and democratically elected council representation of the AT board.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11736212
(could the clusterfuck get any weirder)
Reynolds was paid that over many years in his own right as a professional photographer. Mayor Goff decided to remove Councillors from sitting on both Council and CCO Boards to clarify accountability and he got enough support from Councillors to do that.
Nothing to do with Greater Auckland in either case.
Most people would think a $41k payments is not really independent thinking or is considered a conflict of interest. Of course now post Key, anything goes.
You said “As for greater Auckland, it’s a blog that got taken over by AT and council money.”
Still not hearing evidence. Are you saying that paying one member of a collective for completely separate work over a period of many years is enough to persuade that whole group of people to take a particular editorial angle?
Not everyone in this world is a scoundrel and most have a higher price than you seem to expect.
most have a higher price than you seem to expect… not in our low wage economy, most officials seem to be keen to sell us out for a decent meal and a plane ticket overseas, of course the $41k is the only payment that people have noticed… but I’d say it’s not so much payment it’s the insidious nature of keeping any different opinion from being voiced about transport that concerns me the most about AT and the council.
It’s a few people orchestrating and influencing an agenda, that if you haven’t noticed has NOT delivered competent transport outcomes in this city.
The evidence is before you, our transport is expensive and doesn’t work well. So anyone who pretends they have done a good job and defend them and wants more of the same problems, are just enablers who are actually part of the problem.
“it’s the insidious nature of keeping any different opinion from being voiced about transport that concerns me the most about AT and the council. “
Having heard Reynolds and Matt L speak, I have the same concerns. Reynolds proudly stated that they take care to personally frame issues to ensure that all questions lead to their conclusions. Not to allow open discussion. If you frame the problem in a specific way, only discuss limited options, then it is very difficult for other voices or perspectives to be heard.
With good intent, the focus of GA is on problems that exist within their knowledge or areas of interest, which limits the even-handedness of the site in terms of giving voice or priorities to the many areas that they don’t cover. GA also has gained a large following, and have established a working relationship with AT and Council that gives them a significant influence. One that is not tempered by deliberately balancing their views with that of other areas, or demographics.
It is not that GA is bad. It is that the limitations of using this as the primary resource for all things transport in Auckland, should be recognised and countered for.
@Thanks Molly.
There seems to be a basic lack of understanding that having different ideas in the boardroom or around the table on issues is actually valuable to solve problems.
But in the council people like Mike Lee are undermined because they question the official conclusions.
Often indépendant thinkers are not liked and ridiculed by the status quo.
The guy (John Houbolt) that had the idea of the technology to get US to the moon was undermined by NASA and thought to be a trouble maker.
The guy (Alan Turing) that helped win the 2nd world war by inventing the enigma machine was prosecuted by the UK government for being gay.
There are lots of people around who have different ideas, and to advance you need to have some sort of openness to listen.
The problem in Auckland, is that nobody will listen to any difference of opinion or range of ideas and actively try to attack anyone who voices alternatives even if they are a democratically elected councillor (who Spinoff among other’s actively tried to eradicate in the elections).
Mike Lee may not be perfect, but at least he’s not a clone and Auckland would have been better off with him and Christine Fletcher on the board. That’s left and right satisfied for a start.
Yeah, your ‘pretty sure’ is proof that you have NFI WTF you’re talking about.
Funny how all Mike Lee’s preferences are from the age of steam – what a true boilermaker he is.
Mike Lee is not arguing against light rail to the airport. He is arguing for the heavy rail link from Puhinui first. That’s all that it amounts to: prioritisation.
Design from Onehunga to the airport has been underway for years, and included the specific widening of the bridge and widening of George Bolt Memorial. The corridor is ready to go.
He doesn’t have the ability to understand that some light rail vehicles can actually go direct to routes, while others do all stops – just like buses do.
There are a series of announcements from Phil Twyford coming up in which works for both light rail to the airport and light rail up SH16 will be accelerated. It’s going to be as big a deal for Auckland as Sir John Allum agreeing to the motorway system in the 1950s.
There will also be announcements in the future about value capture.
Mike needs to stop quibbling, accept that Auckland and Wellington are in alignment for the first time ever, and let the Minister get on with it.
We hear the talk AD, pay the cash, but still no public transport and more people come. A bit like building all these affordable houses, we all hear how it was gonna happen, now not so much.
Alignment does not bring public transport. All they have aligned to do, is bleed more money out of people. The transport we are still waiting for.
Pop on up to Auckland.
City Rail Link is under construction now.
Bus routes have been completely redesigned.
Bus priority lanes continue to be rolled out.
Cycling has gone through the roof.
The most recent results from a decade of rebuilding Auckland’s transport are here:
https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2018/04/17/maddest-march-yet/
under construction.. your comic touches continue to inspire. Maybe a job telling the homeless that their houses are on their way in a decade or two and the cheque is in the mail from Fletchers…
Light rail along Dominion Rd and over the Mangere Bridge will be an absolute cock up the place is at a stand still even now ?
On Dominion Road, wait until they strip out every single parking space.
And wait until they take out all the buses, replacing them with light rail.
There’s plenty of space in that corridor to be played with.
On Mangere, the lanes are already provided for in the existing corridor.
One exception to that being the bridge over the Manukau. There’s more detail on GreaterAuckland posts about light rail. The design and feasibility is reasonably advanced, and is now being led within NZTA.
The design and feasibility is reasonably advanced… oh I love how paper is now the new transport to yee hah about! Close your eyes and smell the design and feasibility study commuters! Bet it works a treat if you live in Wellington.
I love this idea of 40 million passengers getting from Auckland airport via tram, who would have thought up this brilliant plan! sarcasm.
Must be the same person that decided that a family of 4 pay $34 to go 14km on the bus and take approximately 8 times longer than by car aka 1.5 hours or not having a public transport system of any description in many parts of the super city while taking 1.34m per year in Auckland rates for their efforts!
How well are the working people of Onehunga and Mangere and Favona served for public transport frequency compared to the citizens of New Lynn and Otahuhu and Panmure?
GreaterAuckland has done a number of posts on precisely this issue and why light rail is superior.
This is the plan that’s coming.
you should be a comedian AD,
“This is the plan that’s coming”
You have absolutely no idea about public transport in Auckland and should stop opening your keyboard about it when your ignorance is so stark.
Take an hour or two and you can learn about the pt programmes through both http://www.at.govt.nz and http://www.greaterauckland.org.nz
savenz’s a fucking expert on everything, don’t ya know.
Well I do know the difference between a piece of paper and an actual bus/train/ferry to catch and I can read a rates bill to work out where the majority of Auckland Transport funding comes from. For 30 years we hear this stuff about our amazing public transport on it’s way… still waiting.
Genuine question. Just how ‘great’ do they see ‘Greater Auckland’?
Great enough to understand that it is the interbational gateway to most of the North Island?
Why don’t you pop over and ask them – their dialogue is pretty open when you join in.
And don’t think the ferry services will save us!
Northcote Point ferry the most cancelled public transport service in Auckland
https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-shore-times/98294411/northcote-point-ferry-the-most-cancelled-service-in-auckland
We hear little about Jaish-al-Islam, accused of using gas in Aleppo against Kurds in 2016
http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2018/04/how-on-earth-would-killing-more-people-rescue-syria.html …
They had largely lost the area before allegations were made of use of toxic substances.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Da2B7GCWkAIeSuK.jpg
https://twitter.com/Osman_Marwa1/status/985885310109343745
Imagine if the Democrats had taken this guy in 2000,
instead of selecting dull Al and warmonger Joe….
http://www.ontheissues.org/celeb/Ralph_Nader_Education.htm
Very wise words from Donna Kerridge about Maori health – and the health of all kiwis. I don’t know anywhere near enough about Rongoa Maori but what I do know is that it makes a lot more sense than the over-prescription of drugs and surgery.
Just thought this article needed to be read by many and couldn’t think of where else to share it. Perhaps I should say “where better to share it.”
https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/17-04-2018/rongoa-maori-completes-the-health-picture/
Q.
What’s the difference between the dawn raids in the ’70’s and the ‘visits’ of 2017 & 18?
Why, in your opinion, are over-stayers not criminals?
I’m not suggesting they aren’t @ Draco.
It’s more to do with the manner in which people are treated, whatever their circumstance
Then how are you suggesting that police/immigration find them?
You still don’t get it do you! When I get near a better device, we’ll have a discussion. Right now I’m witnessing something like it’s a macho man Julie Christie reality TV show.
Hopefully I’ll be able to ask you what is the best way of reducing immigrant numbers.
Is it by penalising the perpetrators of various shit education scams and work schemes….or is it better to penalise their victims?
Then of course there’s the whole issue of launderd big money and Thiel-like bolt holes – all part of the cistern that needs a bloody big flush.
Actually @Draco, you’re actually quite the binary-thinking authoritarian the more I see SOME of your comments. For me, quite a disappointment. Immediately I posed the Q above, you’ve lept to asking another of me.
I’m likely to disingage before too long in the hope others might have a go at answering without baggage.
Btw….I know you’re utterly gorgeous
The unintended consequences when you play round with another’s language and use it to your own advantage.
“‘The name of a beer produced on Waiheke Island is coming under pressure for its links to a 19th-century Ngapuhi chief.
Ngapuhi elder David Rankin told Newstalk ZB that Heke beer, produced by Waiheke Brewing Company, took the name of his ancestor Hone Heke.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12034700
Not Jake?
Most Maoris in NZ won’t drink it as Hone Heke and Hongi Ika dealt to most tribes in NZ ?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12033642
Transport Minister Phil Twyford said today the Government was “open for business” for private investors for transport, urban development and housing.
“When we’re talking about light rail and rapid transit my expectation is that it’s likely that some of those big projects will be done in collaboration with private sector through PPP (public private partnership) models.”
Yes….this is how it begins Phil….yesss….good, very good, its always difficult the first time but then it becomes so much easier…and theres so many more projects that need help…
http://fark.wikia.com/wiki/File:113_mr_burns_excellent.jpg
That must be why the UK has abandoned PPP model for the tubes after massive problems and costs when it tried them.
No wonder we need the fuel tax, someones got to prop up offshore private enterprise with a profit margin and as many people on the teat as possible.
Well thats Labour for you 🙂
John Key and the Hobbit’s Super City has been a raging success it has even brought traffic to a stand still.
Somehow I don’t think either of these two clowns understood the words “town planning” ?
Maybe it was ‘clown planning’ in their memo.
This didn’t take long.
https://twitter.com/BasedMonitored/status/986336139631058944
Trump scandals just get funnier by the moment.
Indeed.
/
https://twitter.com/PooleLoe/status/986330682250031105
Oh Joe, trust you to find
a) one which isn’t funny, and
b) bears such a poor resemblance to the sketch
Meanwhile, on with the shit that actually delivers:
https://twitter.com/justinjm1/status/986269435005669376
https://twitter.com/MissingLinks62/status/986335279500886016
https://twitter.com/Standbye/status/986273999255719936
And the most convincing of all:
https://twitter.com/pepe_kekenstein/status/986350127374729216
EDIT: Oh, and this. Yes.
https://twitter.com/ComfortablySmug/status/986361237285023745
Some of the wingnuts are a little exercised.
.
Establishment of IGIS Reference Group
16/04/2018 2:00pm
The Inspector-General has today announced the establishment of a Reference Group. The Group brings together a broad range of individuals and groups, all of whom have specific expertise and experience that in one way or another touches on the work of the Inspector-General’s office. The first meeting of the Reference Group was held last week in Wellington.
[…]
The members of the Inspector-General’s Reference Group are:
Ben Creet – Issues Manager, Internet NZ
Professor Rouben Azizian – Director, Centre for Defence and Security Studies, Massey University
Dr Nicole Moreham – Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington
Dr Paul Buchanan – Director, 36th Parallel Assessments
David Fisher – Journalist, New Zealand Herald
John Ip – Senior Lecturer, Assistant Dean (Academic), Faculty of Law, University of Auckland
Nicky Hager – Journalist, Author
Thomas Beagle – Chairperson, NZ Council for Civil Liberties
Treasa Dunworth – Associate Professor, Public International Law, University of Auckland
Suzanne Snively – Chair, Transparency International
Deborah Manning – Barrister
http://www.igis.govt.nz/media-releases/announcements/establishment-of-igis-reference-group/
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/355334/minister-surprised-journalist-included-in-reference-group
“I would have thought there is a question about a journalist complying with their ethics in doing so, but that’s a judgement call in the end that they have to make.”
Yup no conflicts of interest there at all
Poachers and gamekeepers.
Well I suppose if anyone’s going to know about dodgy spy business it’ll be this guy
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/201839688/professor-rouben-azizian
Quick, someone recruit him, put him on the list, and put him on the foreign affairs, defence and trade parliamentary select committee.
I guess Nicky Hager can offer advice on who best to use in regards to hacking emails 🙂
As you can offer advice on casting unwarranted aspersions.
I guess that explains Fat Cambo’s absence chucky.
The Am Show jerry brown is ———- they did not have to bale out bills m8 south Canterbury finance to the tune of $2 billion they just had the obligation to fix those poor people houses in Christ Church right and properly .
T J Perenara is right in what he has tweeted people with high profiles have to realize that there words can hurt affect a lot of good people and Pacific and Maori people are the most vulnerable .
We would not have those problems in Christ Church if we built our society using the principals of sustainability mokopunas at the forefront of our plan and those houses would never have been built on old swamp land the filters of out enviroment .or built on some hills like in Tauranga some places should be left to mother nature and enhanced to help mother nature . Duncan we need to work with Papatuanuku .
OUR new leader is doing a fine job on her trip to Europe she is wooing them all Ka pai
Ka kite ano P.S Mark and Amanda it good to see Mark thinking about his mokopunas I got a few Amanda alot of times you give your children advice and they don’t take it you just have to wait and say I told you so Mark S congratulations to you for your mokopunas Mark you have to pay Google to wipe your internet history
Newshub well there you go Andrew Little has achieved the first step in the pike river coal mine debacle left behind by shonkys government the whano will be much happier .
I think the noodle should keep out to the Gay peoples debacle . You will work out who I am referring to. Michael Jones has it right he is intelligent and humane not like some people.
I use Emojes Eco Maori favorite is the smiley face with the Halo my mokopunas loved the move Emojes will become the universal written language culture can read .
Penny Bright is a Mana Wahine I support her cause for transparency of all public agency’s I hope she does not have cancer. P.S the sandflys keep trying to get people to tell me false stories lies I pick up there lies within a couple of minutes lol. Ana to kai Ka kite ano
The Crowd Goes Wild Mulls Rodger is going to look hard case in a tutu when he dances in Danceing with the Stars I say he will be a bit like me no swing my childern and wife laugh there asses off when I have had a couple of refreshments and try to dance .
Brad Shields is right he has to look after his and his familys future first and for-most
as know one else will Just like James Lowe he looks happy in Leinster. Leinster my son in laws fathers favorite soccer team.
James what happened you pulled a calf mussel cut it out those ——- moves A you will have to retire those jandals and wear some flash shoes lol
Ka kite ano