Key takes the election result as a mandate for another term of it as the sheeple say so assisted by a labour party with past their use by dates MPs and strategists
I saw an MP had posted on facebook a photo of the Labour caucus class of 2015 on the steps of parliament yesterday. Plenty of 50 something’s shades of grey. It was depressing some of the same old faces still clipping the ticket. Others must have been thinking the same as there were few likes.
By the way where is Nicky Hager these days? Haven’t heard anything of him for a while!
Is he under house arrest?
Been gagged?
Prevented from speaking publicly?
Any news about the outcome of police removing his personal effects from his home to be investigated?
We need a journalist of Hager’s intelligence, calibre and integrity to investigate John Key’s involvement re the time frame of having been informed of the Mike Sabin affair!
Another point is it’s interesting that today, msm (Fairfax and NZH) is carrying the story about Andrew Little’s past “non payment” of an invoice, (after it was raised in Parliament yesterday by the loathsome Steven Joyce), focusing on the time frame of the actual payment (yesterday)!
So I ask, where is msm focus on slimy PM Key and his grubby ministers, digging deep about when they first became aware of the Sabin investigation?
Pity more media enthusiasm and attention isn’t focused on this issue, where it should be.
The media give corporate shills like Mary Beard a voice, not real journalists like Hager publicity.
Remember they want more for themselves and less for the rest of us.
So being on a salesperson for the TPP rather than an advocate for democracy, transparency and solidarity.
Labour Party PR is abysmal. How can any efficient system drop their leader into the mess that Andrew finds himself in? The Shearer “fish in Parliament” debacle, lack of penetrating secondary questions and dredging up petty and inconsequential points. Andrew needs a decent “minder” that would never have allowed the likes of Joyce to crucify him over an unpaid bill. It’s all over the media today and Key’s back off the ropes.
Pay some real money and buy a minder that’s got his/her finger on the pulse. Another with the political nous of Heather Simpson – – – there’ll be someone out there.
Not a single reference to it on Stuff’s front page in fact. I guess people who are impressed by ‘gotcha’ politics will clutch their pearls a bit. Meanwhile, Bill English’s toxic ACC rort is getting as least as much attention, and that will still be news tomorrow, as will National Party Sabinism and the Skysore.
Getting plenty of airtime on Morning Report. The complainant (who just happens to be an NBR freelancer) is suggesting there was no intention to pay. But you’re right this will be old news tomorrow. Labour just need to get their shit together and stop being their own worst enemy.
Given that Shearer’s fish debacle is brought up at every available opportunity (and in this column today!!) I reckon that Andrew Little’s unpaid bill (and no need to put it in inverted commas ‘cos it was exactly that, it appears) will continue to haunt him in just the same way. It was a damn silly oversight on Andrew’s part and his minders need to be much more on the ball.
Sure is a pretty dumb own-goal but given the debacle of last week and the ease with which Little has owned Key on SkyCity I guess some sort of retaliation was to be expected. No surprise then that the Nats have reverted to the tried-and-true methods that have served them well in the past. It will be interesting how Little and Labour respond. Probably best just to suck it up, take responsibility and try and push through. And, since we’re dealing the dark art of politics, some added fuel thrown on Winston’s claims of insider trading at SkyCity would be useful.
The timing of SkyCity announcement of wanting a taxpayer handout pushed their share price up which was smart Morrison. However the ‘no penalty’ for the convention centre size reduction looks dodgy as hell.
Key and his cronies tie up with that very sketchy outfit the NZX is fishy in my opinion. By the NZX moving into being a fund manager and recently increasing their holdings bears looking into.
Gosman the National Party shrill will come on here with his twisted opinion shortly.
I believe the fish idea was entirely Shearer’s, and no one else in caucus knew about it until he did it. He bought the fish from an Auckland supermarket and flew to Wellington with him in his carry-on…
“Mr Shearer’s fish, which he had brought down from Auckland in his carry-on luggage, were placed back in a bag and ushered out of the debating chamber by deputy leader Grant Robertson.”
“Show me will they? Hehehe, my and my little ‘friends’ here will sink the National government. Sink? That’s a good pun. Must work that in. Also something about sleeping with the fishes. Ho ho ho – that’s a good one”
And so forth.
Also, what the fuck did the guys screening his bag think?
That was a great example of the emperor has no clothes on. I remember thinking
oh dear god this mug has lost the plot. To think he didn’t fall on his sword and not seek re election sums up the problem with Labour. All the previous leaders bar DC should have not stood again.
I bet a few people would like to have a Super Minister discuss their unpaid bills in parliament, and then get the harpie Gower into it to. Perhaps they could get onto the tax evaders for the country while they are onto it
A caliphate established by radical Muslims that supports genocide and appears intent on precipitating World War 3 with an aim of engineering the Apocalypse – “that it considers itself a harbinger of—and headline player in—the imminent end of the world.”
Doing nothing to try and minimise this would seem to be unwise.
ISIS is a threat to a bunch of people over there who would do stuff about it.
Obviously the Shia blocs who are the current primary target of ISIS. So they are already stepping up in the alliance between Iran/Iraq and Syria. That would continue. They have their own agenda of forming a fairly solid shia ruled area. They’d probably achieve that.
Secondly, the Gulf states like Saudi A, UAE etc are threatened by ISIS to a small degree. Insofar that they are bad PR for the anti Shia movement that they care about, they will step up. They have problems in that if they step up too hard against IS then their own populations get a bit angsty, not because of direct IS support (which is small) but because of IS being an Anti-shia force. It’s a tricky spot for them, so they’d probably clamp down hard on ISIS when it raises it’s head in a Sunni state, (same as they do with AQ and the Bortherhood).
The Sunni states probably enjoy watching Iran bleed against ISIS so they may be tempted to quietly fund them to prolong it, and they will not be happy about the Shia states getting their solid bloc, but I doubt they could stop it, and fundamentally, they’d rather have someone who wasn;t as insane as ISIS to be their proxy.
So, I reckon if we butted out, the Shia would fuck ISIS over the next year or two, the Sunni states would say ‘that’s annoying’ and start funding some other wee group.
Pretty much the same as what will happen if we do interfere, with the difference being that we won’t be getting in the way.
lol
Uncharacteristically considerate of brownlee to have a hummer.
Some people might not immediately recognise him and therefore know he is a twat, but driving a hummer is like a huge neon sign labelling him as such.
A stated before PG… How about the “West” stop training, funding and arming ISIS before “we” worry about putting military personnel there – in ANY form?
No arms, no cash and no capability would tend to weaken them quite a bit don’t ya think?
Nobel Peace Laureates Slam Human Rights Watch’s
Refusal to Cut Ties to U.S. Government AlterNet, July 8, 2014
Human Rights Watch’s affiliation with ex-CIA and NATO officials generates perverse incentives and undermine its reputation for independence.
In a May 12 letter published on AlterNet, two Nobel Peace Prize Laureates and over 100 scholars, journalists and human rights activists called on Human Rights Watch to close its revolving door to the U.S. government. On June 3, HRW published a response from executive director Kenneth Roth on its website, arguing that their “concern is misplaced.” In a June 11 debate on Democracy Now!, HRW Counsel and Spokesman Reed Brody similarly rejected their recommendations.
Now, Nobel Laureates Mairead Maguire and Adolfo Pérez Esquivel join fellow signatories Richard Falk (United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories from 2008-14) and Hans von Sponeck (UN Assistant Secretary General from 1998-2000) in demanding that their proposals be taken seriously, and additionally, that HRW remove former NATO Secretary General Javier Solana from its Board of Directors.
Dear Kenneth Roth,
While we welcome your stated commitment to Human Rights Watch’s independence and credibility, we are dismayed by your rejection of our common-sense suggestion for strengthening them: bar those who have crafted or executed U.S. foreign policy from serving as HRW staff, advisors or board members—or, at a bare minimum, mandate lengthy “cooling-off” periods before and after any associate moves between HRW and the foreign-policy divisions of the U.S. government.
Before addressing your letter’s objections to the three instances of HRW’s advocacy that suggest a conflict of interest, we would like to reiterate that they were “limited to only recent history,” and that other cases could have been raised as well. One obvious example of HRW’s failure to appropriately criticize U.S. crimes occurred after the 2004 coup d’état against the democratically elected government of Haiti. The U.S. government essentially kidnapped Haiti’s president; thousands of people were killed under the ensuing coup regime; and deposed officials of the constitutional government were jailed.
In the face of what were likely the worst human rights abuses of any country in the Western hemisphere at the time, HRW barely lifted a finger. HRW never hosted a press conference criticizing the coup or post-coup atrocities. In contrast to HRW’s appeals to the Organization of American States’ Inter-American Democratic Charter for Venezuela and Cuba, HRW never publicly invoked the Charter in the case of Haiti, even as Articles 20 and 21 afforded multilateral measures “in the event of an unconstitutional alteration of the constitutional regime.” HRW never placed an op-ed about the overthrow in a prominent newspaper. (In 2004 The New York Times alone published at least five HRW opinion pieces and four HRW letters on other subjects.) It is reasonable for outside observers to question whether this lack of response from HRW to such large-scale human rights violations had anything to do with U.S. foreign-policy priorities.
The very existence of such questions regarding HRW’s advocacy should be reason enough to impose sharp restrictions on HRW’s close ties to the U.S. government. ….
Yes but they are quality losers who know no other life, you wouldnt want to see them down the local cafe down to their last million wearing last years pradas would you.
“..I feel shameful walking past rough sleepers – how must the politicians responsible feel?..” (+ comment:..and how do our politicians feel when they see their handiwork in the flesh..?..do they shift at all uneasily in their (comfortable/well-padded/heated) seats..?..especially those labour politicians..eh..?..’cos of all of them..they should really know better..eh..?..but they don’t..)
“.. An evening walk down the Strand in London brings to painful life official figures –
– that show a sharp rise in rough sleeping..”
(cont..)
(ed:..i have asked myself that question..
..especially of labour mp’s/politicians..
..and our labour/green mayors of auckland..
..both of whom when first campaigning to be mayors..
..put their hands on their hearts..
..and vowed/promised to help the homeless..
..since then..yeah..nah..eh..?
..but especially those neo-liberal/rightwing labour mp’s..
..those who won the argument within the labour party pre-’14 election..
..that saw labour ’14 election-policy offering absolutely nothing for the poorest..
..cunnliffe said that benefit-levels wd increase ‘by the rate of inflation..
..which is what national does..
..and here’s the funny story..!
..those rightwing/neo-liberal labour people are still wondering why those poorest..(the missing million..)..
..why they didn’t rush to the polling booths..
..sobbing in/with gratitude on their way..
..to tick the box for labour..
..as i say in the headline..eh..?..’they should really know better’..eh..?..)
Analysts had expected prices to firm in response to lower supply brought on by drought conditions on the east coasts of both the North and South Islands.
See, droughts are good news.
The auction will give farmers some confidence that Fonterra will meet its $4.70 a kg milk price forecast for the current season after prices slumped by 50 per cent in 2014.
However, farm investment company MyFarm estimates the current forecast is well below its estimated average cost of production of $5.03 kg.
I’m not an expert, but that looks like a loss-making enterprise to me.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 7
And if you read like that, I have good grounds to conclude you are incapable of writing anything other than erroneous pedantry. Concentrate on adam’s criticism; a brief summary of why we should click on the link would be helpful, because the number of readers who are going to just on your say so is minimal.
Something like: ‘Frankie Boyle skewers the false outrage of the media’ or ‘comedian rips into media hypocrisy’. It’s not hard.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
More reading difficulty, gormless? That fact that I was able to provide a couple of short summaries strongly suggests I did read Boyle’s piece. Try and avoid arguments based on pedantry in the future, you’re not much good at them.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
You’ll like this from Frankie Boyle, Ole – given that you’re such a good Tory…
On Mock the Week after Thatcher’s demise:
How much do you think the funeral is going to cost ?
Frankie Boyle: “3 million. For 3 million, they could give everyone in Scotland a shovel and we would dig a hole so deep that we could hand her over to Satan personally.”
Who suggested Andrew Little commission anything from David Cohen? He is a very right wing journalist and a great friend of Bill English. It was before Andrew Little was leader so hopefully he is getting better advice these days about who to talk to.
The fact that National have to reach further down into the barrel to ping him for a ubiquitous human error – forgetting to pay a bill – is an indication that they aren’t getting many hits in debate.
Not only that but the NBR has the story saying that the go-between (one Chris Matthews) was also slaggng off other Labour MPs to the journalist. Who is he and what position does he hold?
Since the working class was defeated, indeed pretty much smashed, under the fourth Labour government and the following National government, class consciousness in this country is at an all-time low. The left, defeated on the economic front, managed to win some victories on the cultural front. That was good, but we do need to get back to class: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2012/10/24/class-class-consciousness-and-left-political-practice/
Reading about the Euro debt-mongers problems with their unsustainable business model in Greece would be tragic and hilarious if it wasn’t so hilarious and tragic.
The entire western financial system is hilarious and tragic.
It is up to its use-by date and Greece is a canary in the mine.
More debt in the world than there is money to repay it ……………. thinking thinking thinking
This is quite similar to what Bill wrote here the other day. Indeed if the only option for war with ISIS, is war with ISIS – I think we should do the right thing and help the people at war with ISIS – rather than send our own troops over there.
Just another reason, why we should not send troops into the middle east. This is just stupid on the part of the commanders who ordered this to happen – stupid.
And if you think privatising health care is a winner – or if Obama care is any go. Think again. Insurance companies are in the business to make money – sick people don’t make money = hence the USA and it’s SNAFU approach to health care.
At Public Integrity – you should look up health – and see all the nasty, vicious, and down right evil things the health insurance industry does to make a buck.
…..”But for Arabs, there is a clear message in all these alliances. Washington has an American-trained general in charge of the Libyan air force, an American-trained former field marshal and president in charge of Egypt, an American-educated and British-trained king in Jordan and two wealthy emirates with huge US investments – one of them headquarters to the US fleet in the Gulf – in the battle. Only that well-known dictator who has been fighting Isis for longer than any of them – Bashar al-Assad of Syria – is left out. For now.”
( spot the ironies)
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 12
There is a Wisconsin version of FJK, Scott Walker. There are many similarities in their methods. Given the nature of the US and A, Walker may actually end up in legal trouble if things filter up to the federal level. Meanwhile, FJK’s smile and wave is increasingly being replaced by scowl and lie.
Winston is a lot more useful than Labour these days ( since Helen Clark) ….Labour is a liability…didnt Labour MPs …(the Labour Party boys)…accept SKYCITY hospitality along with the Nacts?…and what about that Auckland Labour Mayor’s role in helping along SkyCity ?…say no more….
….it was the Greens who have always had form on fighting the SkyCity deal …and Winston…and Mana ….this is the real Left Opposition in New Zealand
David Cameron is demanding that obese/overweight people *accept help* (For example the outdated dietary advice that includes eating wheat and a little sugar? That the obese or overweight should learn to hate the appearance of their bodies like the government apparently does? To be taught that human rights law is for “real” disabilities? Hmmm….) or lose benefits.
Cameron really knows how to bene bash huh? At least this reporter has the good sense to make this comment:
“But here is the alternative theory. What if the intention is not to make people slimmer, but to make the obese reconcile themselves with the fact that they are worthless human beings, and hence unworthy of receiving any financial support from anyone? If that is the case, then the initiative may work very well indeed.”
Ask them, if you know who they are. When the English Tories start on obese people as part of their attack on our brothers and sisters in England, I think it’s perfectly OK to suggest they start on Brownlee.
I don’t know what the forms are like currently in NZ, but back in the day when you applied for a benefit for medical reasons part of the form you signed said something like how you could be declined a benefit if you refused medical treatment for the condition. I’m surprised Bennett and co haven’t gone down that track already tbh.
Each foreign government’s request will be examined on a case-by-case basis, and they must agree to “proper use” principles created by Washington that stipulate the drones must obey international law.
Oh, would that be like US drones indiscriminately killing civilians?
I’d say that it’d be better for any country to build their own drones. That way they could guarantee that there wouldn’t be any back doors into the control systems.
Apparently Ports of Auckland have settled with Maritime Union & new Collective contract agreed.
Neither Herald nor Stuff have any details so its going to be interesting to see who ‘won’ after all.
Tont Gibson won as the maritime union has less members and less money then it did before and with the rival port union on the scene they have less influence
Of course they could have accepted the arbitrators decision a couple of years ago and been in a stronger position but thems the breaks
Heres where I’d usually sling some stuff KLittles way over this except that hes doing the exact thing I’d advise him to do, keeping the Greens out of anything that matters is what most voters want since the Greens only got 10% of the vote which is pretty shoddy when you consider how many people didn’t vote
Little is taking Labour to the center which is what he needs to do and it looks like hes distancing Labour away from the Greens to set up a deal with Winston for the next election ala Labour back when they were last in power
Labour doesn’t need to offer the Greens anything because theres nowhere else for the Greens to go and if its a choice between Labour/Winston and the Greens or National/Act/MP then of course the Greens will be Labours doormap
So, unfortuantely (as I want another term for Key) , this is smart politics from Little
Never said anything about going to the right instead I applaud him for:
going to the center
learning from Helen Clark
and yes Little needs to do whatever he needs to so he can get into power then he can make the changes, the problem with Labour supporters in general is that they don’t quite seem to get it that you need to get the power first before you make the changes
Fortunately, for Labour supporters, Little realises that
As you say briefly and then people realised he was all mouth and no trousers, had he gone to the center he probably would have won
Which is why John Key is merely tinkering around the edges of what the right wing want ie
partial privitisation as opposed to full sell offs,
keeping union membership voluntary instead of abolishing unions,
90 day employment bill instead of firing any time any place,
increasing benefit payments instead of cutting back,
tinkering with the RMA instead of abolishing ot and writing a new one
all this because Keys knows (as did Clark) its the center that decides who governs
“Coming up in a few minutes, The Panel with Jim Mora and Noelle McCarthy. I don’t know who their two guests are today, but whoever they are, quality broadcasting will ensue….”
Paddy Gower has taken a $900 unpaid debt to new heights.
By making it his most important event today he has nailed Little. Announcing the honeymoon is over… Almost sounded like he was making a very pointed comment to Little directly.
As in most contests when one side is getting flogged the ref will attempt to even things up a bit by making a “no fuss no foul” trivial call.
Gower is out of his league and should be reporting the Mid-week news in a small community based provincial newspaper.
Cohen is well known to the likes of aunty Audrey & uncle Vernon when they were principled unionists with the journalists union.
From another Open Mike, but it didnt get answered:
I was wondering if an employer that pays minimum wage, after the minimum wage goes up, is required to negotiate in good faith, or can just say ‘im paying minimum wage, deal with it’
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TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
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. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A new Commonwealth Prac Payment will provide students with $319.50 a week when they are on clinical and professional placements. The payment will be means tested and start from July 1 next year, which ...
Asia Pacific Report About 500 people honoured Palestinian journalists in the heart of the New Zealand city of Auckland today for their brave coverage of Israel’s War on Gaza, now in its seventh month with almost 35,000 people killed, mostly women and children. Marking the annual May 3 World Press ...
The Government Communications Security Bureau denies hosting a foreign spying capability flagged by the watchdog, differentiating it from the system recently criticised. ...
RNZ News A group of academic staff at New Zealand’s largest university have expressed concern at the administration’s move to block a protest encampment that was planned to take place on campus calling for support for the rights of Palestinians. This week, the University of Auckland warned that while it ...
Genterwocky After a hard days marching, Sir Doocey calls in at the Village Tavern For a pint of ale and a pork pie. The grim villagers stare at him. “Do not be travelling on the forest road,” warns a crusty old beak. “And why is that, antique peasant?” Grins Sir ...
Political conferences after a party returns to power are usually a chance for some healthy, even unhealthy backslapping. Yet National Party president Sylvia Wood’s address to its mainland representatives on Saturday hardly contained the unalloyed delight that one might have expected following National’s escape from the wilderness of opposition. Yes, ...
Comment: Almost half the world is voting in national elections this year and artificial intelligence is the elephant in the room. There are genuine fears AI-generated or AI-edited deepfakes will potentially manipulate election outcomes not just in the US and UK, but critically in countries such as India. For that ...
Ahead of the reality franchise’s return to New Zealand, allow us to introduce the eight brides and grooms. Chuck on a veil and tie back your man bun, because it’s time to say “I do” to a new season of Married at First Sight NZ. The reality TV “social experiment” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Norton, Professor in the Practice of Higher Education Policy, Australian National University Every year on June 1, student debt in Australia is indexed to inflation. In 2023, high inflation pushed the indexation rate to 7.1%, the highest since 1990. This ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Changes in the May 14 budget will cut the student debt of more than three million people, wiping more than $3 billion from what people owe. The government will cap the HELP indexation rate ...
Asia Pacific Report The prosecutor’s office at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has appealed for an end to what it calls intimidation of its staff, saying such threats could constitute an offence against the “administration of justice” by the world’s permanent war crimes court. The Hague-based office of ICC Prosecutor ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A women’s union in New Caledonia has staged a sit-in protest this week to support senior Kanak indigenous journalist Thérèse Waia, who works for public broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie la Première, after a smear attack by critics. The peaceful demonstration was held on ...
New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring overseas recalls of Indian packaged spice products manufactured by MDH and Everest due to concerns over a cancer-causing pesticide. ...
By Stephen Wright and Stefan Armbruster of BenarNews Fiji’s ranking in a global press freedom index has jumped into the top tier of countries with free or mostly free media after its government last year repealed a draconian law that threatened journalists with prison for doing their jobs. Fiji’s improvement ...
We might be in Invercargill but all anyone can talk about is Gore. Specifically, Salford Street. That’s where three-year-old Lachlan Jones lived, south of the centre of town, between the A&P Showgrounds and the Mataura River. Roughly 1.2 km away from the single level home he lived in with his ...
MONDAY I lined up the latest round of civil servants from city hall against the wall, and signalled for the firing squad to drop their rifles. I stepped up onto a wooden crate to look at the office workers in the eye. But that didn’t feel right, so I found ...
Keen hiker and second-year MSc student Liam Hewson wears two hats when he’s in the great outdoors. “The scientist in me appreciates nature and goes, ‘Oh, there’s that thing and there’s another thing,’ but then the tramper and the outdoorsy person in me thinks, ‘Cool bush.’” Born and bred in ...
After a long and illustrious career as a goal kicker, Dan Carter’s favourite way to unwind is… kicking goals. Why can’t he get enough of it? And what it’s like to watch him do it for an hour straight? A semicircle of people wielding cameras and phones has formed in ...
Dame Susan Devoy takes us through her life in television, including late night ER debriefs, her proudest CTI moment and the show she watches in secret. Quite aside from her four world champion squash titles, Dame Susan Devoy will likely go down in history as one of the best Celebrity ...
Hera Lindsay Bird reveals the best places in Ōtepoti to score more for your apocalypse-prep book hoard.Sometimes I get the feeling I’ve been killed in a car crash, and this second half of my life is just the brain unspooling itself, like one of those episodes of a hospital ...
ThreeNow’s new murder mystery series takes us on a dark, damp journey into the Australian wilderness.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. High Country is ThreeNow’s new Australian eight-part crime drama, set in a remote part of the Victorian highlands. It tells ...
Introducing a new way to read The Spinoff every weekend. After nearly 10 years of being an online magazine, we’re finally embracing the weekend liftout. Despite our best efforts to convince you otherwise, writers and editors at The Spinoff don’t work weekend. It is through the sheer power of technology ...
Tip one: let yourself be nurtured by this big old man. Tip two: don’t ask him to adopt you. So, you’ve arrived at your first session with a new therapist. He tells you to make yourself comfortable and you opt for the tweed armchair, hoping it makes you look like ...
I didn’t know books could open you back up; that there were books that stayed with you, where reading was like a chemical event. I knew nothing.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.Not too long ago, I was listening to the American ...
Former Olympic swimmer James Magnussen has already started training for the Enhanced games, though says he won’t start taking performance enhancing substances until about nine months out from the competition. The Australian world champion was the first athlete to be announced by Enhanced, but he says the organisation has had ...
Everyone thinks he’s dead. Every day they expect his body to be washed up along the coast. Most likely up Karitane way, the way the tide’s running. But nobody’ll be too surprised if his body’s never found. Even in death he wouldn’t have wished for such attention. He would have ...
Council members voted 21 to 4 in favour of Ahluwalia returning to the Laucala campus following a much-awaited meeting in Vanuatu this week. It comes as USP and its two unions — the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) and the Administration and Support Staff Union ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicola Henry, Professor & Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Social and Global Studies Centre, RMIT University Shutterstock Following an emergency meeting of the National Cabinet this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a raft of measures to tackle the problem ...
Analysis - A poll showing the opposition is more popular than the government raises questions, politicians go through their 'trial by pay rise' and a Green MP loses her cool in the debating chamber. ...
The entire stretch of Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast will be subject to a joint customary marine title for two hapū, and extending up to four miles out to sea. A High Court judge has found the two groups, who during the case settled a dispute over boundaries for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Hall, Lecturer, Media & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University A longstanding feud between TikTok and Universal Music Group seems to have finally reached an end, with both parties signing a deal that will see Universal-backed music returned to the social media ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Siobhan O’Dean, Postdoctoral Research Associate, The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney After several highly publicised alleged murders of women in Australia, the Albanese government this week pledged more than A$925 million over five years ...
Political parties have now fully disclosed the donations they received last year - with National getting more than double the cash of any other party. ...
A Pacific regionalism expert has called out New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters for withholding information from the public on AUKUS military pact. ...
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Better late than never, isn’t it?
http://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/other/labour-leader-outed-over-unpaid-bill/ar-BBhEQBy?ocid=mailsignoutmd
Despite Hager’s book, Dirty Politics alive and kicking under Key’s sleazy government.
TPP?
Sky City?
Sabin?
Key takes the election result as a mandate for another term of it as the sheeple say so assisted by a labour party with past their use by dates MPs and strategists
I saw an MP had posted on facebook a photo of the Labour caucus class of 2015 on the steps of parliament yesterday. Plenty of 50 something’s shades of grey. It was depressing some of the same old faces still clipping the ticket. Others must have been thinking the same as there were few likes.
is there a down-tick option..?
Yes democracy rapidly becoming a sham in the land of the great white sheeple.
@ Paul. Agree.
By the way where is Nicky Hager these days? Haven’t heard anything of him for a while!
Is he under house arrest?
Been gagged?
Prevented from speaking publicly?
Any news about the outcome of police removing his personal effects from his home to be investigated?
We need a journalist of Hager’s intelligence, calibre and integrity to investigate John Key’s involvement re the time frame of having been informed of the Mike Sabin affair!
Another point is it’s interesting that today, msm (Fairfax and NZH) is carrying the story about Andrew Little’s past “non payment” of an invoice, (after it was raised in Parliament yesterday by the loathsome Steven Joyce), focusing on the time frame of the actual payment (yesterday)!
So I ask, where is msm focus on slimy PM Key and his grubby ministers, digging deep about when they first became aware of the Sabin investigation?
Pity more media enthusiasm and attention isn’t focused on this issue, where it should be.
A good rejoinder to Joyce would be to ask how many Teachers have not been paid correctly this year.
@ dv – BINGO!
The media give corporate shills like Mary Beard a voice, not real journalists like Hager publicity.
Remember they want more for themselves and less for the rest of us.
So being on a salesperson for the TPP rather than an advocate for democracy, transparency and solidarity.
Labour Party PR is abysmal. How can any efficient system drop their leader into the mess that Andrew finds himself in? The Shearer “fish in Parliament” debacle, lack of penetrating secondary questions and dredging up petty and inconsequential points. Andrew needs a decent “minder” that would never have allowed the likes of Joyce to crucify him over an unpaid bill. It’s all over the media today and Key’s back off the ropes.
Pay some real money and buy a minder that’s got his/her finger on the pulse. Another with the political nous of Heather Simpson – – – there’ll be someone out there.
“It’s all over the media”.
Not a single reference to it on Stuff’s front page in fact. I guess people who are impressed by ‘gotcha’ politics will clutch their pearls a bit. Meanwhile, Bill English’s toxic ACC rort is getting as least as much attention, and that will still be news tomorrow, as will National Party Sabinism and the Skysore.
Wot’s this then ?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/66310310/andrew-little-coughs-up-months-overdue-bill
On the front page? English comprehension 101. Reading is a skill.
Why do you have to be so offensive ? You brought up the ‘front page’ issue, not I.
I repeat “it is all over the media”.
I think you’re exaggerating the significance of a story that will be gone by tomorrow.
i don’t..it’s an impression that will stick..
Getting plenty of airtime on Morning Report. The complainant (who just happens to be an NBR freelancer) is suggesting there was no intention to pay. But you’re right this will be old news tomorrow. Labour just need to get their shit together and stop being their own worst enemy.
Is John Armstrong frothing at the mouth screaming “resign!” again? After all, a late payment is at least as serious as an eleven-year-old form letter.
I’m sure Armstrong is whipping up an online column as we speak…
Along the lines of “When will National pay its $100 billion bill, Bill?”
Stop trying to resurrect that dead horse.
That isn’t a very nice thing to say about Mr. Armstrong.
Little will be taking the blame for some staff cock-up either in his office or Labour HQ.
Given that Shearer’s fish debacle is brought up at every available opportunity (and in this column today!!) I reckon that Andrew Little’s unpaid bill (and no need to put it in inverted commas ‘cos it was exactly that, it appears) will continue to haunt him in just the same way. It was a damn silly oversight on Andrew’s part and his minders need to be much more on the ball.
Your concern is touching. Truly.
No, wait, this just in: fuck off.
Silly but minor. It will be forgotten within a week.
Sure is a pretty dumb own-goal but given the debacle of last week and the ease with which Little has owned Key on SkyCity I guess some sort of retaliation was to be expected. No surprise then that the Nats have reverted to the tried-and-true methods that have served them well in the past. It will be interesting how Little and Labour respond. Probably best just to suck it up, take responsibility and try and push through. And, since we’re dealing the dark art of politics, some added fuel thrown on Winston’s claims of insider trading at SkyCity would be useful.
The timing of SkyCity announcement of wanting a taxpayer handout pushed their share price up which was smart Morrison. However the ‘no penalty’ for the convention centre size reduction looks dodgy as hell.
Key and his cronies tie up with that very sketchy outfit the NZX is fishy in my opinion. By the NZX moving into being a fund manager and recently increasing their holdings bears looking into.
Gosman the National Party shrill will come on here with his twisted opinion shortly.
“..The Shearer “fish in Parliament” debacle..”
wasn’t that stuart nash shearers’ chief-adviser then..?
..was the fish his idea..?
..or did shearer brain-fart that one out all on his own..?..
I believe the fish idea was entirely Shearer’s, and no one else in caucus knew about it until he did it. He bought the fish from an Auckland supermarket and flew to Wellington with him in his carry-on…
“He bought the fish from an Auckland supermarket and flew to Wellington with him in his carry-on…”
Wow, really? That’s a special kind of retarded.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11111726
“Mr Shearer’s fish, which he had brought down from Auckland in his carry-on luggage, were placed back in a bag and ushered out of the debating chamber by deputy leader Grant Robertson.”
Wow…
And just imagine him on the plane with his secret cargo, all pleased with himself, smug little smirk on his fishy little face.
Underestimate my scaly powers, will they?
Wow indeed.
Heh, indeed. I can see the inner dialogue
“Show me will they? Hehehe, my and my little ‘friends’ here will sink the National government. Sink? That’s a good pun. Must work that in. Also something about sleeping with the fishes. Ho ho ho – that’s a good one”
And so forth.
Also, what the fuck did the guys screening his bag think?
Maybe he still keeps a diplomatic bag…
It’s probably a catch bag
Maybe he pulled the old bait and switch
He might have said “It’s my lunch” and airport security would have bought it hook, line and sinker
That was a great example of the emperor has no clothes on. I remember thinking
oh dear god this mug has lost the plot. To think he didn’t fall on his sword and not seek re election sums up the problem with Labour. All the previous leaders bar DC should have not stood again.
“..All the previous leaders bar DC should have not stood again..”
+ 1..
funny story..!
..shearer now feels he is qualified to work in ‘intelligence’..
..(just keep him away from the fish..!..)
New temporary boss of GCSB was the ex lawyer for the ministry of Fisheries Maybe take some loaves and he is in!
there ya go..!..
q.e.d..
there is a definite pattern there..
..i feel a venn-diagram coming on..
..let the overlaps fall where they may..!
I bet a few people would like to have a Super Minister discuss their unpaid bills in parliament, and then get the harpie Gower into it to. Perhaps they could get onto the tax evaders for the country while they are onto it
A caliphate established by radical Muslims that supports genocide and appears intent on precipitating World War 3 with an aim of engineering the Apocalypse – “that it considers itself a harbinger of—and headline player in—the imminent end of the world.”
Doing nothing to try and minimise this would seem to be unwise.
ISIS – apostles of the Apocalypse
Long version (Graeme Wood at The Atlantic): What ISIS Really Wants
Invading Iraq in 2003 really worked, didn’t it?
Guess you advocated for NZ’s involvement then as well.
No, you shouldn’t make baseless assumptions. I opposed the invasion of Iraq.
This is now very different situation. ISIS is not a State. Iraq has asked us to assist them in opposing ISIS.
Have you read The Atlantic article? Or have you leapt straight to diversion?
Nah, this is about you telling lies again. Citation needed for people who suggest we do nothing. Put up or shut up, racist.
That’s more garbled than usual from you OAB.
Of course I’m a much more dangerous enemy than ISIS. ‘Must defeat enemy’. You should wake up properly first though.
Who are the people who say we should do nothing? Put up or shut up, racist.
Me. I say we should do nothing. It would work if we did nothing – why don’t people actually think through these things?
No humanitarian aid then. No help for the Kurds. No restriction on arms dealers?
Nothing military.
For a large number of reasons, all of which have been thrashed around here plenty.
What do you think would happen if we did nothing militarily?
Just making sure that Racist George hasn’t found his citation – “nothing military” ≠ “nothing”.
little said that the iraqi politician who visited asked for humanitarian-aid..
..why the fuck don’t we just do that..?
..instead of being mercenaries/spear-carriers for the fucken americans..
..with our soldiers having to be given diplomatic passports..
..so they can kill at will..?
..’cos the iraqi govt won’t give them the legal rights to kill their people..
..the australian soldiers are already killing using diplomatic passports..’cos they were also refused that right by the iraqi govt..
..how the fuck does all of this mesh with the bullshit being spun by key..?
..that we aren’t just mercenaries/spear-carriers for the americans..
..we are going to war ‘to help’ the iraqis..
..that they ‘want us there’..
..as little was told..what they want is humanitarian aid..
..not just more fucken soldiers throwing lead around..
No prob oab.
But – what would happen over there if we did nothing militarily?
Anyone?
We’d have to stop helping spy on them first – unless that doesn’t count as “something military”.
Ok then, if the spying and any other military activity stops.
What would happen if we did nothing militarily over there?
Anyone?
(why do I get the feeling the question is being avoided…
I think the result would be much the same, because the plan is rubbish and we lack sufficient influence to change it.
I’ll have a crack VTO.
ISIS is a threat to a bunch of people over there who would do stuff about it.
Obviously the Shia blocs who are the current primary target of ISIS. So they are already stepping up in the alliance between Iran/Iraq and Syria. That would continue. They have their own agenda of forming a fairly solid shia ruled area. They’d probably achieve that.
Secondly, the Gulf states like Saudi A, UAE etc are threatened by ISIS to a small degree. Insofar that they are bad PR for the anti Shia movement that they care about, they will step up. They have problems in that if they step up too hard against IS then their own populations get a bit angsty, not because of direct IS support (which is small) but because of IS being an Anti-shia force. It’s a tricky spot for them, so they’d probably clamp down hard on ISIS when it raises it’s head in a Sunni state, (same as they do with AQ and the Bortherhood).
The Sunni states probably enjoy watching Iran bleed against ISIS so they may be tempted to quietly fund them to prolong it, and they will not be happy about the Shia states getting their solid bloc, but I doubt they could stop it, and fundamentally, they’d rather have someone who wasn;t as insane as ISIS to be their proxy.
So, I reckon if we butted out, the Shia would fuck ISIS over the next year or two, the Sunni states would say ‘that’s annoying’ and start funding some other wee group.
Pretty much the same as what will happen if we do interfere, with the difference being that we won’t be getting in the way.
interesting and correct although I meant “we” being “NZ”. In other words the US and its dirty cronies like Australia carry on without us.
Same result – no difference…
Sounds like an endorsement for war with shoot to kill being approved by the PM and the troops becoming honorary diplomat’s.
Expecting something else from captain beige ? content generation is best done with such inferences.
I hear Feild Marshal Brownlee has been kitted out with a dapper taylor made safari outfit.
our very own colonel blimp..
brownlee clearly need a swagger-stick..
..so he can stand there and whack his thighs with it..
..to emphasise his points..
..(and for a touch of self-inflicted bdsm..?..
..gerry’s been a naughty boy..?..)
He has been seen roaring around the streets of Christchurch in a Hummer. Must be some special powers Key has invoked since we are at war.
is it a camo-hummer..?
has it got one of those disabled-access lift things..?
..to get him in and out..?
..are there emergency-procedures set up for when he gets stuck..?
lol
Uncharacteristically considerate of brownlee to have a hummer.
Some people might not immediately recognise him and therefore know he is a twat, but driving a hummer is like a huge neon sign labelling him as such.
How many tents did it take?
just one marquee…
Sounds like you haven’t tried to read it.
I’m a strong supporter of peace and non-violence generally.
But when you already have a war with major intent then doing nothing doesn’t reduce or stop the violence, it allows it to grow.
All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent – Edmund Burke
Citation needed for people who suggest we do nothing, Racist George.
A stated before PG… How about the “West” stop training, funding and arming ISIS before “we” worry about putting military personnel there – in ANY form?
No arms, no cash and no capability would tend to weaken them quite a bit don’t ya think?
Stop sipping the kool-aid.
Handwringing pearl clutching racist has nothing of value to offer. Again.
Well that will just fit in perfectly with those Christians who also want to bring on the Apocalypse.
http://www.christianity.com/theology/end-times/
Pity we cant limit the war to Apocalypse believers only on some unoccupied area of wasteland and leave them to it.
They’re not the only ones.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messianic_Age#Judaism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messianic_Age#Islam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_al-Mahdi#Reappearance
readership down a bit, that you need to clickbait?
Nobel Peace Laureates Slam Human Rights Watch’s
Refusal to Cut Ties to U.S. Government
AlterNet, July 8, 2014
Human Rights Watch’s affiliation with ex-CIA and NATO officials generates perverse incentives and undermine its reputation for independence.
In a May 12 letter published on AlterNet, two Nobel Peace Prize Laureates and over 100 scholars, journalists and human rights activists called on Human Rights Watch to close its revolving door to the U.S. government. On June 3, HRW published a response from executive director Kenneth Roth on its website, arguing that their “concern is misplaced.” In a June 11 debate on Democracy Now!, HRW Counsel and Spokesman Reed Brody similarly rejected their recommendations.
Now, Nobel Laureates Mairead Maguire and Adolfo Pérez Esquivel join fellow signatories Richard Falk (United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories from 2008-14) and Hans von Sponeck (UN Assistant Secretary General from 1998-2000) in demanding that their proposals be taken seriously, and additionally, that HRW remove former NATO Secretary General Javier Solana from its Board of Directors.
Dear Kenneth Roth,
While we welcome your stated commitment to Human Rights Watch’s independence and credibility, we are dismayed by your rejection of our common-sense suggestion for strengthening them: bar those who have crafted or executed U.S. foreign policy from serving as HRW staff, advisors or board members—or, at a bare minimum, mandate lengthy “cooling-off” periods before and after any associate moves between HRW and the foreign-policy divisions of the U.S. government.
Before addressing your letter’s objections to the three instances of HRW’s advocacy that suggest a conflict of interest, we would like to reiterate that they were “limited to only recent history,” and that other cases could have been raised as well. One obvious example of HRW’s failure to appropriately criticize U.S. crimes occurred after the 2004 coup d’état against the democratically elected government of Haiti. The U.S. government essentially kidnapped Haiti’s president; thousands of people were killed under the ensuing coup regime; and deposed officials of the constitutional government were jailed.
In the face of what were likely the worst human rights abuses of any country in the Western hemisphere at the time, HRW barely lifted a finger. HRW never hosted a press conference criticizing the coup or post-coup atrocities. In contrast to HRW’s appeals to the Organization of American States’ Inter-American Democratic Charter for Venezuela and Cuba, HRW never publicly invoked the Charter in the case of Haiti, even as Articles 20 and 21 afforded multilateral measures “in the event of an unconstitutional alteration of the constitutional regime.” HRW never placed an op-ed about the overthrow in a prominent newspaper. (In 2004 The New York Times alone published at least five HRW opinion pieces and four HRW letters on other subjects.) It is reasonable for outside observers to question whether this lack of response from HRW to such large-scale human rights violations had anything to do with U.S. foreign-policy priorities.
The very existence of such questions regarding HRW’s advocacy should be reason enough to impose sharp restrictions on HRW’s close ties to the U.S. government. ….
Read more….
http://www.alternet.org/world/nobel-peace-laureates-slam-human-rights-watchs-refusal-cut-ties-us-government
I knew something sneaky was hiding behind the SkyCity funding kerfuffle. The Govt has been softening us for (at least) $6M funding of a bunch of wealthy losers: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11403588
Government of the rich, for the rich, by the rich.
Yes but they are quality losers who know no other life, you wouldnt want to see them down the local cafe down to their last million wearing last years pradas would you.
$millions$ given to rich yachties (and they are very rich)
$hundredsthousands$ taken from school children libraries.
………
$millions$ for casinos
$homes$ sold from under the poor
-and a measely $30 thousand couldn’t be found to fund Christchurch’s only Rape Crisis Support Line
“..I feel shameful walking past rough sleepers – how must the politicians responsible feel?..” (+ comment:..and how do our politicians feel when they see their handiwork in the flesh..?..do they shift at all uneasily in their (comfortable/well-padded/heated) seats..?..especially those labour politicians..eh..?..’cos of all of them..they should really know better..eh..?..but they don’t..)
“.. An evening walk down the Strand in London brings to painful life official figures –
– that show a sharp rise in rough sleeping..”
(cont..)
(ed:..i have asked myself that question..
..especially of labour mp’s/politicians..
..and our labour/green mayors of auckland..
..both of whom when first campaigning to be mayors..
..put their hands on their hearts..
..and vowed/promised to help the homeless..
..since then..yeah..nah..eh..?
..but especially those neo-liberal/rightwing labour mp’s..
..those who won the argument within the labour party pre-’14 election..
..that saw labour ’14 election-policy offering absolutely nothing for the poorest..
..cunnliffe said that benefit-levels wd increase ‘by the rate of inflation..
..which is what national does..
..and here’s the funny story..!
..those rightwing/neo-liberal labour people are still wondering why those poorest..(the missing million..)..
..why they didn’t rush to the polling booths..
..sobbing in/with gratitude on their way..
..to tick the box for labour..
..as i say in the headline..eh..?..’they should really know better’..eh..?..)
(cont..)
http://whoar.co.nz/2015/i-feel-shameful-walking-past-rough-sleepers-%E2%80%93-how-must-the-politicians-responsible-feel-comment-and-how-do-our-politicians-feel-when-they-see-their-handiwork-in-the-flesh-do/
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11403351
Not so much down and gloom on dairy prices anymore
When it gets back up to the average price in 2011, be sure to let us know.
See, droughts are good news.
I’m not an expert, but that looks like a loss-making enterprise to me.
This:
http://www.frankieboyle.com/frankie/free-speech.html
I’m not going to follow the link gormless – as your to bloody lazy to write a description.
Are you just click baiting?
It’s “you’re”. It is a contraction of “you are”. Maybe reading is not your thing.
adam was writing, not reading, gormless. Pot, kettle, etc.
If he writes like that, I have good grounds to conclude he is incapable of reading.
And if you read like that, I have good grounds to conclude you are incapable of writing anything other than erroneous pedantry. Concentrate on adam’s criticism; a brief summary of why we should click on the link would be helpful, because the number of readers who are going to just on your say so is minimal.
Something like: ‘Frankie Boyle skewers the false outrage of the media’ or ‘comedian rips into media hypocrisy’. It’s not hard.
You could have read it by now. Or not. Suit yourself. I will try to struggle on regardless.
More reading difficulty, gormless? That fact that I was able to provide a couple of short summaries strongly suggests I did read Boyle’s piece. Try and avoid arguments based on pedantry in the future, you’re not much good at them.
Noted.
You’ll like this from Frankie Boyle, Ole – given that you’re such a good Tory…
On Mock the Week after Thatcher’s demise:
How much do you think the funeral is going to cost ?
Frankie Boyle: “3 million. For 3 million, they could give everyone in Scotland a shovel and we would dig a hole so deep that we could hand her over to Satan personally.”
Who suggested Andrew Little commission anything from David Cohen? He is a very right wing journalist and a great friend of Bill English. It was before Andrew Little was leader so hopefully he is getting better advice these days about who to talk to.
Yeah, for goodness sakes don’t make any effort to find out how the Right will spin the things you say 🙄
he was hired to coalesce/define/translate..
..the thoughts of chairman little..
..i wonder how all of that worked out..?
..if it was value for money..?
Knowing what your adversary will say about you before they say it can be an advantage, if the information is used wisely.
I think Little’s doing ok on the presentation front.
“..Knowing what your adversary will say about you before they say it can be an advantage, if the information is used wisely. .”
to a point..i s’pose..
..and cohen was the only one who cd make those calls..?
..who cd lay out those hypothetical-scenarios..?
..and so now we have a rightwinger..who has looked inside littles’ head..
..any hypothetical bad-scenarios you can see around that..?
..and little was ‘doing ok’..
..not so much lately..
Other than you, who says Cohen was the only one?
The fact that National have to reach further down into the barrel to ping him for a ubiquitous human error – forgetting to pay a bill – is an indication that they aren’t getting many hits in debate.
What happened to ‘angry Andy’? 😆
nobbled by neo-liberalism..?
(and..)
“..Other than you, who says Cohen was the only one?..”
..was there a whole team on it..?
..the ‘little-brain team’..?..
..’here come the l.b.t.’s..!’..
..did they have a uniform..?..
..or at the very least..an insignia..?
..a motto..?
“..– is an indication that they aren’t getting many hits in debate..”
going on the commentary i did on q-time yesterday..
..little was the one not ‘getting many hits’..
..and i mean..there is hardly a lack of ammunition to hand..?
..is there..?
Not only that but the NBR has the story saying that the go-between (one Chris Matthews) was also slaggng off other Labour MPs to the journalist. Who is he and what position does he hold?
Since the working class was defeated, indeed pretty much smashed, under the fourth Labour government and the following National government, class consciousness in this country is at an all-time low. The left, defeated on the economic front, managed to win some victories on the cultural front. That was good, but we do need to get back to class: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2012/10/24/class-class-consciousness-and-left-political-practice/
Yet another excellent article, Philip. Redline is a great read.
Reading about the Euro debt-mongers problems with their unsustainable business model in Greece would be tragic and hilarious if it wasn’t so hilarious and tragic.
The entire western financial system is hilarious and tragic.
It is up to its use-by date and Greece is a canary in the mine.
More debt in the world than there is money to repay it ……………. thinking thinking thinking
Hilarious
Tragic
This is quite similar to what Bill wrote here the other day. Indeed if the only option for war with ISIS, is war with ISIS – I think we should do the right thing and help the people at war with ISIS – rather than send our own troops over there.
http://libcom.org/news/kurdistan-gilles-dauv%C3%A9-17022015
Sorry about the long links in advance.
Just another reason, why we should not send troops into the middle east. This is just stupid on the part of the commanders who ordered this to happen – stupid.
http://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/02/12/16751/us-troops-burned-waste-hazardous-open-pits-while-safer-incinerators-sat-idle?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=watchdog&utm_medium=publici-email&goal=0_ffd1d0160d-3b6faff816-100020097&mc_cid=3b6faff816&mc_eid=c346e018f7
And if you think privatising health care is a winner – or if Obama care is any go. Think again. Insurance companies are in the business to make money – sick people don’t make money = hence the USA and it’s SNAFU approach to health care.
http://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/02/16/16766/elimination-public-option-threw-consumers-insurance-wolves?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=watchdog&utm_medium=publici-email&goal=0_ffd1d0160d-3b6faff816-100020097&mc_cid=3b6faff816&mc_eid=c346e018f7
At Public Integrity – you should look up health – and see all the nasty, vicious, and down right evil things the health insurance industry does to make a buck.
Robert Fisk’s latest on ISIS
‘Isis has provoked an Arab alliance to bomb the West’s enemies’
http://www.independent.co.uk/biography/robert-fisk
…..”But for Arabs, there is a clear message in all these alliances. Washington has an American-trained general in charge of the Libyan air force, an American-trained former field marshal and president in charge of Egypt, an American-educated and British-trained king in Jordan and two wealthy emirates with huge US investments – one of them headquarters to the US fleet in the Gulf – in the battle. Only that well-known dictator who has been fighting Isis for longer than any of them – Bashar al-Assad of Syria – is left out. For now.”
( spot the ironies)
And this:
https://dimpost.wordpress.com/2015/02/17/same-as-it-ever-was/
There is a Wisconsin version of FJK, Scott Walker. There are many similarities in their methods. Given the nature of the US and A, Walker may actually end up in legal trouble if things filter up to the federal level. Meanwhile, FJK’s smile and wave is increasingly being replaced by scowl and lie.
http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/4-things-you-should-know-about-presidential-candidate-scott-walker-its-too-late
Daily Telegraph political commentator quits in protest at deteriorating journalistic standards
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-02-17/honesty-shocker-telegraphs-political-commentator-quits-over-hsbc-coverage-accuses-pa
Go Winston .. let’s see if the FMA have either teeth or guts ….
Winston Peters: ‘Huge volume’ of SkyCity shares trading must be investigated:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11403839
I’m glad Winnie has raised that. He’s still useful on some issues.
Winston is a lot more useful than Labour these days ( since Helen Clark) ….Labour is a liability…didnt Labour MPs …(the Labour Party boys)…accept SKYCITY hospitality along with the Nacts?…and what about that Auckland Labour Mayor’s role in helping along SkyCity ?…say no more….
….it was the Greens who have always had form on fighting the SkyCity deal …and Winston…and Mana ….this is the real Left Opposition in New Zealand
The book Dirty Politics gains a win for the port workers with the Maritime Union members ratifying a collective agreement this morning.
Well done comrades and excellent job brother Gary Parsloe. My you enjoy many years of retirement!
David Cameron is demanding that obese/overweight people *accept help* (For example the outdated dietary advice that includes eating wheat and a little sugar? That the obese or overweight should learn to hate the appearance of their bodies like the government apparently does? To be taught that human rights law is for “real” disabilities? Hmmm….) or lose benefits.
Cameron really knows how to bene bash huh? At least this reporter has the good sense to make this comment:
“But here is the alternative theory. What if the intention is not to make people slimmer, but to make the obese reconcile themselves with the fact that they are worthless human beings, and hence unworthy of receiving any financial support from anyone? If that is the case, then the initiative may work very well indeed.”
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/16/david-cameron-obese-big-society-benefits
The plan should be trialled on Gerry Brownlee. He certainly doesn’t deserve any financial support from anyone.
hi murray, where are the obesist police?
i would have expected you to be taken to task for that comment.
perhaps double standards much?
i think i detect a touch of afflunentist (?) in yr comment too. 😉
Ask them, if you know who they are. When the English Tories start on obese people as part of their attack on our brothers and sisters in England, I think it’s perfectly OK to suggest they start on Brownlee.
I don’t know what the forms are like currently in NZ, but back in the day when you applied for a benefit for medical reasons part of the form you signed said something like how you could be declined a benefit if you refused medical treatment for the condition. I’m surprised Bennett and co haven’t gone down that track already tbh.
What could possibly go wrong ?
US lets allies buy killer drones … oh yes, this should end well.
07-866 6851www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2015/02/17/u-s-to-let-allies-buy-killer-drones.html?via=newsletter&source=CSPMedition
MORONS.
With the US having them, it’s already ended badly. This is just a continuation.
Hi Murray .. hope your trip to Tai Tokerau tomorrow bears some fruit if you are in the right place at the right time .. travel well …
Quoting article:
Oh, would that be like US drones indiscriminately killing civilians?
I’d say that it’d be better for any country to build their own drones. That way they could guarantee that there wouldn’t be any back doors into the control systems.
Apparently Ports of Auckland have settled with Maritime Union & new Collective contract agreed.
Neither Herald nor Stuff have any details so its going to be interesting to see who ‘won’ after all.
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/years-long-ports-auckland-union-dispute-tipped-end-morning-sources-ng-168805?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NBR%2520Heads%2520Up
Tont Gibson won as the maritime union has less members and less money then it did before and with the rival port union on the scene they have less influence
Of course they could have accepted the arbitrators decision a couple of years ago and been in a stronger position but thems the breaks
andrew little under-impressed..again..
..and kennedy ‘death-stare’ graham got performer-of-the-day..
..but all in all..it was a bit of a drag..
(but key did tell us that he ‘has a vision’..)
http://whoar.co.nz/2015/new-zealand-parliament-list-of-questions-for-oral-answer-wednesday-18-february-2015/
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/editorials/66323975/editorial-andrew-little-plays-into-pms-hands-on-spying
Heres where I’d usually sling some stuff KLittles way over this except that hes doing the exact thing I’d advise him to do, keeping the Greens out of anything that matters is what most voters want since the Greens only got 10% of the vote which is pretty shoddy when you consider how many people didn’t vote
Little is taking Labour to the center which is what he needs to do and it looks like hes distancing Labour away from the Greens to set up a deal with Winston for the next election ala Labour back when they were last in power
Labour doesn’t need to offer the Greens anything because theres nowhere else for the Greens to go and if its a choice between Labour/Winston and the Greens or National/Act/MP then of course the Greens will be Labours doormap
So, unfortuantely (as I want another term for Key) , this is smart politics from Little
good advice there pucky..!
..move more to the right you reckon..?
..even when that didn’t work that well last time..eh..?
..that missing-million couldn’t be stirred to vote for the promise of s.f.a. for them..
..silly poor..!..eh..?..they should be grateful for crumbs..!..even for no crumbs..!.
..yep..!..that worked out really well..
..little-labour should try really hard to be more like key-national..eh..?
..well..they have made a good start..eh..?..on the spooking-front..
..taking five minutes to agree to extending the powers of the spooks..
..and freezing turei/the greens out of the spooks-‘club’..eh..?
Never said anything about going to the right instead I applaud him for:
going to the center
learning from Helen Clark
and yes Little needs to do whatever he needs to so he can get into power then he can make the changes, the problem with Labour supporters in general is that they don’t quite seem to get it that you need to get the power first before you make the changes
Fortunately, for Labour supporters, Little realises that
and labour polled their highest when exactly…?
..wasn’t it when cunnliffe had his (however brief) ‘workers’ flag is deepest red’ moment..?
..what wd u take from that..?
As you say briefly and then people realised he was all mouth and no trousers, had he gone to the center he probably would have won
Which is why John Key is merely tinkering around the edges of what the right wing want ie
partial privitisation as opposed to full sell offs,
keeping union membership voluntary instead of abolishing unions,
90 day employment bill instead of firing any time any place,
increasing benefit payments instead of cutting back,
tinkering with the RMA instead of abolishing ot and writing a new one
all this because Keys knows (as did Clark) its the center that decides who governs
Thanks Chris for owning up to what the right really intend to do to our society.
Do you really think they should abolish the unions PR? You’re saying the government should legislate away the right to free association?
Of course he wants workers’ rights dismantled.
They get in the way of his masters’ profits.
” Never said anything about going to the right”
FFS chris73. In which direction do you move to get from the left to the centre?
LOL
Liars of Our Time
No. 47: SIMON MERCEP
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Coming up in a few minutes, The Panel with Jim Mora and Noelle McCarthy. I don’t know who their two guests are today, but whoever they are, quality broadcasting will ensue….”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
—SIMON MERCEP, Radio NZ National, 3:35 p.m., Wednesday 18 February 2015
Liar No. 46 Julia Gillard: “I have got a lot of respect for people who whistle-blow, ummm….”
http://thestandard.org.nz/ope-mike-08022015/#comment-965394
Liar No. 45 Zara Potts: “Sir Bob Geldof has assembled the best of modern musicians for this year’s record, including Ed Sheeran and One Direction.”
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-11112014/#comment-924196
More liars HERE….
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-09102014/#comment-907232
A liar.
Or a deluded fool?
I think there was a bit of tongue in his cheek as he said it, actually.
Hipkins managed to get this out of the Min of Ed Secretary today:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/66349800/novopay-botchups-cost-45m-to-fix
That’s an extra 45 million on top of the countless sums already spent.
But Scott, Little didnt pay a $900 debt, you must know THAT is more worthy of being shared with TV3’s news audience tonight?
Paddy Gower has taken a $900 unpaid debt to new heights.
By making it his most important event today he has nailed Little. Announcing the honeymoon is over… Almost sounded like he was making a very pointed comment to Little directly.
I think Gower’s piece tonight smacked of overreach actually. For all that though hopefully Andrew Little is practicing the media shut-down right now.
It was Gower’s version of
na-na-na-na-na
I think it reflected more on he than little in the end
Paddy was so thrilled to be able to “nail” Andrew. “It seems that -(pause) the Honeymoon is over!” Poor deficient Paddy.
You get the feeling that Gower (and probably TV3) had hoped to lead with this story (exclusive emails etc) but events have rather overtaken them.
As in most contests when one side is getting flogged the ref will attempt to even things up a bit by making a “no fuss no foul” trivial call.
Gower is out of his league and should be reporting the Mid-week news in a small community based provincial newspaper.
Cohen is well known to the likes of aunty Audrey & uncle Vernon when they were principled unionists with the journalists union.
From another Open Mike, but it didnt get answered:
I was wondering if an employer that pays minimum wage, after the minimum wage goes up, is required to negotiate in good faith, or can just say ‘im paying minimum wage, deal with it’