Just reading in granny about Waikato rugby and some financial issues that show they just think they are special then there’s that naki iwi who’ve lost millions run by a former Nat candidate.
Is this a theme here with former Nat pollys and nat backer in finance companies, iwi, rugby or just coincidence. If it is a theme it’s no wonder they can’t manage an economy as all they seem to understand is plunder without planning.
SkyCity’s deal over pokies in exchange for a national convention centre comes after three failed court attempts to expand its casino business.
It repeatedly challenged the Gambling Commission over its restrictions – so much that ministers overseeing gambling regulation have been warned about direct lobbying by the casino company.
SkyCity has not filed a court challenge since the National Government came to power in 2008.
Legislation to allow more cashless pokies aimed at working and benefit poor people (the ones who fill up the place on the Weds and Fridays Sky Say shows they are at capacity) looks like an increasingly dirty deal for the government
John Key’s confirmed from Indonesia that he made the offer to Sky City to install more pokie machines, if it built a new convention centre in the city.
+1.
More and more of our democracy is being whittled away. Lian Dalziel was on TV this morning talking about new government moves taking power away from Christchurch’s elected councillors.
In reaction to the Council declaring themselves Frack Free no doubt. They also encouraged other councils around New Zealand to do the same, Which National would be livid about. They will make every other excuse in the world, but it’s because Christchurch threatens their mine it, drill it and wreck it for a few dollars policy that the heat is on.
Jared – you are right – it is difficult to accept that there is not considerable damage from pokies outside Sky City.
Close all outside pokies – particularly in Auckland south and centralise them where they can be controlled like those in Sky City.
Major Sky City money movements are not through the pokies but the tables.
Quite amazing how one guy almost doubled the previous number of people shot & killed by a single shooter, all before the police got to him, and amazingly never shot him dead – WOW!
No inconsistancies in the stories either…And of course there was the obligatory “terrorist” exercises by Oslo Police a couple of days before hand….Just like London and NYC before that…
If you hear anything about terror drills, it would seem the pudent advise would be to head in another direction. – I don’t include the attempted manufacturing of the Uruwera in that, which was so clearly a contrived local beat up!
I’m sure its all just coincidental though – Send him to the Hague, where it is highly likely he will die waiting for a trial – Prediction, he will be dead one way or another soon enough!
I have friends from Noway in Oslo and Stavanger, they are asking questions too, want the truth, and feel they are being lied to!
The situation was an absolute tragedy, but like the case of French shooter, who in fact on an american no fly list, raises more questions than answers than are being drilled into.
Questions you again avoid, and in another uncontrolled fit, your massive ego initiates yet another attack…
Shame on you, to insist on dragging this tragedy down to your self-aggrandising narrative.
The fact that there are other paranoiacs out there, and that you are in contact with them, does not surprise me.
The problem with your “questions” is that you clearly think you know the answers to them – which makes them assertions, not questions. We can easily cut through your rhetoric though: state exactly what you are talking about – put your allegations on the table – put up or shut up. Come on, I’m far too ego-centric and confused to make sense of your witless melange, so I’m afraid you’re going to have to spell it out for me.
but like the case of French shooter, who in fact on an american no fly list, raises more questions than answers than are being drilled into.
I have had serious questions and doubts about the French shooter! The story around him changed every day… to start with, he was an unknown right-winger after shooting three Muslim soldiers, and then, after the shooting at the Jewish school, suddenly he was an Islamist…
How repugnant that you exploit this disgusting act to promote a conspiracy theory.
The issue is that one man with an automatic weapon, lots of ammo, after untrained civilian targets…it was going to be a massive tragedy from the start.
The island was a perfect place to do this – law enforcement was slow and constrained as to how they could get out there.
If they could have got police on the ground within 10 minutes of the shootings starting many lives could have been saved, but not even our AOS can respond that quickly to an incident down the road.
It’s a sad and sordid tale of a fearful mind being whipped into a murderous rage by paranoid extremist rhetoric. Breivik’s conspiracy theories aren’t exactly rare.
There are whole networks of people like this in Europe that he was tied into, online mostly I understand. And now he gets an international platform for his ideas. Dangerous to the extreme.
Now that those “nasty arabs” have been dealt with, and AQ being used to overthrow countries, re Lybia, the focus was turned onto the “crazy white, lone wolf scenario”
Terror groups of “fanatical brown people”, conveniently, and on que becomes, lone wolf terrorist pacts of “crazy white people”..
Who in this world can possibly be trusted then, if both the brown and white faces have given over to terrorism, as groups, and as individuals?
“What a waaanker you are Muzza, fantasising about secret conspiracies. Were you having your wet dreams while children were still being shot?”
– Again, no attempt to address the real questions, no research, no understading – MASSIVE ego
– More insults, illustrating fabulous arrogance, resplendent with key buzzwords, “fantasy, secret, conspiracy”.
– Actually parroting my use of the term ‘wet dream”, from a few days ago – Oh dear, originality lacking! – I am flattered however 😉
Just stop with the insults, and see if you can get a grip on your ego, try asking, then have a crack at answering some quesions. Maybe if you get adventurous, try some research!
What “questions”? Reality check: you haven’t posed any – you’ve asserted that there are “inconsistencies” (don’t ever become a trial lawyer – you might discover that even eye witness accounts can be “inconsistent”!) you’ve expressed amazement (while revealing your ignorance) that Breivik wasn’t shot. You’ve suggested the fact of a “terror drill” is somehow connected to this crime.
Get a clue, Muzza, there will always be “questions” that “must be answered” in an event like this. Have you never heard of “the fog of war”? (No, I’m not saying Norway is at war, I’m making an analogy).
While you’re at it look up pattern recognition.
But please, if you have a substantial allegation to make, make it. Anything but this relentless procession of winks and nudges. It’s good that you invented the phrase “wet dream” though – congratulations.
Inconsistencies would be where questions generally stem from, unless you’re happy to swallow Bloke – It seems you are a swallower!
“While you’re at it look up pattern recognition”
– Yes I recognize patterns; they are dead easy to feel once you understand yourself, and the world around you. Clearly, pattern recognition is obviously a problem for you, as you can’t seem to see the patterns in the “terror drills” I referred to that were run prior to Oklahoma City, NYC, London and Oslo, as a start, nor even bother to check out those patterns!
“But please, if you have a substantial allegation to make, make it. Anything but this relentless procession of winks and nudges. It’s good that you invented the phrase “wet dream” though – congratulations.”
– No Bloke, you parroted my use it, trying to deflect with nonsense such as “invention” , only serves to make you’re ego look silly!
– Go looking for it yourself bro, don’t be lazy and expect anyone to walk you through life, or make demands of others, whose understanding might threaten your self belief system (ego)
So just like a couple of days ago, I will leave it to you to get the last word in, and I’ll await the next insult fit from you eagerly…
Edit:
PS – research does not equal reading websites – LOL, nah of course not, was that meant to be information, or a regurgitation of the stuff you swallow!
Your response to my remark about pattern recognition is the funniest thing I’ve read in a while. Do yourself a favour and actually look it up and actually think about the implications of the information you find.
Apart from that, since the rest of your comment amounts to a big nothing – not one substantive word in seven paragraphs – there’s nothing to respond to. Love the cute projection though.
You’ve got to wonder why the Police uncuffed the bastard so he could give the Nazi salute. I thought they weren’t going to give him a platform to promote fascism? This just makes Norway look bad.
“… all before the police got to him, and amazingly never shot him dead”.
He rang the cops twice to arrange his surrender after he couldn’t find any more kids to kill. He then disarmed himself and waited for them to get to the island.
Have to agree with KTH; your whole comment is pathetic muzza, and you should be ashamed for not thinking it through before posting.
Muz, if my grandmother could get the whole National Party caucus on Somes Island using the same artillery Brevik had the cops would not get there in time. AAnd she could quite easily park the car (complete with time bomb) outside some government office on the Terrace and walk to the ferry to Somes.
I had a look at the “inconsistencies”, the one thing conspiracy theorist seem to regularly do is ascribe “intelligence” to Intelligence organisations. That is a big leap of faith. No conspiracies here, just a failure to prevent.
The asset sale 49% ownership loophole is unresolved.
John Key has said “trust us”. I trusted him last term, he kept his word on asset sales. But if National include an allowance in the MOM bill for greater than 49% stakeholding through non-voting shares I can’t see it being anything other than a breach of agreement.
Peter Dunne has emphasised to me the importance of government retaining control through majority voting rights – I agree with this. But it’s not enough, it ignores campaign and C&S commitments.
John Key’s word, National’s written agreement, and United Future’s pledges, need to be reflected in the legislation. Or I have a major problem with it.
Good on you Pete, go hard. Most NZers understand this as being 51% ownership, not just 51% control.
Whenever someone says “trust me” you have to watch out. They should never have put themselves in a position where that has to be said. It indicates creaking failures in the particular system.
Pete George, you’re like the waterbuffalo who comfortably enters inside National’s cottage, except you suddenly find that your tail can’t quite fit through the door. Fucking laughable.
Yeah, right. One has to either back an imperfect government – I’ve backed both National and Labour led governments – or you’re pissing in the desert.
This is a relatively minor issue for National, they could proceed and still keep their word this term – if it wasn’t for the C&S, which I think is a big issue and important principle.
Key’s not going to try convincing you until the privatisation goes through Pete. Then he will listen to whether you like it or not… yeah right! 70% against MOM privatisation, who cares. Just like the opinion of scientists and judges, Key can find another public opinion that suits him. Selling more than 51% to your rich mates, priceless!
Well done P2. Key seems hell bent on achieving a surplus by 2014, no matter what the consequence. It is becomming apparent that there is a limited plan to progress NZ, when we need money just allow a few more pokkies to pay for it.
Breaking news: Japan gets roped in (thank you very much for the $60 billion … oh hello, IMF, and what are you wearing today, beautiful Christine Lagarde?). Spain is ok for now. Markets overnight were smiling. (New Zealand dollar up.)
Next stop, errrr … Italy? And who to rope in to get a bail out? Ummm, China? The poor Chinese. You remember the Opium Wars? Well, they have been repackaged and will be sold to you as Debt Wars (against you and peoples of the world).
“Governments are cutting spending and raising taxes in Europe, the United States and Japan, dragging on growth, the report said. And banks are also reducing their debts, particularly in Europe. That’s reducing lending and also slowing growth”
– Lol banks are reducing their debt – No mention of how this is happening, no mention of why they can’t lend because they are insolvment. No, its just the fact that the banks are actually insolvent, and being bailed out by “sovereign nations” and via the IMF loans to Greece for example, currency swaps with the FED, and the like…
This is all the slowest moving and most gigantic train wreck the world has seen. Until people realise that the point of no return has already been passed – then it will be all on and extremely rapid.
It is a wonder people can even see in Europe and the US such is the proliferation of smoke and mirrors.
Don’t leave your money in one of them multi-national banks is all I can say.
Iceland, the elephant in the room that undermines the narrative. Do you see how they addressed the “point of no return” in a “gigantic trainwreck” and yet the sky inexplicably failed to fall on their heads despite the fact that it was “all on and extremely rapid”?
The IMF is citing them as a case study – is the “truth” a little more complex than will fit into conceited soundbites? Does that collapse the conspiracist waveform much?
“New Zealand consumer confidence lifted in April, suggesting a pick-up in the local economy as households feel more optimistic about their financial well-being”
– I wonder what might happen if the truth was reported all those years ago!
One day roses, another day rats, and then roses again, but quickly followed by rats ~ ad infinitum.
Volatility is the name of the latest money game.
Money traders and speculators make more money, more quickly with yoyo-ing market sentiments.
And after a bit of cheer yesterday, here is a bit of gloom today from the IMF:
“European banks remain under pressure from weak growth and high debt repayments and need to strengthen their balance sheets by reducing assets and increasing their capital to regain investor confidence, the IMF said in its latest Global Financial Stability Report.”
More than 80 Israeli soldiers and reservists have signed a petition of support for a military commander who was filmed assaulting a Danish pro-Palestinian activist.
Lieutenant Colonel Shalom Eisner was suspended after the video emerged showing him hitting Andreas Ias in the face with an M16 rifle as he tried to disperse a demonstration.
The incident happened on Saturday when a group of foreign and Palestinian cyclists attempted to block a main road near Jericho to protest against Israel’s occupation of the West Bank.
Lt Col Eisner told military investigators that two of his fingers had been broken in an attack by the Danish campaigner before he retaliated with his weapon.
Mr Ias, an activist with the pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement, responded that any claims that he had used violence were a “complete lie”.
The Palestinian cameraman who filmed the incident also insisted that the activists had been conducting an entirely peaceful protest. Several other activists were reported to have been injured in scuffles with Israeli troops.
In a letter to the Chief of Staff of Israel’s military, Lt General Benny Gantz, 83 soldiers, officers and reservists who have served under Lt Col Eisner said that he was a “moral and ethical” commander.
They called for his years of military service, upholding Israel’s “values”, to be taken into account.
The Israeli Defence Forces have removed Lt Col Eisner from his position as deputy commander of the Jordan Valley Territorial brigade while the investigation continues.
Denmark’s ambassador to Israel has called for the Israeli military to provide clarification following the incident.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the officer’s actions saying: “Such behaviour has no place in the Israeli defence forces or in the state of Israel.”
President Shimon Peres has expressed his “shock” at the attack.
Seems Yahweh is alive and active with the “Chosen People”. And if you believe this nonsense you can declare your enemies unfavoured by your God and smite them with impunity. They can be labelled “unter-menchen”, “infidel”, etc, anything to make them lesser mortals in the eye of your faith / ethos. Its been going on for a thousand years, this is just the latest Crusader state and it will go the same way as the rest of them, just a matter of time.
Unfortunately as we wait these latter day Nazis will cause a lot of pain and grief for all.
“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the officer’s actions saying: “Such behaviour has no place in the Israeli defence forces or in the state of Israel.”
“President Shimon Peres has expressed his “shock” at the attack”
– Two of the worlds worst war criminals feigning shock !
Hi All
Here’s a brilliant little video only 2 minutes long demonstrating that modern Extreme Weather events are Climate Change in action as the hydrological cycle continues to become more extreme.
Thanks for the link Johnm
Quite fitting it is being held on May 5th, also International Midwives Day. Birth, life, families and a healthy planet all share a common link. 🙂
The Siberian Permafrost continues to melt producing lakes which absorb heat more effectively and releasing increasing amounts of methane formerly frozen and trapped.
In some ways the biggest News Stories of our time: The Mega Mega Scoops of the Century are:
1. Climate Change is real and increasing.
2. Peak Oil and the end now of the exponential growth Oil Age.
The risk to New Zealand’s horticultural industry from slack GE trial controls cannot be overemphasized. In 2009, New Zealand had exports and domestic sales of $6 billion, making horticulture a top performer and crucial for our economic stability…
Protest tonight at GI Auckland, assemble 5.30pm at Public Library Line Rd, march to GI Police station. Trains run from Britomart to GI.
Nasty bash ups by cops last night including John Minto and the usual banning orders being issued as left activists and local resident activists protest at state house removals. Joe Carolan has been forbidden to associate with John Bernard Minto which could be awkward given they work for the same union!
URGENT!! SEEN THIS?
(Forwarded in the public interest by Penny Bright – Sue Henry doesn’t have a computer)
PRESS RELEASE: TAMAKI HOUSING GROUP
“Brutality used to enforce Housing Minister Phil Heatley’s Northern Glen Innes land grab.”
“It’s an appalling state of affairs when a large contingency of Police are used to enforce a Government policy to privatise State Housing stock,” says Tamaki Housing Group Media Spokesperson Sue Henry.
“There were a number of serious casualities at the disgusting fiasco at the Silverton Ave address in Glen Innes North last night. There have been accounts of serious injuries to onlookers including the hospitalisation of a female State Housing tenant.”
The Tamaki Housing Group want an immediate moratorium on any further demolition or removals of State Housing stock.
“Where is the mandate and upon what lawful basis are any of these state housing assets being removed?” asks Sue Henry.
“Tonight an urgent meeting of the community has been called at 5.30pm, outside the Glen Innes Public Library (108 Line Rd Glen Innes) to help save our Housing State assets, and defend our basic human rights to peaceful protest and freedom of expression.”
Is John Howard the most dishonest Australian prime minister ever?
You might have to reconsider…
“This is a war with a purpose. This is a war with an end.”
—Julia Gillard, on the Afghanistan occupation
National Radio News, 12:30 p.m., Wednesday 18.4.12
Well Gillard got into her current role by lying and backstabbing, which removes wiggle room post coup!
The continued path is the only option you have available after being put into such a position.
Gillard is one of the most horrid globalist puppets doing the rounds, they just seem to get worse and worse…
Wonder when we will actually lose the right to a vote, can’t be too far away….probably be a slightly more honest system if it was just admitted we already live under dictatorships!
Good on you Tony P, I had noticed via the net Levon doing quite a lot over the last several years. I watch the “Last Waltz” at least once a year and it is amazing the young’uns that enjoy it too. Like most of the Band except Robbie, he can sing too! A life most of us can only imagine having lived.
Very sad, great feel player (as opposed to being a technical by the numbers player) with a great voice alongside other similiarly gifted musos like robbie robertson.
Checkout Scorsese’s ‘The last waltz’, captures him and many other fine musicians in flight.
One of the marks of a great drummer is playing the song, not just the beat. Levon is one of those for sure, you could listen to the drum tracks of something like “The Weight” in isolation with no other instruments and still follow and enjoy the song fully.
And as others have noted, a great singer too. A class act all round.
Fantastic day to day for all NZ workers to hear that two large mulintationals (Heinz Wattie being one) are closing plants in Australia,and bringing the production to NZ tocreate more jobs. The primary cause was because the Labor regulations in Australia were far to restrictive making the production costs to high. Just goes to show what happens when you build plants in places like Melbourne where costs are so high to manufacture because of their Labor laws, and lack of productivity.
It also shows how important the employment law reforms were that National put in place to make our country more attractive to investment, not to mention the 90 day bill which has also helped. Im sure all of you on this blog will be supporting this move ,and the increase of jobs for New Zealanders.
jobs are jobs, that is a good thing and there can be no doubt about that.
yup the ongoing aspirations of NZrs will be sustained by the crapshoot opportunity to can fruit for 90 days. Now if only we could get some toothpick sanding contracts we would really be showing the world a thing or two.
Becoming the Mexico of Australasia is a sign that NZ is going in the right direction. National’s “Brighter Future” will have arrived when CCF advertises that for a single dollar a day Australians can sponsor a poor NZ child. /sarc
There are people out there Kotahi that dont get paid by union dues every week ,and want jobs. They want to work this is a great opportunity for them to work. Whilst I am on Union delegates what sort of hours do they work. I work for myself if I dont work I dont get paid. My understanding was that the delgates work for their providers the workers.
There is one particular EMPMU delegate not to far from me who is always home at 9.00am , and back again by 2.30 pm
Are their hours and work ethics very similar to that public service comedy show we use to have on TV here called gliding on?
Trust you to celebrate the loss of workers jobs James. Where is the much vaunted private sector wealth creation? All I see is a corporate ripping wealth out of one Australian community, putting a little bit back in another NZ community, and pocketing the difference for their investors.
What kind of “wealth creation” is this? Wealth for the 1% or the 0.1% perhaps.
So corporates playing countries off against each other, making workers on one side lose big while another side get a few crumbs while they pocket the rest makes it a sunny day?
Of course – for the top 1% who pocket the dividends.
Glad the jobs are coming to NZ Viper does anything make you happy?
Not at the cost of Australian workers. This is not “wealth creation” this is a race to the bottom of the barrel.
I’m with Felix on this one. Jim Jim is lying. But even he weren’t, can I just point out that the EMA employs HR consultants who work from home using laptops, data cards and smartphones, what with this being 2012 ‘n all. The non existent neighbour is probably just juggling work and life like most of us do and working wherever she and her laptop happen to be. Welcome to the world of wired work, James.
I am all for freedom of speech and the protection of political discourse and the ability of holders of minority views to be allowed space to state those views publicly.
But James 111 is an illiterate troll and a waste of bandwidth. He does not have the decency to even address the points of view put to him. Pete George at least engages and holds to his views, even though we think those views are ill founded.
James 111’s comment about Glen Riddell the other day was the last straw. I reckon he should be banned …
[lprent: Hasn’t done anything that I’d notice as a moderator. As a commentator, I’d have to say that he makes trolls look intelligent. He appears to be too stupid to recognize any argument more subtle than an anal probe. Please aliens – take him away…. Mind you. He is a perfect candidate for Irish.. Anyone have a book open? ]
Just in case you wanted to read the article other companies are Woolworths, Imperial Tobaco. They love the lower rate of unionisation in NZ compared with Australia, and the fact that penalty rates are much less.
Just goes to show if try to force to much in a hourly rate out of an employer they will move or change the way they operate. They have to in order to stay competitive very similar to POA compared to POT you cant be paying $65 per hour for actual hours worked just doesnt add up
According to James 111’s logic all wages should be halved and safety requirements done away with. After that everyone will have jobs! But no one will want to live here …
Prism that was the figures released by the company for actual hours worked as they had to pay for them to be on stand by im sure I can find the info again for you if you want was very revealing
It appears that ”the brighter future” is about to arrive in spades,the announced dairy pay-outs to the farmers will come in about a dollar a kilo lower next year,
Translated that equals about a billion dollars less of economic activity in the New Zealand economy as well as a further hole in the Governments revenue from taxes,
It would appear that ”our competitors” are fast catching up in terms of dairy production with demand from places such as China softening as their ”economic growth” falls to 6% or so,
The current recession will obviously continue well into the future and its easy to see why Slippery and the entourage are wandering round the near east with the begging bowl out,
For Labour and the Greens we would suggest that the tax policy of both party,s be thrashed out now rather than at a point where they become the elected Government,
Our suggestion being that GST either be lowered back to 12.5% or be done away with altogether and a stringent ”no holes” financial transaction tax be implemented…
Yeaa right and capital gains tax on everything that moves!! and pension age will move to 70 that will be a winner.
Tax Tax and more Tax is there another economic model that the left might have? As I said the problem with socialism is what happens when you out of spending other peoples money you have nothing left ,and no plan
Mcflock
Absolutely agree with you and Labour was going to borrow another 2.7 billion than National in election year promises, and have added another 1.8 billion since then, the party of borrowers
Oh great we have the homophobic, EPMU delegate stalking dropkick back.
Was hoping you would be too embarressed to return, but no sadly we have to be tortured by this fool some more.
CV sell your best assets off so you can borrow more so you can sell the rest of your assets!
Jturd your figures are wrong just an out and out lie up there with gosman.
Labour leader shearer cans first $5,000 tax free policy
Borrowing Bills English is $ 3 billion short on predictions lower tax take due to tax cuts and weak economy.
Jturd is that why all the economies that are growing are taxing and spending and the economies that are in recession or depression are retrenching and giving tax cuts to the few wealthy.
Jturd show me a right wing economy that is growing come on easy question ,
Jturd the answer is there is none not one.
mike e said “right wing economy” james 111, which encompasses a countries tax system.
Switzerlands economy is dependent on a steady tide of foreign investment. As other countries experience instability, people are looking for a secure haven to keep their money. Switzerland has experienced GDP growth of 2.7%. They do have problems with hot money schemes though and there are a number of new rules being implemented to toughen up the system with things like information sharing agreements with other countries.
Switzerland is a republic confederation of 26 cantons (states), which all have varying degrees of taxation. About the only thing you can say is right wing is that they don’t have a CGT. Their constitution is devised from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
So you decry the Slippery National Government its borrowing of billions of dollars of ”other peoples money”???,
Seems to fall well within your ”spending of other peoples money” as does selling off 49% of profitable assets which National are hell bent on accomplishing this term,
So what happens when Slippery,s ‘international Monetarism’ has sold off the very profit making assets used as the basis upon which it borrows all of ”this other peoples money”???,
Its relatively simple,Slippery swans off to the island hide-away to congratulate himself for an ugly little financial mess He has made of the country,s economy leaving Labour and the Greens with a economy perched upon the edge of the chasm, a daramticly falling Government revenue from taxation limiting any ability to borrow more and creeping up to the point of not being able to service Slippery and National,s debt for tax cuts loading,
At 2014 with such a debt loading, an unequal tax burden on the lower income earners, a dollar trading far too high and falling export receipts there will need be in place a new Government of the left’s means to stabilize the economy and promote internal growth,
A Financial Transaction Tax,the dramatic cutting of the GST tax and a State Housing program financed by the use of Quantitative Easing in such a case will not be a ‘wish list’, such will become a necessity…
The Police have used excessive force to disband a peaceful protest, obviously singling out and arresting John Minto because of his activism and seriously injuring an elderly lady who had to go to hospital…
Maybe John Key is going for some popular score as well. I wonder if he’s using the Secret service to help score a win here or just letting the Indonesian ‘we don’t care about human rights’ police to install some happy good times justice for John Key there.
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
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TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
Is the economy in another long stagnation? If so, why?This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be ...
The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-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 ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
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 ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
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 ...
This episode of A View From Afar was recorded LIVE on May 6, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, May 5, 2024 at 8:30pm (USEST). In an analytical essay titled ‘A moment of friction’ political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan wrote how we are living within a decisive moment ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Taylor, Assistant Professor, Bond University Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures At the crux of the critical response to Luca Guadagnino’s new movie Challengers is one word: “sexy”. The film charts a love triangle between three up-and-coming tennis players: Tashi (Zendaya), ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenny Stewart, Professor of Public Policy, ADFA Canberra, UNSW Sydney For years, First Nations people have been telling governments they want to be listened to. In particular, they want more ownership of the programs and services that are supposed to help them. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Why do trees have bark? Julien, age 6, Melbourne. This is a great question, Julien. We are so familiar with bark on trees, that most of us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Nasser, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, University of Technology Sydney PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important ligament in the knee. It runs from the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia) and helps stabilise ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne I covered the May 2 United Kingdom local government elections for The Poll Bludger. The Blackpool South parliamentary byelection was also held, ...
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 6 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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Just reading in granny about Waikato rugby and some financial issues that show they just think they are special then there’s that naki iwi who’ve lost millions run by a former Nat candidate.
Is this a theme here with former Nat pollys and nat backer in finance companies, iwi, rugby or just coincidence. If it is a theme it’s no wonder they can’t manage an economy as all they seem to understand is plunder without planning.
Well well well….
SkyCity wooed new Govt after failures in court
What is happening to our beloved country.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10799633
SkyCity’s deal over pokies in exchange for a national convention centre comes after three failed court attempts to expand its casino business.
It repeatedly challenged the Gambling Commission over its restrictions – so much that ministers overseeing gambling regulation have been warned about direct lobbying by the casino company.
SkyCity has not filed a court challenge since the National Government came to power in 2008.
and the Herald editorialists, who have a strong moral sense about this, are not being convinced by this BS either:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz-government/news/article.cfm?c_id=144&objectid=10799574
Legislation to allow more cashless pokies aimed at working and benefit poor people (the ones who fill up the place on the Weds and Fridays Sky Say shows they are at capacity) looks like an increasingly dirty deal for the government
Hmmm….
http://t.co/B4N8pUwR
The Herald has also now picked up on this being a Key offer
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10799699
+1.
More and more of our democracy is being whittled away. Lian Dalziel was on TV this morning talking about new government moves taking power away from Christchurch’s elected councillors.
In reaction to the Council declaring themselves Frack Free no doubt. They also encouraged other councils around New Zealand to do the same, Which National would be livid about. They will make every other excuse in the world, but it’s because Christchurch threatens their mine it, drill it and wreck it for a few dollars policy that the heat is on.
No doubt
Id much rather pokies in pubs and clubs around auckland are moved to Sky City than the issue of Sky City installing more.
Jared – you are right – it is difficult to accept that there is not considerable damage from pokies outside Sky City.
Close all outside pokies – particularly in Auckland south and centralise them where they can be controlled like those in Sky City.
Major Sky City money movements are not through the pokies but the tables.
If Brevik continues to claim he is at war.
Maybe he should be tried as a war criminal.
Quite amazing how one guy almost doubled the previous number of people shot & killed by a single shooter, all before the police got to him, and amazingly never shot him dead – WOW!
No inconsistancies in the stories either…And of course there was the obligatory “terrorist” exercises by Oslo Police a couple of days before hand….Just like London and NYC before that…
If you hear anything about terror drills, it would seem the pudent advise would be to head in another direction. – I don’t include the attempted manufacturing of the Uruwera in that, which was so clearly a contrived local beat up!
I’m sure its all just coincidental though – Send him to the Hague, where it is highly likely he will die waiting for a trial – Prediction, he will be dead one way or another soon enough!
How repugnant that you exploit this disgusting act to promote a conspiracy theory.
Shame.
Opinion = exploiting now does it!
Perhaps you might have a crack at the queries raised then!
I have obviously got under your skin, and your ego just can’t handle it.
Perhaps you might have a crack at feeling thoroughly ashamed of yourself.
I have friends from Noway in Oslo and Stavanger, they are asking questions too, want the truth, and feel they are being lied to!
The situation was an absolute tragedy, but like the case of French shooter, who in fact on an american no fly list, raises more questions than answers than are being drilled into.
Questions you again avoid, and in another uncontrolled fit, your massive ego initiates yet another attack…
Shame on you, to insist on dragging this tragedy down to your self-aggrandising narrative.
The fact that there are other paranoiacs out there, and that you are in contact with them, does not surprise me.
The problem with your “questions” is that you clearly think you know the answers to them – which makes them assertions, not questions. We can easily cut through your rhetoric though: state exactly what you are talking about – put your allegations on the table – put up or shut up. Come on, I’m far too ego-centric and confused to make sense of your witless melange, so I’m afraid you’re going to have to spell it out for me.
I have had serious questions and doubts about the French shooter! The story around him changed every day… to start with, he was an unknown right-winger after shooting three Muslim soldiers, and then, after the shooting at the Jewish school, suddenly he was an Islamist…
Perhaps the story changed as more information became available – and in fact the early versions were merely speculative?
The issue is that one man with an automatic weapon, lots of ammo, after untrained civilian targets…it was going to be a massive tragedy from the start.
The island was a perfect place to do this – law enforcement was slow and constrained as to how they could get out there.
If they could have got police on the ground within 10 minutes of the shootings starting many lives could have been saved, but not even our AOS can respond that quickly to an incident down the road.
It’s a sad and sordid tale of a fearful mind being whipped into a murderous rage by paranoid extremist rhetoric. Breivik’s conspiracy theories aren’t exactly rare.
There are whole networks of people like this in Europe that he was tied into, online mostly I understand. And now he gets an international platform for his ideas. Dangerous to the extreme.
Three are whole networks, according to Breivik. I suspect he may have overestimated the commitment of the other “members”.
The “online”, “lone wolf” community, hmmm…
Now that those “nasty arabs” have been dealt with, and AQ being used to overthrow countries, re Lybia, the focus was turned onto the “crazy white, lone wolf scenario”
Terror groups of “fanatical brown people”, conveniently, and on que becomes, lone wolf terrorist pacts of “crazy white people”..
Who in this world can possibly be trusted then, if both the brown and white faces have given over to terrorism, as groups, and as individuals?
– Trust your government, seems the only message!
What a wanker you are Muzza, fantasising about secret conspiracies. Were you having your wet dreams while children were still being shot?
“What a waaanker you are Muzza, fantasising about secret conspiracies. Were you having your wet dreams while children were still being shot?”
– Again, no attempt to address the real questions, no research, no understading – MASSIVE ego
– More insults, illustrating fabulous arrogance, resplendent with key buzzwords, “fantasy, secret, conspiracy”.
– Actually parroting my use of the term ‘wet dream”, from a few days ago – Oh dear, originality lacking! – I am flattered however 😉
Just stop with the insults, and see if you can get a grip on your ego, try asking, then have a crack at answering some quesions. Maybe if you get adventurous, try some research!
What “questions”? Reality check: you haven’t posed any – you’ve asserted that there are “inconsistencies” (don’t ever become a trial lawyer – you might discover that even eye witness accounts can be “inconsistent”!) you’ve expressed amazement (while revealing your ignorance) that Breivik wasn’t shot. You’ve suggested the fact of a “terror drill” is somehow connected to this crime.
Get a clue, Muzza, there will always be “questions” that “must be answered” in an event like this. Have you never heard of “the fog of war”? (No, I’m not saying Norway is at war, I’m making an analogy).
While you’re at it look up pattern recognition.
But please, if you have a substantial allegation to make, make it. Anything but this relentless procession of winks and nudges. It’s good that you invented the phrase “wet dream” though – congratulations.
PS: research ≠ reading websites
Inconsistencies would be where questions generally stem from, unless you’re happy to swallow Bloke – It seems you are a swallower!
“While you’re at it look up pattern recognition”
– Yes I recognize patterns; they are dead easy to feel once you understand yourself, and the world around you. Clearly, pattern recognition is obviously a problem for you, as you can’t seem to see the patterns in the “terror drills” I referred to that were run prior to Oklahoma City, NYC, London and Oslo, as a start, nor even bother to check out those patterns!
“But please, if you have a substantial allegation to make, make it. Anything but this relentless procession of winks and nudges. It’s good that you invented the phrase “wet dream” though – congratulations.”
– No Bloke, you parroted my use it, trying to deflect with nonsense such as “invention” , only serves to make you’re ego look silly!
– Go looking for it yourself bro, don’t be lazy and expect anyone to walk you through life, or make demands of others, whose understanding might threaten your self belief system (ego)
So just like a couple of days ago, I will leave it to you to get the last word in, and I’ll await the next insult fit from you eagerly…
Edit:
PS – research does not equal reading websites – LOL, nah of course not, was that meant to be information, or a regurgitation of the stuff you swallow!
Your response to my remark about pattern recognition is the funniest thing I’ve read in a while. Do yourself a favour and actually look it up and actually think about the implications of the information you find.
Apart from that, since the rest of your comment amounts to a big nothing – not one substantive word in seven paragraphs – there’s nothing to respond to. Love the cute projection though.
KTH, shame on you. Your insult is egotistical, mean-minded and unwarranted.
Perhaps. It is a reflection of my feelings about conspiracy theories.
Youre onto it muzza!
You’ve got to wonder why the Police uncuffed the bastard so he could give the Nazi salute. I thought they weren’t going to give him a platform to promote fascism? This just makes Norway look bad.
AND the prosecuting lawyer shook hands with him
“… all before the police got to him, and amazingly never shot him dead”.
He rang the cops twice to arrange his surrender after he couldn’t find any more kids to kill. He then disarmed himself and waited for them to get to the island.
Have to agree with KTH; your whole comment is pathetic muzza, and you should be ashamed for not thinking it through before posting.
Muz, if my grandmother could get the whole National Party caucus on Somes Island using the same artillery Brevik had the cops would not get there in time. AAnd she could quite easily park the car (complete with time bomb) outside some government office on the Terrace and walk to the ferry to Somes.
I had a look at the “inconsistencies”, the one thing conspiracy theorist seem to regularly do is ascribe “intelligence” to Intelligence organisations. That is a big leap of faith. No conspiracies here, just a failure to prevent.
+1
http://nomoremister.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/breivik-still-citing-his-pal-pam-geller.html
jenny agreed first he should be sent to guantanamo
“If Brevik continues to claim he is at war. Maybe he should be tried as a war criminal.”
That’s exactly what he asked for. I’m pleased the justice system turned him down. He’s either insane or a criminal – definitely not a soldier.
An illegal combatant, then. Ask the US to extradite him to the Sudan.
The asset sale 49% ownership loophole is unresolved.
John Key has said “trust us”. I trusted him last term, he kept his word on asset sales. But if National include an allowance in the MOM bill for greater than 49% stakeholding through non-voting shares I can’t see it being anything other than a breach of agreement.
Peter Dunne has emphasised to me the importance of government retaining control through majority voting rights – I agree with this. But it’s not enough, it ignores campaign and C&S commitments.
John Key’s word, National’s written agreement, and United Future’s pledges, need to be reflected in the legislation. Or I have a major problem with it.
http://yournz.org/2012/04/18/asset-sales-49-ownership-at-risk/
Good on you Pete, go hard. Most NZers understand this as being 51% ownership, not just 51% control.
Whenever someone says “trust me” you have to watch out. They should never have put themselves in a position where that has to be said. It indicates creaking failures in the particular system.
Well done Pete. Be staunch …
Pete George, you’re like the waterbuffalo who comfortably enters inside National’s cottage, except you suddenly find that your tail can’t quite fit through the door. Fucking laughable.
Yeah, right. One has to either back an imperfect government – I’ve backed both National and Labour led governments – or you’re pissing in the desert.
This is a relatively minor issue for National, they could proceed and still keep their word this term – if it wasn’t for the C&S, which I think is a big issue and important principle.
“They could proceed and still keep their word this term”
Key’s not going to try convincing you until the privatisation goes through Pete. Then he will listen to whether you like it or not… yeah right! 70% against MOM privatisation, who cares. Just like the opinion of scientists and judges, Key can find another public opinion that suits him. Selling more than 51% to your rich mates, priceless!
Keep up the pressure Pete.
When John Key opens his mouth you know he is lying. When John Key says ‘trust us’ you know he’s going to shaft you.
And – only believe something if he denies it ?
If he is the only source of the information that would be a pretty good starting premise, yes.
Well done P2. Key seems hell bent on achieving a surplus by 2014, no matter what the consequence. It is becomming apparent that there is a limited plan to progress NZ, when we need money just allow a few more pokkies to pay for it.
The surplus is merely a convenient theoretical cover for the 1%’s appropriation of NZ wealth.
Surplus could be achieved within 12 months should we wish to design a taxation policy for the top 5% to achieve it.
Big day in Christchurch.
Our wise and magnificent leaders are about to tell us what we must do.
But, as shown by Doug Graham’s pathetic showings recently, these people who make these decisions are bloody average so don’t expect much.
Dairy prices fall 9.9% overnight; dairy index down 17% since end of last year
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10799688
Well, there is some pain headed this way now.
What I especially love from the “business desk” is the lack of explanation…you could be forgiven for thinking that things in Europe are about….to….turn….around
Who brought the Spanish debt, it did not say…
Why are the equities markets up, again it didn’t say…
These are questions which , if the article does not answer, the article is worthless!
People read this dross, and believe all is well!
Well and truly into the era where nation-states (and their citizens) are on their knees and being held captive or blackmailed.
“We are in this all together”:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/17/eurozone-crisis-japan-firewall-imf
Breaking news: Japan gets roped in (thank you very much for the $60 billion … oh hello, IMF, and what are you wearing today, beautiful Christine Lagarde?). Spain is ok for now. Markets overnight were smiling. (New Zealand dollar up.)
Next stop, errrr … Italy? And who to rope in to get a bail out? Ummm, China? The poor Chinese. You remember the Opium Wars? Well, they have been repackaged and will be sold to you as Debt Wars (against you and peoples of the world).
Followed up with this cut and paste from the AP desk!
“Governments are cutting spending and raising taxes in Europe, the United States and Japan, dragging on growth, the report said. And banks are also reducing their debts, particularly in Europe. That’s reducing lending and also slowing growth”
– Lol banks are reducing their debt – No mention of how this is happening, no mention of why they can’t lend because they are insolvment. No, its just the fact that the banks are actually insolvent, and being bailed out by “sovereign nations” and via the IMF loans to Greece for example, currency swaps with the FED, and the like…
Carry on!
This is all the slowest moving and most gigantic train wreck the world has seen. Until people realise that the point of no return has already been passed – then it will be all on and extremely rapid.
It is a wonder people can even see in Europe and the US such is the proliferation of smoke and mirrors.
Don’t leave your money in one of them multi-national banks is all I can say.
Iceland, the elephant in the room that undermines the narrative. Do you see how they addressed the “point of no return” in a “gigantic trainwreck” and yet the sky inexplicably failed to fall on their heads despite the fact that it was “all on and extremely rapid”?
The IMF is citing them as a case study – is the “truth” a little more complex than will fit into conceited soundbites? Does that collapse the conspiracist waveform much?
Its as if they have these stories on standby, just waiting to roll them out on queue
“New Zealand consumer confidence lifted in April, suggesting a pick-up in the local economy as households feel more optimistic about their financial well-being”
– I wonder what might happen if the truth was reported all those years ago!
One day roses, another day rats, and then roses again, but quickly followed by rats ~ ad infinitum.
Volatility is the name of the latest money game.
Money traders and speculators make more money, more quickly with yoyo-ing market sentiments.
And after a bit of cheer yesterday, here is a bit of gloom today from the IMF:
“European banks remain under pressure from weak growth and high debt repayments and need to strengthen their balance sheets by reducing assets and increasing their capital to regain investor confidence, the IMF said in its latest Global Financial Stability Report.”
“Investor”? Who is that?
“The most moral army in the world”
IDF Soldiers Support Officer Over Activist Attack
More than 80 Israeli soldiers and reservists have signed a petition of support for a military commander who was filmed assaulting a Danish pro-Palestinian activist.
Lieutenant Colonel Shalom Eisner was suspended after the video emerged showing him hitting Andreas Ias in the face with an M16 rifle as he tried to disperse a demonstration.
The incident happened on Saturday when a group of foreign and Palestinian cyclists attempted to block a main road near Jericho to protest against Israel’s occupation of the West Bank.
Lt Col Eisner told military investigators that two of his fingers had been broken in an attack by the Danish campaigner before he retaliated with his weapon.
Mr Ias, an activist with the pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement, responded that any claims that he had used violence were a “complete lie”.
The Palestinian cameraman who filmed the incident also insisted that the activists had been conducting an entirely peaceful protest. Several other activists were reported to have been injured in scuffles with Israeli troops.
In a letter to the Chief of Staff of Israel’s military, Lt General Benny Gantz, 83 soldiers, officers and reservists who have served under Lt Col Eisner said that he was a “moral and ethical” commander.
They called for his years of military service, upholding Israel’s “values”, to be taken into account.
The Israeli Defence Forces have removed Lt Col Eisner from his position as deputy commander of the Jordan Valley Territorial brigade while the investigation continues.
Denmark’s ambassador to Israel has called for the Israeli military to provide clarification following the incident.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the officer’s actions saying: “Such behaviour has no place in the Israeli defence forces or in the state of Israel.”
President Shimon Peres has expressed his “shock” at the attack.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/soldiers-support-officer-over-activist-attack-125819750.html
Of course, after all it is highly moral to smash your enemies in the face, and immoral not to do so.
Seems Yahweh is alive and active with the “Chosen People”. And if you believe this nonsense you can declare your enemies unfavoured by your God and smite them with impunity. They can be labelled “unter-menchen”, “infidel”, etc, anything to make them lesser mortals in the eye of your faith / ethos. Its been going on for a thousand years, this is just the latest Crusader state and it will go the same way as the rest of them, just a matter of time.
Unfortunately as we wait these latter day Nazis will cause a lot of pain and grief for all.
I have been reading about that on the Guardian and here:
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/israel-and-palestine/120416/danish-government-seeks-information-be
“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the officer’s actions saying: “Such behaviour has no place in the Israeli defence forces or in the state of Israel.”
“President Shimon Peres has expressed his “shock” at the attack”
– Two of the worlds worst war criminals feigning shock !
Hi All
Here’s a brilliant little video only 2 minutes long demonstrating that modern Extreme Weather events are Climate Change in action as the hydrological cycle continues to become more extreme.
Link:http://www.commondreams.org/video/2012/04/17-0
Thanks for the link Johnm
Quite fitting it is being held on May 5th, also International Midwives Day. Birth, life, families and a healthy planet all share a common link. 🙂
Climate Change:
The Siberian Permafrost continues to melt producing lakes which absorb heat more effectively and releasing increasing amounts of methane formerly frozen and trapped.
In some ways the biggest News Stories of our time: The Mega Mega Scoops of the Century are:
1. Climate Change is real and increasing.
2. Peak Oil and the end now of the exponential growth Oil Age.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRbi9CfEjbc&feature=related
These realities are it seems just too big for us to cope with so we just deny them and continue with BAU- not that really we have a choice.
Farrars engineered accusations
The risk to New Zealand’s horticultural industry from slack GE trial controls cannot be overemphasized. In 2009, New Zealand had exports and domestic sales of $6 billion, making horticulture a top performer and crucial for our economic stability…
Protest tonight at GI Auckland, assemble 5.30pm at Public Library Line Rd, march to GI Police station. Trains run from Britomart to GI.
Nasty bash ups by cops last night including John Minto and the usual banning orders being issued as left activists and local resident activists protest at state house removals. Joe Carolan has been forbidden to associate with John Bernard Minto which could be awkward given they work for the same union!
Anyone that can make it should.
http://news.tangatawhenua.com/archives/17284
https://www.facebook.com/ManaParty
Minto Barred?
Not absolutely sure yet Reo, though part of Carolan’s bail terms forbid him “to enter the Glenn Innes area or be found within the Glen Innes area”.
the bloody tories just cant keep their grubby little fingers off anything that belongs to someone else.
URGENT!! SEEN THIS?
(Forwarded in the public interest by Penny Bright – Sue Henry doesn’t have a computer)
PRESS RELEASE: TAMAKI HOUSING GROUP
“Brutality used to enforce Housing Minister Phil Heatley’s Northern Glen Innes land grab.”
“It’s an appalling state of affairs when a large contingency of Police are used to enforce a Government policy to privatise State Housing stock,” says Tamaki Housing Group Media Spokesperson Sue Henry.
“There were a number of serious casualities at the disgusting fiasco at the Silverton Ave address in Glen Innes North last night. There have been accounts of serious injuries to onlookers including the hospitalisation of a female State Housing tenant.”
The Tamaki Housing Group want an immediate moratorium on any further demolition or removals of State Housing stock.
“Where is the mandate and upon what lawful basis are any of these state housing assets being removed?” asks Sue Henry.
“Tonight an urgent meeting of the community has been called at 5.30pm, outside the Glen Innes Public Library (108 Line Rd Glen Innes) to help save our Housing State assets, and defend our basic human rights to peaceful protest and freedom of expression.”
http://www.aucklandcitylibraries.com/aboutthelibraries/locationsandhours/gleninnes.aspx
Contact: Sue Henry
Ph (09) 575 634
_______________________________________________________________
Is John Howard the most dishonest Australian prime minister ever?
You might have to reconsider…
“This is a war with a purpose. This is a war with an end.”
—Julia Gillard, on the Afghanistan occupation
National Radio News, 12:30 p.m., Wednesday 18.4.12
Well Gillard got into her current role by lying and backstabbing, which removes wiggle room post coup!
The continued path is the only option you have available after being put into such a position.
Gillard is one of the most horrid globalist puppets doing the rounds, they just seem to get worse and worse…
Wonder when we will actually lose the right to a vote, can’t be too far away….probably be a slightly more honest system if it was just admitted we already live under dictatorships!
With the Glen Innes protest we are seeing a return to the dark ages of New Zealand Policing:
http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/police-image-tarnished-again.html
This may not mean much to some people but to me it’s sad. The great drummer Levon Helm of The Band is in the last stages of his life.
Good on you Tony P, I had noticed via the net Levon doing quite a lot over the last several years. I watch the “Last Waltz” at least once a year and it is amazing the young’uns that enjoy it too. Like most of the Band except Robbie, he can sing too! A life most of us can only imagine having lived.
Very sad, great feel player (as opposed to being a technical by the numbers player) with a great voice alongside other similiarly gifted musos like robbie robertson.
Checkout Scorsese’s ‘The last waltz’, captures him and many other fine musicians in flight.
I agree tc “The last Waltz” is one of the great rock movies and Levon was one of the stars:
One of the marks of a great drummer is playing the song, not just the beat. Levon is one of those for sure, you could listen to the drum tracks of something like “The Weight” in isolation with no other instruments and still follow and enjoy the song fully.
And as others have noted, a great singer too. A class act all round.
Fantastic day to day for all NZ workers to hear that two large mulintationals (Heinz Wattie being one) are closing plants in Australia,and bringing the production to NZ tocreate more jobs. The primary cause was because the Labor regulations in Australia were far to restrictive making the production costs to high. Just goes to show what happens when you build plants in places like Melbourne where costs are so high to manufacture because of their Labor laws, and lack of productivity.
It also shows how important the employment law reforms were that National put in place to make our country more attractive to investment, not to mention the 90 day bill which has also helped. Im sure all of you on this blog will be supporting this move ,and the increase of jobs for New Zealanders.
jobs are jobs, that is a good thing and there can be no doubt about that.
yup the ongoing aspirations of NZrs will be sustained by the crapshoot opportunity to can fruit for 90 days. Now if only we could get some toothpick sanding contracts we would really be showing the world a thing or two.
Becoming the Mexico of Australasia is a sign that NZ is going in the right direction. National’s “Brighter Future” will have arrived when CCF advertises that for a single dollar a day Australians can sponsor a poor NZ child. /sarc
Well Victoria might become the Bangladesh of Australia unless they get their Labour rates down, and the unions tow the line.
riiiiiight.
I pity them in Victoria, what with their higher wages and lower unemployment rate. It’s a dystopian vision of what New Zealand might become /sarc
Reminds me of that Herald story saying that Australian businesses were sick of Gillard and envious of Key’s better economic policies.
What a frakking larf.
lol James3 you are celebrating the fact that we are one of what you would call “third world” countries that jobs get outsourced to.
Yay! We can compete because we’ve got cheap labour! Are you awake?
There are people out there Kotahi that dont get paid by union dues every week ,and want jobs. They want to work this is a great opportunity for them to work. Whilst I am on Union delegates what sort of hours do they work. I work for myself if I dont work I dont get paid. My understanding was that the delgates work for their providers the workers.
There is one particular EMPMU delegate not to far from me who is always home at 9.00am , and back again by 2.30 pm
Are their hours and work ethics very similar to that public service comedy show we use to have on TV here called gliding on?
Trust you to celebrate the loss of workers jobs James. Where is the much vaunted private sector wealth creation? All I see is a corporate ripping wealth out of one Australian community, putting a little bit back in another NZ community, and pocketing the difference for their investors.
What kind of “wealth creation” is this? Wealth for the 1% or the 0.1% perhaps.
Glad the jobs are coming to NZ Viper does anything make you happy? Smile its a beautiful day out there
So corporates playing countries off against each other, making workers on one side lose big while another side get a few crumbs while they pocket the rest makes it a sunny day?
Of course – for the top 1% who pocket the dividends.
Not at the cost of Australian workers. This is not “wealth creation” this is a race to the bottom of the barrel.
How do you know? Do you spy on her? 😀
Cant miss it car is always parked on main road
Yuck, you are an anti-unionist and you stalk a delegate.
Mr Plod needs to investigate your activity sick boy.
no twisted again i just drive past it each day noting its inactivity, but hwy should that surprise me I guess
Kerb-crawling on K road, probably…
“i just drive past it each day noting its inactivity”
Yep, stalker. Unemployed stalker, apparently.
Dude has never heard of car pooling, obviously. Or maybe even walking.
or even working from home – i hear with that new interweb thingy its quite possible
“There is one particular EMPMU delegate not to far from me who is always home at 9.00am , and back again by 2.30 pm”
So s/he works part-time then. Has kids too? Sounds like school hours, I didn’t take you as a person to be against flexible work hours, jimmy3.
“So s/he works part-time then. Has kids too?”
Yep, if s/he existed. Which s/he doesn’t.
I’m with Felix on this one. Jim Jim is lying. But even he weren’t, can I just point out that the EMA employs HR consultants who work from home using laptops, data cards and smartphones, what with this being 2012 ‘n all. The non existent neighbour is probably just juggling work and life like most of us do and working wherever she and her laptop happen to be. Welcome to the world of wired work, James.
More to the point, what does our little failed Scottish king do for a living, that he can spend all day sitting outside someone’s home 🙂
He shoots …. he scores!!! Nice one McFlock!
🙂
Mrs Smith spends most of her day standing by her kitchen window. We know because we watch her from behind our kitchen curtains.
I am all for freedom of speech and the protection of political discourse and the ability of holders of minority views to be allowed space to state those views publicly.
But James 111 is an illiterate troll and a waste of bandwidth. He does not have the decency to even address the points of view put to him. Pete George at least engages and holds to his views, even though we think those views are ill founded.
James 111’s comment about Glen Riddell the other day was the last straw. I reckon he should be banned …
[lprent: Hasn’t done anything that I’d notice as a moderator. As a commentator, I’d have to say that he makes trolls look intelligent. He appears to be too stupid to recognize any argument more subtle than an anal probe. Please aliens – take him away…. Mind you. He is a perfect candidate for Irish.. Anyone have a book open? ]
I was surprised he didn’t cop a ban for this little gem the other day.
Ah, a RWNJ celebrating the race to the bottom that his favoured policies bring about.
Just in case you wanted to read the article other companies are Woolworths, Imperial Tobaco. They love the lower rate of unionisation in NZ compared with Australia, and the fact that penalty rates are much less.
Just goes to show if try to force to much in a hourly rate out of an employer they will move or change the way they operate. They have to in order to stay competitive very similar to POA compared to POT you cant be paying $65 per hour for actual hours worked just doesnt add up
http://www.pina.com.fj/index.php?p=pacnews&m=read&o=12245329364f8e1daee6fd5310417c
According to James 111’s logic all wages should be halved and safety requirements done away with. After that everyone will have jobs! But no one will want to live here …
james 3 Don’t inflate the figures in your argument. $65 per hour isn’t part of the wage structure under discussion.
Prism that was the figures released by the company for actual hours worked as they had to pay for them to be on stand by im sure I can find the info again for you if you want was very revealing
You mean the figures that didn’t add up?
It appears that ”the brighter future” is about to arrive in spades,the announced dairy pay-outs to the farmers will come in about a dollar a kilo lower next year,
Translated that equals about a billion dollars less of economic activity in the New Zealand economy as well as a further hole in the Governments revenue from taxes,
It would appear that ”our competitors” are fast catching up in terms of dairy production with demand from places such as China softening as their ”economic growth” falls to 6% or so,
The current recession will obviously continue well into the future and its easy to see why Slippery and the entourage are wandering round the near east with the begging bowl out,
For Labour and the Greens we would suggest that the tax policy of both party,s be thrashed out now rather than at a point where they become the elected Government,
Our suggestion being that GST either be lowered back to 12.5% or be done away with altogether and a stringent ”no holes” financial transaction tax be implemented…
Yeaa right and capital gains tax on everything that moves!! and pension age will move to 70 that will be a winner.
Tax Tax and more Tax is there another economic model that the left might have? As I said the problem with socialism is what happens when you out of spending other peoples money you have nothing left ,and no plan
The problem with neoliberalism is what happens when you guzzle at the trough and pay for it by borrowing with other people’s money.
Mcflock
Absolutely agree with you and Labour was going to borrow another 2.7 billion than National in election year promises, and have added another 1.8 billion since then, the party of borrowers
james, it’s NACT that are borrowing hand over fist to give our wealth to their rich mates.
FIFY
Oh great we have the homophobic, EPMU delegate stalking dropkick back.
Was hoping you would be too embarressed to return, but no sadly we have to be tortured by this fool some more.
James, you are out of your depth. You need to read a few books.
Well, maybe you prefer the Bill English road of borrow, borrow, and more borrowing?
CV sell your best assets off so you can borrow more so you can sell the rest of your assets!
Jturd your figures are wrong just an out and out lie up there with gosman.
Labour leader shearer cans first $5,000 tax free policy
Borrowing Bills English is $ 3 billion short on predictions lower tax take due to tax cuts and weak economy.
I really disagree with getting rid of that tax free threshold. More Labour Party centrism.
me too CV Labour with shearer is boring and predictable.
Cunliffe should have been leader.
Jturd is that why all the economies that are growing are taxing and spending and the economies that are in recession or depression are retrenching and giving tax cuts to the few wealthy.
Jturd show me a right wing economy that is growing come on easy question ,
Jturd the answer is there is none not one.
How about Switzerland?
And Switzerland’s tax policies?
Micky he said right wing they are very right wing nothing about tax policies I rest my case
James 111 I do not trust you. Links please. Switzerland is actually quite community focussed and therefore left wing …
“I rest my case”
I rest my empty head on the keyboard and when I woke up my old sock was stuck to the side of my face.
FIFY
mike e said “right wing economy” james 111, which encompasses a countries tax system.
Switzerlands economy is dependent on a steady tide of foreign investment. As other countries experience instability, people are looking for a secure haven to keep their money. Switzerland has experienced GDP growth of 2.7%. They do have problems with hot money schemes though and there are a number of new rules being implemented to toughen up the system with things like information sharing agreements with other countries.
Switzerland is a republic confederation of 26 cantons (states), which all have varying degrees of taxation. About the only thing you can say is right wing is that they don’t have a CGT. Their constitution is devised from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
And here’s me thinking that jimmy3 defines Labour as left-wing because it is apparently a ‘tax and spend’ government.
So you decry the Slippery National Government its borrowing of billions of dollars of ”other peoples money”???,
Seems to fall well within your ”spending of other peoples money” as does selling off 49% of profitable assets which National are hell bent on accomplishing this term,
So what happens when Slippery,s ‘international Monetarism’ has sold off the very profit making assets used as the basis upon which it borrows all of ”this other peoples money”???,
Its relatively simple,Slippery swans off to the island hide-away to congratulate himself for an ugly little financial mess He has made of the country,s economy leaving Labour and the Greens with a economy perched upon the edge of the chasm, a daramticly falling Government revenue from taxation limiting any ability to borrow more and creeping up to the point of not being able to service Slippery and National,s debt for tax cuts loading,
At 2014 with such a debt loading, an unequal tax burden on the lower income earners, a dollar trading far too high and falling export receipts there will need be in place a new Government of the left’s means to stabilize the economy and promote internal growth,
A Financial Transaction Tax,the dramatic cutting of the GST tax and a State Housing program financed by the use of Quantitative Easing in such a case will not be a ‘wish list’, such will become a necessity…
Yeah great,……..working in a tobacco factory………brighter future…………what a great future for my kids……………..
Police brutality in Glenn Innes
The Police have used excessive force to disband a peaceful protest, obviously singling out and arresting John Minto because of his activism and seriously injuring an elderly lady who had to go to hospital…
A National PM using the NZ Police to violently attack and assault ordinary kiwis in order to get his policies enacted?
Crikey, it’s just like, um, every fucking National PM before him.
John Key and the NZ Police. What a bunch of dicks.
I see John Key is going for popular hero points in Indonesia, http://www.3news.co.nz/Default.aspx?TabId=1607&articleID=250856&ce17407
It made that Kiwi Diplomat in Algeria a popular hero when he got involved in a so called kidnapping/custody battle. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6522078/Kiwi-who-faced-gunmen-has-position-axed-Labour-says
Maybe John Key is going for some popular score as well. I wonder if he’s using the Secret service to help score a win here or just letting the Indonesian ‘we don’t care about human rights’ police to install some happy good times justice for John Key there.
SMBC: Reserve Currency