I hear from someone in Auckland that representatives from Serco have been seen sniffing around Whakatakapokai, the MSD/CYF Care and Protection Residence in Clendon, Manurewa.
This place houses our broken kids in a low-security restrained environment.
Are we gonna see our broken kids handed over as raw material for proft making by Serco on behalf of its foreign shareholders ?
The Serco Group ain’t doing too well it would seem. What happens when Serco decides it has to cut corners to meet its compact with head office and its foreign shareholders ? What might that mean for our broken kids ? You know, those bad wee buggers who’ve made all the wrong choices. In this land of milk and honey for the few PlanetKey.
Not even enough residential care places available anyway. Handing this one over puts already vulnerable kids in a position where the duty of care chain is further lengthened. And the SERCO link is one that will no doubt be forged at the least expense, and at the lowest strength.
Over on The Daily Blog, Metiria Turei bravely opens the dogma box. Worth a read if you’re out that way. Those already way out on the left might want to keep a chill pill handy. It’ll upset some.
It’s good, not particularly upsetting IMO, but I think that it highlights an issue here on ts where the rhetoric renders any understanding or cooperation impossible at times. I agree with Turei that we (New Zealanders) need new conversations and they need to include the left being able to talk to people who don’t fit in the traditional left/right spectrum (as well as IMO being able to work with old school conservatives), people who are apolotical, or who’s politics change or where they take from traditional left and right. I can’t see how we can get past where we are now if that doesn’t happen (Bill’s posts and comments on Scotland probably hold the most clues)..
Ah yes we desperately need to convince the amiable ‘working suits on the aeroplane class’ (is that the ‘with Koru membership’ or ‘without Koru membership’ demographic) that progressive principles are up for negotiation and compromise.
Face it after massively disappointing themselves last elections, the Greens are just as lost in the philosophical and electoral woods as Labour is at the moment.
Agreed! So to beat Australia and be #1 we need to raise it by 27%, which would be about $18.73. I believe the living wage is $18.80 so it’s clear we need to go to $18.80! 😉
This is why NZ under National is such a good place to live and why John Key may go for a fourth term (probably won’t but the look on lefties faces would be priceless)
Trials of psych drugs biased to look good; suicides in drug trials are under-reported
Gøtzsche, who is also a clinical trials expert, says drug trials funded by big pharmaceutical companies tend to produce biased results because many patients took other medication prior to the tests.
He says patients cease taking the old drugs and then experience a phase of withdrawal prior to taking the trial pharmaceuticals, which appear highly beneficial at first.
The Danish professor also warns fatalities from suicides in clinical trials are significantly under-reported.
“In the case of antidepressants venlafaxine and fluoxetine, Gøtzsche casts doubt over their efficacy. He said depression lifts in placebo groups given fake tablets almost as promptly as groups who partake in official clinical tests.”
Reasonably commonly (subsidised) and prescribed here in NZ – with some delightful side effects that are too easily left unexplained. Be careful out there, people, support those near you who are going through the fire or, like me, they’ll have to do it alone and that’s not fun at all. You might also find that what you are told you need is not what you need or what you’re getting. Communicative and cultural styles add to the difficulty of prescribing the right course. It’s another one of those bad jokes that life plays: those least capable somehow have to be more capable and keep their wits about them under enormous stresses, while the capable often get in their way and look the other way.
If there is a general sentiment I would give to those at the “lesser” end of the mental illness spectrum, i.e. hasn’t totally lost their grip on present reality, although their reasoning may be distorted, it’s please remember to consider your illness as a “friend in disguise” that is trying to attract attention to something important you have to change, while you also simultaneously treat the symptoms of the same (serious) illness in a careful and sensible way, using drugs, therapy, family support and even your own intuition and intelligence.
There’s a million reasons why someone may or may not be better off with or without antidepressents, so don’t stop taking your meds just because I did and “I turned out fine”. My situation may not match yours. Cleaning up the repercussions of an overwhelming life is hardwork and may not be entirely possible for some.
It is yet another reason why experienced people cannot afford to buy into the luxury of the aspirant lifestyle, as promoted by certain well-known groups – too much to do that is irreconcilable.
Two weeks ago I looked at facebook likes, in that time Sanders has gone up 90,000 to 453,000, Hilary Clinton has gone up only 25,000 to 824,000. Hopefully he can put the frighteners on Clinton.
Ramadi, capital of Anbar province, falls to ISIS; just 60 miles west of Baghdad
Iraqi troops flee Ramadi as black flags are raised over the city; divisions between the Shia militia and the Baghdad government hindered the defence of the city; Iraqi government refusal to arm Sunni groups around Ramadi a key contributor to the fall of the city.
In my view, we have gotten ourselves mixed up in a sectarian based civil war, one which is going as predictably and as well as these things always do.
Juan Cole:
Some of the problems Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi may be having keeping Ramadi may stem from his rift with some of the Shiite militias, who did the heavy lifting in the assault on Tikrit. Some of them have retired from the battlefield in anger because they were criticized for acting like Shiite extremists. But Sunni tribes in the Ramadi region eager to fight Daesh also complained that they have never received promised government weapons and that the government seems to be afraid to arm them.
Why exactly the Iraqi forces in Ramadi could not get reinforcements or air support is not clear. The Iraqi army also does have helicopter gunships, which appear also not to have been deployed, despite the fighting being near the capital.
RT: Marine Brig Gen Weidley says
“We believe across Iraq and Syria that Daesh is losing and remains on the defensive,” said Marine Brig. Gen. Thomas D. Weidley, chief of staff for Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve. Playing down ISIS made gains he added that Iraqi forces still controlled most “key facilities, infrastructure and lines of communication” in the Ramadi area.
So remind us Jonkey Nactional why are we are sending NZ troops into help fight ISIL?! …when our ‘allies’ (USA, Israel , Saudi Arabia) seem to be supporting ISIL covertly and overtly…
….when ISIL is being used against Syria to bring down Assad! ( who 80% of Syrians voted for)….this mess?!…straw dogs and red herrings….and following on from the shame of what has happened to Libya?…who are the pawns in this game?….who is behind these utter warmongering strategic crimes against humanity?
“Is it too late for an agreed political settlement to end the Syrian civil war? Recent advances by Al-Qaeda affiliated groups and the Islamic State suggest any regime following Assad will be radicalized, extremely brutal and possibly aggressive. Would this be a case of the cure being worse than the disease?
CrossTalking with Richard Murphy, Jason Hirthler, and Sukant Chandan”.
Have a read of this piece in this morning’s Dominion Post, then go back and read BLiP’s piece about their work with Roger Douglas in the 1980’s. This needs more exposure.
I noted the finding below that was reported by the human resources research team in the link. I would have thought that the last thing that Poorer Benefit would want is staff who ‘thought rules were more important than ideas’.
I remember one job I read of in the US where they set up a team that got friendly with staff who after telling them private thoughts in confidence found they got sacked. So watch out MSD staff. They’re listening and watching you!
The programme called Building Blue followed a 2013 survey of
approximately 10,000 MSD staff, which found they were too accepting of the status quo, thought rules were more important than ideas, and didn’t want to rock the boat. Staff felt they had to obey orders, follow policy, create a good impression and check in with superiors demonstrating a willingness to conform.
American police need automatic weapons and military gear because they are in a dangerous job
So they say.
But strangely, fishers, loggers, pilots, drivers, roofers, iron and steel workers, construction labourers, agricultural labourers, power line technicians, farmers and others have higher on the job death rates.
It’s the go-to sound bite when pushed into a corner.
Bling: “We got people paying them one way or another”
Yes Bill, the same fucking people, over and over!
Bling: “We got growth and supply coming to market”
No Bill, you don’t. Actual town planners say stop, you can’t do this without infrastructure!
“One way or another.” Did the Finance Minister just say that as part of official position???
IRD receiv(ed) $33 million in Budget 2010 for more inspectors to start cracking down on investors who bought and sold a lot of property in a short period of time.
Really? Well that was money well spent, wasn’t it?
A talk on the referendum on same-sex marriage taking place in the south of Ireland on Friday. . .
The talk is on “Will south of Ireland be first country in world to vote for same-sex marriage?” (Venue, time etc below)
For many decades after the establishment of the twenty-six county state in the south of Ireland in 1921-23, the Catholic Church, both directly and indirectly, wielded vast power in the state and in civil society. Even well into the 1980s it was able to mobilise followers in referenda that prevented divorce being made available and abortion being made available.
However, despite this apparent high-water point for conservative social attitudes and Church power, the wider society was already changing significantly. Exposure of child abuse by priests and nuns – ranging from physical beatings to child rape – undermined the Church’s pretence to the ‘high moral ground’, while new generations supported expanded personal freedom.
The wider changes in southern Irish society also mean that the religious right’s campaign against same-sex marriage can no longer be expressed in blatantly anti-gay terms. Instead, they argue that same-sex couples can settle for civil unions and that marriage has to be of male and female because “children’s rights” involve the right to have a mother and father. They’ve even invoked the names of the radical rebels of the 1916 Rising to push their opposition to marriage equality.
While, in the past two decades, the religious right has lost battle after battle and look likely to lose on the same-sex marriage issue, there is now a secularising, post-religious right which, while actively supporting issues like same-sex marriage, is carrying out an utterly vicious assault on working class living standards. This new post-religious right is represented today in government as the Fine Gael-Labour coalition.
Speaker: Dr Philip Ferguson
5pm, Thursday, May 21
Room 2, Clubs and Societies Building
84 Albany Street
Dunedin
FYI folks – information flushed out from Trade Minister Tim Groser under the OIA, regarding his secret meeting behind closed doors on the TPPA with Auckland Mayor Len Brown, on 7 April 2015, in the Auckland Mayoral Office.
In my opinion, the lack of transparency regarding TPPA discussions and negotiations has now infested New Zealand at the highest levels of central and local government?
______________________________________________________________________________________
18 May 2015
Further ‘Open Letter’ / OIA request to Minister of Trade Tim Groser, arising from ‘briefing notes’ provided for the ‘informal exchange of information’ between the Minister of Trade and Mayor of Auckland, Len Brown, on the TPPA (and related matters) behind closed doors, on 7 April 2015:
Tim Groser,
Minister of Trade
Dear Minister,
A) Please be reminded of the following statutory requirements of the New Zealand Public Records Act 2005:
(c) to enable the Government to be held accountable by—
(i) ensuring that full and accurate records of the affairs of central and local government are created and maintained; and
(ii) providing for the preservation of, and public access to, records of long-term value; and
(d)to enhance public confidence in the integrity of public records and local authority records; and
______________________________________________________________________________________
How can the public have confidence in the transparency or accountability of those in public office, at the highest levels, without proper written records?
BACKGROUND:
In your OIA reply, (dated 14 May 2015) you state:
“The meeting was organised by MFAT and the Office of the Mayor.
It was an opportunity to discuss with the Mayor, trade and economic issues relevant to Auckland.
In addition to the Mayor and me, the meeting was attended by an official from my office, one official from NZTE and one official from MFAT.
Several of the Mayor’s advisors also attended.
The meeting was not a public engagement.
It was an informal exchange of information.
It was not therefore appropriate to include the public, media or other Councillors.
I have attached a briefing note prepared for me by officials in advance of the meeting.
No formal minute or record of the meeting was prepared. ”
______________________________________________________________________________________
INCLUDED IN THE (attached) ‘BRIEFING NOTE’:
“Purpose of the call.
This meeting is expected to focus entirely on trade and economic issues.
It is an opportunity for you to give the mayor an update on the FTA agenda and BGA, and discuss their relevance to Auckland’s economic growth aspirations.
The Mayor may use the meeting to brief you on the Council’s new Global Engagement Strategy, in particular, the Tripartite Economic Alliance and Auckland’s candidacy for the Lee Kwan Yew City Prize.
FTA roundup.
You may wish to give the mayor a summary of New Zealand’s various and ongoing and recently concluded FTA negotiations.
In particular, we believe the Mayor would be interested in updates on TPP, Korea, and the China upgrade.
We provide some background on the Mayor’s interest in TPP below.
* The Mayor has expressed interest in the economic benefits to Auckland that the TPP could deliver.
As New Zealand’s exporting hub, and its most internationally connected city, Auckland stands to derive significant benefits from TPP.
In particular, the fact that the TPP promises to better integrate New Zealand into a region accounting for 40% of global GDP, presents significant opportunities for Auckland’s exporters, and ultimately its residents.
While we have no projections of how the benefits of TPP might accrue specifically to Auckland, the mayor will be interested in in a high level discussion of progress in the negotiation, and of the projected benefits at national level, particularly in terms of export growth, investment flow and labour mobility.
It is also worth noting that in December 2012, the Regional and Development Committee of the Auckland Council passed a resolution which encouraged the Government to conclude negotiations on TPP in a way which achieved 12 objectives (see Appendix 1).
These objectives included achieving substantially increased access for agricultural exports, not increasing the costs of medical treatments, and not giving overseas investors more rights than domestic investors.
Mayor Brown was not present when this resolution was adopted, but he is known to be supportive of trade agreements in general.”
OIA Request:
1) Please provide the information which explains how a meeting between yourself as the Minister of Trade (in that official capacity), and the Mayor of Auckland, Len Brown (in that official capacity), for which the attached ‘briefing note’ was provided – can possibly be described as an ‘informal exchange of information’, from which:
– the details of this meeting were NOT minuted,
– elected Auckland Councillors were not informed and were excluded,
– the public and media were not informed and excluded,
can be compliant with the above-mentioned statutory requirements of the Public Records Act 2005.
B) This attached ‘briefing note’, included the following, in my view, significant ‘statistic’:
Appendix 1 : Economic and demographic statistics demonstrating the importance of Auckland to New Zealand’s international connectivity.
……………………….
“Auckland’s population is projected to grow by approximately 700,000 people between 2011 and 2041 (assuming a medium populations growth scenario).”
As the initiating petitioner of the following petition, which resulted in a Social Services Select Committee of Inquiry, here is their Report:
The Social Services Committee has considered Petition 2011/64 of Penelope Mary Bright, requesting that Parliament decline to proceed with the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Bill until the lawfulness of the reliance of Auckland Council on the New Zealand Department of Statistics “high” population growth projections, instead of their “medium” population growth projections for the Auckland Spatial Plan, has been properly and independently investigated, taking into consideration that both Auckland Transport and Watercare Services Ltd, have relied upon “medium” population growth projections for their infrastructural asset management plans.
We heard and received evidence from the petitioner, but note that the matters she raised have been addressed publicly by the Auckland Council in statements posted on its website and issued to media.
The Auckland Council’s Chief Planning Officer has said that while Auckland may not grow by one million people by 2041 (the high-growth projection), Auckland Council is preparing for it.
The city has historically met the high-growth projection, and it is therefore prudent for the council to plan accordingly.
He said that the city needs to be prepared for, and infrastructure needs to be able to cope with, growth. He pointed out that the “Unitary Plan”, which is a part of the Auckland Spatial Plan, sets out only rules for development.
We understand that actual development would be undertaken only in response to demand. Regarding the use of alternative projections for higher- and lower-growth scenarios, we note that the council’s Chief Planning Officer has also said that it is prudent for the Auckland Council to provide for the highest likely population growth, and at the same time to be cautious to avoid over-investment.
He said that the council requires organisations it owns or controls to be cautious about capital spending ahead of time to avoid high borrowing, interest, and depreciation costs, and that any underspending on infrastructure could be addressed through regular budget reviews and incremental expansion of facilities such as wastewater treatment plants.
The Mayor of Auckland has also said that using the high-growth projection was the appropriate thing to do, and that the council should not be too conservative in their assumptions about population growth.
We consider that the response to this issue provided by the council appears reasonable, and therefore have no matters to bring to the attention of the House.
Melissa Lee Deputy Chairperson ”
( FYI – the supplementary evidence which I provided the Social Services Select Committee, (dated 14 June 2013) to support this Petition 2011/64, is available here:
2) Please provide ALL/ANY information which explains why this above-mentioned ‘briefing note’ used the medium population growth projection of 700,000 more people coming to Auckland in the next 30 years, rather than high population growth projection, (1 million extra people) which was preferred by both Auckland Council and the Social Services Select Committee in their above-mentioned Report.
Yours sincerely,
Penny Bright
……………………..
‘Anti-corruption / anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’
2009 Attendee Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference
2010 Attendee Transparency International Anti-Corruption Conference
2013 Attendee Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference
2014 Attendee G20 Anti-Corruption Conference
2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate (polled 4th with 11,723 votes)
Its estimated that up to 6000 Myanmar people have been forced to leave because of religion – Muslim in a Buddhist country, although they have been there about 1000 years. I think that’s what I read. Anyway they are being pushed out to sea because no-one wants them to land. And they are needing water and food. So whats happening. The UN is anxious. The various countries around are obdurate. Time for Batman or some hero to organise a helicopter from Sea Shepherd or some such. By the time anybody does anything officially many will be dead.
And in Australia money available in foreign aid had a big cut because of them being in the proverbial.
Australia’s slashing of foreign aid by almost Aus$1.0 billion (US$800 million) will hurt the most vulnerable people in Asia and Africa and damage the country’s reputation, aid groups said Wednesday.In its national budget on Tuesday,
Australia confirmed that aid spending will fall by Aus$980.2 million to Aus$4.1 billion in 2015-16 as it looks for savings to rein in its deficit. The Asian region will lose Aus$522.5 million in assistance. – See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/13/australian-foreign-aid-cuts-hurt-most-vulnerable-ngos.html#sthash.v6uSwPzg.dpuf
Compare with military expenditure around the world:
from Stockholm Int. Peace Research Institute
The USA is first by a huge number. about $600 Billion 2014-2015
China next $216 Billion
Russia $84.5 Billion
Saudi Arabia $81 Billion
France $62 Billion
UK $60 Billion
Australia $25 Billion
(Projection from UK Ministry of Defence for 2045 is that USA will be up around $1300 Billion and China will be just behind – India about $600 Billion!) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures
edited
I would like to start a thread with all of the interested people here to let us all input the names of all the large and middle size companies and their tax payments that have been sold to overseas interests since the perfidious R Douglas introduced the neo liberal clusterfuck that has rooted the New Zealand economy since 1984 .I understand we are now close to $100 bn debt now. Of course the recent power companies come to mind ,Fisher and Paykel to the Chinese Government owned Haier . Lion Breweries to Kirin ,Japan ,Dominion Breweries to Heineken (Singapore ) ? wtf I think it was Dutch originally ,Crafar farms ,Telecom to Bell South and on and on and on . Please feel free to add to the list . Ps Not to mention Air New Zealand ,sold by that illiterate fuck wit Prebble for about the cost of about 1 new 747 replacement cost ,and the CNI forest to Fletchers and the Chinese I think for about $0 ,20 cents per tree
Interesting interview tomorrow on RNZ for those interested in WTF has/is going on in the Middle East.
10:05 am Wednesday 20 May: Nine To Noon
Christina Lamb Journalist and author, Christina Lamb’s latest book, Farewell Kabul tells how the West turned success into defeat in the longest war fought by the United States in its history and by Britain since the Hundred Years War. She says Farewell Kabul: How the West Ignored Pakistan and Lost Afghanistan is the he story of well-intentioned men and women going into a place they did not understand at all. And how, what had once been the right thing to do had become a conflict that everyone wanted to exit. This has left Afghanistan still one of the poorest and most dangerous nations on earth.
Christina Lamb is the best-selling author of The Africa House and I Am Malala, co-authored with Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.
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NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is sounding the alarm about the latest attack on workers from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden, who is ignoring her own officials to pursue reckless changes that would completely undermine the personal grievance system. “Brooke van Velden’s changes will ...
Hi,When I started writing Webworm in 2020, I wrote a lot about the conspiracy theories that were suddenly invading our Twitter timelines and Facebook feeds. Four years ago a reader, John, left this feedback under one of my essays:It’s a never ending labyrinth of lunacy which, as you have pointed ...
And if you said this life ain't good enoughI would give my world to lift you upI could change my life to better suit your moodBecause you're so smoothAnd it's just like the ocean under the moonOh, it's the same as the emotion that I get from youYou got the ...
Aotearoa remains the minority’s birthright, New Zealand the majority’s possession. WAITANGI DAY commentary see-saws manically between the warmly positive and the coldly negative. Many New Zealanders consider this a good thing. They point to the unexamined patriotism of July Fourth and Bastille Day celebrations, and applaud the fact that the ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: and on the week in geopolitics, including the latest from Donald Trump’s administration over Gaza and Ukraine; on the ...
Up until now, the prevailing coalition view of public servants was that there were simply too many of them. But yesterday the new Public Service Commissioner, handpicked by the Luxon Government, said it was not so much numbers but what they did and the value they produced that mattered. Sir ...
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and ...
In a moment we explore the question: What is Andrew Bayly wanting to tell ACC, and will it involve enjoying a small wine tasting and then telling someone to fuck off? But first, for context, a broader one: What do we look for in a government?Imagine for a moment, you ...
As expected, Donald Trump just threw Ukraine under the bus, demanding that it accept Russia's illegal theft of land, while ruling out any future membership of NATO. Its a colossal betrayal, which effectively legitimises Russia's invasion, while laying the groundwork for the next one. But Trump is apparently fine with ...
A ballot for a single member's bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Employment Relations (Collective Agreements in Triangular Relationships) Amendment Bill (Adrian Rurawhe) The bill would extend union rights to employees in triangular relationships, where they are (nominally) employed by one party, but ...
This is a guest post by George Weeks, reviewing a book called ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin AshtonBook review: ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin Ashton (2015) – and what it means for Auckland. The title of this article might unnerve any Greater Auckland ...
This story was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Within just a week, the sheer devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires has pushed to the fore fundamental questions about the impact of the climate crisis that have been ...
In this world, it's just usYou know it's not the same as it wasSongwriters: Harry Edward Styles / Thomas Edward Percy Hull / Tyler Sam JohnsonYesterday, I received a lovely message from Caty, a reader of Nick’s Kōrero, that got me thinking. So I thought I’d share it with you, ...
In past times a person was considered “unserious” or “not a serious” person if they failed to grasp, behave and speak according to the solemnity of the context in which they were located. For example a serious person does not audibly pass gas at Church, or yell “gun” at a ...
Long stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, February 13 are:The coalition Government’s early 2024 ‘fiscal emergency’ freeze on funding, planning and building houses, schools, local roads and hospitals helped extend and deepen the economic and jobs recession through calendar ...
For obvious reasons, people feel uneasy when the right to be a citizen is sold off to wealthy foreigners. Even selling the right to residency seems a bit dubious, when so many migrants who are not millionaires get turned away or are made to jump through innumerable hoops – simply ...
A new season of White Lotus is nearly upon us: more murder mystery, more sumptuous surroundings, more rich people behaving badly.Once more we get to identify with the experience of the pampered tourist or perhaps the poorly paid help; there's something in White Lotus for all New Zealanders.And unlike the ...
In 2016, Aotearoa shockingly plunged to fourth place in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. Nine years later, and we're back there again: New Zealand has seen a further slip in its global ranking in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). [...] In the latest CPI New Zealand's score ...
1. You’ve started ranking your politicians on how much they respect the rule of law2. You’ve stopped paying attention to those news publications3. You’ve developed a sudden interest in a particular period of history4. More and more people are sounding like your racist, conspiracist uncle.5. Someone just pulled a Nazi ...
Transforming New Zealand: Brian EastonBrian Easton will discuss the above topic at 2/57 Willis Street, Wellington at 5:30pm on Tuesday 26 February at 2/57 Willis Street, WellingtonThe sub-title to the above is "Why is the Left failing?" Brian Easton's analysis is based on his view that while the ...
Salvation Army’s State of the Nation 2025 report highlights falling living standards, the highest unemployment rates since the 1990s and half of all Pacific children going without food. There are reports of hundreds if not thousands of people are applying for the same jobs in the wake of last year’s ...
Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Correction: On the article The Condundrum of David Seymour, Luke Malpass conducted joint reviews with Bryce Wilkinson, the architect of the Regulatory Standards Bill - not Bryce Edwards. The article ...
Tomorrow the council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee meet and agenda has a few interesting papers. Council’s Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport Every year the council provide a Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport which is part of the process for informing AT of the council’s priorities and ...
All around in my home townThey're trying to track me down, yeahThey say they want to bring me in guiltyFor the killing of a deputyFor the life of a deputySongwriter: Robert Nesta Marley.Support Nick’s Kōrero today with a 20% discount on a paid subscription to receive all my newsletters directly ...
Hi,I think all of us have probably experienced the power of music — that strange, transformative thing that gets under our skin and helps us experience this whole life thing with some kind of sanity.Listening and experiencing music has always been such a huge part of my life, and has ...
Business frustration over the stalled economy is growing, and only 34% of voters are confidentNicola Willis can deliver. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 12 are:Business frustration is growing about a ...
I have now lived long enough to see a cabinet minister go both barrels on their Prime Minister and not get sacked.It used to be that the PM would have a drawer full of resignations signed by ministers on the day of their appointment, ready for such an occasion. But ...
“The ACT Party can’t be bothered putting an MP on one of the Justice subcommittees hearing submissions on their own Treaty Principles Bill,” Labour Justice Spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
The Government’s newly announced funding for biodiversity and tourism of $30-million over three years is a small fraction of what is required for conservation in this country. ...
The Government's sudden cancellation of the tertiary education funding increase is a reckless move that risks widespread job losses and service reductions across New Zealand's universities. ...
National’s cuts to disability support funding and freezing of new residential placements has resulted in significant mental health decline for intellectually disabled people. ...
The hundreds of jobs lost needlessly as a result of the Kinleith Mill paper production closure will have a devastating impact on the Tokoroa community - something that could have easily been avoided. ...
Today Te Pāti Māori MP for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, released her members bill that will see the return of tamariki and mokopuna Māori from state care back to te iwi Māori. This bill will establish an independent authority that asserts and protects the rights promised in He Whakaputanga ...
The Whangarei District Council being forced to fluoridate their local water supply is facing a despotic Soviet-era disgrace. This is not a matter of being pro-fluoride or anti-fluoride. It is a matter of what New Zealanders see and value as democracy in our country. Individual democratically elected Councillors are not ...
Nicola Willis’ latest supermarket announcement is painfully weak with no new ideas, no real plan, and no relief for Kiwis struggling with rising grocery costs. ...
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Isaac Gross, Lecturer in Economics, Monash University Gumbariya/Shutterstock The Reserve Bank’s decision to cut interest rates for the first time in four years has triggered a round of celebration. Mortgage holders are cheering the fact their monthly repayments are now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Housing supply in Australia will be a key battleground in the election campaign. With home ownership more and more out of reach for young and not so young Australians, red tape and low productivity are ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Korolev, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, UNSW Sydney The United States and Russia agreed to work on a plan to end the war in Ukraine at high-level talks in Saudi Arabia this week. Ukrainian and European representatives were pointedly ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karleen Gribble, Adjunct Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University BaLL LunLa/Shutterstock Sleep is the holy grail for new parents. So no wonder many tired parents are looking for something to help their babies sleep. A TikTok trend claims ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ranjana Gupta, Senior Lecturer, Accounting Department, Auckland University of Technology Jirsak/Shutterstock The profit made on every breakfast bowl of weet-bix is tax exempt, giving Sanitarium Health Food Company, owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, an advantage over other breakfast food companies. ...
A closer look at some of the homegrown talent currently commanding television screens around the globe. The new season of The White Lotus hit our screens this week, and with it a familiar face in New Zealand actor Morgana O’Reilly. To secure a role in one of the world’s most ...
"This is a crisis of the Government’s own making and the unit is another sign of desperation," said PSA acting national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Francesca Perugia, Senior Lecturer, School of Design and the Built Environment, Curtin University Australia’s housing crisis has created a push for fast-tracked construction. Federal, state and territory governments have set a target of 1.2 million new homes over five years. Increasing housing ...
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What’s up with the man from Epsom? The leader of the Act Party has been in plenty of headlines in the last two weeks, ranging from a controversial letter to police on behalf of constituent Philip Polkinghorne (written before David Seymour was a minister) to an attempt to drive ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Stephenson, Deputy Director, Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, Australian National University Newly published research has found clear evidence that openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, and queer+ (LGBTIQ+) Australian politicians were disproportionately targeted with personal abuse on social media at the ...
Gilmore Girls, Schitt’s Creek, even The Vampire Diaries – they’re all set in tight-knit neighbourhoods where everyone knows everyone. So what is it like to actually know your neighbours? My favourite television shows are set in tight-knit neighbourhoods where everyone knows everyone. Characters attend town meetings where they debate local ...
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Wellington travellers say their buses are so hot they’re often forced to get off early and walk. Shanti Mathias explores the impact of non-functioning air conditioning on public transport. When Bella, a young professional living in Wellington, thinks about taking the bus, her first thought is “Ugh”. The bus might ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Annette Kroen, Research Fellow Planning and Transport, RMIT University The cleanup is underway in northern Queensland following the latest flooding catastrophe to hit the state. More than 7,000 insurance claims have already been lodged, most of them for inundated homes and other ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Subha Parida, Lecturer in Property, University of South Australia Carl Oberg/Shutterstock Houses and fire do not mix. The firestorm which hit Los Angeles in January destroyed nearly 2,000 buildings and forced 130,000 people to evacuate. The 2019–20 Australian megafires destroyed ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania Tasmania has been burning for more than two weeks, with no end in sight. Almost 100,000 hectares of bushland in the northwest has burned to date. This includes the Tarkine rainforest ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Martin Loosemore, Professor of Construction Management, University of Technology Sydney This week, the Productivity Commission released its much-awaited report into productivity growth in Australia’s housing construction sector. It wasn’t a glowing appraisal. The commission found physical productivity – the total number ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pascale Lubbe, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Molecular Ecology, University of Otago Royal spoonbills are among several new species that have crossed the Tasman and naturalised in New Zealand. JJ Harrison/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA When people arrived on the shores of Aotearoa ...
Stats NZ’s head is stepping down over the agency’s failure to safeguard census data, and more officials may soon be in the firing line, writes Catherine McGregor in today’s extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. An ‘absolutely unacceptable’ failure Stats NZ chief ...
Health NZ is under greater government scrutiny, with the new health minister setting up a unit he says will "drive greater accountability and performance". ...
Manurewa Marae acknowledges should have done better at handling completed census forms, following an inquiry into steps government agencies took to protect data. ...
Police failed to protect people from protesters at a high-profile rally and made unlawful arrests at another, the Independent Police Conduct Authority says. ...
Comment: Crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are making it easier for people to invest in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum without having to handle digital wallets or private keys. These allow investors to buy and sell cryptocurrency through their regular brokerage accounts.This has opened the door for billions of dollars ...
Two long-awaited reports into alleged personal data misuse, centred on census collection and Covid-19 vaccination efforts at Manurewa Marae, were released yesterday. Here’s what you need to know.“Very sobering reading” was how public service commissioner Sir Brian Roche described his organisation’s long-awaited report into the alleged misuse of census ...
Backbench MPs reached new levels of patsy questions in an extraordinarily dull question time on Tuesday. Echo Chamber is The Spinoff’s dispatch from the press gallery, recapping sessions in the House. Columns are written by politics reporter Lyric Waiwiri-Smith and Wellington editor Joel MacManus. “MPs ask questions to explore key issues ...
War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.
George Orwell
A capital gains tax is not a capital gains tax
John Key.
KeyGT.
I hear from someone in Auckland that representatives from Serco have been seen sniffing around Whakatakapokai, the MSD/CYF Care and Protection Residence in Clendon, Manurewa.
This place houses our broken kids in a low-security restrained environment.
Are we gonna see our broken kids handed over as raw material for proft making by Serco on behalf of its foreign shareholders ?
The Serco Group ain’t doing too well it would seem. What happens when Serco decides it has to cut corners to meet its compact with head office and its foreign shareholders ? What might that mean for our broken kids ? You know, those bad wee buggers who’ve made all the wrong choices. In this land of milk and honey for the few PlanetKey.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11357634
Damn.
Not even enough residential care places available anyway. Handing this one over puts already vulnerable kids in a position where the duty of care chain is further lengthened. And the SERCO link is one that will no doubt be forged at the least expense, and at the lowest strength.
We’ll call it the “Pony-tail Budget”, surely !
lower case gains tax
Over on The Daily Blog, Metiria Turei bravely opens the dogma box. Worth a read if you’re out that way. Those already way out on the left might want to keep a chill pill handy. It’ll upset some.
It’s good, not particularly upsetting IMO, but I think that it highlights an issue here on ts where the rhetoric renders any understanding or cooperation impossible at times. I agree with Turei that we (New Zealanders) need new conversations and they need to include the left being able to talk to people who don’t fit in the traditional left/right spectrum (as well as IMO being able to work with old school conservatives), people who are apolotical, or who’s politics change or where they take from traditional left and right. I can’t see how we can get past where we are now if that doesn’t happen (Bill’s posts and comments on Scotland probably hold the most clues)..
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/05/18/may-day-guest-blog-metiria-turei-shoot-the-dogma/
Ah yes we desperately need to convince the amiable ‘working suits on the aeroplane class’ (is that the ‘with Koru membership’ or ‘without Koru membership’ demographic) that progressive principles are up for negotiation and compromise.
Face it after massively disappointing themselves last elections, the Greens are just as lost in the philosophical and electoral woods as Labour is at the moment.
http://money.cnn.com/interactive/economy/top-10-national-minimum-wages-in-the-world/?iid=EL
– Well done NZ, a good top ten to be in
Agreed! So to beat Australia and be #1 we need to raise it by 27%, which would be about $18.73. I believe the living wage is $18.80 so it’s clear we need to go to $18.80! 😉
If its so good I dear you to go live in Auckland for six months on minimum wage and report back about how well done it is.
This is why NZ under National is such a good place to live and why John Key may go for a fourth term (probably won’t but the look on lefties faces would be priceless)
I love the way you brainless fools click into a default “key is great ” setting when you’ve got nothing worth saying .
to be fair, pr probably does think that making Auckland unaffordable to live in for most actual Auckland workers is a good thing.
Because he’s a cock.
PR ‘s not a cock ,cocks are useful
Good point.
I withdraw that analogy, even though withdrawal isn’t very reliable…
“good top ten to be in”
Another top 10
Location – IRD Office Planet Key
Present – Me and IRD Person
IRD Person – “Mr Me, I see you bought a capital asset for $X and sold that
capital asset for $XPlus”…….Arithmetic 101…….you made a
capital gain of $#”
Me – “Well…….if you put it that way……I s’pose I did. But the Prime
Minister says there’s no capital gains tax”
IRD Person – “Yeah right…….there’s tax to pay Muppet ! Get your cheque
book out !”
IRD Persons at smoko 10 minutes later – “Fark ! Another howler for The BLip List !”
Trials of psych drugs biased to look good; suicides in drug trials are under-reported
http://rt.com/uk/258133-antidepressants-unnecessary-for-many/
re: http://rt.com/uk/258133-antidepressants-unnecessary-for-many/
“In the case of antidepressants venlafaxine and fluoxetine, Gøtzsche casts doubt over their efficacy. He said depression lifts in placebo groups given fake tablets almost as promptly as groups who partake in official clinical tests.”
Reasonably commonly (subsidised) and prescribed here in NZ – with some delightful side effects that are too easily left unexplained. Be careful out there, people, support those near you who are going through the fire or, like me, they’ll have to do it alone and that’s not fun at all. You might also find that what you are told you need is not what you need or what you’re getting. Communicative and cultural styles add to the difficulty of prescribing the right course. It’s another one of those bad jokes that life plays: those least capable somehow have to be more capable and keep their wits about them under enormous stresses, while the capable often get in their way and look the other way.
If there is a general sentiment I would give to those at the “lesser” end of the mental illness spectrum, i.e. hasn’t totally lost their grip on present reality, although their reasoning may be distorted, it’s please remember to consider your illness as a “friend in disguise” that is trying to attract attention to something important you have to change, while you also simultaneously treat the symptoms of the same (serious) illness in a careful and sensible way, using drugs, therapy, family support and even your own intuition and intelligence.
There’s a million reasons why someone may or may not be better off with or without antidepressents, so don’t stop taking your meds just because I did and “I turned out fine”. My situation may not match yours. Cleaning up the repercussions of an overwhelming life is hardwork and may not be entirely possible for some.
It is yet another reason why experienced people cannot afford to buy into the luxury of the aspirant lifestyle, as promoted by certain well-known groups – too much to do that is irreconcilable.
Paul Henry Show Recap, 18 May 2015:
Paul Henry: “LABOUR ARE SHIT AND DON’T HAVE ANY IDEAS TEE HEE HEE”
10 minutes later, he interviews John Key about the new policy he stole from Labour.
Hillary Barry and that guy just sit there like burnt stumps and let him get away with it.
lol…so pathetic many dont watch tv…let alone Paul Henry who is the dregs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=245&v=C7L9V7oGRv8
Bernie Sanders 2016! He speaks the truth.
Go Bernie! Can’t see how reasonably minded people wouldn’t vote for him. Here’s a fresh interview from him on CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2015/05/17/sotu-keilar-bernie-sanders-running-for-president-2016-clinton-trade-tpp.cnn
Two weeks ago I looked at facebook likes, in that time Sanders has gone up 90,000 to 453,000, Hilary Clinton has gone up only 25,000 to 824,000. Hopefully he can put the frighteners on Clinton.
Ramadi, capital of Anbar province, falls to ISIS; just 60 miles west of Baghdad
Iraqi troops flee Ramadi as black flags are raised over the city; divisions between the Shia militia and the Baghdad government hindered the defence of the city; Iraqi government refusal to arm Sunni groups around Ramadi a key contributor to the fall of the city.
In my view, we have gotten ourselves mixed up in a sectarian based civil war, one which is going as predictably and as well as these things always do.
Juan Cole:
RT: Marine Brig Gen Weidley says
http://www.juancole.com/2015/05/refuses-tribal-levies.html
http://rt.com/news/259173-isis-ramadi-control-iraq/
So remind us Jonkey Nactional why are we are sending NZ troops into help fight ISIL?! …when our ‘allies’ (USA, Israel , Saudi Arabia) seem to be supporting ISIL covertly and overtly…
….when ISIL is being used against Syria to bring down Assad! ( who 80% of Syrians voted for)….this mess?!…straw dogs and red herrings….and following on from the shame of what has happened to Libya?…who are the pawns in this game?….who is behind these utter warmongering strategic crimes against humanity?
‘Syrian nightmare’
http://rt.com/shows/crosstalk/258701-syria-civil-war-is/
“Is it too late for an agreed political settlement to end the Syrian civil war? Recent advances by Al-Qaeda affiliated groups and the Islamic State suggest any regime following Assad will be radicalized, extremely brutal and possibly aggressive. Would this be a case of the cure being worse than the disease?
CrossTalking with Richard Murphy, Jason Hirthler, and Sukant Chandan”.
Have a read of this piece in this morning’s Dominion Post, then go back and read BLiP’s piece about their work with Roger Douglas in the 1980’s. This needs more exposure.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/68614620/bowron-going-blue-makes-me-see-red
I noted the finding below that was reported by the human resources research team in the link. I would have thought that the last thing that Poorer Benefit would want is staff who ‘thought rules were more important than ideas’.
I remember one job I read of in the US where they set up a team that got friendly with staff who after telling them private thoughts in confidence found they got sacked. So watch out MSD staff. They’re listening and watching you!
The programme called Building Blue followed a 2013 survey of
approximately 10,000 MSD staff, which found they were too accepting of the status quo, thought rules were more important than ideas, and didn’t want to rock the boat. Staff felt they had to obey orders, follow policy, create a good impression and check in with superiors demonstrating a willingness to conform.
American police need automatic weapons and military gear because they are in a dangerous job
So they say.
But strangely, fishers, loggers, pilots, drivers, roofers, iron and steel workers, construction labourers, agricultural labourers, power line technicians, farmers and others have higher on the job death rates.
And no one is proposing to paramilitarise them.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-05-17/deadliest-jobs-america
That is because obviously different jobs have different risk associated.
I dont see the police being given tools required for roofing either.
Right tools for the job.
There’s a name for this sort of thing:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_equivalence
Its a good comparison, especially when prison guards have to buy their own steel capped boots.
well, sometime US cops have to buy their equipment, too.
The problems of Cuban Socialism laid bare
http://www.economist.com/news/americas/21651300-despite-thaw-united-states-politics-paralysing-economy-first-two
Fuck me.
First quote in the article: “Clark did it too.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/68621964/no-housing-crisis-in-auckland-john-key
It’s the go-to sound bite when pushed into a corner.
Bling: “We got people paying them one way or another”
Yes Bill, the same fucking people, over and over!
Bling: “We got growth and supply coming to market”
No Bill, you don’t. Actual town planners say stop, you can’t do this without infrastructure!
“One way or another.” Did the Finance Minister just say that as part of official position???
Really? Well that was money well spent, wasn’t it?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/11609570/Secrets-of-the-Tories-election-war-room.html
– Discipline, knowledge, information and passion
Lies deceit money Crosby Textor …
For folks in or near Dunedin:
A talk on the referendum on same-sex marriage taking place in the south of Ireland on Friday. . .
The talk is on “Will south of Ireland be first country in world to vote for same-sex marriage?” (Venue, time etc below)
For many decades after the establishment of the twenty-six county state in the south of Ireland in 1921-23, the Catholic Church, both directly and indirectly, wielded vast power in the state and in civil society. Even well into the 1980s it was able to mobilise followers in referenda that prevented divorce being made available and abortion being made available.
However, despite this apparent high-water point for conservative social attitudes and Church power, the wider society was already changing significantly. Exposure of child abuse by priests and nuns – ranging from physical beatings to child rape – undermined the Church’s pretence to the ‘high moral ground’, while new generations supported expanded personal freedom.
The wider changes in southern Irish society also mean that the religious right’s campaign against same-sex marriage can no longer be expressed in blatantly anti-gay terms. Instead, they argue that same-sex couples can settle for civil unions and that marriage has to be of male and female because “children’s rights” involve the right to have a mother and father. They’ve even invoked the names of the radical rebels of the 1916 Rising to push their opposition to marriage equality.
While, in the past two decades, the religious right has lost battle after battle and look likely to lose on the same-sex marriage issue, there is now a secularising, post-religious right which, while actively supporting issues like same-sex marriage, is carrying out an utterly vicious assault on working class living standards. This new post-religious right is represented today in government as the Fine Gael-Labour coalition.
Speaker: Dr Philip Ferguson
5pm, Thursday, May 21
Room 2, Clubs and Societies Building
84 Albany Street
Dunedin
FYI folks – information flushed out from Trade Minister Tim Groser under the OIA, regarding his secret meeting behind closed doors on the TPPA with Auckland Mayor Len Brown, on 7 April 2015, in the Auckland Mayoral Office.
In my opinion, the lack of transparency regarding TPPA discussions and negotiations has now infested New Zealand at the highest levels of central and local government?
______________________________________________________________________________________
18 May 2015
Further ‘Open Letter’ / OIA request to Minister of Trade Tim Groser, arising from ‘briefing notes’ provided for the ‘informal exchange of information’ between the Minister of Trade and Mayor of Auckland, Len Brown, on the TPPA (and related matters) behind closed doors, on 7 April 2015:
Tim Groser,
Minister of Trade
Dear Minister,
A) Please be reminded of the following statutory requirements of the New Zealand Public Records Act 2005:
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2005/0040/latest/DLM345536.html
3 Purposes of Act
The purposes of this Act are—
(c) to enable the Government to be held accountable by—
(i) ensuring that full and accurate records of the affairs of central and local government are created and maintained; and
(ii) providing for the preservation of, and public access to, records of long-term value; and
(d)to enhance public confidence in the integrity of public records and local authority records; and
______________________________________________________________________________________
How can the public have confidence in the transparency or accountability of those in public office, at the highest levels, without proper written records?
BACKGROUND:
In your OIA reply, (dated 14 May 2015) you state:
“The meeting was organised by MFAT and the Office of the Mayor.
It was an opportunity to discuss with the Mayor, trade and economic issues relevant to Auckland.
In addition to the Mayor and me, the meeting was attended by an official from my office, one official from NZTE and one official from MFAT.
Several of the Mayor’s advisors also attended.
The meeting was not a public engagement.
It was an informal exchange of information.
It was not therefore appropriate to include the public, media or other Councillors.
I have attached a briefing note prepared for me by officials in advance of the meeting.
No formal minute or record of the meeting was prepared. ”
______________________________________________________________________________________
INCLUDED IN THE (attached) ‘BRIEFING NOTE’:
“Purpose of the call.
This meeting is expected to focus entirely on trade and economic issues.
It is an opportunity for you to give the mayor an update on the FTA agenda and BGA, and discuss their relevance to Auckland’s economic growth aspirations.
The Mayor may use the meeting to brief you on the Council’s new Global Engagement Strategy, in particular, the Tripartite Economic Alliance and Auckland’s candidacy for the Lee Kwan Yew City Prize.
FTA roundup.
You may wish to give the mayor a summary of New Zealand’s various and ongoing and recently concluded FTA negotiations.
In particular, we believe the Mayor would be interested in updates on TPP, Korea, and the China upgrade.
We provide some background on the Mayor’s interest in TPP below.
* The Mayor has expressed interest in the economic benefits to Auckland that the TPP could deliver.
As New Zealand’s exporting hub, and its most internationally connected city, Auckland stands to derive significant benefits from TPP.
In particular, the fact that the TPP promises to better integrate New Zealand into a region accounting for 40% of global GDP, presents significant opportunities for Auckland’s exporters, and ultimately its residents.
While we have no projections of how the benefits of TPP might accrue specifically to Auckland, the mayor will be interested in in a high level discussion of progress in the negotiation, and of the projected benefits at national level, particularly in terms of export growth, investment flow and labour mobility.
It is also worth noting that in December 2012, the Regional and Development Committee of the Auckland Council passed a resolution which encouraged the Government to conclude negotiations on TPP in a way which achieved 12 objectives (see Appendix 1).
These objectives included achieving substantially increased access for agricultural exports, not increasing the costs of medical treatments, and not giving overseas investors more rights than domestic investors.
Mayor Brown was not present when this resolution was adopted, but he is known to be supportive of trade agreements in general.”
OIA Request:
1) Please provide the information which explains how a meeting between yourself as the Minister of Trade (in that official capacity), and the Mayor of Auckland, Len Brown (in that official capacity), for which the attached ‘briefing note’ was provided – can possibly be described as an ‘informal exchange of information’, from which:
– the details of this meeting were NOT minuted,
– elected Auckland Councillors were not informed and were excluded,
– the public and media were not informed and excluded,
can be compliant with the above-mentioned statutory requirements of the Public Records Act 2005.
B) This attached ‘briefing note’, included the following, in my view, significant ‘statistic’:
Appendix 1 : Economic and demographic statistics demonstrating the importance of Auckland to New Zealand’s international connectivity.
……………………….
“Auckland’s population is projected to grow by approximately 700,000 people between 2011 and 2041 (assuming a medium populations growth scenario).”
As the initiating petitioner of the following petition, which resulted in a Social Services Select Committee of Inquiry, here is their Report:
Social Services Select Committee Report
http://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-nz/50DBSCH_SCR5953_1/9f8a825ae96c25bddf7d0c8bddb58511039a4d16
The Social Services Committee has considered Petition 2011/64 of Penelope Mary Bright, requesting that Parliament decline to proceed with the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Bill until the lawfulness of the reliance of Auckland Council on the New Zealand Department of Statistics “high” population growth projections, instead of their “medium” population growth projections for the Auckland Spatial Plan, has been properly and independently investigated, taking into consideration that both Auckland Transport and Watercare Services Ltd, have relied upon “medium” population growth projections for their infrastructural asset management plans.
We heard and received evidence from the petitioner, but note that the matters she raised have been addressed publicly by the Auckland Council in statements posted on its website and issued to media.
The Auckland Council’s Chief Planning Officer has said that while Auckland may not grow by one million people by 2041 (the high-growth projection), Auckland Council is preparing for it.
The city has historically met the high-growth projection, and it is therefore prudent for the council to plan accordingly.
He said that the city needs to be prepared for, and infrastructure needs to be able to cope with, growth. He pointed out that the “Unitary Plan”, which is a part of the Auckland Spatial Plan, sets out only rules for development.
We understand that actual development would be undertaken only in response to demand. Regarding the use of alternative projections for higher- and lower-growth scenarios, we note that the council’s Chief Planning Officer has also said that it is prudent for the Auckland Council to provide for the highest likely population growth, and at the same time to be cautious to avoid over-investment.
He said that the council requires organisations it owns or controls to be cautious about capital spending ahead of time to avoid high borrowing, interest, and depreciation costs, and that any underspending on infrastructure could be addressed through regular budget reviews and incremental expansion of facilities such as wastewater treatment plants.
The Mayor of Auckland has also said that using the high-growth projection was the appropriate thing to do, and that the council should not be too conservative in their assumptions about population growth.
We consider that the response to this issue provided by the council appears reasonable, and therefore have no matters to bring to the attention of the House.
Melissa Lee Deputy Chairperson ”
( FYI – the supplementary evidence which I provided the Social Services Select Committee, (dated 14 June 2013) to support this Petition 2011/64, is available here:
http://www.parliament.nz/resource/mi-nz/50SCSS_EVI_50DBHOH_PET3157_1_A338307/c0545be9171849399f2468c6567ae9303ce418ce )
______________________________________________________________________________________
OIA REQUEST:
2) Please provide ALL/ANY information which explains why this above-mentioned ‘briefing note’ used the medium population growth projection of 700,000 more people coming to Auckland in the next 30 years, rather than high population growth projection, (1 million extra people) which was preferred by both Auckland Council and the Social Services Select Committee in their above-mentioned Report.
Yours sincerely,
Penny Bright
……………………..
‘Anti-corruption / anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’
2009 Attendee Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference
2010 Attendee Transparency International Anti-Corruption Conference
2013 Attendee Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference
2014 Attendee G20 Anti-Corruption Conference
2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate (polled 4th with 11,723 votes)
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate
+100 ….Go Penny ….and disgraceful that Len Brown seems to be colluding with Tim Groser in secret on the TPP
…the corruption and secrecy is getting grosser and grosser
lol
I love tories who come to a left-wing blog but don’t want to read posts with a left-wing “spin”
🙄
Its estimated that up to 6000 Myanmar people have been forced to leave because of religion – Muslim in a Buddhist country, although they have been there about 1000 years. I think that’s what I read. Anyway they are being pushed out to sea because no-one wants them to land. And they are needing water and food. So whats happening. The UN is anxious. The various countries around are obdurate. Time for Batman or some hero to organise a helicopter from Sea Shepherd or some such. By the time anybody does anything officially many will be dead.
And in Australia money available in foreign aid had a big cut because of them being in the proverbial.
Australia’s slashing of foreign aid by almost Aus$1.0 billion (US$800 million) will hurt the most vulnerable people in Asia and Africa and damage the country’s reputation, aid groups said Wednesday.In its national budget on Tuesday,
Australia confirmed that aid spending will fall by Aus$980.2 million to Aus$4.1 billion in 2015-16 as it looks for savings to rein in its deficit. The Asian region will lose Aus$522.5 million in assistance. – See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/13/australian-foreign-aid-cuts-hurt-most-vulnerable-ngos.html#sthash.v6uSwPzg.dpuf
Compare with military expenditure around the world:
from Stockholm Int. Peace Research Institute
The USA is first by a huge number. about $600 Billion 2014-2015
China next $216 Billion
Russia $84.5 Billion
Saudi Arabia $81 Billion
France $62 Billion
UK $60 Billion
Australia $25 Billion
(Projection from UK Ministry of Defence for 2045 is that USA will be up around $1300 Billion and China will be just behind – India about $600 Billion!) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures
edited
I would like to start a thread with all of the interested people here to let us all input the names of all the large and middle size companies and their tax payments that have been sold to overseas interests since the perfidious R Douglas introduced the neo liberal clusterfuck that has rooted the New Zealand economy since 1984 .I understand we are now close to $100 bn debt now. Of course the recent power companies come to mind ,Fisher and Paykel to the Chinese Government owned Haier . Lion Breweries to Kirin ,Japan ,Dominion Breweries to Heineken (Singapore ) ? wtf I think it was Dutch originally ,Crafar farms ,Telecom to Bell South and on and on and on . Please feel free to add to the list . Ps Not to mention Air New Zealand ,sold by that illiterate fuck wit Prebble for about the cost of about 1 new 747 replacement cost ,and the CNI forest to Fletchers and the Chinese I think for about $0 ,20 cents per tree
Contact
Trade Me
Interesting interview tomorrow on RNZ for those interested in WTF has/is going on in the Middle East.
10:05 am Wednesday 20 May: Nine To Noon
Christina Lamb Journalist and author, Christina Lamb’s latest book, Farewell Kabul tells how the West turned success into defeat in the longest war fought by the United States in its history and by Britain since the Hundred Years War. She says Farewell Kabul: How the West Ignored Pakistan and Lost Afghanistan is the he story of well-intentioned men and women going into a place they did not understand at all. And how, what had once been the right thing to do had become a conflict that everyone wanted to exit. This has left Afghanistan still one of the poorest and most dangerous nations on earth.
Christina Lamb is the best-selling author of The Africa House and I Am Malala, co-authored with Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.