This three to four week hiatus proves one thing.
The corporate media has very few investigative journalists left.
Without the daily spectacle of parliament, there have nothing to show us.
It appears it is too hard to travel around the country looking fora story on one of the following.
Drive north to Ruakaka to investigate the truth behind the pipe leak,
Explore the social issues behind our mental health crisis.
Measure water quality in Canterbury and complete an expose of industrial farming.
Investigate the use of migrant workers by our rural industries.
Investigate labour conditions in the cleaning imdustry.
When the river stops flowing it becomes clear how shallow the lake really is. All that’s left is inspecting rotting debris and cast-away rubbish that people didn’t want any longer.
Tamaki Regenergation
SCF
Sheepgate – or pretty much anything Muzza was involved in as he’s not got parliamentary resources to hide behind now.
Charter Schools performance
NZ Police – plenty of material here from roast busters to illegal search and siezures over political matters.
Just shows how owned they are and focused on the status quo, watch Inside Job on Netflix and see how rigged the whole show is.
Rachel Stewart pinpoints a key reason for our terrible road toll.
‘We are a nation of seething, simmering rage that finds full expression when we get behind the wheel.
We’re quick to blame tourists for accidents, but ask tourists what they think of us behind the wheel. The feedback is consistent. We are angry, tail-gating, intolerant, ill-mannered monsters who view our vehicles as an extension of our……selves.’
I’ve been thinking on that a bit over the last few years, done a lot more open road driving lately and have needed to reflect on my own driving.
I drive at the speed limit and very rarely do I encounter these (alleged) angry drivers. That either makes me one of them or the people complaining about angry drivers are driving slower than the speed limit.
If you choose to drive at say 80-90k on the open road you’re making a deliberate decision to prevent everyone else from driving faster. It’s that perceived pre-meditation which I believe makes most people angry on the road. It’s further reinforced when the slow driver speeds up at the passing lane, which in my experience 99% of them do. To the drivers behind they’re sending a big ‘fuck-you’ to everyone else.
In reality they’re mostly just poor drivers with low confidence but the people behind them don’t know that so they react to the perceived aggression of the person deliberately holding them up.
Everyone has the right to drive at a speed less then a hundred km on the open road, however you still don’t have the right to drive more then that.
As for speeding up on a overtaking lane, i would assume that it comes naturally as finally there is a bit of space to feel comfortable. Many if not most roads in NZ are build for Morris Minors and Bedford Trucks, they are potholed nightmares near logging and dairy f arms, and even the forgotten highway has a speed limit of a 100 km.
So rather then complain about people that might not drive that well – newbie driver, that might get uncomfortable next to big logging trucks, that might drive a new car, that might don’t drive at all that much, how about you complain about the shocking state of the roads, the lack of speed diversity, and the lack of driver training in this country.
Cause if you mean this ” Quote” In reality they’re mostly just poor drivers with low confidence but the people behind them don’t know that so they react to the perceived aggression of the person deliberately holding them up.” then you are one of these angry tailgaters that feel as if they are prevented from doing the Speed Target and thus are ‘made to come late’ or other some nonsense.
Someone long time ago once said, IF you have to go running to be on time you are already late.
You share the road with everyone, it is not your own. Maybe next time leave earlier so that you don’t have to blame someone for driving to their ability rather then your need for speed.
Everyone has the right to drive at a speed less then a hundred km on the open road.
Not entirely true Sabine. You can be ticketed for impeding the flow of traffic.
As I said, if you choose to drive below the speed limit you’re deliberately deciding everyone else’s speed as well. It’s that (perception of) arrogance presumption which pisses people off.
“As for speeding up on a overtaking lane, i would assume that it comes naturally as finally there is a bit of space to feel comfortable.”
Naturally? If you have traffic built up behind you the ‘natural’ thing to do is slow down further and let them past.
“then you are one of these angry tailgaters that feel as if they are prevented from doing the Speed Target and thus are ‘made to come late’ or other some nonsense. ”
I don’t tailgate, you know nothing about my driving style.
Yes, you can be ticketed for being below the flow of traffic, never mind one “Will” be ticket by going over the speed ticket. So someone traveling on the open road at 85 + will not get a speed ticket unless you want to ticket every single Truck, Campervan, Traktor, car/trailer thingy, old bike, old car etc – and oh my gosh what to do about bicyclists?
Yes, people should pull over to let those pass that are faster then them, sadly it seems that the slow bays are a thing of the past. It seems we had more of those in the past, and in many places we have non at all anymore. But maybe they should just drive in a ditch to let someone pass cause faster?
Yes, it is true i know nothing about your driving style. I based my comment on your comment having never met you.
This is what you said, this is what stood out to me and this is what i based my comment on.
Quote” In reality they’re mostly just poor drivers with low confidence but the people behind them don’t know that so they react to the perceived aggression of the person deliberately holding them up.
Since it was me who said that Sabine I would assume you’d appreciate I do know that ergo I don’t get that angry at them. I certainly find them a bit frustrating but I don’t vent that on the road.
Anyway my point was that I don’t believe it’s speed per se that people get angry about. Its the (perceived) attitude of other drivers that I think causes the angst and slow driving is just a manifested symptom of that attitude.
“100 km is the Speed Limit
100 km is not a Target.”
+100 to that, it never fails to astound me how many people will sit on your bumper in wet conditions and poor visibility trying to force you to speed up a couple dozen kph because they’ve just got to get to the mall right now! Like you’re going to make them catch the gay if their mates find out they drove 83 on the motorway in their shiny Hot Wheels car.
It’s the people who don’t drive a consistent speed who ruin my drive. On long trips it’s nice to sit in cruise mode and let the car do the work, today’s drivers make that a bit too infrequent.
A lot of the claims about angry drivers don’t gel with me. I can tow a trailer from Auck to Whangarei and get bugger-all cars catching up to me. Those that do never have to wait long, there’s plenty of passing lanes and I let them go. Only rarely do I get anyone tailgating me even when I’m doing 90 with a trailer.
DH,
Come to Gisborne on highway 2 from Opotiki and try driving at 80-90 kms and you wont make it mate.
I never go faster then 80kms on that road as my wife would have kittens and we would have a fatal accident with many trucks using most of the road so please dont suggest that all dricvers must stick to 100kms.
You are lucky to have a multi laned road but inthe provines we dont have that ‘luxury’ as the big cities take all the roading funds and leave us ‘diddly squat.’
Portugal and Argentina already have laws against street harassment and catcalling, and now France is going to pass a law against it as well.
When asked how to draw a line between street harassment and flirtation, Gender Equality Minister Marlene Schiappa replied: “We know very well at what point we start feeling intimidated, unsafe or harassed in the street,” citing as an example when a man “asks for your number 17 times” or follows a victim for several blocks.
Do people have to count to 17 before they call it harrassment, or 10, or 5? Sounds like exaggeration. A sharp negative and a threat to call the police should be enough. Being followed is creepy though.
If you look someone in the eye, give them a wink, a smile, is that harrassment? Is acknowledging someone going to be a crime? Can’t we cope with living and meeting each other as we move around? Do we have to carry a licence of good intent?
‘I’m not very proud’ – Taika Waititi speaks his mind on the environmental, poverty and housing issues hurting Kiwis
‘”I’m not very proud of coming from a place that everyone thinks is this pure green country, whereas in reality all our lakes and waterways are poison,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot to learn about our depression rates, our suicide rates, teen suicide rates, child poverty numbers and the housing crisis.”
To watch the full clip with Taika Waititi, go to the Marae’s OnDemand page here
Waititi also weighed in on foreign ownership saying, “we just make it so readily available to sell land – for foreigners to buy land.”
He says the first thing New Zealand needs to work on is social issues, not making money.
“To me they just seem like, ‘Oh, that’s what you should fix’ before you think about things like money,” he said.’
Anyone remember that dodgy business about Hillary single-handedly selling out US uranium to the rooskies? (never mind that a bunch of other agencies independent of the State Dept also had to approve it)
Here’s a bit more light on the tangled web behind that.
I looked at the article. I have no intention of debating the issue but I do want to remark on the use of one phrase which recalls for me the tortuous use of English to disguise and justify as used in political debate à la “this statement is no longer operative” or “we had to destroy the city (Hue) in order to save it.”
The phrase used was “used a confidential US witness working inside the Russian nuclear industry to gather confidential financial records”.
In other words, a spy.
If anybody else uses such tactics it’s spying, but the FBI use “confidential US witnessing”!
“His illegal conduct was captured with the help of a confidential witness, an American businessman, who began making kickback payments at Mikerin’s direction and with the permission of the FBI. ”
So more like a cooperating conspirator, rather than a “spy”.
Wow must have pissed someone off with my post yesterday but they can go and get_________ .This is what i was writing last week Big Upps to Prince Charles for fighting for mother earth for 40 years. He is one of the people that swayed my thoughts to our environment and I think he should have more than just soft power to kick those neo liberal idiots asses to touch for there ideological worship of money and power over our grandchildren safe future a healthy mother earth.
I said yesterday that part of the reason we have high rates of suicide is broken familys.
Well this is the other fact If a culture is suppressed and discriminated to the point that some people denies there blood lines to that culture there you go they are ashamed to be Maori. Some people will say hes pissing in the wind yea right.
I have had many incidences were this has happened when applying for a job all good on the phone than in person They look me up and down and I can see there thoughts you are a dum Maori who will cheat and lie and steal from me We will get back to you ECO and they never get back to me.
Now we no that most employment is gained by word of mouth and this is an hindrance to us Maori as we no the all the good jobs have European bosses who only no people of the same ethnicity so all the good jobs stay with that group of people . A lot of Maori organizations would rather employ an non Maori .
And this is bullshit because we have good honest hard working Maori out there that just need a good person to give them a chance.
So I’m challenging these Maori Organizations to look after your own and higher the right Maori for the jobs you have you don’t have to higher some idiot who can’t do the job as there are test out there that one can use to find the right person for the job. And we have to look after our own as no one else will . And this discrimination
is always with us the intelligent people can see this an it weighs us down I have Been battling for my piece of paradise for 35 years and what have I’v got jack and I don’t waste my resources . We can the same thing happening to USA Indians many other colonized cultures around our world Kia Kaha
Glad to find someone else likes Charles – he used his privilege to educate himself until he became a responsible voice. Our institutions don’t produce these as often as they used to, and by golly we need a few more of them.
ecoMaori
I think that a good thing for Maori and NonMaori too, who are looking for jobs, is to establish an agency that can give a working person a reliable reference. At present the possible employer wouldn’t know who that person/business giving he reference is and how reliable it is.
The way I see it, it would take a dedicated, organised, reliable person to advertise and start off small with a process and system and grow as they get more people, and get better known and be interested in maintaining good relationships with both workers and employers. A job-seeker would register by putting down their name and giving info on past jobs, type, length of time employed and their own estimate of themselves, and if put off jobs, think and honestly say why they think that happened and not just that ‘someone didn’t like me’. They would start off with one star, and work their way up toward the highest of five stars. The agency would have a list of attributes that each star would offer and use halves as well so they could grade the person who would monitor their own progress and work towards getting 4 or over.
The client would report in with each job taken, and then when finished and why, and their own assessment and who to speak to at that workplace to get the employer’s feedback on the client. The agency would work with the client to improve their skills and attitudes and find ways to move them up the star chain.
It would be a give-take arrangement, as when starting off money wouldn’t be a big barrier, maybe as low as $20 to register and get started. But once working there would be a direct debit of $20 monthly to keep the money flowing to help the agency’s costs and wages, probably one trained person at first. That would help others get started and gradually grow, and help the agency to supply the skill advice and training opportunities which would lift the star rating. That would result eventually with improvement in jobs and wages that the agency-worker partnership would be going for.
It would take a while but the prospective worker would give the employment manager the agency’s number and get them to phone to find out the star rating and a mention of the skills that the person had acquired with training and then they would know something good about them. This would be helpful in this 90 day trial regime. It would not be government funded. Government should not have anything to do with it, no funds allocated etc. It would be good if a couple of iwi could give it a kickstart, and some regular funding for wages and rent, especially when it was building up.
This government is mainly interested in big business, and individuals are like ants in their eyes. If the TW get in again, this will get worse, and humans tend to crush ants. So setting up a personal value system like this would be helpful to survive and advance.
Have you ever thought it has nothing to do with skin colour and that you weren’t the best candidate for the job?
Are there skills you’re missing? maybe the way you come across in the interviews is bad, like demonstrating lack of confidence or dislike for the person doing the interviewing.
Before you go down the racism path step back and analyse what you’re doing and make improvements first.
Employers insisting they need tens of thousands of unskilled migrants – but won’t employ an experienced local man? That ain’t meritocracy it’s prejudice.
Might not be race based – doesn’t make it any better.
Yeah Eco – do as BM says, just surrender to the power of your superiors and do whatever they require, there’s a good dog. That’s how you get ahead!
Alternatively as JIm Baxter famously said, “to shovel sh*t and eat it are different in the end” (Ballad of Stonegut Sugar Works)
“Oh, in the Stonegut Sugar Works
The floors are black with grime
I think they must have built it
In Queen Victoria’s time.
And all the sugar in the land
Flows through that dismal dump
And all the drains run through the works
Into a filthy sump.
And then they boil it up again
For the money in each lump.”
(Poet James K. Baxter briefly worked as a cleaner at the Birkenhead sugar refinery in 1969. He later recorded his impressions in a poem)
Can I join in, What a stupid comment. That’s a catch-all for all the niggly smart arse ones of people filling in time. But it keeps emptying out again so repeat. Belch. What a stupid comment.
National/English sold the election as a two horse race. It failed but left NZF in the “Kingmaker” position. Therefore English is responsible for the current position that they whine so much about.
If we still 7 or 8 parties there would be more diversity of power.
Drop the threshold to 2%.
Remove the coat tail.
Balance out Party funding.
‘I’m suggesting to voters they cut out the middle man’ – English issues blunt message on Peters
Two of National’s current support partners say Bill English is ignoring the realities of governing under MMP by telling people not to vote for the minor parties.
Two examples, found easily. What was that about alternative facts?
After the media made it all about Jacinda and ignored everyone else, English had no choice but to push National ahead of any potential coalition partner.
It all started with the media and how they framed the election.
Your guy had nine years to make himself electable, instead he and his party killed of all his ‘partners’ in during that time and yet even without competition at the right side of the aisle they still can’t win.
The National Party failed. Simply all by themselves without help from everyone they failed. They did not convince a majority (over 50%) to vote for them, they have no other coalition partner left then NZF and they have no one to blame but themselves.
The question is why did not enough people vote for them. Why did so many people abandon the N wagon, if the economy is so good, the lakes so swimable, the water so drinkable, the food so cheap, the housing so plenty and the jobs so well paid.
So BM, why do you think NZ’lers did not vote for the National Party and what can the National Party do to get the voters that it shed in this years Election –
either N- leaning but voting for the left or not voting at all).
To achieve a fourth term in NZ politics is rare, I actually though National did quite well this election, what let them down was Labour sticking a knife into the Greens.
If the Greens vote had held up Peters would have already signed a coalition deal with National, there’s no way he could have dealt with the Greens if they were still around 12% and had Turei running the Green party.
Because they’re so weak and insignificant now there’s a high chance Peters can work around them and basically form a two-party coalition with the same sort of power-sharing structure as a National/NZ First coalition.
As for coalition partners, Act and United Future have been one man bands since 2008, their failure to grow their party vote has nothing to do with National, both were on life support from the get-go.
I feel sorry for the Maori party though, Maori roll voters seem to have no idea how MMP works, they also seem to blinded by racism and only interested in the what party can provide the biggest handouts.
No wonder Te Ururoa Flavell was so distraught, that result must have shattered his faith in Maoridom.
“No wonder Te Ururoa Flavell was so distraught, that result must have shattered his faith in Maoridom.”
Oh please!!
Maoridom’s faith in Te Ururoa Flavell and the Maori party was shattered.
still trying to find someone to pin the blame for Nationals fuckuppery.
So you are saying that National short changed the Maori Party for its unwavering support during the last nine years?
Quote: I feel sorry for the Maori party though, Maori roll voters seem to have no idea how MMP works, they also seem to blinded by racism and only interested in the what party can provide the biggest handouts.
Again, if National would not have failed as badly as they did, if the country would have high employment, high wages, low house prices, low homelessness, affordable access to healthcare inclusive mental healthcare, good funded schools that don’t depend on ‘donations’ to make the end meet, children with shoes on their feet and food in their tummies, if our drinkwater were safe and affordable, if electricity were affordable, if our food were affordable, if our rivers were swimable then maybe People would not have abandoned them and their support Parties as they did.
If the only way for National to form a government is to eat shit, crow and humble pie while bending the knee before Winston Peters swearing allegiance, then all i can say is that it could not have happened to a nicer set of people.
After the media made it all about Jacinda and ignored everyone else, English had no choice but to push National ahead of any potential coalition partner.
RWNJ invents new reality to excuse the poor performance of his owners.
The media helped the English line but BM, lets not kid ourselves as to owns the line. Listen to the tedious line from Hosking compounding the “get rid of the Middle men.”
Be interesting to hear the new line though, should National win a new term.
When are NZ media going to cover Chair of Transparency International, Jose Ugaz’s call for former NZ PM John Key to be investigated over Panama Papers?
Where and when did the Chair of Transparency International Jose Ugaz state that John Key should be investigated over the Panama Papers?
1 August 2017, at Rutherford House, Victoria University.
How do I know?
Because I was at this meeting, and heard Jose Ugaz say this myself.
ESome people are trying to brand me as a evil genius I say the public should make there own choice .
1 I mow laws ?
2 do I have 50 od million ?
3 can I hide my emotions or have a blank poker face no
4 have I got a 10 million house I think that title should go to the right person shonky who well he just got a job as head of a bank. Have I abandoned my duty as a husband father grandfather I respect everyone I meet I won’t throw anyone under a bus
Genius well no intelligent may be but genius is just a ploy for these people they will say that I shit gold nuggets if this could undermine my credibility with you. And they are using this for a excuse because all there bull shit lines won’t stick to me and they are incompetent they created this so don’t blame me for what is happening now because I no what is happening an these people needed to no the truth
Ka Pai
Wow.
All the Harvey Weinstein stories coming out, and they appoint the guy with the history of ponytail pulling! Some may think the equivalence is absurd, but they’re just different points on a spectrum.
Actually Pete, I think it is Hosking who looks tired and depressed. Tedious and repetitive.
No good purpose would be served by the four big platers talking about their negotiations. But wait for the squeals from English and his voice Hoskings should it go against them. And again look at the effort English made to eliminate smaller parties. He caused the “problem.”
If Mr Peters could make his announcement any Friday afternoon so we miss the engaging Mr Espiner’s take on it all. At least until the following Monday…
This morning on radionz. A different viewpoint for a change – from Social Anthropologist.
politics
Audit Culture: the creeping problem of our age
From Nine To Noon, 9:27 am today
Listen duration 18′ :26″ Add to playlist
Professor Cris Shore has looked at the rise of ‘audit culture’ and isn’t a big fan. In fact, he calls the use of accountancy techniques and metrics to manage our universities, health services, and funding institutions, ‘the creeping problem of our age’.
He highlights this in a just published book called ‘The death of the public university – uncertain futures for higher education in the knowledge economy’.
Another example he points to is China’s social credit rating system, where by 2020, everyone will be enrolled in a vast national database with a single number ranking for each citizen.
You have to say that whatever way things go there are going to be some funny aspects.
Like the Speaker if it’s Labour. Like the Education portfolio if it’s National. And Paula Bennett.
If with National no doubt Bennett would lose her place and her mana. How sad.
If with Labour Hitchen would new broom Education.
Trevor has been fill-in Speaker and it is probably the only reason he has stayed on. No Speaker and he would step down and next on the List will be…
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Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is methane the ...
The Government’s idea is that the private sector and Community Housing Providers will fund, build and operate new affordable housing to address our housing crisis. Meanwhile, the Government does not know where almost half of the 1,700 children who left emergency housing actually went. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong ...
Oh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youOh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youSongwriters: Alexander Ebert / Jade Allyson CastrinosMorena,I’m on a tight time frame this morning. In about an hour and a half, I’ll need to pack up and hit the road ...
This is a post about the Mountain Tui substack, and small tweaks - further to the poll and request post the other day. Please don’t read if you aren’t interested in my personal matters. Thank you all.After oohing-and-aahing about how to structure the Substack model since November, including obtaining ...
This transcript of a recent conversation between the Prime Minister and his chief economic adviser has not been verified.We’ve announced we are the ‘Yes Government’. Do you like it?Yes, Prime Minister.Dreamed up by the PR team. It’s about being committed to growth. Not that the PR team know anything about ...
The other day, Australian Senator Nick McKim issued a warning in the Australian Parliement about the US’s descent into fascim.And of course it’s true, but I lament - that was true as soon as Trump won.What we see is now simply the reification of the intention, planning, and forces behind ...
Among the many other problems associated with Musk/DOGE sending a fleet of teenage and twenty-something cultists to remove, copy and appropriate federal records like social security, medicaid and other supposedly protected data is the fact that the youngsters doing the data-removal, copying and security protocol and filter code over-writing have ...
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tuneBird fly high by the light of the moonOh, oh, oh, JokermanSong by Bob Dylan.Morena folks, I hope this fine morning of the 7th of February finds you well. We're still close to Paihia, just a short drive out of town. Below is the view ...
It’s been an eventful week as always, so here’s a few things that we have found interesting. We also hope everyone had a happy and relaxing Waitangi Day! This week in Greater Auckland We’re still running on summer time, but provided two chewy posts: On Tuesday, a guest ...
Queuing on Queen St: the Government is set to announce another apparently splashy growth policy on Sunday of offering residence visas to wealthy migrants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, February 7:PM Christopher ...
The fact that Waitangi ended up being such a low-key affair may mark it out as one of the most significant Waitangi Days in recent years. A group of women draped in “Toitu Te Tiriti” banners who turned their backs on the politicians’ powhiri was about as rough as it ...
Hi,This week’s Flightless Bird episode was about “fake seizure guy” — a Melbourne man who fakes seizures in order to get members of the public to sit on him.The audio documentary (which I have included in this newsletter in case you don’t listen to Flightless Bird) built on reporting first ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The 119th Congress comes with a price tag. The oil and gas industry gave about $24 million in campaign contributions to the members of the U.S. House and Senate expected to be sworn in January 3, 2025, according to a ...
Early morning, the shadows still long, but you can already feel the warmth building. Our motel was across the road from the historic homestead where Henry Williams' family lived. The evening before, we wandered around the gardens, reading the plaques and enjoying the close proximity to the history of the ...
Thanks folks for your feedback, votes and comments this week. I’ll be making the changes soon. Appreciate all your emails, comments and subscriptions too. I know your time is valuable - muchas gracias.A lot is happening both here and around the world - so I want to provide a snippets ...
Data released today by Statistics NZ shows that unemployment rose to 5.1%, with 33,000 more people out of work than last year said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “The latest data shows that employment fell in Aotearoa at its fastest rate since the GFC. Unemployment rose in 8 ...
The December labour market statistics have been released, showing yet another increase in unemployment. There are now 156,000 unemployed - 34,000 more than when National took office. And having thrown all these people out of work, National is doubling down on cruelty. Because being vicious will somehow magically create the ...
Boarded up homes in Kilbirnie, where work on a planned development was halted. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 5 are;Housing Minister Chris Bishop yesterday announcedKāinga Ora would be stripped of ...
This week Kiwirail and Auckland Transport were celebrating the completion of the summer rail works that had the network shut or for over a month and the start of electric trains to Pukekohe. First up, here’s parts of the press release about the shutdown works. Passengers boarding trains in Auckland ...
Through its austerity measures, the coalition government has engineered a rise in unemployment in order to reduce inflation while – simultaneously – cracking down harder and harder on the people thrown out of work by its own policies. To that end, Social Development Minister Louise Upston this week added two ...
This year, we've seen a radical, white supremacist government ignoring its Tiriti obligations, refusing to consult with Māori, and even trying to legislatively abrogate te Tiriti o Waitangi. When it was criticised by the Waitangi Tribunal, the government sabotaged that body, replacing its legal and historical experts with corporate shills, ...
Poor old democracy, it really is in a sorry state. It would be easy to put all the blame on the vandals and tyrants presently trashing the White House, but this has been years in the making. It begins with Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan and the spirit of Gordon ...
The new school lunches came in this week, and they were absolutely scrumptious.I had some, and even though Connor said his tasted like “stodge” and gave him a sore tummy, I myself loved it!Look at the photos - I knew Mr Seymour wouldn’t lie when he told us last year:"It ...
The tighter sanctions are modelled on ones used in Britain, which did push people off ‘the dole’, but didn’t increase the number of workers, and which evidence has repeatedly shown don’t work. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, ...
Catching you up on the morning’s global news and a quick look at the parallels -GLOBALTariffs are backSharemarkets in the US, UK and Europe have “plunged” in response to Trump’s tariffs. And while Mexico has won a one month reprieve, Canada and China will see their respective 25% and 10% ...
This post by Nicolas Reid was originally published on Linked in. It is republished here with permission. Gondolas are often in the news, with manufacturers of ropeway systems proposing them as a modern option for mass transit systems in New Zealand. However, like every next big thing in transport, it’s hard ...
This is a re-post from The Climate BrinkBoth 2023 and 2024 were exceptionally warm years, at just below and above 1.5C relative to preindustrial in the WMO composite of surface temperature records, respectively. While we are still working to assess the full set of drivers of this warmth, it is clear that ...
Hi,I woke up feeling nervous this morning, realising that this weekend Flightless Bird is going to do it’s first ever live show. We’re heading to a sold out (!) show in Seattle to test the format out in front of an audience. If it works, we’ll do more. I want ...
From the United-For-Now States of America comes the thrilling news that a New Zealander may be at the very heart of the current coup. Punching above our weight on the world stage once more! Wait, you may be asking, what New Zealander? I speak of Peter Thiel, made street legal ...
Even Stevens: Over the 33 years between 1990 and 2023 (and allowing for the aberrant 2020 result) the average level of support enjoyed by the Left and Right blocs, at roughly 44.5 percent each, turns out to be, as near as dammit, identical.WORLDWIDE, THE PARTIES of the Left are presented ...
Back in 2023, a "prominent political figure" went on trial for historic sex offences. But we weren't allowed to know who they were or what political party they were "prominent" in, because it might affect the way we voted. At the time, I said that this was untenable; it was ...
I'm going, I'm goingWhere the water tastes like wineI'm going where the water tastes like wineWe can jump in the waterStay drunk all the timeI'm gonna leave this city, got to get awayI'm gonna leave this city, got to get awayAll this fussing and fighting, man, you know I sure ...
Waitangi Day is a time to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and stand together for a just and fair Aotearoa. Across the motu, communities are gathering to reflect, kōrero, and take action for a future built on equity and tino rangatiratanga. From dawn ceremonies to whānau-friendly events, there are ...
Subscribe to Mountain Tūī ! Where you too can learn about exciting things from a flying bird! Tweet.Yes - I absolutely suck at marketing. It’s a fact.But first -My question to all readers is:How should I set up the Substack model?It’s been something I’ve been meaning to ask since November ...
Here’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s political economy on politics and in the week to Feb 3:PM Christopher Luxon began 2025’s first day of Parliament last Tuesday by carrying on where left off in 2024, letting National’s junior coalition partner set the political agenda and dragging ...
The PSA have released a survey of 4000 public service workers showing that budget cuts are taking a toll on the wellbeing of public servants and risking the delivery of essential services to New Zealanders. Economists predict that figures released this week will show continued increases in unemployment, potentially reaching ...
The Prime Minister’s speech 10 days or so ago kicked off a flurry of commentary. No one much anywhere near the mainstream (ie excluding Greens supporters) questioned the rhetoric. New Zealand has done woefully poorly on productivity for a long time and we really need better outcomes, and the sorts ...
President Trump on the day he announced tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China, unleashing a shock to supply chains globally that is expected to slow economic growth and increase inflation for most large economies. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate ...
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 9 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 3Politics: New Zealand Government cabinet meeting usually held early afternoon with post-cabinet news conference possible at 4 pm, although they have not been ...
Trump being Trump, it won’t come as a shock to find that he regards a strong US currency (bolstered by high tariffs on everything made by foreigners) as a sign of America’s virility, and its ability to kick sand in the face of the world. Reality is a tad more ...
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. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s move to increase speed limits substantially on dozens of stretches of rural and often undivided highways will result in more serious harm. ...
In her first announcement as Economic Growth Minister, Nicola Willis chose to loosen restrictions for digital nomads from other countries, rather than focus on everyday Kiwis. ...
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 ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF). Mr McClay recently hosted Minister Farrell in Rotorua for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting, where ANZLF presented on ...
A new monthly podiatry clinic has been launched today in Wairoa and will bring a much-needed service closer to home for the Wairoa community, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.“Health New Zealand has been successful in securing a podiatrist until the end of June this year to meet the needs of ...
The Judicial Conduct Commissioner has recommended a Judicial Conduct Panel be established to inquire into and report on the alleged conduct of acting District Court Judge Ema Aitken in an incident last November, Attorney-General Judith Collins said today. “I referred the matter of Judge Aitken’s alleged conduct during an incident ...
Students who need extra help with maths are set to benefit from a targeted acceleration programme that will give them more confidence in the classroom, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Last year, significant numbers of students did not meet the foundational literacy and numeracy level required to gain NCEA. To ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced three new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ...
Ki te kahore he whakakitenga, ka ngaro te Iwi – without a vision, the people will perish. The Government has achieved its target to reduce the number of households in emergency housing motels by 75 per cent five years early, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The number of households ...
The opening of Palmerston North’s biggest social housing development will have a significant impact for whānau in need of safe, warm, dry housing, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The minister visited the development today at North Street where a total of 50 two, three, and four-bedroom homes plus a ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced the new membership of the Public Advisory Committee on Disarmament and Arms Control (PACDAC), who will serve for a three-year term. “The Committee brings together wide-ranging expertise relevant to disarmament. We have made six new appointments to the Committee and reappointed two existing members ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora, good morning, talofa, malo e lelei, bula vinaka, da jia hao, namaste, sat sri akal, assalamu alaikum. It’s so great to be here and I’m ready and pumped for 2025. Can I start by acknowledging: Simon Bridges – CEO of the Auckland ...
The Government has unveiled a bold new initiative to position New Zealand as a premier destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) that will create higher paying jobs and grow the economy. “Invest New Zealand will streamline the investment process and provide tailored support to foreign investors, to increase capital investment ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced the largest reset of the New Zealand science system in more than 30 years with reforms which will boost the economy and benefit the sector. “The reforms will maximise the value of the $1.2 billion in government funding that goes into ...
Turbocharging New Zealand’s economic growth is the key to brighter days ahead for all Kiwis, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. In the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation Speech in Auckland today, Christopher Luxon laid out the path to the prosperity that will affect all aspects of New Zealanders’ lives. ...
The latest set of accounts show the Government has successfully checked the runaway growth of public spending, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “In the previous government’s final five months in office, public spending was almost 10 per cent higher than for the same period the previous year. “That is completely ...
The Government’s welfare reforms are delivering results with the number of people moving off benefits into work increasing year-on-year for six straight months. “There are positive signs that our welfare reset and the return consequences for job seekers who don't fulfil their obligations to prepare for or find a job ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kirsten Banks, Lecturer, School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology Debris on the surface of Mars from the Perseverance mission, captured on April 19 2022. NASA/JPL-Caltech In his inauguration speech in January, United States President Donald Trump ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alix Woolard, Senior Research Fellow, The Kids Research Institute Australia Stock Unit/Shutterstock Have you ever asked someone how their day was, or been chatting casually with a friend, only to have them tell you a horrific story that has left you ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Quentin Grafton, Australian Laureate Professor of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The Roper RiverChris Ison/Shutterstock Water is now a contested resource around the world. Nowhere is this more evident than in the fight playing out over the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Graeme Turner, Emeritus Professor of Cultural Studies, The University of Queensland Matej Kastellic/ Shutterstock As we head towards the federal election, both sides of politics are making a point of criticising universities and questioning their role in the community. ...
Alex Casey examines the perils of having your period at a music festival. It was right after Clairo’s swooning set that Sarah* knew it was time. She was on the second day of her period at Auckland’s Laneway festival, and braved the portaloos to empty her menstrual cup and change ...
A battle between health officials and local councils is heating up, as one government party seeks to change the rules. The Bulletin’s Stewart Sowman-Lund explains. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
A global consultancy will lead the government's review of electricity markets, with a local firm offering advice and two groups of experts providing quality assurance. ...
New Public Service Minister Judith Collins is calling for a culture of saying 'yes', but being honest enough with ministers to "reconcile the vision with reality". ...
The future of nearly a third of all huts and tracks managed by the Department of Conservation is in limbo, as the agency faces a 30 percent shortfall in funding to maintain them. ...
Today I’ve had a bit on. I’m living in a 23.4 metre tug off the coast of Samoa and have been for a few weeks now. I’m on a top-secret mission to help save the planet from another potential environmental disaster.I’m currently tasked with looking out the window and making ...
The ‘loneliness epidemic’ is apparently spreading around the world, but what does it look like here in New Zealand? Rachel Judkins reports. It’s a beautiful summer evening in Cornwall Park, with families scattered on the grass and a live band playing a backing track to their laughter. Sprawled on a ...
The Act leader gets a telling-off from the principal and prime minister Christopher Luxon loses his cool in a heated question time. 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. ...
The High Court isn’t the appropriate place to solve a South Island iwi’s claims over freshwater, the Crown says.Ngāi Tahu leaders, and the collective Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, are taking legal action against the Attorney-General, demanding to be involved in decision-making over freshwater. Iwi want the Crown to recognise ...
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Opinion: It was the 10th anniversary of UNESCO’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science this week, the theme being ‘Unpacking STEM Careers: Her Voice in Science’. It is 2025, but we still need a lot more of her voices in science.In New Zealand, a 2021 survey found that ...
NewsroomBy Dr Jennifer Kruger and Dr Kelly Burrowes
A Government proposal to axe the only two jobs in New Zealand’s health sector of people who were working on a national strategy for palliative care has angered those in the sector, which is already under immense strain.It’s put another wedge between those who want terminally ill patients to live ...
COMMENTARY:By Sawsan Madina I watched US President Donald Trump’s joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week in utter disbelief. Not that the idea, or indeed the practice, of ethnic cleansing of Palestine is new. But at that press conference the mask has fallen. Recently, fascism ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government will on Wednesday announce it is willing, as a last resort, to purchase the collapsed Rex Airlines, in its latest bid to prop up aviation services to regional and remote areas. As ...
Jotham Napat has been elected as the new prime minister of Vanuatu. Napat was elected unopposed in Port Vila today, receiving 50 votes with two void votes. He is the country’s fifth prime minister in four years and will lead a coalition government made up of five political parties — ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By A J Brown, Professor of Public Policy & Law, Centre for Governance & Public Policy, Griffith University Australia has turned the corner on its decade-long slide on Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), once again ranking in the top ten least ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Bridges, Senior Lecturer in Public Relations and Director of Academic Program – Communication, Creative Industries, Screen Media, Western Sydney University Stock Rocket/Shutterstock For new parents struggling with challenges such as breastfeeding and sleep deprivation, social media can be a great ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scott French, Senior Lecturer in Economics, UNSW Sydney US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have stated an exemption for Australia from Trump’s executive order placing 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imported into the US is “under consideration”. ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon's attempts to turn the tables back on the Opposition at Question Time today went down like a lead balloon, Jo Moir writes. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brenton Griffin, Casual Lecturer and Tutor in History, Indigenous Studies, and Politics, Flinders University American Primeval/Netflix On January 24, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, more commonly known as the Mormon Church, penned a statement condemning the ...
It comes as Whangārei District Council is under fire from the Director General of Health Dr Diana Sarfati after it voted in December against adding fluoridation to the water. ...
Come on Winston, make a decision ! This is not BreXit ..
A measured commentary on the issue.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2017/10/03/51319/mmp-how-does-new-zealand-stack-up
Take your batteries out Voltairie.
Best let this very complicated process get properly completed.
But why dont you ask the greens to show their hand here also?
Greeens are supposed to be completing their agreement with Labour too aren’t they?
Well, Davis has just guaranteed that it won’t be tomorrow.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/98014240/labours-deputy-kelvin-davis-says-all-will-be-revealed-by-thursday-morning
This three to four week hiatus proves one thing.
The corporate media has very few investigative journalists left.
Without the daily spectacle of parliament, there have nothing to show us.
It appears it is too hard to travel around the country looking fora story on one of the following.
Drive north to Ruakaka to investigate the truth behind the pipe leak,
Explore the social issues behind our mental health crisis.
Measure water quality in Canterbury and complete an expose of industrial farming.
Investigate the use of migrant workers by our rural industries.
Investigate labour conditions in the cleaning imdustry.
But no…..
They copy and paste from the Daily Fail in the UK
or find salacious tales for clickbait
+100
Misuse and abuse of migrant workers
I’m sure a long list of issues could be explored.
Some more.
Racism in New Zealand
Foreign land sales.
But no….
Going to court and reporting dramatic crimes is much easier.
When the river stops flowing it becomes clear how shallow the lake really is. All that’s left is inspecting rotting debris and cast-away rubbish that people didn’t want any longer.
Tamaki Regenergation
SCF
Sheepgate – or pretty much anything Muzza was involved in as he’s not got parliamentary resources to hide behind now.
Charter Schools performance
NZ Police – plenty of material here from roast busters to illegal search and siezures over political matters.
Just shows how owned they are and focused on the status quo, watch Inside Job on Netflix and see how rigged the whole show is.
Rachel Stewart pinpoints a key reason for our terrible road toll.
‘We are a nation of seething, simmering rage that finds full expression when we get behind the wheel.
We’re quick to blame tourists for accidents, but ask tourists what they think of us behind the wheel. The feedback is consistent. We are angry, tail-gating, intolerant, ill-mannered monsters who view our vehicles as an extension of our……selves.’
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11933871
The corporate companies are keen on importing their own slave labour and nationall are welcoming this.
ummm what has that to do with the link? Plucking heck – bit eggy that one.
I’ve been thinking on that a bit over the last few years, done a lot more open road driving lately and have needed to reflect on my own driving.
I drive at the speed limit and very rarely do I encounter these (alleged) angry drivers. That either makes me one of them or the people complaining about angry drivers are driving slower than the speed limit.
If you choose to drive at say 80-90k on the open road you’re making a deliberate decision to prevent everyone else from driving faster. It’s that perceived pre-meditation which I believe makes most people angry on the road. It’s further reinforced when the slow driver speeds up at the passing lane, which in my experience 99% of them do. To the drivers behind they’re sending a big ‘fuck-you’ to everyone else.
In reality they’re mostly just poor drivers with low confidence but the people behind them don’t know that so they react to the perceived aggression of the person deliberately holding them up.
just a reminder
100 km is the Speed Limit
100 km is not a Target.
Everyone has the right to drive at a speed less then a hundred km on the open road, however you still don’t have the right to drive more then that.
As for speeding up on a overtaking lane, i would assume that it comes naturally as finally there is a bit of space to feel comfortable. Many if not most roads in NZ are build for Morris Minors and Bedford Trucks, they are potholed nightmares near logging and dairy f arms, and even the forgotten highway has a speed limit of a 100 km.
So rather then complain about people that might not drive that well – newbie driver, that might get uncomfortable next to big logging trucks, that might drive a new car, that might don’t drive at all that much, how about you complain about the shocking state of the roads, the lack of speed diversity, and the lack of driver training in this country.
Cause if you mean this ” Quote” In reality they’re mostly just poor drivers with low confidence but the people behind them don’t know that so they react to the perceived aggression of the person deliberately holding them up.” then you are one of these angry tailgaters that feel as if they are prevented from doing the Speed Target and thus are ‘made to come late’ or other some nonsense.
Someone long time ago once said, IF you have to go running to be on time you are already late.
You share the road with everyone, it is not your own. Maybe next time leave earlier so that you don’t have to blame someone for driving to their ability rather then your need for speed.
Everyone has the right to drive at a speed less then a hundred km on the open road.
Not entirely true Sabine. You can be ticketed for impeding the flow of traffic.
As I said, if you choose to drive below the speed limit you’re deliberately deciding everyone else’s speed as well. It’s that (perception of) arrogance presumption which pisses people off.
“As for speeding up on a overtaking lane, i would assume that it comes naturally as finally there is a bit of space to feel comfortable.”
Naturally? If you have traffic built up behind you the ‘natural’ thing to do is slow down further and let them past.
“then you are one of these angry tailgaters that feel as if they are prevented from doing the Speed Target and thus are ‘made to come late’ or other some nonsense. ”
I don’t tailgate, you know nothing about my driving style.
Yes, you can be ticketed for being below the flow of traffic, never mind one “Will” be ticket by going over the speed ticket. So someone traveling on the open road at 85 + will not get a speed ticket unless you want to ticket every single Truck, Campervan, Traktor, car/trailer thingy, old bike, old car etc – and oh my gosh what to do about bicyclists?
Yes, people should pull over to let those pass that are faster then them, sadly it seems that the slow bays are a thing of the past. It seems we had more of those in the past, and in many places we have non at all anymore. But maybe they should just drive in a ditch to let someone pass cause faster?
Yes, it is true i know nothing about your driving style. I based my comment on your comment having never met you.
This is what you said, this is what stood out to me and this is what i based my comment on.
Quote” In reality they’re mostly just poor drivers with low confidence but the people behind them don’t know that so they react to the perceived aggression of the person deliberately holding them up.
Since it was me who said that Sabine I would assume you’d appreciate I do know that ergo I don’t get that angry at them. I certainly find them a bit frustrating but I don’t vent that on the road.
Anyway my point was that I don’t believe it’s speed per se that people get angry about. Its the (perceived) attitude of other drivers that I think causes the angst and slow driving is just a manifested symptom of that attitude.
“100 km is the Speed Limit
100 km is not a Target.”
+100 to that, it never fails to astound me how many people will sit on your bumper in wet conditions and poor visibility trying to force you to speed up a couple dozen kph because they’ve just got to get to the mall right now! Like you’re going to make them catch the gay if their mates find out they drove 83 on the motorway in their shiny Hot Wheels car.
its the champions that do 60 kmh in the corners on the highway then rapidly get up 100 + on the straights that fuck my normal zen state up
It’s the people who don’t drive a consistent speed who ruin my drive. On long trips it’s nice to sit in cruise mode and let the car do the work, today’s drivers make that a bit too infrequent.
A lot of the claims about angry drivers don’t gel with me. I can tow a trailer from Auck to Whangarei and get bugger-all cars catching up to me. Those that do never have to wait long, there’s plenty of passing lanes and I let them go. Only rarely do I get anyone tailgating me even when I’m doing 90 with a trailer.
DH,
Come to Gisborne on highway 2 from Opotiki and try driving at 80-90 kms and you wont make it mate.
I never go faster then 80kms on that road as my wife would have kittens and we would have a fatal accident with many trucks using most of the road so please dont suggest that all dricvers must stick to 100kms.
You are lucky to have a multi laned road but inthe provines we dont have that ‘luxury’ as the big cities take all the roading funds and leave us ‘diddly squat.’
Portugal and Argentina already have laws against street harassment and catcalling, and now France is going to pass a law against it as well.
When asked how to draw a line between street harassment and flirtation, Gender Equality Minister Marlene Schiappa replied: “We know very well at what point we start feeling intimidated, unsafe or harassed in the street,” citing as an example when a man “asks for your number 17 times” or follows a victim for several blocks.
http://www.dw.com/en/sexual-harassment-france-plans-on-the-spot-fines/a-40976521
Is there an actual law against it in New Zealand?
NZ Green Party supports #MeToo
Do people have to count to 17 before they call it harrassment, or 10, or 5? Sounds like exaggeration. A sharp negative and a threat to call the police should be enough. Being followed is creepy though.
If you look someone in the eye, give them a wink, a smile, is that harrassment? Is acknowledging someone going to be a crime? Can’t we cope with living and meeting each other as we move around? Do we have to carry a licence of good intent?
‘I’m not very proud’ – Taika Waititi speaks his mind on the environmental, poverty and housing issues hurting Kiwis
‘”I’m not very proud of coming from a place that everyone thinks is this pure green country, whereas in reality all our lakes and waterways are poison,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot to learn about our depression rates, our suicide rates, teen suicide rates, child poverty numbers and the housing crisis.”
To watch the full clip with Taika Waititi, go to the Marae’s OnDemand page here
Waititi also weighed in on foreign ownership saying, “we just make it so readily available to sell land – for foreigners to buy land.”
He says the first thing New Zealand needs to work on is social issues, not making money.
“To me they just seem like, ‘Oh, that’s what you should fix’ before you think about things like money,” he said.’
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/watch-im-not-very-proud-taika-waititi-speaks-his-mind-environmental-poverty-and-housing-issues-hurting-kiwis
100% Ed.
Anyone remember that dodgy business about Hillary single-handedly selling out US uranium to the rooskies? (never mind that a bunch of other agencies independent of the State Dept also had to approve it)
Here’s a bit more light on the tangled web behind that.
http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/355749-fbi-uncovered-russian-bribery-plot-before-obama-administration
I looked at the article. I have no intention of debating the issue but I do want to remark on the use of one phrase which recalls for me the tortuous use of English to disguise and justify as used in political debate à la “this statement is no longer operative” or “we had to destroy the city (Hue) in order to save it.”
The phrase used was “used a confidential US witness working inside the Russian nuclear industry to gather confidential financial records”.
In other words, a spy.
If anybody else uses such tactics it’s spying, but the FBI use “confidential US witnessing”!
“His illegal conduct was captured with the help of a confidential witness, an American businessman, who began making kickback payments at Mikerin’s direction and with the permission of the FBI. ”
So more like a cooperating conspirator, rather than a “spy”.
“A ‘stoolie’ or a ‘squealer,’ then, da doity rat fink!” all said in a Noo Joisey accent.
Or a brave whistleblower exposing a corrupt conspiracy they stumbled upon.
But could still be a spy – wno knows…
The fish rorts from the head.
Speaking of Hillary, it would seem she and Huma really do have the worst luck.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BaSztRNBthF/?taken-by=martinamarkota
Well, that, or all the rhetoric about Trump’s moral failure seems somewhat self serving.
The good thing about Professor Mark Blyth is that he can explain complex ideas simply.
Here is the economic history of the world post WW2, in 8 minutes.
Wow must have pissed someone off with my post yesterday but they can go and get_________ .This is what i was writing last week Big Upps to Prince Charles for fighting for mother earth for 40 years. He is one of the people that swayed my thoughts to our environment and I think he should have more than just soft power to kick those neo liberal idiots asses to touch for there ideological worship of money and power over our grandchildren safe future a healthy mother earth.
I said yesterday that part of the reason we have high rates of suicide is broken familys.
Well this is the other fact If a culture is suppressed and discriminated to the point that some people denies there blood lines to that culture there you go they are ashamed to be Maori. Some people will say hes pissing in the wind yea right.
I have had many incidences were this has happened when applying for a job all good on the phone than in person They look me up and down and I can see there thoughts you are a dum Maori who will cheat and lie and steal from me We will get back to you ECO and they never get back to me.
Now we no that most employment is gained by word of mouth and this is an hindrance to us Maori as we no the all the good jobs have European bosses who only no people of the same ethnicity so all the good jobs stay with that group of people . A lot of Maori organizations would rather employ an non Maori .
And this is bullshit because we have good honest hard working Maori out there that just need a good person to give them a chance.
So I’m challenging these Maori Organizations to look after your own and higher the right Maori for the jobs you have you don’t have to higher some idiot who can’t do the job as there are test out there that one can use to find the right person for the job. And we have to look after our own as no one else will . And this discrimination
is always with us the intelligent people can see this an it weighs us down I have Been battling for my piece of paradise for 35 years and what have I’v got jack and I don’t waste my resources . We can the same thing happening to USA Indians many other colonized cultures around our world Kia Kaha
Glad to find someone else likes Charles – he used his privilege to educate himself until he became a responsible voice. Our institutions don’t produce these as often as they used to, and by golly we need a few more of them.
Charles is vilified. He’s one of us 🙂
I don’t know if you read the so-called ‘black spider memos’ https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2015/may/13/read-the-prince-charles-black-spider-memos-in-full but they fall well short of being the sinister works of evil genius some writers implied.
ecoMaori
I think that a good thing for Maori and NonMaori too, who are looking for jobs, is to establish an agency that can give a working person a reliable reference. At present the possible employer wouldn’t know who that person/business giving he reference is and how reliable it is.
The way I see it, it would take a dedicated, organised, reliable person to advertise and start off small with a process and system and grow as they get more people, and get better known and be interested in maintaining good relationships with both workers and employers. A job-seeker would register by putting down their name and giving info on past jobs, type, length of time employed and their own estimate of themselves, and if put off jobs, think and honestly say why they think that happened and not just that ‘someone didn’t like me’. They would start off with one star, and work their way up toward the highest of five stars. The agency would have a list of attributes that each star would offer and use halves as well so they could grade the person who would monitor their own progress and work towards getting 4 or over.
The client would report in with each job taken, and then when finished and why, and their own assessment and who to speak to at that workplace to get the employer’s feedback on the client. The agency would work with the client to improve their skills and attitudes and find ways to move them up the star chain.
It would be a give-take arrangement, as when starting off money wouldn’t be a big barrier, maybe as low as $20 to register and get started. But once working there would be a direct debit of $20 monthly to keep the money flowing to help the agency’s costs and wages, probably one trained person at first. That would help others get started and gradually grow, and help the agency to supply the skill advice and training opportunities which would lift the star rating. That would result eventually with improvement in jobs and wages that the agency-worker partnership would be going for.
It would take a while but the prospective worker would give the employment manager the agency’s number and get them to phone to find out the star rating and a mention of the skills that the person had acquired with training and then they would know something good about them. This would be helpful in this 90 day trial regime. It would not be government funded. Government should not have anything to do with it, no funds allocated etc. It would be good if a couple of iwi could give it a kickstart, and some regular funding for wages and rent, especially when it was building up.
This government is mainly interested in big business, and individuals are like ants in their eyes. If the TW get in again, this will get worse, and humans tend to crush ants. So setting up a personal value system like this would be helpful to survive and advance.
Have you ever thought it has nothing to do with skin colour and that you weren’t the best candidate for the job?
Are there skills you’re missing? maybe the way you come across in the interviews is bad, like demonstrating lack of confidence or dislike for the person doing the interviewing.
Before you go down the racism path step back and analyse what you’re doing and make improvements first.
Employers insisting they need tens of thousands of unskilled migrants – but won’t employ an experienced local man? That ain’t meritocracy it’s prejudice.
Might not be race based – doesn’t make it any better.
+1
Yeah Eco – do as BM says, just surrender to the power of your superiors and do whatever they require, there’s a good dog. That’s how you get ahead!
Alternatively as JIm Baxter famously said, “to shovel sh*t and eat it are different in the end” (Ballad of Stonegut Sugar Works)
What a stupid comment.
What a stupid comment.
“Oh, in the Stonegut Sugar Works
The floors are black with grime
I think they must have built it
In Queen Victoria’s time.
And all the sugar in the land
Flows through that dismal dump
And all the drains run through the works
Into a filthy sump.
And then they boil it up again
For the money in each lump.”
(Poet James K. Baxter briefly worked as a cleaner at the Birkenhead sugar refinery in 1969. He later recorded his impressions in a poem)
What a Stupid Comment!
Can I join in, What a stupid comment. That’s a catch-all for all the niggly smart arse ones of people filling in time. But it keeps emptying out again so repeat. Belch. What a stupid comment.
National/English sold the election as a two horse race. It failed but left NZF in the “Kingmaker” position. Therefore English is responsible for the current position that they whine so much about.
If we still 7 or 8 parties there would be more diversity of power.
Drop the threshold to 2%.
Remove the coat tail.
Balance out Party funding.
The media sold the election as a two-horse race, not English why do you think Peters has been laying into the media?
You Lefties and your alternative facts.
Two examples, found easily. What was that about alternative facts?
After the media made it all about Jacinda and ignored everyone else, English had no choice but to push National ahead of any potential coalition partner.
It all started with the media and how they framed the election.
Your guy had nine years to make himself electable, instead he and his party killed of all his ‘partners’ in during that time and yet even without competition at the right side of the aisle they still can’t win.
The National Party failed. Simply all by themselves without help from everyone they failed. They did not convince a majority (over 50%) to vote for them, they have no other coalition partner left then NZF and they have no one to blame but themselves.
The question is why did not enough people vote for them. Why did so many people abandon the N wagon, if the economy is so good, the lakes so swimable, the water so drinkable, the food so cheap, the housing so plenty and the jobs so well paid.
So BM, why do you think NZ’lers did not vote for the National Party and what can the National Party do to get the voters that it shed in this years Election –
either N- leaning but voting for the left or not voting at all).
+ 1 yep correct in every way. Nice comment to shine the light on the very valid points you make.
To achieve a fourth term in NZ politics is rare, I actually though National did quite well this election, what let them down was Labour sticking a knife into the Greens.
If the Greens vote had held up Peters would have already signed a coalition deal with National, there’s no way he could have dealt with the Greens if they were still around 12% and had Turei running the Green party.
Because they’re so weak and insignificant now there’s a high chance Peters can work around them and basically form a two-party coalition with the same sort of power-sharing structure as a National/NZ First coalition.
As for coalition partners, Act and United Future have been one man bands since 2008, their failure to grow their party vote has nothing to do with National, both were on life support from the get-go.
I feel sorry for the Maori party though, Maori roll voters seem to have no idea how MMP works, they also seem to blinded by racism and only interested in the what party can provide the biggest handouts.
No wonder Te Ururoa Flavell was so distraught, that result must have shattered his faith in Maoridom.
BM wrote “they also seem to blinded by racism and only interested in the what party can provide the biggest handouts.”
Do you understand, BM, with that generalisation that you commit that which you condemn?
“No wonder Te Ururoa Flavell was so distraught, that result must have shattered his faith in Maoridom.”
Oh please!!
Maoridom’s faith in Te Ururoa Flavell and the Maori party was shattered.
Poor BM,
still trying to find someone to pin the blame for Nationals fuckuppery.
So you are saying that National short changed the Maori Party for its unwavering support during the last nine years?
Quote: I feel sorry for the Maori party though, Maori roll voters seem to have no idea how MMP works, they also seem to blinded by racism and only interested in the what party can provide the biggest handouts.
Again, if National would not have failed as badly as they did, if the country would have high employment, high wages, low house prices, low homelessness, affordable access to healthcare inclusive mental healthcare, good funded schools that don’t depend on ‘donations’ to make the end meet, children with shoes on their feet and food in their tummies, if our drinkwater were safe and affordable, if electricity were affordable, if our food were affordable, if our rivers were swimable then maybe People would not have abandoned them and their support Parties as they did.
If the only way for National to form a government is to eat shit, crow and humble pie while bending the knee before Winston Peters swearing allegiance, then all i can say is that it could not have happened to a nicer set of people.
RWNJ invents new reality to excuse the poor performance of his owners.
Bazinga Arkie, BOOM…. sound of arkie dropping the mic
@BM……Aug 21, 2017 … Prime Minister Bill English describes the election as a “drag-race” between National and Labour …..
The media helped the English line but BM, lets not kid ourselves as to owns the line. Listen to the tedious line from Hosking compounding the “get rid of the Middle men.”
Be interesting to hear the new line though, should National win a new term.
BM = Biggest Muckup.
We could really use a political commentator with this level of irreverence:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/17/tory-power-sustained-cruel-confidence-tricks
John Key is going to be the next chairman of the board for ANZ Bank (NZ) Ltd.
See the 18/10/17 media release here:
http://www.media.anz.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=248677&p=irol-news&nyo=0
Glad I don’t with them then.
Wonder which bank the government uses? Is it ANZ? It should be Kiwibank.
Westpac I believe …. NZ First policy is to switch to kiwibank I think
I think that gummint has withdrawn from Westpac. But it would be to much like supporting one’s own to use Kiwibank, out of the usual trend.
Awesome, keeping the faith 🙂
yes Westpac won without a tender process which’s where Simon Power ended up
Yep.
When are NZ media going to cover Chair of Transparency International, Jose Ugaz’s call for former NZ PM John Key to be investigated over Panama Papers?
Where and when did the Chair of Transparency International Jose Ugaz state that John Key should be investigated over the Panama Papers?
1 August 2017, at Rutherford House, Victoria University.
How do I know?
Because I was at this meeting, and heard Jose Ugaz say this myself.
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption whistle-blower’.
ESome people are trying to brand me as a evil genius I say the public should make there own choice .
1 I mow laws ?
2 do I have 50 od million ?
3 can I hide my emotions or have a blank poker face no
4 have I got a 10 million house I think that title should go to the right person shonky who well he just got a job as head of a bank. Have I abandoned my duty as a husband father grandfather I respect everyone I meet I won’t throw anyone under a bus
Genius well no intelligent may be but genius is just a ploy for these people they will say that I shit gold nuggets if this could undermine my credibility with you. And they are using this for a excuse because all there bull shit lines won’t stick to me and they are incompetent they created this so don’t blame me for what is happening now because I no what is happening an these people needed to no the truth
Ka Pai
Winston would have Key investigation carried out as first policy.
Now we know why Key wanted a knighthood!!!! – to avoid any investigation?
Wow.
All the Harvey Weinstein stories coming out, and they appoint the guy with the history of ponytail pulling! Some may think the equivalence is absurd, but they’re just different points on a spectrum.
I realise Mike Hosking is vacuous but it is good to have him consistently reinforce that.
Petulance personified.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11934143
Actually Pete, I think it is Hosking who looks tired and depressed. Tedious and repetitive.
No good purpose would be served by the four big platers talking about their negotiations. But wait for the squeals from English and his voice Hoskings should it go against them. And again look at the effort English made to eliminate smaller parties. He caused the “problem.”
Threat of the gig economy needs urgent answers
Waiting another five years to address the problems the gig economy is bringing to New Zealand is not an option, writes Thomas Coughlan
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2017/10/17/53916/threat-of-the-gig-economy-needs-urgent-answers
West German federal election, 1980
CDU/CSU (Centre Right) 44.5%
SPD (Centre Left) 42.9%
FDP (Liberal Right) 10.6%
Govt formed subsequently = SPD + FDP
.
Meanwhile …
New Zealand General Election 2017
National (Centre Right) 44.4%
Lab/Green (Centre Left) 43.2%
NZF (Socially Con Centre Left) 7.2%
Govt formed subsequently = ???
Good point, there is clear pecident for political parties choosing the least complicated coalition.
Bob…and his pal, Weave.
Hah Happy planting Robert this Labour day.
Apricot and almond trees, grey, plums apples and peaches; happy days!
Did you know, “Jacinda”(Jacinta) is the Spanish word for hyacinth?
Well, it is!
Swordfish I think you will enjoy this one.
It’s a seat-by-seat interactive showing movements by party compared to all others.
Fun for all the family.
http://insights.nzherald.co.nz/election/#/party-vote/map/percentage/turnout/
If Mr Peters could make his announcement any Friday afternoon so we miss the engaging Mr Espiner’s take on it all. At least until the following Monday…
This Friday would be great: long weekend. 😛
Nah. Go for significance
Labour day
Heh!
HA! What a fitting start to a new coalition government, and you may well be right going by Winston’s latest utterance:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/98014240/labours-deputy-kelvin-davis-says-all-will-be-revealed-by-thursday-morning
I haven’t been around for awhile. Is there a TS sweepstakes going on with what on earth NZF will do?
Perfect timing for Labour day eh!!!!!
“A new Labour lead Coalition Government”.
Anyone remember when we parsed major political speeches for meaning?
Hear’s one from Xi at the plenary, 30 minutes ago:
“Only with socialism can we save China.”
LiveBlog at Bloomberg here:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/live-blog/2017-10-13/china-president-xi-jinping-s-speech-at-the-19th-communist-party-congress
This morning on radionz. A different viewpoint for a change – from Social Anthropologist.
politics
Audit Culture: the creeping problem of our age
From Nine To Noon, 9:27 am today
Listen duration 18′ :26″ Add to playlist
Professor Cris Shore has looked at the rise of ‘audit culture’ and isn’t a big fan. In fact, he calls the use of accountancy techniques and metrics to manage our universities, health services, and funding institutions, ‘the creeping problem of our age’.
He highlights this in a just published book called ‘The death of the public university – uncertain futures for higher education in the knowledge economy’.
Another example he points to is China’s social credit rating system, where by 2020, everyone will be enrolled in a vast national database with a single number ranking for each citizen.
The University of Auckland Professor of Social Anthropology, has just been awarded the Royal Society’s Mason Durie Medal for his contributions to political anthropology and the study of organisations, governance and power.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018618291/audit-culture-the-creeping-problem-of-our-age
OK, sort of. At least the door has not been closed, and the process looks rather inclusive.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-10-17/afls-transgender-call-on-aflw-hopeful
“New Zealand’s technology sector has become the country’s third biggest export sector…”
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/341841/nz-tech-sector-now-third-biggest-exporter
Guess I’m on a different page … perhaps should be commenting on the…… (Election)
You have to say that whatever way things go there are going to be some funny aspects.
Like the Speaker if it’s Labour. Like the Education portfolio if it’s National. And Paula Bennett.
Trevor Mallard will be a marvelous Speaker!
Yes Robert –tremble -tremble – think positive man-tremble- tremble.
I bet Trevor voted for the moa.
If with National no doubt Bennett would lose her place and her mana. How sad.
If with Labour Hitchen would new broom Education.
Trevor has been fill-in Speaker and it is probably the only reason he has stayed on. No Speaker and he would step down and next on the List will be…
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/341858/it-s-a-spiritual-place-this-is-our-road