Sadly, one of the first international outings of the Foreign Minister is to yap in unison with the other five-eyes. Pity it was in response to the call of the US who demonstrably had a regime-change hand in escalating the Hong Kong problem. Ironically, even now Hong Kong is probably less repressed than when under British rule.
Meanwhile, back in Israel, the abrogation of human rights show goes on without even a whimper from the new minister.
Agreed but its pretty weird to field criticism of Chinese governance practices when the US part of 5Eyes is having its intelligence and defence governance decapitated and its democratic processes after a clear election win actively undermined by a sitting President and his party.
Looks like we are witnessing the imagined moral authority of the US becoming unimaginable. God knows what happens next – Yeats nailed it: "things thought too long can be no longer thought"
It's the moral superiority of all the Five Eyes participants over Chinese rule in Hong Kong that is being claimed by their judgement. And that includes us.
Well one would assume the foreign minister to yap as instructed by the Prime Minister, after all the foreign minister serves at the pleasure of the Prime Minister.
There fixed it for you, it is the Labour Government that is yapping in unison with the other five eyes.
Hong Kong now, Taiwan next. Look at the bigger picture; geo-politics is never reductionist, least of all when PRC is involved and they play a long game.
The latest conspiracy is that George Soros, Joe Biden, the Clinton Foundation, Antifa and the Venezuela government have banded together to steal Donald Trump's landslide election victory.
Time for the Federal authorities including the FBI to intervene.
I was referring to the fact, as emphasized towards the end of the item (which I suspect you hadn't listened to) that what Rudy Giuliani is doing is now getting dangerous… and imo bordering on the criminal.
Yes. But the level of the rhetoric – be it in a court room or elsewhere – is an incitement to violence on a very large scale. It is extremely dangerous and could be only a matter of time before it reaches civil war status.
I saw a similar shot on twitter and thought it was a cheap and childish photoshop. Then I discovered it was an actual photo of a manchild with cheap dye.
Many say that the federal authorities appear to spend a large amount of their time these days "intervening" (or perhaps more specifically, interfering) in or with Washington politics.
Perhaps they should stick to and with their days jobs.
They could put their best feet forward again if or when Senator Ally Mayfair-Richards ever gets elected as POTUS. That woman really needs to be watched!
No pizzas and pedophile action needed by them, unless they can come up with a storyline that would implicate Giuliani as being an Epstein which if they did, would be sure to make hundreds of millions for various media outlets by way of advertising revenues and subscriptions.
Hollywood producers should be both ashamed and embarrassed that they have allowed themselves to be upstaged by Virginians at the seat of federal government these last couple of years. They have a lot of catching up to do, but I feel certain that they can do it.
Many say that the federal authorities appear to spend a large amount of their time these days "intervening" (or perhaps more specifically, interfering) in or with Washington politics.
Since that is the only part your comment that makes any sense, I will respond.
I damn well hope they are intervening because the current occupants of the White House suggest it has been transformed into a shelter for brain damaged and deluded specimens together with a healthy dollop of thugs and crooks.
All of my posts (including the one you refer to) will always make absolute sense, once you understand the concept.
In corporate it is dog eat dog, and in politics it is the reverse.
That aside, current Whitehouse tenants…
Yeh, probably true about gettin' some agency to give eviction notices to some of them, but not the Bureau (FBI). Don't throw the babies out with the bathwater.
Sure, the Whitehouse was long overdue for a tenant makeover in any case, but “the brain damaged and deluded specimens together with a healthy dollop of thugs and crooks” you refer to are what give it character and identity. This has been so for many decades.
The Bureau aren't employed as housecleaners, so it's not their role to "intervene" in anything. They should move on or take a vacation.
NZ governance and policies and actions are much better than what is happening in the USA. But comparing ourselves to that country is setting the bar far too low. But we could be headed down to their level if we continue on our present path.
I am disheartened by the lack of government attention to pressing problems for people (ppp) – a small letter acronym that is shadowed by PPP which means Business and Profit for some. And further many of the comments here can be sorted into complaints about lack of services to the vulnerable and needy, or fascination at looking objectively at our and other countries' procedures which trend towards decline, or else a love of technology and the engineering possibilities involved in attempting upward movement for our enterprises. Concerning the matter of treating fairly the non-citizens overseas who we have encouraged or allowed to come here and make this their home yesterday, I found that my belief in fairness to others was regarded as wrong; they are not New Zealanders, we don't owe them anything. This is the line that Australians have taken to most NZs, and made it harder for us to achieve citizenship than those from other countries. And this practice of discarding people, like a television reality show, is happening in our own country to fellow NZs.
I didn't expect to find such barren, draconian views appearing on this site from regular commenters. So it's time for me to take a break, getting on with many jobs and preparing for Christmas which I will spend with family. We have kept our ties alive sharing thoughts and friendship which families, where love and concern are the norm, nurture and spread. I wish all a happy Christmas getting together with those you enjoy, and spending just a bit of time with the rellies that are a pain! And for those without family and with friends who are distant, a suggestion is to join in some community dinner, happening which will warm the heart a bit.
My thinking just now is about the concern amongst some for the holistic view which binds in both environment, animals and other living things and people into a sustainable, practical, satisfying and reasonably harmonious whole. That is surely a summary of the vision of those with goodwill to all. It seems to me that a new movement needs to start, arising from the experienced and thoughtful, not just from the young and edgy and disenchanted. It needs to aim at thoughtfulness, action and mix in some 'enchantment' as well, to draw in the young and encourage their hope and creativity.
Perhaps we who think the above idea has merit can think of this over Christmas, Work out a form for it, principles for it etc. It could be called something catchy and humourous like Dad's Army, but to include women in the title. I can't think of a suitable name that has the same ring as Dad's Army, the doughty bunch that came forward to help run the country so the young ones could go away to the blood-letting war. I'd like a male word at the start, because too often it is women who come forward to community work, and the men less involved. We need to stir those who have skills and care about the quality of life here being inclusive. Perhaps bright minds here will come forward. Perhaps not. Ka kite ano. Meri Kirihimete me te Hape Nū Ia
The objection to Australia ejecting New Zealanders is in the cases where those people moved to Australia as children and grew up in Australia. They are effectively Australian. The graduates you talk about have only lived here for a few years of their adult lives. You make a false equivalence.
Also, the NZ gummint has not said that those people will never be allowed to return.
Those graduates are not being denied re-entry because Business and profit for some but rather to protect the lives of New Zealanders.
Concerning the matter of treating fairly the non-citizens overseas who we have encouraged or allowed to come here and make this their home yesterday, I found that my belief in fairness to others was regarded as wrong; they are not New Zealanders, we don't owe them anything.
Yes. And like you I find these emerging isolationist, bordering on xenophobic attitudes both discouraging and a little disturbing. Yet in a time of disease it is perhaps an understandable, desirable even from an evolutionary perspective, trait to come to the fore.
Something so deeply wired into our psychology is not easily muted.
Though it would be hard to identify it in pre-Covid policy, states have a legal and moral obligation to put their citizens first at all times. Some starry-eyed globalists merely found it expedient to forget.
Actually NZ lost the plot in the eighties, and started treating our own people like shit. Try that migrant entitlement line in China, or Korea, or Saudi or India, or Russia, and see how far it gets you.
It's not xenophobia at all – mass low-wage immigration is massively irresponsible, and goes right to the heart of the burgeoning inequality we have "enjoyed" since that time.
If we are going to treat others reasonably, the first decent step would be to go after the crooks who marketed third tier degrees in NZ as a stepping stone to citizenship, which legally they were not.
We have immigration rules for a reason – to protect our most vulnerable so that they don't find themselves homeless or jobless. Successive governments really fell down on that job – blowing all their progressive credibility in one go by supporting slave worker arrangements.
When you called me a xenophobe for wanting our existing rules enforced?
Not to chip at you though – many of the cruelties of our system are unintentional and fixable. A few ads in India might not go astray – something like: “Thinking of doing a dodgy degree in NZ as a path to citizenship? – Forget it – those scams have been closed down.”
The Pacific is the logical area for us to show some moral responsibility – and the populations are small enough not to automatically swamp NZ. The Philippines or India are a bit big for us to help that way.
Yes i think we have a moral obligation towards pacific states though in most cases not a legal one. We weren't talking about obligations to states though but rather people who had been studying here and had a work visa. The article that grey linked to was about Indian nationals specifically.
My comment above did not mention the green thinking that happens on this blog, which is a paramount boon to New Zealand and our awareness of what is happening, needs to happen everywhere, and how to get there before the natural forces get completely out of balance.
General rules of thumb nearly everywhere (and prior to Covid-19 events);
Citizenship: Absolute right of entry to country of citizenship, equal liberties and equal recognition under law even when the laws of that "state" allow for and promote various forms of discrimination.
Dual citizenship: Similar, but where certain provisions exist whereby a country (as "the state") could expel or exile a citizen to the alternative nation of citizenship under exceptional circumstances.
Permanent Residence: Few privileges other than the right to indefinitely reside and the right to work, study and travel freely within borders and travel to and from the country of residency with some restrictions on right of re-entry. Certain restrictions placed on welfare entitlement and liberties in accordance with migrant policy. Right to expel in accordance with due process determined by a state forum (a court, an authority as a forum or an elected representative given special powers)
Visitors and holders of work permits/visa and student visas: The discretion of the state to apply whatever impositions or restrictions it believes reasonable at any one time. Residence only to reside whilst engaged in work or study. Right of re-entry not guaranteed.
Yes Greywarshark, we need to nuture and keep friends and family close.
On the 25th I will be paying close attention to the speech from the throne.
Those who want revolution are always fermenting. Those who do not believe in community keep chipping away, using "freedom" as an angle.
I too have decided to only come here once a day, and to realise how well our country is doing during the fall out of a pandemic, to not be undermined by those with an agenda.
lol you bloody fool, drmumdough, what makes your views any more important than anyone elses views?. I was replying to Greywarshark at 3. So keep your sobs.. see below.
Solka It is the PM's Speech on 25th Nov lol. Delivered from the "throne" by the Governor General, laying out the Government's direction.
There seems to be a concerted effort to shut some people down, now let me consider why that would be? Sensitive spots prodded perhaps? If not what? Bully?
Agreed. I have been brought to tears reading your comment and that of Greywarshark's. My sides feel bruised with such emotion I would not describe here.
I've been observing this website for quite some time now, quietly. What an inspiration so many of you must be to so many.
Greywarshark touches a note in all of us, I am sure.
Remember the good old days when Aotearoa folk all had equal values and our strengths lay in following the direction of of our leaders and those respected, to the letter of the law, Patricia? What the hell has happened to us?
Remember when our dollar was stronger than the US dollar?
Remember when we had pride in relation to our national sports? Rugby, racing and beer culture was admired by so many globally. It gave us both identity and mana.
Well, at least they can't take that away from us.
If they try, Patricia, we shall fight them on the beaches, and we shall never surrender.
Onward Kiwi, onward!
Surely Kiwis have an almost god given right to consumerism, travel, comfort and outright expression of our beliefs in return for the toil and slog of our forefathers and foremothers and the work chipped in by Kiwis as mothers, grandmothers and employees.
Let's all say that we will keep the Kiwi belief, morale and spirit strong. And chin up! There is light at the end (of the tunnel).
If all else fails, and we all find ourselves in the gutter, at least we can be sure that we will have the fortitude to keep our heads held high and to keep looking to the stars (or matariki) for our future guidance and for confirmation of our direction.
…to realise how well our country is doing during the fall out of a pandemic, to not be undermined by those with an agenda.
Hmmm….pity about the homeless, eh? And the skyrocketing house prices? And I bet those who have been on the bones of their arses for years trying to live with chronic illness or disability on the pathetic pittance successive governments dole out have gotten over the generous (comparatively) handouts given to those found jobless because of Te Virus.
Shall we mention the obscene corporate welfare Jacinda and Grant ( I bet the Business Roundtable thinks the sun shines out their…) have handed out with all the kindness they can muster.
No Winston to blame anymore for the paucity of kindness to those the WEAG advised an immediate increase in income…but I guess we'll hear more excuses on the 25th.
Fermenting? Revolution? You're damn right.
Those who do not believe in community keep chipping away, using "freedom" as an angle.
If you mean what I think you mean…then a reality check is in order.
But I guess the 'community' in the Middle are all good.
Don't deliberately put meanings that are not there please Rosemary. That felt personal.
We are not "in the middle" of the wealth spectrum, and we have a disability to contend with and cancer. Not everyone wants a revolution, and some of us worry about the group wanting extra people brought in, trying to make the Government out to be fascist when they are protecting us.
I'm not sure what reality check you are talking of. Believe me with my polio causing my old age to be fraught a two stage op coming for cancer for my hubby and a son in Australia with an inherited bowel cancer, our lives are not a bed roses.
I am just as concerned about the struggles some are having.
Protesting is fine, if you thought I was objecting to that. I will leave it there.
If there was a hint of "personal" Patricia it is because I do remember you and your family have these issues…just as many of us have…and I genuinely would like to know how you maintain your loyalty to the Labour Party and your admiration of Ardern when clearly they have absolutely no intention of doing what needs to be done to address the rampant inequalities some seem to have accepted as being normal.
Ardern is a great figurehead, and when on familiar ground an impressive communicator…but is she truly genuine in her 'kindness".
I don't think so. Because she has joined Leaders Previous in choosing to continue to do nothing to improve the lives of the most vulnerable.
Is NZ an independant Nation, it seems no, when we are still held under the rusty chains of Imperilism past, give 5 eyes the arse. A cold war directive from the military alliance of thugs bent on imposing their will on others. It's about time we had a referendem on whether we want to be part of 5 eyes and therefore subserviant to war monger Nations like the US and UK.
If this is a new era of kindness, then we should have a say on this 5 eyes Hate pact.
I see Tauranga mayor's resigned and calling for govt intervention.
Great opportunity to throw the bally lot of them out on their arses as a disgrace and warning to the public about voting in such egotistical blowhards.
New filings claim there was a Plan B the militiamen had drawn up, that involved a takeover of the Michigan capitol building by 200 combatants who would stage a week-long series of televised executions of public officials.
And, according to government documents now on file in lower Michigan court, there was also a Plan C — burning down the state house, leaving no survivors.
[…]
Despite the violent nature of the charges, including an alleged plan to hold a mock treason trial for the governor of Michigan once she was kidnapped, several of the defendants have had bond reductions and are now free.
The world is pinning it's hopes on our Little nation. We can be the mouse that ROARED!!!
Never, ever say "NO" to Don't Return Monday, dough$$$. National mummy dough is everywhere.
The social security state has such huge potential in relation to wellbeing.
We will teach the world what we can really achieve, embracing and adopting an outright socialist economy funded by off-shore backers as stake holders.
The economy is just one big crap table, and we will emerge victorious. As punters, you just need courage and confidence.
We breed winners. Just take a look at our sports heroes and (heroines).
Let's show the world that our glasses (and cups) runneth over with welbeing and welfare enterprise that will firmly place the entire nation on the Right Track to prosperity, wealth and happiness.
Not when off-shore backers own the socialist state and the sovereignty clinging to it. This is the state of the nation (not that I'm on any white horse complaining about it or attempting to dismantle it).
Socialist state concept, applied as proof of concept, but where the entire stage is quietly owned, lock stock and barrel by off-shore interests.
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Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
FICTION 1 Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) There’s commercial fiction, like this book, and then there’s quality fiction, quality writers, quality literature; the forthcoming Auckland Writers Festival is full of quality, and ReadingRoom has two tickets to give away to the following events: Paul Lynch (Dublin ...
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Sadly, one of the first international outings of the Foreign Minister is to yap in unison with the other five-eyes. Pity it was in response to the call of the US who demonstrably had a regime-change hand in escalating the Hong Kong problem. Ironically, even now Hong Kong is probably less repressed than when under British rule.
Meanwhile, back in Israel, the abrogation of human rights show goes on without even a whimper from the new minister.
"…even now Hong Kong is probably less repressed than when under British rule." A comment that probably sounds better in the original Mandarin.
Agreed but its pretty weird to field criticism of Chinese governance practices when the US part of 5Eyes is having its intelligence and defence governance decapitated and its democratic processes after a clear election win actively undermined by a sitting President and his party.
Looks like we are witnessing the imagined moral authority of the US becoming unimaginable. God knows what happens next – Yeats nailed it: "things thought too long can be no longer thought"
It's the moral superiority of all the Five Eyes participants over Chinese rule in Hong Kong that is being claimed by their judgement. And that includes us.
Perfectly reasonable.
Well one would assume the foreign minister to yap as instructed by the Prime Minister, after all the foreign minister serves at the pleasure of the Prime Minister.
There fixed it for you, it is the Labour Government that is yapping in unison with the other five eyes.
Hong Kong now, Taiwan next. Look at the bigger picture; geo-politics is never reductionist, least of all when PRC is involved and they play a long game.
Listen to Rudy Giuliani's latest claims in court:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018773622/donald-trump-s-lawyers-continue-to-fight-election-loss
starting 1:40 mins in.
The latest conspiracy is that George Soros, Joe Biden, the Clinton Foundation, Antifa and the Venezuela government have banded together to steal Donald Trump's landslide election victory.
Time for the Federal authorities including the FBI to intervene.
Do Federal authorities including the FBI generally intervene with a staff of people in white coats?
I was referring to the fact, as emphasized towards the end of the item (which I suspect you hadn't listened to) that what Rudy Giuliani is doing is now getting dangerous… and imo bordering on the criminal.
He will represent Trump until he isn't paid.
Yes. But the level of the rhetoric – be it in a court room or elsewhere – is an incitement to violence on a very large scale. It is extremely dangerous and could be only a matter of time before it reaches civil war status.
Any mention of satanic pedophiles and pizza?
Sounds like it was quite the performance.
https://twitter.com/Libertea2012/status/1329496925033283585
Team tRump pulled the campaign’s YT feed…
https://twitter.com/owillis/status/1329492698680619008?
I saw a similar shot on twitter and thought it was a cheap and childish photoshop. Then I discovered it was an actual photo of a manchild with cheap dye.
More reaction …
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/11/19/1996967/-The-Rudy-Giuliani-Meltdown-and-Epic-CT-BS
Acme election lawyer.
Many say that the federal authorities appear to spend a large amount of their time these days "intervening" (or perhaps more specifically, interfering) in or with Washington politics.
Perhaps they should stick to and with their days jobs.
They could put their best feet forward again if or when Senator Ally Mayfair-Richards ever gets elected as POTUS. That woman really needs to be watched!
No pizzas and pedophile action needed by them, unless they can come up with a storyline that would implicate Giuliani as being an Epstein which if they did, would be sure to make hundreds of millions for various media outlets by way of advertising revenues and subscriptions.
Hollywood producers should be both ashamed and embarrassed that they have allowed themselves to be upstaged by Virginians at the seat of federal government these last couple of years. They have a lot of catching up to do, but I feel certain that they can do it.
Since that is the only part your comment that makes any sense, I will respond.
I damn well hope they are intervening because the current occupants of the White House suggest it has been transformed into a shelter for brain damaged and deluded specimens together with a healthy dollop of thugs and crooks.
All of my posts (including the one you refer to) will always make absolute sense, once you understand the concept.
In corporate it is dog eat dog, and in politics it is the reverse.
That aside, current Whitehouse tenants…
Yeh, probably true about gettin' some agency to give eviction notices to some of them, but not the Bureau (FBI). Don't throw the babies out with the bathwater.
Sure, the Whitehouse was long overdue for a tenant makeover in any case, but “the brain damaged and deluded specimens together with a healthy dollop of thugs and crooks” you refer to are what give it character and identity. This has been so for many decades.
The Bureau aren't employed as housecleaners, so it's not their role to "intervene" in anything. They should move on or take a vacation.
Why do idiots attach Dr to the front of their name as if it isn't obvious they're frauds.
NZ governance and policies and actions are much better than what is happening in the USA. But comparing ourselves to that country is setting the bar far too low. But we could be headed down to their level if we continue on our present path.
I am disheartened by the lack of government attention to pressing problems for people (ppp) – a small letter acronym that is shadowed by PPP which means Business and Profit for some. And further many of the comments here can be sorted into complaints about lack of services to the vulnerable and needy, or fascination at looking objectively at our and other countries' procedures which trend towards decline, or else a love of technology and the engineering possibilities involved in attempting upward movement for our enterprises. Concerning the matter of treating fairly the non-citizens overseas who we have encouraged or allowed to come here and make this their home yesterday, I found that my belief in fairness to others was regarded as wrong; they are not New Zealanders, we don't owe them anything. This is the line that Australians have taken to most NZs, and made it harder for us to achieve citizenship than those from other countries. And this practice of discarding people, like a television reality show, is happening in our own country to fellow NZs.
I didn't expect to find such barren, draconian views appearing on this site from regular commenters. So it's time for me to take a break, getting on with many jobs and preparing for Christmas which I will spend with family. We have kept our ties alive sharing thoughts and friendship which families, where love and concern are the norm, nurture and spread. I wish all a happy Christmas getting together with those you enjoy, and spending just a bit of time with the rellies that are a pain! And for those without family and with friends who are distant, a suggestion is to join in some community dinner, happening which will warm the heart a bit.
My thinking just now is about the concern amongst some for the holistic view which binds in both environment, animals and other living things and people into a sustainable, practical, satisfying and reasonably harmonious whole. That is surely a summary of the vision of those with goodwill to all. It seems to me that a new movement needs to start, arising from the experienced and thoughtful, not just from the young and edgy and disenchanted. It needs to aim at thoughtfulness, action and mix in some 'enchantment' as well, to draw in the young and encourage their hope and creativity.
Perhaps we who think the above idea has merit can think of this over Christmas, Work out a form for it, principles for it etc. It could be called something catchy and humourous like Dad's Army, but to include women in the title. I can't think of a suitable name that has the same ring as Dad's Army, the doughty bunch that came forward to help run the country so the young ones could go away to the blood-letting war. I'd like a male word at the start, because too often it is women who come forward to community work, and the men less involved. We need to stir those who have skills and care about the quality of life here being inclusive. Perhaps bright minds here will come forward. Perhaps not. Ka kite ano. Meri Kirihimete me te Hape Nū Ia
The objection to Australia ejecting New Zealanders is in the cases where those people moved to Australia as children and grew up in Australia. They are effectively Australian. The graduates you talk about have only lived here for a few years of their adult lives. You make a false equivalence.
Also, the NZ gummint has not said that those people will never be allowed to return.
Those graduates are not being denied re-entry because Business and profit for some but rather to protect the lives of New Zealanders.
Concerning the matter of treating fairly the non-citizens overseas who we have encouraged or allowed to come here and make this their home yesterday, I found that my belief in fairness to others was regarded as wrong; they are not New Zealanders, we don't owe them anything.
Yes. And like you I find these emerging isolationist, bordering on xenophobic attitudes both discouraging and a little disturbing. Yet in a time of disease it is perhaps an understandable, desirable even from an evolutionary perspective, trait to come to the fore.
Something so deeply wired into our psychology is not easily muted.
What bullshit. States have a moral and legal obligation to put their citizens first in such times, that is all.
Though it would be hard to identify it in pre-Covid policy, states have a legal and moral obligation to put their citizens first at all times. Some starry-eyed globalists merely found it expedient to forget.
That steps right over the line into xenophobia territory.
It is possible to put citizens first, while treating others reasonably, and it's how NZ has behaved for most of it's existence.
how NZ has behaved for most of it's existence.
Not very good with history then. Try poll tax and dawn raids.
What do you think that small word 'most' was in that sentence for?
I have just given two examples. Grow a life.
So on balance would you say than NZ treats visitors and migrants better or worse than most other nations?
It seems to depend largely on where those migrants come from.
Actually NZ lost the plot in the eighties, and started treating our own people like shit. Try that migrant entitlement line in China, or Korea, or Saudi or India, or Russia, and see how far it gets you.
It's not xenophobia at all – mass low-wage immigration is massively irresponsible, and goes right to the heart of the burgeoning inequality we have "enjoyed" since that time.
If we are going to treat others reasonably, the first decent step would be to go after the crooks who marketed third tier degrees in NZ as a stepping stone to citizenship, which legally they were not.
We have immigration rules for a reason – to protect our most vulnerable so that they don't find themselves homeless or jobless. Successive governments really fell down on that job – blowing all their progressive credibility in one go by supporting slave worker arrangements.
I must have made a mistake. What was it that I wrote that gave you the idea I was advocating an open borders policy?
When you called me a xenophobe for wanting our existing rules enforced?
Not to chip at you though – many of the cruelties of our system are unintentional and fixable. A few ads in India might not go astray – something like: “Thinking of doing a dodgy degree in NZ as a path to citizenship? – Forget it – those scams have been closed down.”
The Pacific is the logical area for us to show some moral responsibility – and the populations are small enough not to automatically swamp NZ. The Philippines or India are a bit big for us to help that way.
Rich states like ours should go out of their way to help the poor states that surround us.
That too is their moral obligation.
Yes i think we have a moral obligation towards pacific states though in most cases not a legal one. We weren't talking about obligations to states though but rather people who had been studying here and had a work visa. The article that grey linked to was about Indian nationals specifically.
My comment above did not mention the green thinking that happens on this blog, which is a paramount boon to New Zealand and our awareness of what is happening, needs to happen everywhere, and how to get there before the natural forces get completely out of balance.
General rules of thumb nearly everywhere (and prior to Covid-19 events);
Citizenship: Absolute right of entry to country of citizenship, equal liberties and equal recognition under law even when the laws of that "state" allow for and promote various forms of discrimination.
Dual citizenship: Similar, but where certain provisions exist whereby a country (as "the state") could expel or exile a citizen to the alternative nation of citizenship under exceptional circumstances.
Permanent Residence: Few privileges other than the right to indefinitely reside and the right to work, study and travel freely within borders and travel to and from the country of residency with some restrictions on right of re-entry. Certain restrictions placed on welfare entitlement and liberties in accordance with migrant policy. Right to expel in accordance with due process determined by a state forum (a court, an authority as a forum or an elected representative given special powers)
Visitors and holders of work permits/visa and student visas: The discretion of the state to apply whatever impositions or restrictions it believes reasonable at any one time. Residence only to reside whilst engaged in work or study. Right of re-entry not guaranteed.
Are you an algorithm..?
Yes Greywarshark, we need to nuture and keep friends and family close.
On the 25th I will be paying close attention to the speech from the throne.
Those who want revolution are always fermenting. Those who do not believe in community keep chipping away, using "freedom" as an angle.
I too have decided to only come here once a day, and to realise how well our country is doing during the fall out of a pandemic, to not be undermined by those with an agenda.
All the best to you and yours.
Are you related to or a good friend of the queen? Or are you talking about your partner's complaints of indigestion after xmas lunch?
lol you bloody fool, drmumdough, what makes your views any more important than anyone elses views?. I was replying to Greywarshark at 3. So keep your sobs.. see below.
Solka It is the PM's Speech on 25th Nov lol. Delivered from the "throne" by the Governor General, laying out the Government's direction.
There seems to be a concerted effort to shut some people down, now let me consider why that would be? Sensitive spots prodded perhaps? If not what? Bully?
SOB!
(Sobbing Out Loud).
Agreed. I have been brought to tears reading your comment and that of Greywarshark's. My sides feel bruised with such emotion I would not describe here.
I've been observing this website for quite some time now, quietly. What an inspiration so many of you must be to so many.
Greywarshark touches a note in all of us, I am sure.
Remember the good old days when Aotearoa folk all had equal values and our strengths lay in following the direction of of our leaders and those respected, to the letter of the law, Patricia? What the hell has happened to us?
Remember when our dollar was stronger than the US dollar?
Remember when we had pride in relation to our national sports? Rugby, racing and beer culture was admired by so many globally. It gave us both identity and mana.
Well, at least they can't take that away from us.
If they try, Patricia, we shall fight them on the beaches, and we shall never surrender.
Onward Kiwi, onward!
Surely Kiwis have an almost god given right to consumerism, travel, comfort and outright expression of our beliefs in return for the toil and slog of our forefathers and foremothers and the work chipped in by Kiwis as mothers, grandmothers and employees.
Let's all say that we will keep the Kiwi belief, morale and spirit strong. And chin up! There is light at the end (of the tunnel).
If all else fails, and we all find ourselves in the gutter, at least we can be sure that we will have the fortitude to keep our heads held high and to keep looking to the stars (or matariki) for our future guidance and for confirmation of our direction.
…to realise how well our country is doing during the fall out of a pandemic, to not be undermined by those with an agenda.
Hmmm….pity about the homeless, eh? And the skyrocketing house prices? And I bet those who have been on the bones of their arses for years trying to live with chronic illness or disability on the pathetic pittance successive governments dole out have gotten over the generous (comparatively) handouts given to those found jobless because of Te Virus.
Shall we mention the obscene corporate welfare Jacinda and Grant ( I bet the Business Roundtable thinks the sun shines out their…) have handed out with all the kindness they can muster.
No Winston to blame anymore for the paucity of kindness to those the WEAG advised an immediate increase in income…but I guess we'll hear more excuses on the 25th.
Fermenting? Revolution? You're damn right.
Those who do not believe in community keep chipping away, using "freedom" as an angle.
If you mean what I think you mean…then a reality check is in order.
But I guess the 'community' in the Middle are all good.
Don't deliberately put meanings that are not there please Rosemary. That felt personal.
We are not "in the middle" of the wealth spectrum, and we have a disability to contend with and cancer. Not everyone wants a revolution, and some of us worry about the group wanting extra people brought in, trying to make the Government out to be fascist when they are protecting us.
I'm not sure what reality check you are talking of. Believe me with my polio causing my old age to be fraught a two stage op coming for cancer for my hubby and a son in Australia with an inherited bowel cancer, our lives are not a bed roses.
I am just as concerned about the struggles some are having.
Protesting is fine, if you thought I was objecting to that. I will leave it there.
If there was a hint of "personal" Patricia it is because I do remember you and your family have these issues…just as many of us have…and I genuinely would like to know how you maintain your loyalty to the Labour Party and your admiration of Ardern when clearly they have absolutely no intention of doing what needs to be done to address the rampant inequalities some seem to have accepted as being normal.
Ardern is a great figurehead, and when on familiar ground an impressive communicator…but is she truly genuine in her 'kindness".
I don't think so. Because she has joined Leaders Previous in choosing to continue to do nothing to improve the lives of the most vulnerable.
Is NZ an independant Nation, it seems no, when we are still held under the rusty chains of Imperilism past, give 5 eyes the arse. A cold war directive from the military alliance of thugs bent on imposing their will on others. It's about time we had a referendem on whether we want to be part of 5 eyes and therefore subserviant to war monger Nations like the US and UK.
If this is a new era of kindness, then we should have a say on this 5 eyes Hate pact.
I see Tauranga mayor's resigned and calling for govt intervention.
Great opportunity to throw the bally lot of them out on their arses as a disgrace and warning to the public about voting in such egotistical blowhards.
'Murican ISIS.
CHICAGO (WLS) — There is new and disturbing information in the alleged militia plot against the governor of Michigan.
The 14 men charged had far more violent plans than just a kidnapping, according to federal and state authorities.
RELATED: 13 charged in plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer: FBI
New filings claim there was a Plan B the militiamen had drawn up, that involved a takeover of the Michigan capitol building by 200 combatants who would stage a week-long series of televised executions of public officials.
And, according to government documents now on file in lower Michigan court, there was also a Plan C — burning down the state house, leaving no survivors.
[…]
Despite the violent nature of the charges, including an alleged plan to hold a mock treason trial for the governor of Michigan once she was kidnapped, several of the defendants have had bond reductions and are now free.
https://abc7chicago.com/michigan-governor-gretchen-whitmer-kidnapping-plot-militia/8079861/
RISE TO YOUR FEET KIWI ! (NOW IS THE HOUR).
The world is pinning it's hopes on our Little nation. We can be the mouse that ROARED!!!
Never, ever say "NO" to Don't Return Monday, dough$$$. National mummy dough is everywhere.
The social security state has such huge potential in relation to wellbeing.
We will teach the world what we can really achieve, embracing and adopting an outright socialist economy funded by off-shore backers as stake holders.
The economy is just one big crap table, and we will emerge victorious. As punters, you just need courage and confidence.
We breed winners. Just take a look at our sports heroes and (heroines).
Let's show the world that our glasses (and cups) runneth over with welbeing and welfare enterprise that will firmly place the entire nation on the Right Track to prosperity, wealth and happiness.
"adopting an outright socialist economy funded by off-shore backers as stake holders."
That's a contradiction if I ever saw one.
Not a contradiction at all. No, no, no, no, no.
Not when off-shore backers own the socialist state and the sovereignty clinging to it. This is the state of the nation (not that I'm on any white horse complaining about it or attempting to dismantle it).
Socialist state concept, applied as proof of concept, but where the entire stage is quietly owned, lock stock and barrel by off-shore interests.
Quite funny when you wake up to it, really.
A blithering idiot. Worth a warning for me to warn others off. TROLL. Word salad wrapped as wisdom. A lightweight twat.
It seems like so many people hold up Sweden as and example of democratic socialism.
So much so that videos were made to show it wasn't
Short version…(1minute 29 sec ).
Longer version
A comment on the video " I find it hilarious and ironic that US Progressives that tout "The Swedish Model" don't know any more about Sweden's actual economic workings and government structure than they know about how our system is supposed to work. They're touting a model that Sweden has tried AND REJECTED. "
Has the van thing been officially upgraded yet ..?…to our latest moral-panic..?…it must be getting close..
Moar Public Toilets!