Stuff should do a comprehensive piece about WINZ and follow up on ‘customers’ who get given incorrect advice and assistance due to the incompetence and attitude that pervades since Pullya stamped her mark on it.
Focus on the humiliation ‘customers’ are put through, the massive screw ups WINZ keep making, the privatisation that’s gone on with all these ‘providers’, the dysfunctional beauracracy Nats have rolled out etc.
I was appalled at the ticket clipping going on in delivering some services to a needy friend. Services that used to be delivered by WINZ direct outsource party now sees WINZ sitting 3 layers back washing their hands….ahh that brighter future.
I was appalled at the ticket clipping going on in delivering some services to a needy friend.
Huge amount of ticket clipping going on through WINZ now and all it does is channel government money into private hands. It provides no discernible result in getting people jobs or helping them in any way.
And nothing makes my blood boil more than the wage ticket clipping by labour supply companies.
We now have corporates ticket clipping on government contracts, like the print contract for example, where you have companies who are equipment suppliers winning a contract and then outsourcing the production.
Should be. IIRC, a few years ago the air-force got their Orions upgraded. Went through the tendering process and an offshore company (either Canadian or US) got the contract. They then subcontracted SafeAirNZ to do the work. SafeAir had also put in a tender but hadn’t won it.
The offshore company was nothing but a ticket clipper siphoning money away from NZ.
Sadly our Education system is going in the opposite direction b Waghorn. Testing, testing of knowledge already known. Little boxes. What happened to discovery?
I live in Auckland, my olds live outside of Warkworth. So I use the Auckland-Warkworth road regularly. Yes, it does need upgrades. It does NOT need an all-new autobahn the Germans would be proud of.
There is a genuine problem at the Hill road intersection in Warkworth, and continuing development along SH1 is causing problems. So a motorway-grade bypass around Warkworth does make sense, essentially along the route proposed for the all-new motorway.
There is a genuine safety problem with the corners at Schedewy’s hill. A short cutting or tunnels to straighten the alignment and provide a continuous passing lane up the hill would eliminate the problem.
There is a minor bottleneck/safety problem at the Pohuehue Viaduct. Doubling up the viaduct is a quick,easy complete fix.
All this could be done for roughly a third the cost of the new autobahn while delivering very nearly all the benefits. Scaling back the work between Puhoi and Warkworth would also allow a much sooner start on the safety problems at Dome Valley and a bypass around the bottleneck at Wellsford further north.
If the traffic volumes ever get high enough to justify it, the rest of that part of SH1 goes through sparsely populated easy terrain that would easily allow widening for more lanes.
The proposed all-new Puhoi-Warkworth motorway is simply a gratuitous waste of money. And ironically, because it will require its users to go a long way north of Warkworth then backtrack south to get to Omaha, it won’t even save Dear Leader significant time on his trips to his bach.
A note that you cannot create sealed roads without the use of fossil fuels both used in the hot mix which gets put down, and the vehicles needed to prepare and finish the surface.
The machinery and vehicles to prepare and finish the surface can all run electrically, as can the vehicles that run on the finished road. While the bitumen used as a roading material creates all kinds of problems of its own, it contributes very little to climate change.
Even the EV industry don’t make that claim….I have yet to see anyone within the industry claim that heavy trucks and machinery are viable electrically….perhaps you have a link?
I didn’t intend to claim they were viable right now. Because what’s required to make it all work is much more expensive than fossil fuel (with zero cost of emitting GHGs).
But we already have technologies that would make it possible if fossil fuels were no longer available cheaply. Such as quick-change battery packs, inductive charging loops built into roadways.
I’m picking we’d all very quickly find a way to make all-electric transport viable rather than missing out. If we ever get serious about getting off fossil fuels.
electric public transport I agree is already viable (god knows why we are not implementing it)….but with heavy earthmoving /agriculture/transport I suspect hybrid tech and an acceptance of performance restrictions are the best we can hope for in the medium term……and thats ignoring the replacement /production limitations
thanks for link and from that there may be a future for heavy machinery powered by stored electricity….question is how rapidly….that interview was last year, how long ago were Tesla at that point with their cars (somewhere between 2003 and 2006 is my guess) and how many of those are on our roads currently?
and to both Andre and Paul – the most ridiculous aspect of all this, is that currently TNZ is widening the road all the way down the northern side of Brynderwyn – which didn’t need it, and totally leaving alone the south side of the Bryn which is the awkward twisty winding narrow road – which does need some upgrade !! The massive roadworks on either side of the northern part of Bryn is OTT ! Extraordinary ! Seems like a massive waste of money, technology, and whatever else.
I reckon they should have got “Alice” the tunneling machine from Waterview and driven straight through from Atlas Concrete to the Glenmohr road intersection. That would fix everything.
And Jenny, they’ve been working on that northern side for the last 2 years, with restricted speed and a reduction in lanes, this adds to the transport costs, since very little freight is moved by train. With time and money spent on the Bryn’s over the last 30 years, they could have put a tunnel through and made it much safer.
The roads through most of Northland have been neglected for decades, if you compare vehicle traffic numbers to those on some of the pristine south island roads, it really is a bit of a joke, heck, the road to Cape Reinga had the last 30k’s finally sealed only 7 years ago, its a major tourist destination.
And so they should, the rail link goes all the way through to Kawakawa, but Iv’e never seen a train on it, except for the local steam train ride in Kawakawa on weekends.
Winston was also pushing for development of the rail system into Northland as part of an economic development plan.
You mean the SH1 toll motorway from the Grand Drive, Orewa exit to the Johnstone’s Hill tunnels between Waiwera and Puhoi? $2.30 per trip.
I didn’t have much argument with building this bit of road, since it bypassed Orewa and Waiwera, and it would have been quite difficult upgrading the old SH1 since it went over difficult terrain.
That plan to run the motorway through there was in place since the mid 90’s, some of the locals in the back of Waiwera weren’t too happy though, a lot sold and moved.
The Online Media Standards Authority (OMSA) will release its decision on my complaint against posts made about me on Whale Oil Beef Hooked – at 12 noon today, Friday 20 May 2016.
Why, I mean even from my centre-right position I can say Labour have had a good week, the medical marijuana announcement will get them votes and by working with National on the housing issue they’re showing they can put major issues above petty politicking
Thank you, it was the post on The Standard being broken that made me think…I mean I thought I was being non-sexist but that was from my own pov so maybe I was contributing to this site being unfriendly towards women
It also coincided with a post on Whaleoil which I was not happy about (I posted something about it on here but it got edited and fair enough too) because it involved revenge porn and that was way over the line
So then I decided I’d think less about point scoring and being antagonistic and be a bit more positive and see what happens
I mean I still think National will win the next election but that doesn’t change the fact that Labour have had a pretty good week
I recently went to k1w1 blog, and after reading the dribble and constant BS, attacks on the left, and really disgusting behavior, I came to the conclusion that yourself and others (BM) were actually fairly reasonable by comparison, and could understand why you comment here, rather than there.
Everyone has the right to put forward their own point of view, and I’ve noticed a toning down by yourself recently, we may not convert you here, but, hearing both sides of an argument always offers balance.
I put you in the same category as Hone Harawera, where I don’t necessarily agree with what you (or he) have to say, but respect you for your strong commitment to what you believe in, it’s a worthy human trait.
Well I wouldn’t go that far ( I still have a lot of work to do and I’m easily side tracked) but thanks, I guess its that thing about treating others how you yourself want to be treated which is always easier said then done
I suppose it is if you only have one eye, those bloggers over there have no social conscience at all, so no, they’re not the same at all, in this blog here today, where is the attack on the right???…………my point.
Its still Puckish because I have a hard time spelling mischievous without auto correct 🙂
I guess I’d like a more pleasant atmosphere for posting (I’ve long thought that most people on here would get along quite well down at the pub) and if I want a more pleasant atmosphere then I suppose have to be more pleasant as well
“Well tell you what, judge me on my comments over the next few weeks and combine those with those I’ve made over the past few weeks and see if I’m sincere or not.
Also, on a completely unrelated subject, is there a “gardening for dummies”-type book you’d recommend for newbies?
I’ve never gardened and my wife kills everything she plants and we’re going to build a garden in our back yard and I’d like to get hold of a basic easy to follow guide
The Yates guide used to be a general primer. Not sure if it is still published. An old version should still be largely relevant as gardening hasn’t changed that much. If they recommend the use of DDT though you might want to seek some advice 🙂
“…it was the post on The Standard being broken that made me think…”
Such was the purpose, and your sincere engagement with the thread was noted and appreciated.
In the old days, we used to call it “consciousness raising”.
(and speaking about the blog where real Kiwis hang out…I will have a look now and then to see how the other half lives and am constantly amazed at how popular the comments that are nothing less than hate speech are.)
Hows Far Harbour PR? A mate of mine got it last night (mega huge download!) & he said its just like…FO4! But he’s set up his lounge for sleeping he’s not going to move from the game the whole weekend he reckons.
I like it, it finally has a lever action rifle (I like using lever actions) and the setting is quite atmospheric, I’ve only played a couple of hours of it because my employers prefer it when I turn up to work
I’m not going to be doing much this weekend either, I’ll be stocking up at the supermarket and that’ll be me
I actually rate the Bethesda games (from best to least):
Skyrim: the storyline is epic, the music is first rate and I’m a D & D geek from way back
Fallout: New Vegas: the setting and the antagonists were quite enjoyable
Fallout 3: Really good, interesting story and voice casting is really good (Malcolm McDowell in particular)
Fallout 4: The gameplay is an improvement, especially the aiming and the look of the game is better as well but the story just left me a bit…meh (mind you my wife liked the storyline so its probably just me)
However its Fallout 4 which means its still better then most games out there
“Anyone expecting to see an apology from Andrew Little today?”
I assume you are talking about threats of legal action over comments he made about the owners of a hotel chain.
Can the Labour Party afford to defend a defamation case?
It will be interesting.
I wonder if the Hagamans can stand scrutiny into their finances? Should be very interesting indeed, Mcully been quiet the last month or so, busy setting up other ‘deals’ maybe.
Much as I enjoy political shenanigans I’m predicting this will basically peter out into nothing, as you say the Hagamans probably don’t want too many journalists poking around their business and Andrew Little probably doesn’t want to go to court
“See you in court” – that’s the message from Scenic Hotel Group founders, the Hagamans, to Labour leader Andrew Little.
Little looks set to face defamation proceedings after ignoring an ultimatum and failing to apologise to the Hagamans.
In a statement from Lani Hagaman she said she would “see Mr Little in court” after he failed to retract and apologise his comments that a Niue resort deal they were awarded “stunk to high heaven”.
A big negative story about the New Zealand’s fishing industry and their quotas has popped up on the BBC News website.
A leaked New Zealand government memo casts serious doubts on the sustainability of fish that are widely used in McDonald’s restaurants. The document shows that the government was aware of made-up data and illegal practices such as the dumping of vast quantities of unwanted fish.
McDonald’s fish: Row over sustainability ‘cover-up’
By Matt McGrath Environment correspondent. http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-36316246
Will we see any real action on this from the National Government, or just a whitewash probe to make out they are doing something about it while our seas are over fished?
Just another whitewash. This government is quite happy with the corrupt practices reported as they generate profit and they just don’t give a shit about the environment. Hell, as the fish stocks decline prices and profits will go up.
If they can’t sell to customers like McDonald’s due to loosing the illusion our current fish stocks are sustainable the price might go down as they will only be able to sell to places that don’t give a damn but will never pay top dollar.
“On Sunday, Kiwis will be walking their streets in memory of Moko and in support of cultural change.
Hamilton organiser Katrina Williams felt compelled to do something in response to Moko Rangitoheriri’s death.
“I want to make the point that this is an issue that needs to be looked at further. People come together to march for the TPPA and for environmental causes.
But children are dying. Who is marching for them?”
Actually, Kristina…we did march, in Hamilton 16 years ago after Mereana Edmonds was beaten to death by her mother and her partner. Again…CYFs were told…and did nothing to save this child.
So, we marched, (or wheeled as the case may be) and some of us became foster parents so at least when CYFs did shift their arses and uplift an at risk child…there would be at least one more safe home for them to be loved and cared for while the grown ups got their shit together.
NOTHING has changed.
Yet, we will go and support this new generation of activists….
This is the first time, to my knowledge, that a complaint has been upheld (albeit ‘in part’) against Whale Oil Beef Hooked, by the Online Media Standards Authority.
The complaint was by and about Penny Bright, a 2016 Auckland City Mayoral candidate and the use of a Watercare water meter at her property in Auckland.
The content was headed “Can Penny Bright Explain This?” and was written by Cameron Slater. It made statements about Ms Bright and recent Court action about outstanding rates. It included photographs of Ms Bright’s property and water meter with statements and questions about whether Ms Bright had done something to bypass the property’s water meter.
The majority of the Complaints Committee agreed that the content was opinion, albeit expressed using statements about facts that were controversial and disputed. As the majority agreed the content was opinion, Standard 1- Accuracy did not apply. The Committee also ruled the complaint was not upheld under Standards 2, 5 and 6.
However, the complaint was upheld under Standard 3 – Fairness. The content had focused on Ms Bright and made assumptions based on photographs and information from sources without giving Ms Bright an opportunity to comment prior to publication. The Committee took into account Ms Bright’s candidacy for the 2016 Auckland City Mayoral campaign and her public stance relating to water restrictions but did not consider this was sufficient to justify publication without a right of reply in the public interest.
In summary, the complaint was upheld under Standard 3 Fairness, and not upheld under Standards 1, 2, 5 and 6.
Ruling date: 17 May 2016
Outcome: Upheld, in part
_________________________________________________________________
“On just the one”? How many standards do you expect slater to get away with breaching?
But I agree, his loss to Penny is small compared to being done for his hacking contract, being caught trying to hide behaind the name suppression he denies others, withdrawing an appeal recently, and probably more to come. 2016 certainly seems to be the year that various judicial and regulatory authorities have had quite enough of mr slater…
Slater is an unsavory character by any ones standards, his attack on the Standard is just another example, yet you seem to endorse him, good luck with that, he’s got a lot less integrity than Penny Bright, and a history of character assassination, that’s why he and JK are such good friends.
This is the first time, to my knowledge, that a complaint has been upheld (albeit ‘in part’) against Whale Oil Beef Hooked, by the Online Media Standards Authority.
1) Despite having more proven oil reserves than any other country, Venezuela is now importing oil
2) Inflation in Venezuela is now 720%. The Maduro regime has defaulted on paying for the banknotes it has to have printed abroad
3) Caracas has ranked in the three most dangerous cities in the world for at least the past four years
4) There are shortages of food, toilet paper, medicine and diapers
5) Starving Venezuelans are hunting dogs, cats and pigeons
6) There is collapse of the public health system where even gloves and soap have disappeared from hospitals and cancer treatment is available on the black market
7) Electricity shortages have forced the government to adopt a 2 day working week
8) 13,000 doctors have fled the country over the past 10 years. Cubans sent in to replace them have also defected (700 of them to Colombia)
CV,
What is your evidence that the US is behind it. In fact the BBc journalist on BBC radio reporting on this said he could find no such evidence and he went there specifically looking for it. And if you answer that the BBC is a corrupt US biased organisation I will not regard that as evidence.
Next you will also be saying that are behind the impeachment of Brazil’s President.
To me both cases look like the people of both countries are fed up with incompetence. Not about the US at all.
“Next you will also be saying that are behind the impeachment of Brazil’s President.
To me both cases look like the people of both countries are fed up with incompetence”
so a country fed up with incompetence replaces the president with her assistant and forms a government made up of?……the incompetent members of the existing governing body…..most of whom are under investigation for corruption!
Greek Yanis Varoufakis suggests something different in politics that would lead to better governance in Brazil and all round the world. A UBI?
Yanis Varoufakis’ amazing reframe of Basic income
Yanis Varoufakis produced half-hour video presentation and question-and-answer session. It was an address for the Future of Work Conference, in Zurich, Switzerland, 5th May 2016, at the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute. In this presentation Yanis Varoufakis, totally reframes the concept of how wealth is created in nations and the societies they structure.
He argues for a new view of minimum basic income, not as a safety net to save people who may fall, but a foundation on which people can stand to rise up as productive citizens. His presentation includes the new technological context that for the first time in history, smart machines will eliminate far more jobs than they create. This then, according to Varoufakis, necessitates a basic income for all citizens.
am sure there are better models for SouthAmerica and the rest of the world, my comment was to reflect the fact big US interests fingerprints are all over both Venezuela and Brazil…..guess Wayne forgot to dust.
The BBC yeah right.
Loaded board by Crosby Textor.
Venezuela has been corrupted by American foreign policy for over 100 years nasty murderous dictatorships.
Panama papers show wealthy Venezuelan Bankers taking vast sums out of their economy.
Hell a lot of the soft coups now are not being done by America at all but by the greedy rich 1% who want to suck a lot of the poor but asset rich countries dry.
God help New Zealand if they ever actually find a good commercial pocket of oil here as what is left of our democracy will be gone in a flash with the help of the National Party as they sell us out even more than they have been already.
The corporate raider in the past looked for companies that had a lot of assets but not much working capital. Brought up the companies cheap and then kicked all the employees out of work and sold all the assets for a big quick profit. Companies got wise to that and that is why a lot now don’t own a lot of their own assets but rent building and outsource the manufacture of products to keep themselves asset poor and safe from corporate raiders. Those raider have now spotted a lot of countries are asset rich but capital poor just like the businesses they raided in the past and so are ripe for the picking via buying out the politicians in those countries so they can strip out the assets cheap and sell for a big profit.
Plus look at my arguments with Gosman about this, because the shortages are a outright lie, orchestrated by the opposition. The toilet paper shortage, was a complete con job drummed up by the supermarket industry.
The privatised public health system has collapsed, and about time too. If you don’t understand how the medical system works in Venezuela, might be a good idea you don’t comment on it. When you understand how it works then make coherent comments about it.
I’m shocked you did not bring up police suppression, and shooting of civilians, always the go to for those who get their media from corporate sources.
I’m over this, but I suppose Venezuela is next. Can’t have the people in charge, it’s bad for business.
Well his name wasn’t Rolf Harris obviously, cos Rolf denied the charges, but he’s still in jail though.
Just a thought Instrider, are there no murders or rapists living in NZ?………and how many deny doing any wrong, I know of at least one “prominent” NZer.
You ask if Kelvin will be visiting this innocent, yet the article say’s he admitted the charge, how can you be innocent and admit to the charge, I’m confused, are you sure you know what your on about, or just trying to make stuff up?………..
Stevie Choice and Jonkey moight jis hev ta call in some favours before too long me thinks.
Despite all their attempts at manipulation and spin. there are one or two of those pesky, inconvenient members of the 4th (and prolly 5th) Estate that are beginning to get just a little pissed off with their bullshit and attempts to muzzle.
The Gummint’s shortcomings with its housing policy (is it a policy – or is it just a suck it and see brainfart?) are becoming so fucking obvious to all but the ideologically driven dolt. DPF and CT will be selecting overdrive and wondering whether there is another super slippery oil on the market yet. (Bit of a shame that policy on R & D was fucked). The spin isn’t working here, or in OZ, or in the UK. Seems to me the natives are getting restless.
Then we have those pesky little celeb journalists uncovering the Munstry of Primary Industries shortcomings (going forward).
How DARE they put Nafe Goi on the spot like that! On top of that, there are a couple of half-decent journalists that are on to MPI, it’s CEO and it’s Munster’s case.
I’m thinking to myself….. No amount of Nafe’s learnings going forward would save him – that is, had we had any sort of ethical governance. Desperate as he is to throw his fishals under a bus to save his own cowardly arse, he’s affording himself about as much cred as that very ergly specimen ez the Munster in charge of all things to do with Dirty Filthy Bennies en hearsing, and leopardskins, and general uglyness (going forward)
It seems populist policy, spin, bullshit and a slick suit will only disguise muppetry and complete incompetence for so long
Ekshully, I wuz also thinking …. Nafe might just have to ekshully read that bloody report going forward – Fuck me! what a bloody incinvenience!
David! David! John! John Bro! Cum save me!!!! Maaaate! That bitch Rinny Ryan and that cnut Michaek Morrah are on my case and my petticoat is showing – plus John!!! I never did inhale!!! I promise (going forward), and I rilly rilly loik the loifstyle – plus woifey is “on-board”.
OK Nafe! I got your bek…jiss ez long ez you gone done a bit of work!. How’s about that MPI CEO – Thompson? Can we throw him?
Yea Nah. All cool Bro
Firk!
Ive alreedy rekorded th song. (if ya dont mind me rippin off ya intellectual rights etc)
It skreems blood and guts and truuth and ruth and bruce and all that uther stuff that maakes yr blood boil and yr heart singe and fucks yr neighbores off no end!!!
Yr a master piece ‘once was tim’.
Pure poetree!!!
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Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
COMMENTARY:By Ronny Kareni Since the atrocious footage of the suffering of an indigenous Papuan man reverberates in the heart of Puncak by the brute force of Indonesia’s army in early February, shocking tactics deployed by those in power to silence critics has been unfolding. Nowhere is this more evident ...
Analysis - Nicola Willis is holding firm on tax cuts despite the economic outlook being worse than forecast and critics urging her to wait, writes Peter Wilson for The Week In Politics. ...
Opposition MPs and unions are criticising a proposal by New Zealand’s Ministry of Pacific Peoples to cut staff by 40 percent. The country’s largest trade union — The Public Service Association — says the ministry has informed staff that it is looking to shed 63 of 156 positions. Opposition MPs ...
A poem by Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook 2024 featured poet Carin Smeaton. Daughtr of the 90s when she gets promoted to usherette a baby blu eel carries her all the way up to mothership she’s hovering high she lets the underaged in to see keanu reeves she lets the only lonely ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. My earlier article – Can ‘Good’ be the Greater Evil? – looked at the issue of how wars should end, and how Good versus Evil ...
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 AMMA by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press, $38)A stunning debut novel reviewed by Brannavan ...
From Steve Martin to Ricky Stanicky, a pick’n’mix of things worth watching and listening to this long weekend. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If you’re at a loss for something to occupy yourself with this Easter, don’t panic: The Spinoff’s got ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
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Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
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 A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
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Yesterday the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. This significant step and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza prompted an urgent debate in the New Zealand Parliament. Leader ...
The Government’s decision to reduce access to continuous glucose monitors (CGM) not only threatens the lives of children with type 1 diabetes and increases the potential for ‘Dead in Bed’ syndrome, but also threatens the health of their parents an ...
Apples are available year-round, but the wide variety on offer involves intensive scientific research – and large-scale commercialisation. What’s beautiful, red, sweet and crunchy? Tony Martin’s favourite kind of apple: Sassy. The CEO of apple and pear breeding organisation Prevar, Martin’s fondness for Sassy represents professional success as well as ...
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Brutal government spending cuts that will see the size of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples slashed by 40% will hit Pasifika communities hard, the PSA says. The Ministry has told staff that it is seeking voluntary redundancies, and to redeploy and reassign ...
I live with five people I mostly love, but our different ideas about generosity are starting to really irk me.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,This is a bit of a random one but here goes. I’m 22 and work an OK job (OK meaning I get paid ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Tombs, Howard Paterson Chair of Theology and Public Issues, University of Otago The 5th-century Maskell panel showing Jesus in a loincloth.British Museum, CC BY-NC-SA When Jesus is shown on the cross, he is almost always depicted wearing a loincloth around ...
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While Nicola Willis wouldn’t give any details on its size, she said a package of tax cuts is definitely still coming in this year’s budget, 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 up here. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the investigation into the Department of Internal Affairs after it was revealed that the Department’s Chief Executive personally reached out to expedite a DJs passport application. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns ...
Finance minister Nicola Willis delivers her first budget statement, and unwittingly helps Joel MacManus save his relationship. Nicola Willis strode into the Beehive Theatrette. Around me, on the green foldout seats, were the country’s top business and political journalists. They were all here to see her announce the Budget Policy ...
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http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/77578966/joining-the-queue-at-work-and-income-where-no-one-seems-happy
“Go see Work and Income,” said Prime Minister John Key, advising the homeless and unfortunate. We did.”
Tales of misery & despair, kick ’em while they are down.
Stuff should do a comprehensive piece about WINZ and follow up on ‘customers’ who get given incorrect advice and assistance due to the incompetence and attitude that pervades since Pullya stamped her mark on it.
Focus on the humiliation ‘customers’ are put through, the massive screw ups WINZ keep making, the privatisation that’s gone on with all these ‘providers’, the dysfunctional beauracracy Nats have rolled out etc.
I was appalled at the ticket clipping going on in delivering some services to a needy friend. Services that used to be delivered by WINZ direct outsource party now sees WINZ sitting 3 layers back washing their hands….ahh that brighter future.
Huge amount of ticket clipping going on through WINZ now and all it does is channel government money into private hands. It provides no discernible result in getting people jobs or helping them in any way.
And nothing makes my blood boil more than the wage ticket clipping by labour supply companies.
We now have corporates ticket clipping on government contracts, like the print contract for example, where you have companies who are equipment suppliers winning a contract and then outsourcing the production.
It should be illegal.
Should be. IIRC, a few years ago the air-force got their Orions upgraded. Went through the tendering process and an offshore company (either Canadian or US) got the contract. They then subcontracted SafeAirNZ to do the work. SafeAir had also put in a tender but hadn’t won it.
The offshore company was nothing but a ticket clipper siphoning money away from NZ.
Just another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
Although set in the UK, Ken Loach’s new film could easily be a scene at WINZ in New Zealand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLEPQ9FYU0U
Okay, I’ve just found a new movie I absolutely have to watch. Cheers, Paul.
Great news! I thought Jimmy’s Hall ( a true story) was going to be Ken Loach’s last. Have taken note of this new one.
http://www.theguardian.com/film/video/2014/apr/02/jimmys-hall-trailer-ken-loach-film-video
Jimmy’s Hall. A great dvd to get out if you’ve got a rainy weekend ahead.
Another day of moaning and bleating on open mike ?
Wow.
Someone who thinks it’s OK to leave people in the streets and in cars.
Another cruel, greedy and selfish representative of the neo-liberal cult.
SO why have you started the moaning then?
Don’t you give a shit about fellow Kiwis?
Or would you prefer that we talked about the best Nothern Hemisphere beach destinations for a winter get away?
Leave that sheep alone!
another day of stunnedmullets walking around with carrots stuck up their arses
Bugger off then, clearly you need another bump on the head, only slightly stunnedmullet.
you clearly have not read about and policy.
edited
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/80166108/the-tech-school-with-no-teachers
One for the tech heads here.
Sadly our Education system is going in the opposite direction b Waghorn. Testing, testing of knowledge already known. Little boxes. What happened to discovery?
Enough money for a motorway to get to one of the Dear Leader’s holiday homes…..
‘New Zealand Transport Agency has been working on plans to extend the four-lane highway to Warkworth…..’
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/304307/plans-for-auckland-to-whangarei-motorway.
………but not enough to house the citizens of the country.
Just another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMXnBWKLDg0
Sorry Paul, you’ve just pushed one of my buttons.
I live in Auckland, my olds live outside of Warkworth. So I use the Auckland-Warkworth road regularly. Yes, it does need upgrades. It does NOT need an all-new autobahn the Germans would be proud of.
There is a genuine problem at the Hill road intersection in Warkworth, and continuing development along SH1 is causing problems. So a motorway-grade bypass around Warkworth does make sense, essentially along the route proposed for the all-new motorway.
There is a genuine safety problem with the corners at Schedewy’s hill. A short cutting or tunnels to straighten the alignment and provide a continuous passing lane up the hill would eliminate the problem.
There is a minor bottleneck/safety problem at the Pohuehue Viaduct. Doubling up the viaduct is a quick,easy complete fix.
All this could be done for roughly a third the cost of the new autobahn while delivering very nearly all the benefits. Scaling back the work between Puhoi and Warkworth would also allow a much sooner start on the safety problems at Dome Valley and a bypass around the bottleneck at Wellsford further north.
If the traffic volumes ever get high enough to justify it, the rest of that part of SH1 goes through sparsely populated easy terrain that would easily allow widening for more lanes.
The proposed all-new Puhoi-Warkworth motorway is simply a gratuitous waste of money. And ironically, because it will require its users to go a long way north of Warkworth then backtrack south to get to Omaha, it won’t even save Dear Leader significant time on his trips to his bach.
Rant endeth.
+100…who owns the motorway road construction companies ?…who has shares in them?…who is running down rail?…who is getting advice from Goldman Sachs?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11262662
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/treasury-hires-goldman-sachs-run-ruler-over-kiwibank-bd-136461
A note that you cannot create sealed roads without the use of fossil fuels both used in the hot mix which gets put down, and the vehicles needed to prepare and finish the surface.
The machinery and vehicles to prepare and finish the surface can all run electrically, as can the vehicles that run on the finished road. While the bitumen used as a roading material creates all kinds of problems of its own, it contributes very little to climate change.
Even the EV industry don’t make that claim….I have yet to see anyone within the industry claim that heavy trucks and machinery are viable electrically….perhaps you have a link?
I didn’t intend to claim they were viable right now. Because what’s required to make it all work is much more expensive than fossil fuel (with zero cost of emitting GHGs).
But we already have technologies that would make it possible if fossil fuels were no longer available cheaply. Such as quick-change battery packs, inductive charging loops built into roadways.
I’m picking we’d all very quickly find a way to make all-electric transport viable rather than missing out. If we ever get serious about getting off fossil fuels.
electric public transport I agree is already viable (god knows why we are not implementing it)….but with heavy earthmoving /agriculture/transport I suspect hybrid tech and an acceptance of performance restrictions are the best we can hope for in the medium term……and thats ignoring the replacement /production limitations
rapidly getting there by the sound of this:
http://idealog.co.nz/venture/2015/07/q-wrightspeed-founder-ian-wright-electric-trucks-raising-funds-and-problem-going-green
thanks for link and from that there may be a future for heavy machinery powered by stored electricity….question is how rapidly….that interview was last year, how long ago were Tesla at that point with their cars (somewhere between 2003 and 2006 is my guess) and how many of those are on our roads currently?
Yup, the efficiency of electric drive trains either hybrid or battery powered will win out.
https://matter2energy.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/wells-to-wheels-electric-car-efficiency/
http://www.transpowerusa.com/on-road-trucks/
Try telling the Romans that.
Lol…very good…I draw your attention to the following… “an acceptance of performance restrictions are the best we can hope for in the medium term”
and to both Andre and Paul – the most ridiculous aspect of all this, is that currently TNZ is widening the road all the way down the northern side of Brynderwyn – which didn’t need it, and totally leaving alone the south side of the Bryn which is the awkward twisty winding narrow road – which does need some upgrade !! The massive roadworks on either side of the northern part of Bryn is OTT ! Extraordinary ! Seems like a massive waste of money, technology, and whatever else.
I reckon they should have got “Alice” the tunneling machine from Waterview and driven straight through from Atlas Concrete to the Glenmohr road intersection. That would fix everything.
Nice idea but TBM’s are built specifically for only one job. Then the get shipped back broken up and rebuilt for the next job.
Diameter of the cut and the type of rock being cut governs the design of the cutting head.
except for the ones used for Manapouri……still buried there apparently
And Jenny, they’ve been working on that northern side for the last 2 years, with restricted speed and a reduction in lanes, this adds to the transport costs, since very little freight is moved by train. With time and money spent on the Bryn’s over the last 30 years, they could have put a tunnel through and made it much safer.
The roads through most of Northland have been neglected for decades, if you compare vehicle traffic numbers to those on some of the pristine south island roads, it really is a bit of a joke, heck, the road to Cape Reinga had the last 30k’s finally sealed only 7 years ago, its a major tourist destination.
Well, the Grow Northland Rail Campaign has been actively trying to force pollies and others to relook at the issue of Northland transport.
And so they should, the rail link goes all the way through to Kawakawa, but Iv’e never seen a train on it, except for the local steam train ride in Kawakawa on weekends.
Winston was also pushing for development of the rail system into Northland as part of an economic development plan.
Hello Andre, just wondering , what happened too the toll road going that way ?
You mean the SH1 toll motorway from the Grand Drive, Orewa exit to the Johnstone’s Hill tunnels between Waiwera and Puhoi? $2.30 per trip.
I didn’t have much argument with building this bit of road, since it bypassed Orewa and Waiwera, and it would have been quite difficult upgrading the old SH1 since it went over difficult terrain.
Ta, a bit vague on that area I once visited and loved but also made me very sad, a great example of rich and some very poor people.
edit: excuse the use of “great’
That plan to run the motorway through there was in place since the mid 90’s, some of the locals in the back of Waiwera weren’t too happy though, a lot sold and moved.
The Online Media Standards Authority (OMSA) will release its decision on my complaint against posts made about me on Whale Oil Beef Hooked – at 12 noon today, Friday 20 May 2016.
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
GO Penny
+1 Penny.
Cough cough…so it wasn’t Saddam Hussein…it was USA’s friend Saudi Arabia?…in cahoots with what insiders?
‘Americans must know ‘shocking’ details of 9/11 report classified pages – congressmen’
https://www.rt.com/usa/343679-report-classified-saudi-congressmen/
‘9/11 and Iraq: The War’s Greatest Lie’
http://antiwar.com/blog/2013/03/18/911-and-iraq-the-wars-greatest-lie/
( Travellerev you were correct afterall)
Oil Chooky.
Anyone expecting to see an apology from Andrew Little today?
Why, I mean even from my centre-right position I can say Labour have had a good week, the medical marijuana announcement will get them votes and by working with National on the housing issue they’re showing they can put major issues above petty politicking
PR
I have to congratulate you on your balanced comments, a shame more on the right don’t emulate your behavior, and even some on the the left as well.
Thank you, it was the post on The Standard being broken that made me think…I mean I thought I was being non-sexist but that was from my own pov so maybe I was contributing to this site being unfriendly towards women
It also coincided with a post on Whaleoil which I was not happy about (I posted something about it on here but it got edited and fair enough too) because it involved revenge porn and that was way over the line
So then I decided I’d think less about point scoring and being antagonistic and be a bit more positive and see what happens
I mean I still think National will win the next election but that doesn’t change the fact that Labour have had a pretty good week
PR
I recently went to k1w1 blog, and after reading the dribble and constant BS, attacks on the left, and really disgusting behavior, I came to the conclusion that yourself and others (BM) were actually fairly reasonable by comparison, and could understand why you comment here, rather than there.
Everyone has the right to put forward their own point of view, and I’ve noticed a toning down by yourself recently, we may not convert you here, but, hearing both sides of an argument always offers balance.
I put you in the same category as Hone Harawera, where I don’t necessarily agree with what you (or he) have to say, but respect you for your strong commitment to what you believe in, it’s a worthy human trait.
Well I wouldn’t go that far ( I still have a lot of work to do and I’m easily side tracked) but thanks, I guess its that thing about treating others how you yourself want to be treated which is always easier said then done
Yes it is, and were’re all guilty of that.
Stop this fluffing! They’ve finally got his meds right is all.
Expat think about what you just write…
“I recently went to k1w1 blog, and after reading the dribble and constant BS, attacks on the left, and really disgusting behavior,”
I can confirm 100% that Kiwi blog readers have the same opinion of TS.
Its all in the eye of the beholder dear fella.
I suppose it is if you only have one eye, those bloggers over there have no social conscience at all, so no, they’re not the same at all, in this blog here today, where is the attack on the right???…………my point.
No longer puckish or rogue?
Hard to believe and I mean that most sincere.
Its still Puckish because I have a hard time spelling mischievous without auto correct 🙂
I guess I’d like a more pleasant atmosphere for posting (I’ve long thought that most people on here would get along quite well down at the pub) and if I want a more pleasant atmosphere then I suppose have to be more pleasant as well
After a prolonged period of sly provocations and insults, Puckish Rogue wants to be nice.
Nice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRBak_2X3Do
Well tell you what, judge me on my comments over the next few weeks and see if I’m sincere or not
“Well tell you what, judge me on my comments over the next few weeks and combine those with those I’ve made over the past few weeks and see if I’m sincere or not.
Fify and will do!
Also, on a completely unrelated subject, is there a “gardening for dummies”-type book you’d recommend for newbies?
I’ve never gardened and my wife kills everything she plants and we’re going to build a garden in our back yard and I’d like to get hold of a basic easy to follow guide
The Yates guide used to be a general primer. Not sure if it is still published. An old version should still be largely relevant as gardening hasn’t changed that much. If they recommend the use of DDT though you might want to seek some advice 🙂
Compost, shelter from the wind. sun and water.
Fair call.
I’ll try to do my bit 🙂
Start with silver beet , unkillable stuff !
Don’t lose your edge Puckish; the doomies and moisties here need a serve now and then. 😉
“…it was the post on The Standard being broken that made me think…”
Such was the purpose, and your sincere engagement with the thread was noted and appreciated.
In the old days, we used to call it “consciousness raising”.
(and speaking about the blog where real Kiwis hang out…I will have a look now and then to see how the other half lives and am constantly amazed at how popular the comments that are nothing less than hate speech are.)
It must be gratifying to know that what’s posted isn’t always in vain, keep up the good work.
Hows Far Harbour PR? A mate of mine got it last night (mega huge download!) & he said its just like…FO4! But he’s set up his lounge for sleeping he’s not going to move from the game the whole weekend he reckons.
I like it, it finally has a lever action rifle (I like using lever actions) and the setting is quite atmospheric, I’ve only played a couple of hours of it because my employers prefer it when I turn up to work
I’m not going to be doing much this weekend either, I’ll be stocking up at the supermarket and that’ll be me
I actually rate the Bethesda games (from best to least):
Skyrim: the storyline is epic, the music is first rate and I’m a D & D geek from way back
Fallout: New Vegas: the setting and the antagonists were quite enjoyable
Fallout 3: Really good, interesting story and voice casting is really good (Malcolm McDowell in particular)
Fallout 4: The gameplay is an improvement, especially the aiming and the look of the game is better as well but the story just left me a bit…meh (mind you my wife liked the storyline so its probably just me)
However its Fallout 4 which means its still better then most games out there
Sounds sweet, have fun!!!
I will, five minutes until I go home!
“Anyone expecting to see an apology from Andrew Little today?”
I assume you are talking about threats of legal action over comments he made about the owners of a hotel chain.
Can the Labour Party afford to defend a defamation case?
It will be interesting.
I wonder if the Hagamans can stand scrutiny into their finances? Should be very interesting indeed, Mcully been quiet the last month or so, busy setting up other ‘deals’ maybe.
Much as I enjoy political shenanigans I’m predicting this will basically peter out into nothing, as you say the Hagamans probably don’t want too many journalists poking around their business and Andrew Little probably doesn’t want to go to court
Stalemate.
Its nothing to do with “I wonder if the Hagamans can stand scrutiny into their finances?”. Other than the donation is question.
The Hagamans are hoping Little is stupid enough take this to court…which I guess about 40 minutes ago they received Littles response.
This will be fun.
“See you in court” – that’s the message from Scenic Hotel Group founders, the Hagamans, to Labour leader Andrew Little.
Little looks set to face defamation proceedings after ignoring an ultimatum and failing to apologise to the Hagamans.
In a statement from Lani Hagaman she said she would “see Mr Little in court” after he failed to retract and apologise his comments that a Niue resort deal they were awarded “stunk to high heaven”.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/80229406/andrew-little-not-revealing-if-hes-dodged-a-legal-threat-and-apologised
That could be a forerunner of law cases which will be seen after TPPA signing.
A big negative story about the New Zealand’s fishing industry and their quotas has popped up on the BBC News website.
McDonald’s fish: Row over sustainability ‘cover-up’
By Matt McGrath Environment correspondent.
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-36316246
Will we see any real action on this from the National Government, or just a whitewash probe to make out they are doing something about it while our seas are over fished?
Just another whitewash. This government is quite happy with the corrupt practices reported as they generate profit and they just don’t give a shit about the environment. Hell, as the fish stocks decline prices and profits will go up.
If they can’t sell to customers like McDonald’s due to loosing the illusion our current fish stocks are sustainable the price might go down as they will only be able to sell to places that don’t give a damn but will never pay top dollar.
MARCH FOR MOKO
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/80175342/hamilton-will-march-for-moko-on-sunday
“On Sunday, Kiwis will be walking their streets in memory of Moko and in support of cultural change.
Hamilton organiser Katrina Williams felt compelled to do something in response to Moko Rangitoheriri’s death.
“I want to make the point that this is an issue that needs to be looked at further. People come together to march for the TPPA and for environmental causes.
But children are dying. Who is marching for them?”
Actually, Kristina…we did march, in Hamilton 16 years ago after Mereana Edmonds was beaten to death by her mother and her partner. Again…CYFs were told…and did nothing to save this child.
So, we marched, (or wheeled as the case may be) and some of us became foster parents so at least when CYFs did shift their arses and uplift an at risk child…there would be at least one more safe home for them to be loved and cared for while the grown ups got their shit together.
NOTHING has changed.
Yet, we will go and support this new generation of activists….
for these guys….http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/73717177/Special-investigation-New-Zealand-s-shameful-record-of-child-abuse
This is the first time, to my knowledge, that a complaint has been upheld (albeit ‘in part’) against Whale Oil Beef Hooked, by the Online Media Standards Authority.
http://www.omsa.co.nz/decisions/bright-v-whale-oil-beef-hooked-16012/
BrightvWhaleOilBeefHooked(16/012)
Content: “Can Penny Bright Explain This?”
Publisher: Whale Oil Beef Hooked
Complainant: P. Bright
Click here to view full Decision
The complaint was by and about Penny Bright, a 2016 Auckland City Mayoral candidate and the use of a Watercare water meter at her property in Auckland.
The content was headed “Can Penny Bright Explain This?” and was written by Cameron Slater. It made statements about Ms Bright and recent Court action about outstanding rates. It included photographs of Ms Bright’s property and water meter with statements and questions about whether Ms Bright had done something to bypass the property’s water meter.
The majority of the Complaints Committee agreed that the content was opinion, albeit expressed using statements about facts that were controversial and disputed. As the majority agreed the content was opinion, Standard 1- Accuracy did not apply. The Committee also ruled the complaint was not upheld under Standards 2, 5 and 6.
However, the complaint was upheld under Standard 3 – Fairness. The content had focused on Ms Bright and made assumptions based on photographs and information from sources without giving Ms Bright an opportunity to comment prior to publication. The Committee took into account Ms Bright’s candidacy for the 2016 Auckland City Mayoral campaign and her public stance relating to water restrictions but did not consider this was sufficient to justify publication without a right of reply in the public interest.
In summary, the complaint was upheld under Standard 3 Fairness, and not upheld under Standards 1, 2, 5 and 6.
Ruling date: 17 May 2016
Outcome: Upheld, in part
_________________________________________________________________
Cameron Slater picked on the wrong woman.
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
Good on you Penny for holding him accountable, another black mark against the rissole.
Typical penny. Not upheld on the majority of your complaints and a small victory being upheld on just the one.
so as usual you are wrong more than you are right.
lol
“On just the one”? How many standards do you expect slater to get away with breaching?
But I agree, his loss to Penny is small compared to being done for his hacking contract, being caught trying to hide behaind the name suppression he denies others, withdrawing an appeal recently, and probably more to come. 2016 certainly seems to be the year that various judicial and regulatory authorities have had quite enough of mr slater…
James
Slater is an unsavory character by any ones standards, his attack on the Standard is just another example, yet you seem to endorse him, good luck with that, he’s got a lot less integrity than Penny Bright, and a history of character assassination, that’s why he and JK are such good friends.
This is the first time, to my knowledge, that a complaint has been upheld (albeit ‘in part’) against Whale Oil Beef Hooked, by the Online Media Standards Authority.
Facts are facts and truth is truth.
Sorry that isn’t to your liking.
There is more to come on this matter …..
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
A rally for the Guy whose losing…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2G4VvhD4pA
News from the socialist paradise of Venezuela:
1) Despite having more proven oil reserves than any other country, Venezuela is now importing oil
2) Inflation in Venezuela is now 720%. The Maduro regime has defaulted on paying for the banknotes it has to have printed abroad
3) Caracas has ranked in the three most dangerous cities in the world for at least the past four years
4) There are shortages of food, toilet paper, medicine and diapers
5) Starving Venezuelans are hunting dogs, cats and pigeons
6) There is collapse of the public health system where even gloves and soap have disappeared from hospitals and cancer treatment is available on the black market
7) Electricity shortages have forced the government to adopt a 2 day working week
8) 13,000 doctors have fled the country over the past 10 years. Cubans sent in to replace them have also defected (700 of them to Colombia)
Viva la revolution!
This will be the US’s fifth (or is it sixth) soft coup in South/Central America this century. Some of which were run by Obama.
CV,
What is your evidence that the US is behind it. In fact the BBc journalist on BBC radio reporting on this said he could find no such evidence and he went there specifically looking for it. And if you answer that the BBC is a corrupt US biased organisation I will not regard that as evidence.
Next you will also be saying that are behind the impeachment of Brazil’s President.
To me both cases look like the people of both countries are fed up with incompetence. Not about the US at all.
“Next you will also be saying that are behind the impeachment of Brazil’s President.
To me both cases look like the people of both countries are fed up with incompetence”
so a country fed up with incompetence replaces the president with her assistant and forms a government made up of?……the incompetent members of the existing governing body…..most of whom are under investigation for corruption!
Right….nothing to see here….move along.
Greek Yanis Varoufakis suggests something different in politics that would lead to better governance in Brazil and all round the world. A UBI?
Yanis Varoufakis’ amazing reframe of Basic income
Yanis Varoufakis produced half-hour video presentation and question-and-answer session. It was an address for the Future of Work Conference, in Zurich, Switzerland, 5th May 2016, at the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute. In this presentation Yanis Varoufakis, totally reframes the concept of how wealth is created in nations and the societies they structure.
He argues for a new view of minimum basic income, not as a safety net to save people who may fall, but a foundation on which people can stand to rise up as productive citizens. His presentation includes the new technological context that for the first time in history, smart machines will eliminate far more jobs than they create. This then, according to Varoufakis, necessitates a basic income for all citizens.
https://yanisvaroufakis.eu/2016/05/13/review-of-my-talk-basic-income-is-a-necessity-examiner-com/
am sure there are better models for SouthAmerica and the rest of the world, my comment was to reflect the fact big US interests fingerprints are all over both Venezuela and Brazil…..guess Wayne forgot to dust.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHQFh4q4Vwc
The BBC yeah right.
Loaded board by Crosby Textor.
Venezuela has been corrupted by American foreign policy for over 100 years nasty murderous dictatorships.
Panama papers show wealthy Venezuelan Bankers taking vast sums out of their economy.
hi Wayne the new Brazilian president was/is a US intelligence asset, as revealed by wikileaks.
Hell a lot of the soft coups now are not being done by America at all but by the greedy rich 1% who want to suck a lot of the poor but asset rich countries dry.
God help New Zealand if they ever actually find a good commercial pocket of oil here as what is left of our democracy will be gone in a flash with the help of the National Party as they sell us out even more than they have been already.
The corporate raider in the past looked for companies that had a lot of assets but not much working capital. Brought up the companies cheap and then kicked all the employees out of work and sold all the assets for a big quick profit. Companies got wise to that and that is why a lot now don’t own a lot of their own assets but rent building and outsource the manufacture of products to keep themselves asset poor and safe from corporate raiders. Those raider have now spotted a lot of countries are asset rich but capital poor just like the businesses they raided in the past and so are ripe for the picking via buying out the politicians in those countries so they can strip out the assets cheap and sell for a big profit.
That’s interesting NZJester – explains much.
Sight some proof please Richard McGrath.
Do you by any chance mean cite rather than sight?
As you seem to be blinded by your own ideology, the pun was intended.
Plus look at my arguments with Gosman about this, because the shortages are a outright lie, orchestrated by the opposition. The toilet paper shortage, was a complete con job drummed up by the supermarket industry.
The privatised public health system has collapsed, and about time too. If you don’t understand how the medical system works in Venezuela, might be a good idea you don’t comment on it. When you understand how it works then make coherent comments about it.
I’m shocked you did not bring up police suppression, and shooting of civilians, always the go to for those who get their media from corporate sources.
I’m over this, but I suppose Venezuela is next. Can’t have the people in charge, it’s bad for business.
Hmm the left got all in a strop when key Said labour and the greens were siding with murderers and rapists in Australia.
And here from the “whoever would guessed it files” what do you know http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/80200101/Aussie-deportee-pleads-guilty-to-historic-sex-offences
Wonder if Kelvin will be visiting this poor innocent?
Well his name wasn’t Rolf Harris obviously, cos Rolf denied the charges, but he’s still in jail though.
Just a thought Instrider, are there no murders or rapists living in NZ?………and how many deny doing any wrong, I know of at least one “prominent” NZer.
You ask if Kelvin will be visiting this innocent, yet the article say’s he admitted the charge, how can you be innocent and admit to the charge, I’m confused, are you sure you know what your on about, or just trying to make stuff up?………..
Stir shit more likely Expat, prob on the piss again bashing the keyboard in rage & spite, I think he needs a hug.
Sounds like the sort of hug he needs is the one used in the Heimlich maneuver.
Stevie Choice and Jonkey moight jis hev ta call in some favours before too long me thinks.
Despite all their attempts at manipulation and spin. there are one or two of those pesky, inconvenient members of the 4th (and prolly 5th) Estate that are beginning to get just a little pissed off with their bullshit and attempts to muzzle.
The Gummint’s shortcomings with its housing policy (is it a policy – or is it just a suck it and see brainfart?) are becoming so fucking obvious to all but the ideologically driven dolt. DPF and CT will be selecting overdrive and wondering whether there is another super slippery oil on the market yet. (Bit of a shame that policy on R & D was fucked). The spin isn’t working here, or in OZ, or in the UK. Seems to me the natives are getting restless.
Then we have those pesky little celeb journalists uncovering the Munstry of Primary Industries shortcomings (going forward).
How DARE they put Nafe Goi on the spot like that! On top of that, there are a couple of half-decent journalists that are on to MPI, it’s CEO and it’s Munster’s case.
I’m thinking to myself….. No amount of Nafe’s learnings going forward would save him – that is, had we had any sort of ethical governance. Desperate as he is to throw his fishals under a bus to save his own cowardly arse, he’s affording himself about as much cred as that very ergly specimen ez the Munster in charge of all things to do with Dirty Filthy Bennies en hearsing, and leopardskins, and general uglyness (going forward)
It seems populist policy, spin, bullshit and a slick suit will only disguise muppetry and complete incompetence for so long
Ekshully, I wuz also thinking …. Nafe might just have to ekshully read that bloody report going forward – Fuck me! what a bloody incinvenience!
David! David! John! John Bro! Cum save me!!!! Maaaate! That bitch Rinny Ryan and that cnut Michaek Morrah are on my case and my petticoat is showing – plus John!!! I never did inhale!!! I promise (going forward), and I rilly rilly loik the loifstyle – plus woifey is “on-board”.
OK Nafe! I got your bek…jiss ez long ez you gone done a bit of work!. How’s about that MPI CEO – Thompson? Can we throw him?
Yea Nah. All cool Bro
Once Was Tim – this is beautiful stuff…….diction and delivery both perfect. Wonderful for the mind’s eye !
Firk!
Ive alreedy rekorded th song. (if ya dont mind me rippin off ya intellectual rights etc)
It skreems blood and guts and truuth and ruth and bruce and all that uther stuff that maakes yr blood boil and yr heart singe and fucks yr neighbores off no end!!!
Yr a master piece ‘once was tim’.
Pure poetree!!!