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!!!
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 27 were:1. The Minister for Ford Rangers strikes againTransport Minister Simeon Brown was again the busiest of the Cabinet ministers this week, announcing an ...
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TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Carereport released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced$802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
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Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone iconon the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive:Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloittereport for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’sOliver LewisScoop:Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announcedthe Board of Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Orderimage, ...
Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
Waiting In The Wings:For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSAannounced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
Te Rangi e tu nei (The sky above us) Te Papa e takoto nei (The land beneath us) Tatou katoa te hunga ora (To us all the living) Tena koutou katoa (Greetings) ...
A late change to charter school legislation will cheat educators out of fair pay and negotiating power proving charter schools are just a vehicle to make profit out of our education system. ...
In 2004 te iwi Māori rallied against the Crown’s attempt to confiscate our coastlines and moana with the Foreshore and Seabed Act. This led to the largest hīkoi of a generation and the birth of Te Pāti Māori. 20 years later, history is repeating itself. Today the government has announced ...
It has been five and a half years since the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care was established to investigate the abuse of children, young people, and vulnerable adults within state and faith-based institutions. Yesterday, the final report - Whanaketia through pain and trauma, from darkness to light ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to take action off the back of the International Court of Justice ruling on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. ...
On Friday the International Court of Justice reaffirmed what Palestinian’s have been telling us for decades: that the occupation and colonisation of Palestinian lands by Israel is illegal and must end immediately. They also called for reparations for Palestinian’s who have lived under Israeli occupation since it began in 1967. ...
Labour calls on the Government to act after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territories is illegal. ...
The 53.7 percent rise in benefit sanctions over the last year is more proof of this Government’s disdain for our communities most in need of support. ...
Aotearoa could be a country where every child grows up feeling safe, loved and with a sense of belonging in their whānau and community. But for some of our children, this is far from reality. Instead, they are trapped in a maze of intergenerational harm that they can’t escape on ...
Te Pāti Māori are calling for David Seymour to resign as Associate Health Minister in response to his call for Pharmac to ignore the Treaty of Waitangi. “This announcement is just another example of the government’s anti-Tiriti, anti-Māori agenda.” Said Co-leader and spokesperson for health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. “Seymour thinks it ...
The soaring price of renting is driving the rise of inflation in this country - with latest figures from Stats NZ showing rents are up 4.8 per cent on average while annual inflation is at 3.3 per cent. ...
National’s Emissions Reduction Plan will take New Zealand further from the economy we need to ensure the next generation has a stable climate and secure livelihoods. ...
Following consultation with named parties and thorough consideration of privacy interests, the Green Party is in a position to release the Executive Summary of the final report from the independent investigation into Darleen Tana. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon should be asking serious questions of his Minister for Resources Shane Jones now it’s been revealed he misled the public about a dinner with mining companies that he didn’t declare and said wasn’t pre-arranged. ...
Te Pāti Māori have submitted to the Justice Select Committee against the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill. The bill will further entrench racism in our justice system and fails to focus on rehabilitation. “Reinstating Three Strikes will empower a systematically racist system and exacerbate the overrepresentation of Māori in ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee is set to make a determination on the Residential Tenancies Amendment (RTA) Bill in the coming weeks. “This legislation will give landlords the power to kick our whānau out onto the street for no reason” said Housing spokesperson, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “Their solution to the housing ...
“National’s campaign was about tackling crime and the best they can do is a two-year long Ministerial Advisory Group,” Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
“There are more examples of charter schools failing their students than there are success stories. The coalition Government is driving to dismantle our public school system and instead promote a privatised, competitive structure that puts profits before kids,” Jan Tinetti said. ...
“This government is choosing to deliberately mislead and withhold information, keeping our people in the dark about this government’s agenda and the future of our mokopuna,” said co-leader and spokesperson for Health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. The call comes after the demand from the Chief Ombudsman that Associate Minister of Health, Casey ...
“Today’s climate announcement by Simon Watts makes clear the National Government is simply paying lip service to meeting its climate change targets,” Megan Woods said. ...
National is choosing to make life harder for workers by taking away the rights our communities have fought hard for. Here's how they’re taking workers backwards. ...
Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue. We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views. “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
Tēnā tātou katoa, Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts. “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet. “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks. “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. At the heart of this report are the ...
For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024. “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane. “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says. “This will be our third visit to ...
Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today. “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum. While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation. “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan. “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests. Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone. Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
Last summer when Matairangi burned, Ginny and Tom stood at the window of their lounge, watching kākā shoot skyward from the burning trees. From the distance, they looked to Ginny like pages torn from books and thrown into a bonfire. It was Tom, voice tight, who told her it was ...
Opinion: The Canadian short story writer Alice Munro – winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013 – died in May at the age of 92. Her work was about “the damage people inflict on one another in the name of love”, Deborah Treisman wrote in the New Yorker. ...
This month marks two years since the most powerful telescope ever built sent its first pictures back to earth. From its lofty vantage point, beyond the moon in orbit around the sun, the James Webb Space Telescope was tuned to observe the first stars and galaxies being born soon after ...
Comment: After Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ preview several weeks ago, I had some optimism about the Government’s emissions reduction plan. Now I’ve read the discussion document, that hope has been dashed. How can the Government propose a plan that wants to take New Zealand taxpayers’ hard-earned money, and spend ...
Christopher Luxon: hurdles The little man from National jumps hurdles in his sleep. He’s quite good at it in his dreams and even though the reality doesn’t quite match up you have to give him credit for getting up every morning and crashing into the very first hurdle of the ...
Comment: It was a good two hours into the conversation when Tyrone Marks raised the most basic of questions when I first spoke to him in 2017. “They didn’t explain the things they did to me. They never told me why. And they still haven’t. There’s no explanation for it. ...
Madeleine Chapman rounds out Death Week on The Spinoff with a final recommendation. You can read all of our Death Week coverage here. Nothing forces you to reflect on your life and relationships quite like proximity to death. For those whose nearest and dearest have died, there are reasonably obvious ...
Whitney Greene takes us through her life in television, including the TV character she’d like to plan a funeral for and her cow lung catastrophe on The Traitors NZ. “If the phone rings, I have to answer it,” Whitney Greene from The Traitors NZ warns as we begin our My ...
Maddie Ballard reviews the debut essay collection of Pōneke writer Flora Feltham.In ‘The Raw Material’, the longest essay in Flora Feltham’s dazzling debut collection, the author heads out for a run after hours of weaving and sees the world turn to textile. “Pounding along the Parade, I saw the ...
Andy Christiansen, one half of the experimental rock-pop duo TRiPS, shares the tunes inspiring the band’s perfect weekend and new release. “Good speakers, good food, good music, no distractions”: that’s all you need to enjoy the psychedelic stylings of TRiPS, a new band formed by Fly My Pretties’ Barnaby Weir ...
Celebrating our quadrennial opportunity to become experts in a bunch of sports we never normally watch.The games of the XXXIII Olympiad are upon us. Paris will host this year’s showcase of sporting and athletic prowess, which means some late-night and early-morning viewing for us in Aotearoa.But what sports ...
The photograph is striking and beautiful, but also disturbing – a reminder that my love for John was often entangled in shame.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.In the spring of 1980, in Dunedin, shortly before his death, someone took a photograph ...
Get to know Babushka, our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Babu’s humans, Jo and Isabel, for their support. Dog name: Babushka (Babu for short) Age: 2Breed: Border Collie X poodleIf rescued, ...
Pacific Media Watch A Lebanese photojournalist who was severely wounded during an Israeli air strike in south Lebanon carried the Olympic torch in Paris this week in honour of her peers who have been wounded and killed in the field — especially in Gaza and Lebanon. Christina Assi of Agence ...
The first report in a five-part web series focused on the 15th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women taking place in the Marshall Islands this week.SPECIAL REPORT:By Netani Rika in Majuro Women continue to fight for justice 70 years after the first nuclear tests by the United States caused ...
Christopher Luxon has joined with Australia and Canada's leaders in voicing support for US President Joe Biden's ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The 2022 election brought the “teal wave” into parliament. The next election will test whether teals, who occupy what were Liberal seats, and other independents can maintain their momentum. Joining us on the Podcast ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Musgrave, Senior lecturer in Pharmacology, University of Adelaide Pixavri/Shutterstock A major Federal Court class action has been dismissed this week after Justice Michael Lee ruled there was not enough evidence to prove the weedkiller Roundup causes cancer. Plaintiff Kelvin ...
In The Week in Politics: politicians have to decide what to do about child abuse, Health NZ is booked in for major surgery and Darleen Tana returns. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Corbould, Associate Professor, Contemporary Histories Research Group, Deakin University Mainstream media are surprisingly muted at the prospect of the world’s most powerful nation being led for the first time by a woman – specifically a woman of colour, Vice President Kamala ...
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The 2004 Act vested ownership of the foreshore and seabed in the Crown, extinguishing any Māori claims to ownership and causing widespread outrage and protests among Māori communities. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Antje Deckert, Associate Professor (Criminology), Auckland University of Technology Getty Images Despite the connection between institutional harm and gang membership made clear in this week’s mammoth royal commission abuse-in care report, the government seems unlikely to soften its “get tough on ...
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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.
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.
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
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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…
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.
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!!!