Stuff should do a comprehensive piece about WINZ and follow up on ‘customers’ who get given incorrect advice and assistance due to the incompetence and attitude that pervades since Pullya stamped her mark on it.
Focus on the humiliation ‘customers’ are put through, the massive screw ups WINZ keep making, the privatisation that’s gone on with all these ‘providers’, the dysfunctional beauracracy Nats have rolled out etc.
I was appalled at the ticket clipping going on in delivering some services to a needy friend. Services that used to be delivered by WINZ direct outsource party now sees WINZ sitting 3 layers back washing their hands….ahh that brighter future.
I was appalled at the ticket clipping going on in delivering some services to a needy friend.
Huge amount of ticket clipping going on through WINZ now and all it does is channel government money into private hands. It provides no discernible result in getting people jobs or helping them in any way.
And nothing makes my blood boil more than the wage ticket clipping by labour supply companies.
We now have corporates ticket clipping on government contracts, like the print contract for example, where you have companies who are equipment suppliers winning a contract and then outsourcing the production.
Should be. IIRC, a few years ago the air-force got their Orions upgraded. Went through the tendering process and an offshore company (either Canadian or US) got the contract. They then subcontracted SafeAirNZ to do the work. SafeAir had also put in a tender but hadn’t won it.
The offshore company was nothing but a ticket clipper siphoning money away from NZ.
Sadly our Education system is going in the opposite direction b Waghorn. Testing, testing of knowledge already known. Little boxes. What happened to discovery?
I live in Auckland, my olds live outside of Warkworth. So I use the Auckland-Warkworth road regularly. Yes, it does need upgrades. It does NOT need an all-new autobahn the Germans would be proud of.
There is a genuine problem at the Hill road intersection in Warkworth, and continuing development along SH1 is causing problems. So a motorway-grade bypass around Warkworth does make sense, essentially along the route proposed for the all-new motorway.
There is a genuine safety problem with the corners at Schedewy’s hill. A short cutting or tunnels to straighten the alignment and provide a continuous passing lane up the hill would eliminate the problem.
There is a minor bottleneck/safety problem at the Pohuehue Viaduct. Doubling up the viaduct is a quick,easy complete fix.
All this could be done for roughly a third the cost of the new autobahn while delivering very nearly all the benefits. Scaling back the work between Puhoi and Warkworth would also allow a much sooner start on the safety problems at Dome Valley and a bypass around the bottleneck at Wellsford further north.
If the traffic volumes ever get high enough to justify it, the rest of that part of SH1 goes through sparsely populated easy terrain that would easily allow widening for more lanes.
The proposed all-new Puhoi-Warkworth motorway is simply a gratuitous waste of money. And ironically, because it will require its users to go a long way north of Warkworth then backtrack south to get to Omaha, it won’t even save Dear Leader significant time on his trips to his bach.
A note that you cannot create sealed roads without the use of fossil fuels both used in the hot mix which gets put down, and the vehicles needed to prepare and finish the surface.
The machinery and vehicles to prepare and finish the surface can all run electrically, as can the vehicles that run on the finished road. While the bitumen used as a roading material creates all kinds of problems of its own, it contributes very little to climate change.
Even the EV industry don’t make that claim….I have yet to see anyone within the industry claim that heavy trucks and machinery are viable electrically….perhaps you have a link?
I didn’t intend to claim they were viable right now. Because what’s required to make it all work is much more expensive than fossil fuel (with zero cost of emitting GHGs).
But we already have technologies that would make it possible if fossil fuels were no longer available cheaply. Such as quick-change battery packs, inductive charging loops built into roadways.
I’m picking we’d all very quickly find a way to make all-electric transport viable rather than missing out. If we ever get serious about getting off fossil fuels.
electric public transport I agree is already viable (god knows why we are not implementing it)….but with heavy earthmoving /agriculture/transport I suspect hybrid tech and an acceptance of performance restrictions are the best we can hope for in the medium term……and thats ignoring the replacement /production limitations
thanks for link and from that there may be a future for heavy machinery powered by stored electricity….question is how rapidly….that interview was last year, how long ago were Tesla at that point with their cars (somewhere between 2003 and 2006 is my guess) and how many of those are on our roads currently?
and to both Andre and Paul – the most ridiculous aspect of all this, is that currently TNZ is widening the road all the way down the northern side of Brynderwyn – which didn’t need it, and totally leaving alone the south side of the Bryn which is the awkward twisty winding narrow road – which does need some upgrade !! The massive roadworks on either side of the northern part of Bryn is OTT ! Extraordinary ! Seems like a massive waste of money, technology, and whatever else.
I reckon they should have got “Alice” the tunneling machine from Waterview and driven straight through from Atlas Concrete to the Glenmohr road intersection. That would fix everything.
And Jenny, they’ve been working on that northern side for the last 2 years, with restricted speed and a reduction in lanes, this adds to the transport costs, since very little freight is moved by train. With time and money spent on the Bryn’s over the last 30 years, they could have put a tunnel through and made it much safer.
The roads through most of Northland have been neglected for decades, if you compare vehicle traffic numbers to those on some of the pristine south island roads, it really is a bit of a joke, heck, the road to Cape Reinga had the last 30k’s finally sealed only 7 years ago, its a major tourist destination.
And so they should, the rail link goes all the way through to Kawakawa, but Iv’e never seen a train on it, except for the local steam train ride in Kawakawa on weekends.
Winston was also pushing for development of the rail system into Northland as part of an economic development plan.
You mean the SH1 toll motorway from the Grand Drive, Orewa exit to the Johnstone’s Hill tunnels between Waiwera and Puhoi? $2.30 per trip.
I didn’t have much argument with building this bit of road, since it bypassed Orewa and Waiwera, and it would have been quite difficult upgrading the old SH1 since it went over difficult terrain.
That plan to run the motorway through there was in place since the mid 90’s, some of the locals in the back of Waiwera weren’t too happy though, a lot sold and moved.
The Online Media Standards Authority (OMSA) will release its decision on my complaint against posts made about me on Whale Oil Beef Hooked – at 12 noon today, Friday 20 May 2016.
Why, I mean even from my centre-right position I can say Labour have had a good week, the medical marijuana announcement will get them votes and by working with National on the housing issue they’re showing they can put major issues above petty politicking
Thank you, it was the post on The Standard being broken that made me think…I mean I thought I was being non-sexist but that was from my own pov so maybe I was contributing to this site being unfriendly towards women
It also coincided with a post on Whaleoil which I was not happy about (I posted something about it on here but it got edited and fair enough too) because it involved revenge porn and that was way over the line
So then I decided I’d think less about point scoring and being antagonistic and be a bit more positive and see what happens
I mean I still think National will win the next election but that doesn’t change the fact that Labour have had a pretty good week
I recently went to k1w1 blog, and after reading the dribble and constant BS, attacks on the left, and really disgusting behavior, I came to the conclusion that yourself and others (BM) were actually fairly reasonable by comparison, and could understand why you comment here, rather than there.
Everyone has the right to put forward their own point of view, and I’ve noticed a toning down by yourself recently, we may not convert you here, but, hearing both sides of an argument always offers balance.
I put you in the same category as Hone Harawera, where I don’t necessarily agree with what you (or he) have to say, but respect you for your strong commitment to what you believe in, it’s a worthy human trait.
Well I wouldn’t go that far ( I still have a lot of work to do and I’m easily side tracked) but thanks, I guess its that thing about treating others how you yourself want to be treated which is always easier said then done
I suppose it is if you only have one eye, those bloggers over there have no social conscience at all, so no, they’re not the same at all, in this blog here today, where is the attack on the right???…………my point.
Its still Puckish because I have a hard time spelling mischievous without auto correct 🙂
I guess I’d like a more pleasant atmosphere for posting (I’ve long thought that most people on here would get along quite well down at the pub) and if I want a more pleasant atmosphere then I suppose have to be more pleasant as well
“Well tell you what, judge me on my comments over the next few weeks and combine those with those I’ve made over the past few weeks and see if I’m sincere or not.
Also, on a completely unrelated subject, is there a “gardening for dummies”-type book you’d recommend for newbies?
I’ve never gardened and my wife kills everything she plants and we’re going to build a garden in our back yard and I’d like to get hold of a basic easy to follow guide
The Yates guide used to be a general primer. Not sure if it is still published. An old version should still be largely relevant as gardening hasn’t changed that much. If they recommend the use of DDT though you might want to seek some advice 🙂
“…it was the post on The Standard being broken that made me think…”
Such was the purpose, and your sincere engagement with the thread was noted and appreciated.
In the old days, we used to call it “consciousness raising”.
(and speaking about the blog where real Kiwis hang out…I will have a look now and then to see how the other half lives and am constantly amazed at how popular the comments that are nothing less than hate speech are.)
Hows Far Harbour PR? A mate of mine got it last night (mega huge download!) & he said its just like…FO4! But he’s set up his lounge for sleeping he’s not going to move from the game the whole weekend he reckons.
I like it, it finally has a lever action rifle (I like using lever actions) and the setting is quite atmospheric, I’ve only played a couple of hours of it because my employers prefer it when I turn up to work
I’m not going to be doing much this weekend either, I’ll be stocking up at the supermarket and that’ll be me
I actually rate the Bethesda games (from best to least):
Skyrim: the storyline is epic, the music is first rate and I’m a D & D geek from way back
Fallout: New Vegas: the setting and the antagonists were quite enjoyable
Fallout 3: Really good, interesting story and voice casting is really good (Malcolm McDowell in particular)
Fallout 4: The gameplay is an improvement, especially the aiming and the look of the game is better as well but the story just left me a bit…meh (mind you my wife liked the storyline so its probably just me)
However its Fallout 4 which means its still better then most games out there
“Anyone expecting to see an apology from Andrew Little today?”
I assume you are talking about threats of legal action over comments he made about the owners of a hotel chain.
Can the Labour Party afford to defend a defamation case?
It will be interesting.
I wonder if the Hagamans can stand scrutiny into their finances? Should be very interesting indeed, Mcully been quiet the last month or so, busy setting up other ‘deals’ maybe.
Much as I enjoy political shenanigans I’m predicting this will basically peter out into nothing, as you say the Hagamans probably don’t want too many journalists poking around their business and Andrew Little probably doesn’t want to go to court
“See you in court” – that’s the message from Scenic Hotel Group founders, the Hagamans, to Labour leader Andrew Little.
Little looks set to face defamation proceedings after ignoring an ultimatum and failing to apologise to the Hagamans.
In a statement from Lani Hagaman she said she would “see Mr Little in court” after he failed to retract and apologise his comments that a Niue resort deal they were awarded “stunk to high heaven”.
A big negative story about the New Zealand’s fishing industry and their quotas has popped up on the BBC News website.
A leaked New Zealand government memo casts serious doubts on the sustainability of fish that are widely used in McDonald’s restaurants. The document shows that the government was aware of made-up data and illegal practices such as the dumping of vast quantities of unwanted fish.
McDonald’s fish: Row over sustainability ‘cover-up’
By Matt McGrath Environment correspondent. http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-36316246
Will we see any real action on this from the National Government, or just a whitewash probe to make out they are doing something about it while our seas are over fished?
Just another whitewash. This government is quite happy with the corrupt practices reported as they generate profit and they just don’t give a shit about the environment. Hell, as the fish stocks decline prices and profits will go up.
If they can’t sell to customers like McDonald’s due to loosing the illusion our current fish stocks are sustainable the price might go down as they will only be able to sell to places that don’t give a damn but will never pay top dollar.
“On Sunday, Kiwis will be walking their streets in memory of Moko and in support of cultural change.
Hamilton organiser Katrina Williams felt compelled to do something in response to Moko Rangitoheriri’s death.
“I want to make the point that this is an issue that needs to be looked at further. People come together to march for the TPPA and for environmental causes.
But children are dying. Who is marching for them?”
Actually, Kristina…we did march, in Hamilton 16 years ago after Mereana Edmonds was beaten to death by her mother and her partner. Again…CYFs were told…and did nothing to save this child.
So, we marched, (or wheeled as the case may be) and some of us became foster parents so at least when CYFs did shift their arses and uplift an at risk child…there would be at least one more safe home for them to be loved and cared for while the grown ups got their shit together.
NOTHING has changed.
Yet, we will go and support this new generation of activists….
This is the first time, to my knowledge, that a complaint has been upheld (albeit ‘in part’) against Whale Oil Beef Hooked, by the Online Media Standards Authority.
The complaint was by and about Penny Bright, a 2016 Auckland City Mayoral candidate and the use of a Watercare water meter at her property in Auckland.
The content was headed “Can Penny Bright Explain This?” and was written by Cameron Slater. It made statements about Ms Bright and recent Court action about outstanding rates. It included photographs of Ms Bright’s property and water meter with statements and questions about whether Ms Bright had done something to bypass the property’s water meter.
The majority of the Complaints Committee agreed that the content was opinion, albeit expressed using statements about facts that were controversial and disputed. As the majority agreed the content was opinion, Standard 1- Accuracy did not apply. The Committee also ruled the complaint was not upheld under Standards 2, 5 and 6.
However, the complaint was upheld under Standard 3 – Fairness. The content had focused on Ms Bright and made assumptions based on photographs and information from sources without giving Ms Bright an opportunity to comment prior to publication. The Committee took into account Ms Bright’s candidacy for the 2016 Auckland City Mayoral campaign and her public stance relating to water restrictions but did not consider this was sufficient to justify publication without a right of reply in the public interest.
In summary, the complaint was upheld under Standard 3 Fairness, and not upheld under Standards 1, 2, 5 and 6.
Ruling date: 17 May 2016
Outcome: Upheld, in part
_________________________________________________________________
“On just the one”? How many standards do you expect slater to get away with breaching?
But I agree, his loss to Penny is small compared to being done for his hacking contract, being caught trying to hide behaind the name suppression he denies others, withdrawing an appeal recently, and probably more to come. 2016 certainly seems to be the year that various judicial and regulatory authorities have had quite enough of mr slater…
Slater is an unsavory character by any ones standards, his attack on the Standard is just another example, yet you seem to endorse him, good luck with that, he’s got a lot less integrity than Penny Bright, and a history of character assassination, that’s why he and JK are such good friends.
This is the first time, to my knowledge, that a complaint has been upheld (albeit ‘in part’) against Whale Oil Beef Hooked, by the Online Media Standards Authority.
1) Despite having more proven oil reserves than any other country, Venezuela is now importing oil
2) Inflation in Venezuela is now 720%. The Maduro regime has defaulted on paying for the banknotes it has to have printed abroad
3) Caracas has ranked in the three most dangerous cities in the world for at least the past four years
4) There are shortages of food, toilet paper, medicine and diapers
5) Starving Venezuelans are hunting dogs, cats and pigeons
6) There is collapse of the public health system where even gloves and soap have disappeared from hospitals and cancer treatment is available on the black market
7) Electricity shortages have forced the government to adopt a 2 day working week
8) 13,000 doctors have fled the country over the past 10 years. Cubans sent in to replace them have also defected (700 of them to Colombia)
CV,
What is your evidence that the US is behind it. In fact the BBc journalist on BBC radio reporting on this said he could find no such evidence and he went there specifically looking for it. And if you answer that the BBC is a corrupt US biased organisation I will not regard that as evidence.
Next you will also be saying that are behind the impeachment of Brazil’s President.
To me both cases look like the people of both countries are fed up with incompetence. Not about the US at all.
“Next you will also be saying that are behind the impeachment of Brazil’s President.
To me both cases look like the people of both countries are fed up with incompetence”
so a country fed up with incompetence replaces the president with her assistant and forms a government made up of?……the incompetent members of the existing governing body…..most of whom are under investigation for corruption!
Greek Yanis Varoufakis suggests something different in politics that would lead to better governance in Brazil and all round the world. A UBI?
Yanis Varoufakis’ amazing reframe of Basic income
Yanis Varoufakis produced half-hour video presentation and question-and-answer session. It was an address for the Future of Work Conference, in Zurich, Switzerland, 5th May 2016, at the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute. In this presentation Yanis Varoufakis, totally reframes the concept of how wealth is created in nations and the societies they structure.
He argues for a new view of minimum basic income, not as a safety net to save people who may fall, but a foundation on which people can stand to rise up as productive citizens. His presentation includes the new technological context that for the first time in history, smart machines will eliminate far more jobs than they create. This then, according to Varoufakis, necessitates a basic income for all citizens.
am sure there are better models for SouthAmerica and the rest of the world, my comment was to reflect the fact big US interests fingerprints are all over both Venezuela and Brazil…..guess Wayne forgot to dust.
The BBC yeah right.
Loaded board by Crosby Textor.
Venezuela has been corrupted by American foreign policy for over 100 years nasty murderous dictatorships.
Panama papers show wealthy Venezuelan Bankers taking vast sums out of their economy.
Hell a lot of the soft coups now are not being done by America at all but by the greedy rich 1% who want to suck a lot of the poor but asset rich countries dry.
God help New Zealand if they ever actually find a good commercial pocket of oil here as what is left of our democracy will be gone in a flash with the help of the National Party as they sell us out even more than they have been already.
The corporate raider in the past looked for companies that had a lot of assets but not much working capital. Brought up the companies cheap and then kicked all the employees out of work and sold all the assets for a big quick profit. Companies got wise to that and that is why a lot now don’t own a lot of their own assets but rent building and outsource the manufacture of products to keep themselves asset poor and safe from corporate raiders. Those raider have now spotted a lot of countries are asset rich but capital poor just like the businesses they raided in the past and so are ripe for the picking via buying out the politicians in those countries so they can strip out the assets cheap and sell for a big profit.
Plus look at my arguments with Gosman about this, because the shortages are a outright lie, orchestrated by the opposition. The toilet paper shortage, was a complete con job drummed up by the supermarket industry.
The privatised public health system has collapsed, and about time too. If you don’t understand how the medical system works in Venezuela, might be a good idea you don’t comment on it. When you understand how it works then make coherent comments about it.
I’m shocked you did not bring up police suppression, and shooting of civilians, always the go to for those who get their media from corporate sources.
I’m over this, but I suppose Venezuela is next. Can’t have the people in charge, it’s bad for business.
Well his name wasn’t Rolf Harris obviously, cos Rolf denied the charges, but he’s still in jail though.
Just a thought Instrider, are there no murders or rapists living in NZ?………and how many deny doing any wrong, I know of at least one “prominent” NZer.
You ask if Kelvin will be visiting this innocent, yet the article say’s he admitted the charge, how can you be innocent and admit to the charge, I’m confused, are you sure you know what your on about, or just trying to make stuff up?………..
Stevie Choice and Jonkey moight jis hev ta call in some favours before too long me thinks.
Despite all their attempts at manipulation and spin. there are one or two of those pesky, inconvenient members of the 4th (and prolly 5th) Estate that are beginning to get just a little pissed off with their bullshit and attempts to muzzle.
The Gummint’s shortcomings with its housing policy (is it a policy – or is it just a suck it and see brainfart?) are becoming so fucking obvious to all but the ideologically driven dolt. DPF and CT will be selecting overdrive and wondering whether there is another super slippery oil on the market yet. (Bit of a shame that policy on R & D was fucked). The spin isn’t working here, or in OZ, or in the UK. Seems to me the natives are getting restless.
Then we have those pesky little celeb journalists uncovering the Munstry of Primary Industries shortcomings (going forward).
How DARE they put Nafe Goi on the spot like that! On top of that, there are a couple of half-decent journalists that are on to MPI, it’s CEO and it’s Munster’s case.
I’m thinking to myself….. No amount of Nafe’s learnings going forward would save him – that is, had we had any sort of ethical governance. Desperate as he is to throw his fishals under a bus to save his own cowardly arse, he’s affording himself about as much cred as that very ergly specimen ez the Munster in charge of all things to do with Dirty Filthy Bennies en hearsing, and leopardskins, and general uglyness (going forward)
It seems populist policy, spin, bullshit and a slick suit will only disguise muppetry and complete incompetence for so long
Ekshully, I wuz also thinking …. Nafe might just have to ekshully read that bloody report going forward – Fuck me! what a bloody incinvenience!
David! David! John! John Bro! Cum save me!!!! Maaaate! That bitch Rinny Ryan and that cnut Michaek Morrah are on my case and my petticoat is showing – plus John!!! I never did inhale!!! I promise (going forward), and I rilly rilly loik the loifstyle – plus woifey is “on-board”.
OK Nafe! I got your bek…jiss ez long ez you gone done a bit of work!. How’s about that MPI CEO – Thompson? Can we throw him?
Yea Nah. All cool Bro
Firk!
Ive alreedy rekorded th song. (if ya dont mind me rippin off ya intellectual rights etc)
It skreems blood and guts and truuth and ruth and bruce and all that uther stuff that maakes yr blood boil and yr heart singe and fucks yr neighbores off no end!!!
Yr a master piece ‘once was tim’.
Pure poetree!!!
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Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
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It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
FICTION 1 Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) There’s commercial fiction, like this book, and then there’s quality fiction, quality writers, quality literature; the forthcoming Auckland Writers Festival is full of quality, and ReadingRoom has two tickets to give away to the following events: Paul Lynch (Dublin ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 26 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
You can’t have missed the Gallipoli story as the movies, documentaries, essays and books capture what it was like for New Zealand troops in their eight-month campaign on the Peninsula. But this Anzac Day the Auckland War Memorial Museum has published a book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of the ...
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Asia Pacific Report Chief Mandla Mandela, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has joined the Freedom Flotilla in istanbul as the ships prepare to sail for Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. Mandela is also the ambassador for the Global Campaign to Return to ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
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Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/77578966/joining-the-queue-at-work-and-income-where-no-one-seems-happy
“Go see Work and Income,” said Prime Minister John Key, advising the homeless and unfortunate. We did.”
Tales of misery & despair, kick ’em while they are down.
Stuff should do a comprehensive piece about WINZ and follow up on ‘customers’ who get given incorrect advice and assistance due to the incompetence and attitude that pervades since Pullya stamped her mark on it.
Focus on the humiliation ‘customers’ are put through, the massive screw ups WINZ keep making, the privatisation that’s gone on with all these ‘providers’, the dysfunctional beauracracy Nats have rolled out etc.
I was appalled at the ticket clipping going on in delivering some services to a needy friend. Services that used to be delivered by WINZ direct outsource party now sees WINZ sitting 3 layers back washing their hands….ahh that brighter future.
Huge amount of ticket clipping going on through WINZ now and all it does is channel government money into private hands. It provides no discernible result in getting people jobs or helping them in any way.
And nothing makes my blood boil more than the wage ticket clipping by labour supply companies.
We now have corporates ticket clipping on government contracts, like the print contract for example, where you have companies who are equipment suppliers winning a contract and then outsourcing the production.
It should be illegal.
Should be. IIRC, a few years ago the air-force got their Orions upgraded. Went through the tendering process and an offshore company (either Canadian or US) got the contract. They then subcontracted SafeAirNZ to do the work. SafeAir had also put in a tender but hadn’t won it.
The offshore company was nothing but a ticket clipper siphoning money away from NZ.
Just another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
Although set in the UK, Ken Loach’s new film could easily be a scene at WINZ in New Zealand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLEPQ9FYU0U
Okay, I’ve just found a new movie I absolutely have to watch. Cheers, Paul.
Great news! I thought Jimmy’s Hall ( a true story) was going to be Ken Loach’s last. Have taken note of this new one.
http://www.theguardian.com/film/video/2014/apr/02/jimmys-hall-trailer-ken-loach-film-video
Jimmy’s Hall. A great dvd to get out if you’ve got a rainy weekend ahead.
Another day of moaning and bleating on open mike ?
Wow.
Someone who thinks it’s OK to leave people in the streets and in cars.
Another cruel, greedy and selfish representative of the neo-liberal cult.
SO why have you started the moaning then?
Don’t you give a shit about fellow Kiwis?
Or would you prefer that we talked about the best Nothern Hemisphere beach destinations for a winter get away?
Leave that sheep alone!
another day of stunnedmullets walking around with carrots stuck up their arses
Bugger off then, clearly you need another bump on the head, only slightly stunnedmullet.
you clearly have not read about and policy.
edited
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/80166108/the-tech-school-with-no-teachers
One for the tech heads here.
Sadly our Education system is going in the opposite direction b Waghorn. Testing, testing of knowledge already known. Little boxes. What happened to discovery?
Enough money for a motorway to get to one of the Dear Leader’s holiday homes…..
‘New Zealand Transport Agency has been working on plans to extend the four-lane highway to Warkworth…..’
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/304307/plans-for-auckland-to-whangarei-motorway.
………but not enough to house the citizens of the country.
Just another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMXnBWKLDg0
Sorry Paul, you’ve just pushed one of my buttons.
I live in Auckland, my olds live outside of Warkworth. So I use the Auckland-Warkworth road regularly. Yes, it does need upgrades. It does NOT need an all-new autobahn the Germans would be proud of.
There is a genuine problem at the Hill road intersection in Warkworth, and continuing development along SH1 is causing problems. So a motorway-grade bypass around Warkworth does make sense, essentially along the route proposed for the all-new motorway.
There is a genuine safety problem with the corners at Schedewy’s hill. A short cutting or tunnels to straighten the alignment and provide a continuous passing lane up the hill would eliminate the problem.
There is a minor bottleneck/safety problem at the Pohuehue Viaduct. Doubling up the viaduct is a quick,easy complete fix.
All this could be done for roughly a third the cost of the new autobahn while delivering very nearly all the benefits. Scaling back the work between Puhoi and Warkworth would also allow a much sooner start on the safety problems at Dome Valley and a bypass around the bottleneck at Wellsford further north.
If the traffic volumes ever get high enough to justify it, the rest of that part of SH1 goes through sparsely populated easy terrain that would easily allow widening for more lanes.
The proposed all-new Puhoi-Warkworth motorway is simply a gratuitous waste of money. And ironically, because it will require its users to go a long way north of Warkworth then backtrack south to get to Omaha, it won’t even save Dear Leader significant time on his trips to his bach.
Rant endeth.
+100…who owns the motorway road construction companies ?…who has shares in them?…who is running down rail?…who is getting advice from Goldman Sachs?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11262662
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/treasury-hires-goldman-sachs-run-ruler-over-kiwibank-bd-136461
A note that you cannot create sealed roads without the use of fossil fuels both used in the hot mix which gets put down, and the vehicles needed to prepare and finish the surface.
The machinery and vehicles to prepare and finish the surface can all run electrically, as can the vehicles that run on the finished road. While the bitumen used as a roading material creates all kinds of problems of its own, it contributes very little to climate change.
Even the EV industry don’t make that claim….I have yet to see anyone within the industry claim that heavy trucks and machinery are viable electrically….perhaps you have a link?
I didn’t intend to claim they were viable right now. Because what’s required to make it all work is much more expensive than fossil fuel (with zero cost of emitting GHGs).
But we already have technologies that would make it possible if fossil fuels were no longer available cheaply. Such as quick-change battery packs, inductive charging loops built into roadways.
I’m picking we’d all very quickly find a way to make all-electric transport viable rather than missing out. If we ever get serious about getting off fossil fuels.
electric public transport I agree is already viable (god knows why we are not implementing it)….but with heavy earthmoving /agriculture/transport I suspect hybrid tech and an acceptance of performance restrictions are the best we can hope for in the medium term……and thats ignoring the replacement /production limitations
rapidly getting there by the sound of this:
http://idealog.co.nz/venture/2015/07/q-wrightspeed-founder-ian-wright-electric-trucks-raising-funds-and-problem-going-green
thanks for link and from that there may be a future for heavy machinery powered by stored electricity….question is how rapidly….that interview was last year, how long ago were Tesla at that point with their cars (somewhere between 2003 and 2006 is my guess) and how many of those are on our roads currently?
Yup, the efficiency of electric drive trains either hybrid or battery powered will win out.
https://matter2energy.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/wells-to-wheels-electric-car-efficiency/
http://www.transpowerusa.com/on-road-trucks/
Try telling the Romans that.
Lol…very good…I draw your attention to the following… “an acceptance of performance restrictions are the best we can hope for in the medium term”
and to both Andre and Paul – the most ridiculous aspect of all this, is that currently TNZ is widening the road all the way down the northern side of Brynderwyn – which didn’t need it, and totally leaving alone the south side of the Bryn which is the awkward twisty winding narrow road – which does need some upgrade !! The massive roadworks on either side of the northern part of Bryn is OTT ! Extraordinary ! Seems like a massive waste of money, technology, and whatever else.
I reckon they should have got “Alice” the tunneling machine from Waterview and driven straight through from Atlas Concrete to the Glenmohr road intersection. That would fix everything.
Nice idea but TBM’s are built specifically for only one job. Then the get shipped back broken up and rebuilt for the next job.
Diameter of the cut and the type of rock being cut governs the design of the cutting head.
except for the ones used for Manapouri……still buried there apparently
And Jenny, they’ve been working on that northern side for the last 2 years, with restricted speed and a reduction in lanes, this adds to the transport costs, since very little freight is moved by train. With time and money spent on the Bryn’s over the last 30 years, they could have put a tunnel through and made it much safer.
The roads through most of Northland have been neglected for decades, if you compare vehicle traffic numbers to those on some of the pristine south island roads, it really is a bit of a joke, heck, the road to Cape Reinga had the last 30k’s finally sealed only 7 years ago, its a major tourist destination.
Well, the Grow Northland Rail Campaign has been actively trying to force pollies and others to relook at the issue of Northland transport.
And so they should, the rail link goes all the way through to Kawakawa, but Iv’e never seen a train on it, except for the local steam train ride in Kawakawa on weekends.
Winston was also pushing for development of the rail system into Northland as part of an economic development plan.
Hello Andre, just wondering , what happened too the toll road going that way ?
You mean the SH1 toll motorway from the Grand Drive, Orewa exit to the Johnstone’s Hill tunnels between Waiwera and Puhoi? $2.30 per trip.
I didn’t have much argument with building this bit of road, since it bypassed Orewa and Waiwera, and it would have been quite difficult upgrading the old SH1 since it went over difficult terrain.
Ta, a bit vague on that area I once visited and loved but also made me very sad, a great example of rich and some very poor people.
edit: excuse the use of “great’
That plan to run the motorway through there was in place since the mid 90’s, some of the locals in the back of Waiwera weren’t too happy though, a lot sold and moved.
The Online Media Standards Authority (OMSA) will release its decision on my complaint against posts made about me on Whale Oil Beef Hooked – at 12 noon today, Friday 20 May 2016.
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
GO Penny
+1 Penny.
Cough cough…so it wasn’t Saddam Hussein…it was USA’s friend Saudi Arabia?…in cahoots with what insiders?
‘Americans must know ‘shocking’ details of 9/11 report classified pages – congressmen’
https://www.rt.com/usa/343679-report-classified-saudi-congressmen/
‘9/11 and Iraq: The War’s Greatest Lie’
http://antiwar.com/blog/2013/03/18/911-and-iraq-the-wars-greatest-lie/
( Travellerev you were correct afterall)
Oil Chooky.
Anyone expecting to see an apology from Andrew Little today?
Why, I mean even from my centre-right position I can say Labour have had a good week, the medical marijuana announcement will get them votes and by working with National on the housing issue they’re showing they can put major issues above petty politicking
PR
I have to congratulate you on your balanced comments, a shame more on the right don’t emulate your behavior, and even some on the the left as well.
Thank you, it was the post on The Standard being broken that made me think…I mean I thought I was being non-sexist but that was from my own pov so maybe I was contributing to this site being unfriendly towards women
It also coincided with a post on Whaleoil which I was not happy about (I posted something about it on here but it got edited and fair enough too) because it involved revenge porn and that was way over the line
So then I decided I’d think less about point scoring and being antagonistic and be a bit more positive and see what happens
I mean I still think National will win the next election but that doesn’t change the fact that Labour have had a pretty good week
PR
I recently went to k1w1 blog, and after reading the dribble and constant BS, attacks on the left, and really disgusting behavior, I came to the conclusion that yourself and others (BM) were actually fairly reasonable by comparison, and could understand why you comment here, rather than there.
Everyone has the right to put forward their own point of view, and I’ve noticed a toning down by yourself recently, we may not convert you here, but, hearing both sides of an argument always offers balance.
I put you in the same category as Hone Harawera, where I don’t necessarily agree with what you (or he) have to say, but respect you for your strong commitment to what you believe in, it’s a worthy human trait.
Well I wouldn’t go that far ( I still have a lot of work to do and I’m easily side tracked) but thanks, I guess its that thing about treating others how you yourself want to be treated which is always easier said then done
Yes it is, and were’re all guilty of that.
Stop this fluffing! They’ve finally got his meds right is all.
Expat think about what you just write…
“I recently went to k1w1 blog, and after reading the dribble and constant BS, attacks on the left, and really disgusting behavior,”
I can confirm 100% that Kiwi blog readers have the same opinion of TS.
Its all in the eye of the beholder dear fella.
I suppose it is if you only have one eye, those bloggers over there have no social conscience at all, so no, they’re not the same at all, in this blog here today, where is the attack on the right???…………my point.
No longer puckish or rogue?
Hard to believe and I mean that most sincere.
Its still Puckish because I have a hard time spelling mischievous without auto correct 🙂
I guess I’d like a more pleasant atmosphere for posting (I’ve long thought that most people on here would get along quite well down at the pub) and if I want a more pleasant atmosphere then I suppose have to be more pleasant as well
After a prolonged period of sly provocations and insults, Puckish Rogue wants to be nice.
Nice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRBak_2X3Do
Well tell you what, judge me on my comments over the next few weeks and see if I’m sincere or not
“Well tell you what, judge me on my comments over the next few weeks and combine those with those I’ve made over the past few weeks and see if I’m sincere or not.
Fify and will do!
Also, on a completely unrelated subject, is there a “gardening for dummies”-type book you’d recommend for newbies?
I’ve never gardened and my wife kills everything she plants and we’re going to build a garden in our back yard and I’d like to get hold of a basic easy to follow guide
The Yates guide used to be a general primer. Not sure if it is still published. An old version should still be largely relevant as gardening hasn’t changed that much. If they recommend the use of DDT though you might want to seek some advice 🙂
Compost, shelter from the wind. sun and water.
Fair call.
I’ll try to do my bit 🙂
Start with silver beet , unkillable stuff !
Don’t lose your edge Puckish; the doomies and moisties here need a serve now and then. 😉
“…it was the post on The Standard being broken that made me think…”
Such was the purpose, and your sincere engagement with the thread was noted and appreciated.
In the old days, we used to call it “consciousness raising”.
(and speaking about the blog where real Kiwis hang out…I will have a look now and then to see how the other half lives and am constantly amazed at how popular the comments that are nothing less than hate speech are.)
It must be gratifying to know that what’s posted isn’t always in vain, keep up the good work.
Hows Far Harbour PR? A mate of mine got it last night (mega huge download!) & he said its just like…FO4! But he’s set up his lounge for sleeping he’s not going to move from the game the whole weekend he reckons.
I like it, it finally has a lever action rifle (I like using lever actions) and the setting is quite atmospheric, I’ve only played a couple of hours of it because my employers prefer it when I turn up to work
I’m not going to be doing much this weekend either, I’ll be stocking up at the supermarket and that’ll be me
I actually rate the Bethesda games (from best to least):
Skyrim: the storyline is epic, the music is first rate and I’m a D & D geek from way back
Fallout: New Vegas: the setting and the antagonists were quite enjoyable
Fallout 3: Really good, interesting story and voice casting is really good (Malcolm McDowell in particular)
Fallout 4: The gameplay is an improvement, especially the aiming and the look of the game is better as well but the story just left me a bit…meh (mind you my wife liked the storyline so its probably just me)
However its Fallout 4 which means its still better then most games out there
Sounds sweet, have fun!!!
I will, five minutes until I go home!
“Anyone expecting to see an apology from Andrew Little today?”
I assume you are talking about threats of legal action over comments he made about the owners of a hotel chain.
Can the Labour Party afford to defend a defamation case?
It will be interesting.
I wonder if the Hagamans can stand scrutiny into their finances? Should be very interesting indeed, Mcully been quiet the last month or so, busy setting up other ‘deals’ maybe.
Much as I enjoy political shenanigans I’m predicting this will basically peter out into nothing, as you say the Hagamans probably don’t want too many journalists poking around their business and Andrew Little probably doesn’t want to go to court
Stalemate.
Its nothing to do with “I wonder if the Hagamans can stand scrutiny into their finances?”. Other than the donation is question.
The Hagamans are hoping Little is stupid enough take this to court…which I guess about 40 minutes ago they received Littles response.
This will be fun.
“See you in court” – that’s the message from Scenic Hotel Group founders, the Hagamans, to Labour leader Andrew Little.
Little looks set to face defamation proceedings after ignoring an ultimatum and failing to apologise to the Hagamans.
In a statement from Lani Hagaman she said she would “see Mr Little in court” after he failed to retract and apologise his comments that a Niue resort deal they were awarded “stunk to high heaven”.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/80229406/andrew-little-not-revealing-if-hes-dodged-a-legal-threat-and-apologised
That could be a forerunner of law cases which will be seen after TPPA signing.
A big negative story about the New Zealand’s fishing industry and their quotas has popped up on the BBC News website.
McDonald’s fish: Row over sustainability ‘cover-up’
By Matt McGrath Environment correspondent.
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-36316246
Will we see any real action on this from the National Government, or just a whitewash probe to make out they are doing something about it while our seas are over fished?
Just another whitewash. This government is quite happy with the corrupt practices reported as they generate profit and they just don’t give a shit about the environment. Hell, as the fish stocks decline prices and profits will go up.
If they can’t sell to customers like McDonald’s due to loosing the illusion our current fish stocks are sustainable the price might go down as they will only be able to sell to places that don’t give a damn but will never pay top dollar.
MARCH FOR MOKO
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/80175342/hamilton-will-march-for-moko-on-sunday
“On Sunday, Kiwis will be walking their streets in memory of Moko and in support of cultural change.
Hamilton organiser Katrina Williams felt compelled to do something in response to Moko Rangitoheriri’s death.
“I want to make the point that this is an issue that needs to be looked at further. People come together to march for the TPPA and for environmental causes.
But children are dying. Who is marching for them?”
Actually, Kristina…we did march, in Hamilton 16 years ago after Mereana Edmonds was beaten to death by her mother and her partner. Again…CYFs were told…and did nothing to save this child.
So, we marched, (or wheeled as the case may be) and some of us became foster parents so at least when CYFs did shift their arses and uplift an at risk child…there would be at least one more safe home for them to be loved and cared for while the grown ups got their shit together.
NOTHING has changed.
Yet, we will go and support this new generation of activists….
for these guys….http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/73717177/Special-investigation-New-Zealand-s-shameful-record-of-child-abuse
This is the first time, to my knowledge, that a complaint has been upheld (albeit ‘in part’) against Whale Oil Beef Hooked, by the Online Media Standards Authority.
http://www.omsa.co.nz/decisions/bright-v-whale-oil-beef-hooked-16012/
BrightvWhaleOilBeefHooked(16/012)
Content: “Can Penny Bright Explain This?”
Publisher: Whale Oil Beef Hooked
Complainant: P. Bright
Click here to view full Decision
The complaint was by and about Penny Bright, a 2016 Auckland City Mayoral candidate and the use of a Watercare water meter at her property in Auckland.
The content was headed “Can Penny Bright Explain This?” and was written by Cameron Slater. It made statements about Ms Bright and recent Court action about outstanding rates. It included photographs of Ms Bright’s property and water meter with statements and questions about whether Ms Bright had done something to bypass the property’s water meter.
The majority of the Complaints Committee agreed that the content was opinion, albeit expressed using statements about facts that were controversial and disputed. As the majority agreed the content was opinion, Standard 1- Accuracy did not apply. The Committee also ruled the complaint was not upheld under Standards 2, 5 and 6.
However, the complaint was upheld under Standard 3 – Fairness. The content had focused on Ms Bright and made assumptions based on photographs and information from sources without giving Ms Bright an opportunity to comment prior to publication. The Committee took into account Ms Bright’s candidacy for the 2016 Auckland City Mayoral campaign and her public stance relating to water restrictions but did not consider this was sufficient to justify publication without a right of reply in the public interest.
In summary, the complaint was upheld under Standard 3 Fairness, and not upheld under Standards 1, 2, 5 and 6.
Ruling date: 17 May 2016
Outcome: Upheld, in part
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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…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2G4VvhD4pA
News from the socialist paradise of Venezuela:
1) Despite having more proven oil reserves than any other country, Venezuela is now importing oil
2) Inflation in Venezuela is now 720%. The Maduro regime has defaulted on paying for the banknotes it has to have printed abroad
3) Caracas has ranked in the three most dangerous cities in the world for at least the past four years
4) There are shortages of food, toilet paper, medicine and diapers
5) Starving Venezuelans are hunting dogs, cats and pigeons
6) There is collapse of the public health system where even gloves and soap have disappeared from hospitals and cancer treatment is available on the black market
7) Electricity shortages have forced the government to adopt a 2 day working week
8) 13,000 doctors have fled the country over the past 10 years. Cubans sent in to replace them have also defected (700 of them to Colombia)
Viva la revolution!
This will be the US’s fifth (or is it sixth) soft coup in South/Central America this century. Some of which were run by Obama.
CV,
What is your evidence that the US is behind it. In fact the BBc journalist on BBC radio reporting on this said he could find no such evidence and he went there specifically looking for it. And if you answer that the BBC is a corrupt US biased organisation I will not regard that as evidence.
Next you will also be saying that are behind the impeachment of Brazil’s President.
To me both cases look like the people of both countries are fed up with incompetence. Not about the US at all.
“Next you will also be saying that are behind the impeachment of Brazil’s President.
To me both cases look like the people of both countries are fed up with incompetence”
so a country fed up with incompetence replaces the president with her assistant and forms a government made up of?……the incompetent members of the existing governing body…..most of whom are under investigation for corruption!
Right….nothing to see here….move along.
Greek Yanis Varoufakis suggests something different in politics that would lead to better governance in Brazil and all round the world. A UBI?
Yanis Varoufakis’ amazing reframe of Basic income
Yanis Varoufakis produced half-hour video presentation and question-and-answer session. It was an address for the Future of Work Conference, in Zurich, Switzerland, 5th May 2016, at the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute. In this presentation Yanis Varoufakis, totally reframes the concept of how wealth is created in nations and the societies they structure.
He argues for a new view of minimum basic income, not as a safety net to save people who may fall, but a foundation on which people can stand to rise up as productive citizens. His presentation includes the new technological context that for the first time in history, smart machines will eliminate far more jobs than they create. This then, according to Varoufakis, necessitates a basic income for all citizens.
https://yanisvaroufakis.eu/2016/05/13/review-of-my-talk-basic-income-is-a-necessity-examiner-com/
am sure there are better models for SouthAmerica and the rest of the world, my comment was to reflect the fact big US interests fingerprints are all over both Venezuela and Brazil…..guess Wayne forgot to dust.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHQFh4q4Vwc
The BBC yeah right.
Loaded board by Crosby Textor.
Venezuela has been corrupted by American foreign policy for over 100 years nasty murderous dictatorships.
Panama papers show wealthy Venezuelan Bankers taking vast sums out of their economy.
hi Wayne the new Brazilian president was/is a US intelligence asset, as revealed by wikileaks.
Hell a lot of the soft coups now are not being done by America at all but by the greedy rich 1% who want to suck a lot of the poor but asset rich countries dry.
God help New Zealand if they ever actually find a good commercial pocket of oil here as what is left of our democracy will be gone in a flash with the help of the National Party as they sell us out even more than they have been already.
The corporate raider in the past looked for companies that had a lot of assets but not much working capital. Brought up the companies cheap and then kicked all the employees out of work and sold all the assets for a big quick profit. Companies got wise to that and that is why a lot now don’t own a lot of their own assets but rent building and outsource the manufacture of products to keep themselves asset poor and safe from corporate raiders. Those raider have now spotted a lot of countries are asset rich but capital poor just like the businesses they raided in the past and so are ripe for the picking via buying out the politicians in those countries so they can strip out the assets cheap and sell for a big profit.
That’s interesting NZJester – explains much.
Sight some proof please Richard McGrath.
Do you by any chance mean cite rather than sight?
As you seem to be blinded by your own ideology, the pun was intended.
Plus look at my arguments with Gosman about this, because the shortages are a outright lie, orchestrated by the opposition. The toilet paper shortage, was a complete con job drummed up by the supermarket industry.
The privatised public health system has collapsed, and about time too. If you don’t understand how the medical system works in Venezuela, might be a good idea you don’t comment on it. When you understand how it works then make coherent comments about it.
I’m shocked you did not bring up police suppression, and shooting of civilians, always the go to for those who get their media from corporate sources.
I’m over this, but I suppose Venezuela is next. Can’t have the people in charge, it’s bad for business.
Hmm the left got all in a strop when key Said labour and the greens were siding with murderers and rapists in Australia.
And here from the “whoever would guessed it files” what do you know http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/80200101/Aussie-deportee-pleads-guilty-to-historic-sex-offences
Wonder if Kelvin will be visiting this poor innocent?
Well his name wasn’t Rolf Harris obviously, cos Rolf denied the charges, but he’s still in jail though.
Just a thought Instrider, are there no murders or rapists living in NZ?………and how many deny doing any wrong, I know of at least one “prominent” NZer.
You ask if Kelvin will be visiting this innocent, yet the article say’s he admitted the charge, how can you be innocent and admit to the charge, I’m confused, are you sure you know what your on about, or just trying to make stuff up?………..
Stir shit more likely Expat, prob on the piss again bashing the keyboard in rage & spite, I think he needs a hug.
Sounds like the sort of hug he needs is the one used in the Heimlich maneuver.
Stevie Choice and Jonkey moight jis hev ta call in some favours before too long me thinks.
Despite all their attempts at manipulation and spin. there are one or two of those pesky, inconvenient members of the 4th (and prolly 5th) Estate that are beginning to get just a little pissed off with their bullshit and attempts to muzzle.
The Gummint’s shortcomings with its housing policy (is it a policy – or is it just a suck it and see brainfart?) are becoming so fucking obvious to all but the ideologically driven dolt. DPF and CT will be selecting overdrive and wondering whether there is another super slippery oil on the market yet. (Bit of a shame that policy on R & D was fucked). The spin isn’t working here, or in OZ, or in the UK. Seems to me the natives are getting restless.
Then we have those pesky little celeb journalists uncovering the Munstry of Primary Industries shortcomings (going forward).
How DARE they put Nafe Goi on the spot like that! On top of that, there are a couple of half-decent journalists that are on to MPI, it’s CEO and it’s Munster’s case.
I’m thinking to myself….. No amount of Nafe’s learnings going forward would save him – that is, had we had any sort of ethical governance. Desperate as he is to throw his fishals under a bus to save his own cowardly arse, he’s affording himself about as much cred as that very ergly specimen ez the Munster in charge of all things to do with Dirty Filthy Bennies en hearsing, and leopardskins, and general uglyness (going forward)
It seems populist policy, spin, bullshit and a slick suit will only disguise muppetry and complete incompetence for so long
Ekshully, I wuz also thinking …. Nafe might just have to ekshully read that bloody report going forward – Fuck me! what a bloody incinvenience!
David! David! John! John Bro! Cum save me!!!! Maaaate! That bitch Rinny Ryan and that cnut Michaek Morrah are on my case and my petticoat is showing – plus John!!! I never did inhale!!! I promise (going forward), and I rilly rilly loik the loifstyle – plus woifey is “on-board”.
OK Nafe! I got your bek…jiss ez long ez you gone done a bit of work!. How’s about that MPI CEO – Thompson? Can we throw him?
Yea Nah. All cool Bro
Once Was Tim – this is beautiful stuff…….diction and delivery both perfect. Wonderful for the mind’s eye !
Firk!
Ive alreedy rekorded th song. (if ya dont mind me rippin off ya intellectual rights etc)
It skreems blood and guts and truuth and ruth and bruce and all that uther stuff that maakes yr blood boil and yr heart singe and fucks yr neighbores off no end!!!
Yr a master piece ‘once was tim’.
Pure poetree!!!