Why? She has had a summer recess, as is usual for all previous NZ governments and politicians.
Timing wise, she has not taken a longer break than previous PMs – eg Key.
In fact, she at least spends her summer recess and holiday here in NZ, unlike Key who disappeared off to Hawaii to his condominium there rather than spending his holidays here in NZ, despite being PM. I don’t remember Key spending any of his holidays/breaks from Parliament in NZ.
“She has had a summer recess, as is usual for all previous NZ governments and politicians.”
The PM has been in hiding for longer than a normal ‘summer recess’. My patience for someone who is paid so much to achieve so little is wearing thin.
“I don’t remember Key spending any of his holidays/breaks from Parliament in NZ.”
So what? I can smell the envy on your breath!
“The PM has been in hiding for longer than a normal ‘summer recess’.”
BS – not for NZ Parliament and politicians, In past years, Parliament often used to rise early to mid December and not resumed to end Jan/early Feb, with PMs and MPs drifting back about 20 January onwards – ie exactly as per this year, with Ardern being back on deck since late last week and now in the UK before going on to the EU and the annual Davos meeting.
The last two years, Parliament has not risen until less than a week before Christmas day, and while Parliament is not due to resit until mid Feb this is actually much more practical than starting again in last Jan and then having to break for Waitangi day etc.
Envy on my breath? Again, BS.
I lived, studied and worked overseas for years at a time. And for the first 20 or so years of my career both here and overseas, I traveled continually because of the nature of my work. I actually loved it when I finally changed direction workwise and was able to stay in one place and not have to travel, but could still do so when and if I wanted to.
Oh, and by the way, a lot of the second half of my career was spent working closely in liaison with Parliament, Ministers and their offices, Select Committees etc, including secondments actually working there.
The PM may have been quiet over this period, but I can guarantee that she will still have been kept totally in the picture and briefed by her Parliamentary Office, DPMC, and the various Duty Ministers on deck continually over the period.
Your comments about Key holidaying overseas were pure envy, whatever your protestations. The fact that you have travelled yourself makes them even worse.
As for Ardern, she is a part-time, without the courage to deal with errant ministers, or the savvy to actually achieve anything beyond rhetoric. Her halo has slipped.
Kiwibuild is not the only housing policy. It is also designed to address market failure in providing too many McMansions and not enough entry level houses.
In its first year the government created 1,300 new public housing households.
They must have just about all been planned and contracted by the previous government. The Labour NZ First govt has been in office for 15 months. When is it going to announce the completion of houses that were actually planned and contracted by them?
After 15 months, I would have expected say 1000 houses to be planned and built by this government (as opposed to completing contracts of the previous govt). That is, first contracts let by end March 2018 (giving them 5 months to set things up) with first completions about 4 months later, so end of July.
Has that happened to any extent, by that I mean in the hundreds each month?
Some were built. Many more were leased from the private sector on long term leases and then rented by Housing NZ to their tenants. Labour is continuing that policy since it gets housing into the Housing NZ stock quickly, albeit that it is on a long term lease. Property owners like it because they have a guaranteed rental from the Housing NZ, with Housing NZ doing all the maintenance including damage by tenants.
Property owners like it because they have a guaranteed rental from the Housing NZ, with Housing NZ doing all the maintenance including damage by tenants.
Yes, I’m pretty sure that they do like having a government guaranteed profit.
It’s something that I don’t think should ever happen as all it really does is cost us more.
More free marketeers that use socialism when it suits them then .
“””Property owners like it because they have a guaranteed rental from the Housing NZ, with Housing NZ doing all the maintenance including damage by tenants.”””
It’s baked on. As Jacinda might say “Where National stands, Wayne stands with you”
Or like Mrs Marsh once said “Like this piece of chalk, it really gets in” -supposedly on the basis of research – not unlike that of the tobacco industry in years gone by
Jacinda’s got and excuse though having grown up and only ever experiencing life in the era of the neo-liberal.
We’re kind of running out of labels now though.
What are we going to call the future (going forward)?
Colonilaism / Imperialism – already used
Post-Colonialism ditto
Post-Imperialism sort of implies that it’s not going to be imperialist
Neo-Colonialasm, Neo Imperialism maybe? Post Partum Neo-Colonialism maybe. As Tony Vietch suggests – it probably won’t even matter if we continue deifying fucking old fossils, most of whom are in the early stages of losing their marbles, and/or the nouveau riche
Private ownership of rental stock is, by definition, not socialism. The government deploying private capital to deliver services is a long established practice of mixed market economies that is extremely effective, eg healthcare, education, roading and many more examples.
No it’s not but lining up to get long term leases from the government when most of the owners would be nat voting winner takes all types who hate those below them and resent taxs going to them (just witness the nats opening the year by benny’s bashing for proof) is scabby arsed hypocrisy
How do you know about the voting habits of landlords?
And who’s ‘lining up’. I know people who own property who have approached by HNZ before they even considered making their rentals available to state tenants. As I pointed out, there is a long history of private sector assistance to government in the provision of services. It works well.
A lot of these so called mixed ownership models are socialism for the rich – pocketing subsidies from the taxpayer – e.g the accommodation supplement caused rents to jump by $50 overnight – immediately siphoned off by landlords
Oh I totally agree. That’s what happens when a stupid and naieve government introduces policy based on virtue signalling. Like the Fees Free policy. Wealthy people benefit. But that doesn’t get away from the fact that when properly governed, by a competent government, the mixed model works.
Good point. I don’t recall ever hearing of a govt plan to build more state houses while National was it. But I suspect Wayne’s point was directed at the use by MS of households as a technical term.
Kiwibuild was to achieve housing at a lower price point than the market was delivering due to savings in its buying ability with volume. What is currently happening is that the govt is buying from developers, there is NO savings by buying building materials in bulk.
ps there was housing being provided at the (broken) promised levels of Kiwibuild i.e. $550-600k for a 3-4 bedroom – only issues these new houses were in places like Pokeno, Pukekohe etc
The market “failure” was due to houses being built for the immigration and offshore investors. A new immigrant/investor was purchasing houses $1-1.5m.
Also as an aside all my friends 1st and 2nd townhouses/houses were not new houses. It was not until 3rd-4th house did any build buy new, as new had a premium price over existing.
When government builds state houses it has to pay the whole amount for each one. KiwiBuild recycles private money back into the pot, so it builds more houses for the same money.
The real barrier is this govt’s ‘fiscal cap’ rather than spending what’s actually needed to fix the problem right now.
KiwiBuild recycles private money back into the pot, so it builds more houses for the same money.
There’s no recycling of money. In all cases new money is created. When the government sells a Kiwibuild house all it does is shift who holds the debt. The expanding private debt that we have is likely to result in the collapse of the economy.
The real barrier is this govt’s ‘fiscal cap’ rather than spending what’s actually needed to fix the problem right now.
Under the buying off the plans – The govt doesn’t spend a cent, unless ( the govt who under writes the purchases), there are properties not “picked up” by the ballot would “purchase” and then govt would be outlay the $. Currently the govt is a realestate agent – matching sellers with buyers.
“Currently the govt is a realestate agent – matching sellers with buyers.”
That is correct for the start of the program, but as it goes along the government will be picking up a proportion of the units from the developers since Kiwi Build underwrites or de-risks the construction of very basic dwellings that would otherwise be too hard for our building industry because of the way it operates.
Every house built in NZ is effectively a one off so needs to be quite large and “flash” to amortise the fixed costs. Combine that with most houses being built to maximise re-sale prospects, so being 3 or 4 bedroom, and we get new subdivisions full of McMansions.
Currently KB is working within the building industry, but it sounds like they are looking at changing that, or getting industry participants to adopt different models. This went on in 70’s with Keith Hay, Universal and Neil turning out lots of entry level dwellings very efficiently. We’ve lost that side of the industry.
As the program gets mature there will be unsold units, but that’s the objective, to create surplus supply. I would imagine these would go into the HNZ pool.
So whilst we wait until “the Program gets mature” the social ills continue ?
And what was “promised” talked about pre election is not what is being delivered. 🤥
And now we have the news that the Boss has left. ( I hope that he wasn’t given a “golden handshake” with his resignation )
The Plan is appearing to be less and less managed and more of ….
I guess we know where the racist little shit learnt his bigotry.
The mother of a boy filmed harassing a Native American man along with his friends at a rally in Washington DC has blamed “black Muslims” for the confrontation, without providing any evidence for the claim.
The teenager was among a group of students wearing Make America Great Again (Maga) hats who were criticised for taunting the musician Nathan Phillips, surrounding him and jeering and chanting “build the wall, build the wall”.
But his mother claimed “black Muslims” had been harassing the group of Donald Trump supporters from the private, all-male Covington Catholic High School in Kentucky.
Covington Catholic High School. In Kentucky. The perfect incubator for bigotry and foulness of all kinds. Catholic high schools produced Bill English’s gaybaiting son, Kerre Woodham, Gerry Brownlee, hundreds of terrible Australian politicians, and crybaby Brent Kavanaugh.
There is a much longer video that some what supports what she has said.
The youths were already there long before anyone else as they were waiting on their group to form for the MFL. Whilst waiting they were approached by a couple of members of the Black Israelites (not Muslims she screwed that up). These BI members called them crackers and racists based upon their MAGA apparel ( probably not wrong).
After the BI members left the Native American group marched up to the youths. The youths at that stage were already chanting their school song. The NA group stopped right in front of the young man. They literally moved into his space and he held his ground. This is where the video everyone has seen is cut in. Both groups stand their ground and continue doing exactly what they had been doing before hand.
When cut the way it was and given a narration that the group of young men surrounded the group of NAs it paints a picture that doesn’t actually reflect reality.
I think it was silly of the Catholic School boys to react they way they did as it would always be easy to paint it the way it was. If roles were reversed and this was a group of young activists who stood in front of the MFL and didn’t yield the narrative would have been far more supportive of them.
A group of fundamentalist youngsters crowd an elderly man, get in his face, and deride his heritage with their chanting and tomahawk chop chop gesticulation, but they deserve the benefit of the doubt?
of course they deserve the benefit of the doubt, they are the offspring of that important white working class economic anxiety.
Only they get to surround an elderly men and get to block him for going forwards and backwards, only they get to shout at a native american man, a veteran, an elder to ‘build that wall’.
Its their god given right as being born white with a penis and a ballsack.
All other get to shut the fuck up and do as their told.
If we want to be better than the right who we decry as using lies and miss information to twist a message then we have to be accurate.
They did not surround him. They held their ground when he walked up to them. They did not encircle them. He and the other members of his group walked into their group.
You can agree or disagree with how a bunch of MAGA chuds react to the situation but you can’t change that facts around how the confrontation started just to put out the message you want too.
Be better than the right. Be accurate and make your argument based upon reality or invalidate your point. It is that simple.
You know, that thing where you’re allowed to shoot people if you’re afraid of them for some reason? Oh wait, that was stand your ground. I guess he should be grateful they didn’t shoot him.
Those boys! Scallywags!! But “their ground”? I didn’t know they … had any?
In any case, it would have been polite, Christian even, to give ground to the old fellow; he seemed nice and wasn’t pushy. Youngsters could, ‘sup to them of course, defer to the elders and make them welcome. That stern young man though! Wasn’t he determined and staunch! His steely-eyed resolve to hold his ground has done wonders for the indigenous people’s cause, I reckon 🙂
Plus the young man’s slight smile of satisfaction at showing his power as the untouchable white. (I have a daddy who can beat your daddy if necessary, and you daren’t touch me or I’ll accuse you of assault and have you dealt with.)
Where was the alternative route the Indians could have followed. At one stage the Omaha seemed to move to the left to go round him and he seemed to move also and stand in his way. On either side the other boys, youfs, were hollerin and hootin. I couldn’t see how he could get past and didn’t see that it was the right thing for some young white youf to refuse to move when the group wanted to move forward towards the government building up wide steps where there was room for both groups, if there had been any desire to allow citizen freedom to attend a meeting at a government site.
Bear him no malice @ Joe90. It’s possible the poor bugger might be one of those others – probably ‘a gay’, and there would we be?
Nothing one or two more rounds of ‘counselling’ from his betters can’t fix.
You might like to know @ Morrisey, I’ve kept track of a number of offspring subjected to the perils of the Catholic Church’s idea of producing an ‘all rounder’ through their edification system.
The majority I’ve come across have grown up being right-little ‘fucktards’ – many abused, a few going on to become abusers, and still others becoming politicians whilst clinging to any vestige of respectability they can draw on to resist change and accept all that ‘personal responsibility’ shit
Personal responsibility is for everyone else.
I DO wish Chris Finlayson all the best however in his future endeavours.
BTW. have you ever noticed how much the gNatz resemble the religion (as opposed to the faith)
Most of those that have any degree of compassion and all that kaka instilled in them regard themselves as ‘lapsed’.
But then I guess you could say the same thing about other ‘religiously attached’, Especially among gNatzi’s ranks (Kanwaljit and Parmjeet as just a couple of examples)
But then of course MY (me me me I I I) faith is 100% pure
An Irisher who forgets ‘no dogs or Irish’ has a lot to answer for. I knew a Gay Irish couple who had a big downer on Maori. Subjective ignorance is a great comfort. In the meanwhile. Let alone my Jewish racist client.’ Schwartzes’.
Interesting…the contraceptive pill only includes the 7 day break to keep the Pope happy. I put this information firmly into the ‘Things We Should Have Been Told Earlier’ category…unbelievable that ALL women should be taking a medication in a ‘suboptimal way’ to please the Pope…
However my point being, if it had been an ordinary citizen, with no celebrity/prominent status, do you think his name would be permanently suppressed in the same circumstances? IMHO, I doubt it somehow, as has been the case in similar situations, with names published in media.
Do you see this as being fair? I certainly don’t!
The same laws must apply to all regardless, with no favours due to status or position.
What d’ya reckon? Those on the various sites that have been making implications and insinuations and just plain making stuff up about J Ardern and Sroubek will be into it, doing the same about the ‘media personality’?
Don’t know the name? Well why not resort to the usual, just think of someone you hate and throw around aspersions about them. No names directly of course, just enough to be within the legal limits. Don’t worry about moral ones.
Why is Stephen Mills purporting to speak for “The Left”?
Who on earth chose him for this spot? Richard Griffin? From the Left and From the Right, RNZ National, Monday 21 January 2019
Katherine Ryan, Stephen Mills, Trish Sherson
This Monday morning politics slot has been a basket case for years. The right winger has usually been Matthew Hooton, who has often seized the opportunity to behave like Donald Trump in a beauty contest changing room, or the Waikato Chiefs with a young girl hired for “entertainment”, or that “Unruly Family” in a motel, or the All Blacks when they have a non-referee ignoring everything they do: i.e., he has behaved like a complete prick, secure in the knowledge that little or nothing would be done to curb him.
The problem was not so much Hooton’s swinish misbehaviour; it was the failure of host Katherine Ryan to control him, as well as the tendency of the “Left” person to not only say little or nothing in opposition, but to actually support what Hooton had said. This was never more true than when the “Left” was represented by Paul Holmes’s former high school mate Mike “I Agree With Matthew” Williams. Another notable weakling was the union man Peter Harris.
There have been bright spots, however. Hooton was frequently outpointed and nonplussed by the excellent Andrew Campbell, and was usually reduced to a resentful silence by the much cleverer, far more articulate Laila Harré.
The regular “left” representative on the programme now is Stephen Mills, an Australian who makes you realize just why there’s so little respect for the Labor Party over there. We’ve encountered this fellow before. Three years ago, also in the first edition of this program for the year, Mills sneered at unions as “dinosaurs”, scoffed at the rise of politicians like Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders, and asserted grandly that “most Labour voters in New Zealand would support Hillary Clinton” and would regard a Jeremy Corbyn-style leader as “inappropriate for New Zealand.”
Today, his views remain just as brassy, and just as ill informed. Discussing the Brexit catastrophe and the failure of May in the last election campaign, Mills intoned: “I hold absolutely no brief for Jeremy Corbyn but…” He also speculated on the possiblity of a “sensible centrist coalition” emerging in British politics, whatever that means. Yenta Hodge and Tony Benn’s chickenhawk son allying with sensible Boris perhaps?
In case you were wondering what happened to those intelligent and principled “Left” contributors, the midday news supplied at least one answer: the Prime Minister’s new chief press secretary is ….. Andrew Campbell.
Things get even more dismal this afternoon, by the way. Wallace Chapman’s guests on the “new look”, “refreshed”, “revamped” Panel are Michelle Boag and…. Mike Williams. An interesting exercise for anyone who can stand listening to it would be to count the number of times Williams says “I agree with Michelle.”
A nifty appraisal of RNZ’s traditional lame-brain approach to politics. I only disagree on a couple of points. Mike Williams is a sensible centrist who I usually find myself agreeing with. I get that you self-identify as more partisan than him. Nothing wrong with sharing common ground with the opposition though, as long as it is reciprocated.
I agree that Laila Harré is articulate. I could even have agreed she’s perceptive. Clever, though, just made me smile. Not a snowball’s chance in hell!!
I usually listen to The Panel and have found it much more interesting now that Wallace Chapman is the host. It will be interesting to see how he copes/deals with Michelle Boag and Mike Williams (while internally shuddering at the thought of that woman will be muttering).
I agree, although I’m waiting until I can afford the lugsury of a smashed avocado on toast with a hint of bacon on the side, complete with a little sea salt and white pepper, perhaps even with some boutique Wairarapa Olive Oil splattering before I feel more confident to comment.
Do you worry about Sunday mornings though? I’ve already planned mine. From now on, they’ll have to be an early morning to the Te Papa market, and then off to a Subway to indulge in some Lambie on rye.
RNZ listenings going forward, will probably be ditched in favour of some publicly-funded, privately-produced effort at current fears like the Nayshun where future media stars are built.
OWT
Will the listenings have commensurate learnings?
Will the current fears mention past regrets?
Do we get the option to say ‘Nay’ and ‘shun’ the stars?
Oil-wise – when does a drizzle become a splatter?
I’m not sure yet @ AB. I’m still trying to interpret my wonderings although I’m closely monitoring the utterings of the @ Waynes and a couple of Paganies (until recently I admit to having confused with a couple of Panines’s trying to negotiate a SUV along a Kapiti Highway – no doubt one of whom was on her way to some gorgeous media engagement to offer some words of wisdom ‘from the left’)
Mike Williams is a sensible centrist who I usually find myself agreeing with.
Fair comment, Dennis. He’s actually a lot tougher than I made him sound. I’ve seen him on a couple of occasions really dealing to a young and vacuous National Party woman on television, and when he decides to challenge Hooton rather than find bogus “common ground” with him, he’s formidable. I agree with a lot of what he says. I’m just disappointed when he takes the easy option of agreeing magnanimously with the likes of Hooton and Boag.
I get that you self-identify as more partisan than him.
I’m not at all partisan. Mike Williams is the former president of the Labour Party.
Nothing wrong with sharing common ground with the opposition though, as long as it is reciprocated.
That’s the problem though. Hooton and Boag concede nothing, ever. The only concession either of them ever makes is when they lapse into a seething, angry silence. Boag was memorably driven into a black funk when Bomber Bradbury asked her to tell the listeners which rich people were going to leave New Zealand, as she claimed, if the rich were taxed slightly more.
Stephen Mills makes the demo-cracy that courses through my veins desiccate into dust. Thanks Richard Griffen, you did your job well. Of course you won’t meet your pa in the heaven of the good intentioned. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy … til then. Never liked any of that welfare state generation who put their anti-bureaucraticism before the people’s interests.
As another human being I have sympathy for Cameron Slater. He has had two strokes and will be seriously impaired. Whatever he hoped to achieve will be curtailed. Hope he and his family manage his recovery well.
Whilst I have every sympathy for someone who has had a stroke, Slater has form for pulling a sickie when things turn against him and blaming his illness on everyone that has conspired against him…
Soooo…
There is every possibility he hasn’t had a stroke, merely a debilitating intrusion of reality via the courts.
I’ve never come across a cunt nursing a stroke before. I wonder what it looks like.
West Coaster feral maybe?
Maybe there is such a thing as karma so I’ll be ready to convert next time I head offshore to the lands of the less fortunate
Agreed @ James. I’m certainly disgusted with allowing myself to have had one. Never fear though, I’ve had learnings about personal responsibility and it won’t happen again – I have an obligation to the taxpayer to make sure it doesn’t.
Regardless of Cameron Slater’s murky history of knocking people when they are down and out, as well as indulging in dirty politics, there is no need to be so mean spirited, by calling a stroke justice!
I have no time for Slater whatsoever. However if he has suffered two strokes, then I hope he manages to come through OK with plenty of support. Time will tell what the outcome will be one way or the other.
…..conversation today with an “Ex Pat”: an English Migrant in NZ. He had picked up from FB or talkback…..
“Jacinda Arder is hi-tailing off to Europe because NZ cannot export to EU anymore when England Brexits. ”
Why, I hear you ask.
“Because NZ sells to Europe via England because we are part of the Commonwealth. With England out of the EU etc etc…. and therefore we shouldn’t be taking the piss out England over Brexit. ”
Once the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance have finished at Davos, they would do well to consider the Oxfam report on the rapid sucking sound of wealth from the many who had a little bit, to the tiny few who have almost all of it now:
“Graeme Hart has amassed a US$10.1 billion ($14.98b) fortune, while Chandler has $2.1b, she said.
The report reveals their collective wealth increased by NZ$1.1b while the poorest 50 per cent of New Zealand’s population decreased their wealth by NZ$1.3b.
Other stark facts show the top 5 per cent has more wealth – 45 per cent – than the bottom 90 per cent – 42 per cent, while the top 1 per cent of the population has 25 per cent of all wealth in New Zealand.
Le Mesurier said they were focussing on the issue of appropriately taxing wealth in New Zealand, not income tax on everyday Kiwis.
“One of the key things we can do to tackle inequality here and across the world is to tax wealth more. Our taxes pay for schools, hospitals and infrastructure … across the world, rich multinational corporations and extremely wealthy individuals are not paying their fair share.”
Oxfam was now waiting to see what Michael Cullen’s Tax Working Group final report will come up with when it’s released in the next month or two.”
There’s nothing like the previous Christmas bills and the fresh welter of bills that accompany a new year and going to school and university and new rental accommodation to recognise how far and how fast families left right and centre of you are falling down, far away from any actual wealth progression.
This is the year for the Labour-led coalition to redistribute and grow common wealth , not for the few remaining accumulators.
Kia ora the am show It’s about time that climate change is finally getting through trumps blocking tack tick from his puppets on the worlds media in Davos the reality is finally being talked about CLIMATE CHANGE. There you go backing another attack on the tangata whenua population as half the people in jail are maori and if you are maori once the unjustice system gets its CLAWS into a maori IT never lets you go. Alt right policy minaority suppression backed by the am show thats how someone floated his toilet . A spray tan does not make one MAORI paula Back at you on your Jamie statement. Aotearoa cannot point the finger at other countrys breaches of human rights when they are breaching there tangata whenua/minority cultures rights every minute of the day. Yes our Pacific Island Cousin’s are suffering the effect’s of sea level rise caused by climate change global warming NOW.
I no of a accountant who tryed to put forestry worker’s on a contracted self employment system she soon back tracked I told the employer he could not do that because he would be loading his worker’s with tax responsibilitys they did not understand ie they would not pay there tax’s correctly and end up bankrupt . Being on a selfemployed contract only suit’s the wealthy. The wealthy look for anyway to make a profit weather it causes hardship on other’s or not.
This goverment is doing more on climate change that paula did they were the climate wrecking goverment national were shonky carbon credit’s forest clearing goverment before they got into power we had forest that took a hour to drive through now lucky to be 5 minutes blink and one will miss the trees on SH5 Talking about your flash holidays and putting a boot into the common poor people 50 % of people can not afford a holiday if we did we could not pay the bills if we stopped working for 2 weeks .
Ka kite ano
I say we are just Guardian of the whenua/ land and awa/rivers tangaroa/ seas .
A responsible will society guarantee that when we pass the land rivers and sea’s on to our grandchildren it be as good or better than when we inherited it thats not What is happening at the minute . We are making a big mess of the grandchildrens future. cut that dumb shit out
The pipeline plan that will drain the lower Darling River dry
‘If you think this is bad,’ say locals of recent mass fish kills, ‘just wait until the Menindee Lakes project goes ahead’
On the banks of the Darling, near Menindee, two grown men are fighting back tears.
It’s a week on from the fish kill that saw hundreds of thousands of fish die near their small town, including Murray cod that were estimated to be about 70 years old. These fish had survived the millennium drought of the late 1990s. Yet here they are dying.
Each morning Graeme McCrabb and his mates patrol the river banks, looking for signs that another catastrophic event is about to occur – an event they argue is man-made.
Last week Guardian Australia visited Menindee where we spent hours by a large waterhole which is all that remains at this point of the sometimes mighty Darling, Australia’s longest river.
Temperatures are forecast to be over 40C again this week and there is sense of foreboding as the river levels continue to dwindle, the water an ugly shade of bright green due to algal blooms.
“I am gutted,” says McCrabb as we watch a large cod floating in the middle of the river, dead.
“We were here when it came to the surface, We watched it die.”
This is the biggest environmental catastrophe in the history of the river
Graeme McCrabb
“That one’s in trouble too,” he says pointing to a large fish which turns on its side, flashing its white belly, tail languidly flicking in an effort to right itself.
Four enormous cod, each about 80cm in length, rest near a shallow sandbank at the lip of the pool, trying to catch the more oxygenated water from the almost imperceptible flow into it.
They hardly move. This is extremely unusual behaviour for these native fish, which are classified as a vulnerable species.
“This is the biggest environmental catastrophe in the history of the river, and no one is here. It beggars belief,” says McCrabb of the lack of visits by any one from the federal government or the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) . The NSW minister responsible for fisheries, Niall Blair did visit, but toured the river by boat and did not meet locals, citing safety concerns.
McCrabb’s friend Paul Grose is close to tears. “I am passionate about the cod. They’re just a beautiful fish,” he says. He wants to mount a rescue mission, and move them to a larger body of water, but neither man is sure the fish will survive.
Menindee, too, is becoming endangered.
For the Indigenous people along this stretch of the river, the Barka, the concept of a drier river, flowing less frequently, is devastating.
Literally “the river people”, the Barka have been granted native title along the river and co-manage Kinchega National park. But they are watching their land die around them.
It could also challenge the very existence of towns like Pooncarie, population 150, 130km south of Menindee on the lower Darling. A hundred years ago it was a river port but now survives as a tourist town and a fishing spot.
“It certainly affects us in so far as fishing,” says the owner of the Port Pitstop, Val Kitson, as she watches the river dwindle.
“We still have travellers go through, we still have locals and the school’s about to reopen so that’s a bonus for us,” she says
“But we don’t have fishermen up here or campers. Over Christmas there was no one here.”
Walgett’s water crisis: NSW considers options after ‘concerning’ sodium levels found
Read more
The fish kill was the last straw.
“A little town like this that relies on tourism, fishing,” says Mouse, one of the locals at the pub. “It going to kill us,” he says of the Menindee plan.
“It’s an utter shame, it’s wrong,” Kitson adds. Ka kite ano links below
Its quite easy to see that all human kinds ill’s can be linked to unequal wealth distrubution if they would give half there money the world will be a much better place.
The top 26 billionaires own $1.4 trillion — as much as 3.8 billion other people
(CNN Business)The world’s billionaires are growing $2.5 billion richer every day, while the poorest half of the global population is seeing its net worth dwindle.
Billionaires, who now number a record 2,208, have more wealth than ever before, according to an Oxfam International report published Monday. Since the global financial crisis a decade ago, the number of billionaires has nearly doubled.
The annual study was released ahead of the yearly World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, which brings together some of the wealthiest and most influential people on Earth. The 106-page report is meant to call attention to the growing gap between rich and poor.
The combined fortunes of the world’s 26 richest individuals reached $1.4 trillion last year — the same amount as the total wealth of the 3.8 billion poorest people.
ost of these mega-wealthy are American, according to the Forbes list of billionaires used by Oxfam. The names include Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Microsoft’s Bill Gates, Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, who collectively are worth $357 billion, according to Forbes.
Oxfam recommends that nations tax wealth at fairer levels, raise rates on personal income and corporate taxes and eliminate tax avoidance by companies and the super-rich. It also advocates providing universal free health care, education and other public services — and ensuring that women and girls also benefit. And it suggests investing in public services — including water, electricity and childcare — to free up women’s time and limit the number of unpaid hours they work. link below ka kite ano
Kia ora Newshub condolences to the people who were injured in the slip at Cape Kidnappers use to dive off their it was awesome watching the gannets diving.
The capitalist conman is going hard in NZ the Poutama trade training con those people have prayed on the young minority cultures. Its cool that Jacinda is on the Davos stage with David Attenborough and Al Gore. You see the alt right oil barons puppets distractions is working with Britain America and France not at that world meeting that main topic is about fighting climate change. Condolences to the whanua of the soccer player Sala who’s plane went down in the English Channel on his way to start his new job English Premier league.
I think that a do it yourself cervical cancer smear test is good I see all the invasive test my partner goes through and feel sorry for her.
Hopefully puddles the chiwawa dog is found. Ka kite ano
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
Chris Trotter writes – Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…Gary Judd KC writes – I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
Is the economy in another long stagnation? If so, why?This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be ...
The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
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. ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
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Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,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, Tuesday 7 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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Ardern in the Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/01/20/whatever-britain-decides-new-place-world-new-zealand-stands/
Long as she doesn’t say: “Where she goes, we go.”
Let May be consumed in the conflagration she was stupid enough to encourage.
Is that where she is. We were beginning to wonder.
Why? She has had a summer recess, as is usual for all previous NZ governments and politicians.
Timing wise, she has not taken a longer break than previous PMs – eg Key.
In fact, she at least spends her summer recess and holiday here in NZ, unlike Key who disappeared off to Hawaii to his condominium there rather than spending his holidays here in NZ, despite being PM. I don’t remember Key spending any of his holidays/breaks from Parliament in NZ.
“She has had a summer recess, as is usual for all previous NZ governments and politicians.”
The PM has been in hiding for longer than a normal ‘summer recess’. My patience for someone who is paid so much to achieve so little is wearing thin.
“I don’t remember Key spending any of his holidays/breaks from Parliament in NZ.”
So what? I can smell the envy on your breath!
“The PM has been in hiding for longer than a normal ‘summer recess’.”
BS – not for NZ Parliament and politicians, In past years, Parliament often used to rise early to mid December and not resumed to end Jan/early Feb, with PMs and MPs drifting back about 20 January onwards – ie exactly as per this year, with Ardern being back on deck since late last week and now in the UK before going on to the EU and the annual Davos meeting.
The last two years, Parliament has not risen until less than a week before Christmas day, and while Parliament is not due to resit until mid Feb this is actually much more practical than starting again in last Jan and then having to break for Waitangi day etc.
Envy on my breath? Again, BS.
I lived, studied and worked overseas for years at a time. And for the first 20 or so years of my career both here and overseas, I traveled continually because of the nature of my work. I actually loved it when I finally changed direction workwise and was able to stay in one place and not have to travel, but could still do so when and if I wanted to.
Oh, and by the way, a lot of the second half of my career was spent working closely in liaison with Parliament, Ministers and their offices, Select Committees etc, including secondments actually working there.
The PM may have been quiet over this period, but I can guarantee that she will still have been kept totally in the picture and briefed by her Parliamentary Office, DPMC, and the various Duty Ministers on deck continually over the period.
Wow I have touched a nerve.
Your comments about Key holidaying overseas were pure envy, whatever your protestations. The fact that you have travelled yourself makes them even worse.
As for Ardern, she is a part-time, without the courage to deal with errant ministers, or the savvy to actually achieve anything beyond rhetoric. Her halo has slipped.
Where’s ponyboy at the moment shadders?
I have mentioned this previously “Get Housing sorted Out” and many other problems vanish
“Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni said demand for hardship grants was related to the cost of housing.”
So why does the government WASTE its time and energies with Kiwibuild when enlarging the State housing portfolio helps those in REAL need.
Kiwibuild is not to help the poor But to collect votes from the middle.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/10/30/surprise-surprise-kiwibuild-is-for-the-children-of-the-white-middle-classes/
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/380435/government-benefits-still-not-enough-a-poverty-action-group-says
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12192463
Kiwibuild is not the only housing policy. It is also designed to address market failure in providing too many McMansions and not enough entry level houses.
In its first year the government created 1,300 new public housing households.
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/1300-more-households-public-housing
They must have just about all been planned and contracted by the previous government. The Labour NZ First govt has been in office for 15 months. When is it going to announce the completion of houses that were actually planned and contracted by them?
After 15 months, I would have expected say 1000 houses to be planned and built by this government (as opposed to completing contracts of the previous govt). That is, first contracts let by end March 2018 (giving them 5 months to set things up) with first completions about 4 months later, so end of July.
Has that happened to any extent, by that I mean in the hundreds each month?
[citation needed]
All I can recall National saying about state housing was that they were selling them off. Certainly nothing about building any.
Some were built. Many more were leased from the private sector on long term leases and then rented by Housing NZ to their tenants. Labour is continuing that policy since it gets housing into the Housing NZ stock quickly, albeit that it is on a long term lease. Property owners like it because they have a guaranteed rental from the Housing NZ, with Housing NZ doing all the maintenance including damage by tenants.
[citation needed]
Yes, I’m pretty sure that they do like having a government guaranteed profit.
It’s something that I don’t think should ever happen as all it really does is cost us more.
More free marketeers that use socialism when it suits them then .
“””Property owners like it because they have a guaranteed rental from the Housing NZ, with Housing NZ doing all the maintenance including damage by tenants.”””
It’s baked on. As Jacinda might say “Where National stands, Wayne stands with you”
Or like Mrs Marsh once said “Like this piece of chalk, it really gets in” -supposedly on the basis of research – not unlike that of the tobacco industry in years gone by
Jacinda’s got and excuse though having grown up and only ever experiencing life in the era of the neo-liberal.
We’re kind of running out of labels now though.
What are we going to call the future (going forward)?
Colonilaism / Imperialism – already used
Post-Colonialism ditto
Post-Imperialism sort of implies that it’s not going to be imperialist
Neo-Colonialasm, Neo Imperialism maybe? Post Partum Neo-Colonialism maybe. As Tony Vietch suggests – it probably won’t even matter if we continue deifying fucking old fossils, most of whom are in the early stages of losing their marbles, and/or the nouveau riche
Private ownership of rental stock is, by definition, not socialism. The government deploying private capital to deliver services is a long established practice of mixed market economies that is extremely effective, eg healthcare, education, roading and many more examples.
No it’s not but lining up to get long term leases from the government when most of the owners would be nat voting winner takes all types who hate those below them and resent taxs going to them (just witness the nats opening the year by benny’s bashing for proof) is scabby arsed hypocrisy
How do you know about the voting habits of landlords?
And who’s ‘lining up’. I know people who own property who have approached by HNZ before they even considered making their rentals available to state tenants. As I pointed out, there is a long history of private sector assistance to government in the provision of services. It works well.
A lot of these so called mixed ownership models are socialism for the rich – pocketing subsidies from the taxpayer – e.g the accommodation supplement caused rents to jump by $50 overnight – immediately siphoned off by landlords
Oh I totally agree. That’s what happens when a stupid and naieve government introduces policy based on virtue signalling. Like the Fees Free policy. Wealthy people benefit. But that doesn’t get away from the fact that when properly governed, by a competent government, the mixed model works.
Good point. I don’t recall ever hearing of a govt plan to build more state houses while National was it. But I suspect Wayne’s point was directed at the use by MS of households as a technical term.
Yes dear
“Kiwibuild is not the only housing policy.”
More needs to be done on improving infrastructure. Such as extending rail to the outer regions where housing is far cheaper.
Kiwibuild was to achieve housing at a lower price point than the market was delivering due to savings in its buying ability with volume. What is currently happening is that the govt is buying from developers, there is NO savings by buying building materials in bulk.
ps there was housing being provided at the (broken) promised levels of Kiwibuild i.e. $550-600k for a 3-4 bedroom – only issues these new houses were in places like Pokeno, Pukekohe etc
The market “failure” was due to houses being built for the immigration and offshore investors. A new immigrant/investor was purchasing houses $1-1.5m.
Also as an aside all my friends 1st and 2nd townhouses/houses were not new houses. It was not until 3rd-4th house did any build buy new, as new had a premium price over existing.
When government builds state houses it has to pay the whole amount for each one. KiwiBuild recycles private money back into the pot, so it builds more houses for the same money.
The real barrier is this govt’s ‘fiscal cap’ rather than spending what’s actually needed to fix the problem right now.
Indeed, Sacha.
There’s no recycling of money. In all cases new money is created. When the government sells a Kiwibuild house all it does is shift who holds the debt. The expanding private debt that we have is likely to result in the collapse of the economy.
True.
Under the buying off the plans – The govt doesn’t spend a cent, unless ( the govt who under writes the purchases), there are properties not “picked up” by the ballot would “purchase” and then govt would be outlay the $. Currently the govt is a realestate agent – matching sellers with buyers.
“Currently the govt is a realestate agent – matching sellers with buyers.”
That is correct for the start of the program, but as it goes along the government will be picking up a proportion of the units from the developers since Kiwi Build underwrites or de-risks the construction of very basic dwellings that would otherwise be too hard for our building industry because of the way it operates.
Every house built in NZ is effectively a one off so needs to be quite large and “flash” to amortise the fixed costs. Combine that with most houses being built to maximise re-sale prospects, so being 3 or 4 bedroom, and we get new subdivisions full of McMansions.
Currently KB is working within the building industry, but it sounds like they are looking at changing that, or getting industry participants to adopt different models. This went on in 70’s with Keith Hay, Universal and Neil turning out lots of entry level dwellings very efficiently. We’ve lost that side of the industry.
As the program gets mature there will be unsold units, but that’s the objective, to create surplus supply. I would imagine these would go into the HNZ pool.
So whilst we wait until “the Program gets mature” the social ills continue ?
And what was “promised” talked about pre election is not what is being delivered. 🤥
And now we have the news that the Boss has left. ( I hope that he wasn’t given a “golden handshake” with his resignation )
The Plan is appearing to be less and less managed and more of ….
The problem with Labour since 84.
I guess we know where the racist little shit learnt his bigotry.
The mother of a boy filmed harassing a Native American man along with his friends at a rally in Washington DC has blamed “black Muslims” for the confrontation, without providing any evidence for the claim.
The teenager was among a group of students wearing Make America Great Again (Maga) hats who were criticised for taunting the musician Nathan Phillips, surrounding him and jeering and chanting “build the wall, build the wall”.
But his mother claimed “black Muslims” had been harassing the group of Donald Trump supporters from the private, all-male Covington Catholic High School in Kentucky.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/maga-hat-donald-trump-native-american-covington-catholic-nathan-phillips-black-muslims-a8737186.html
Covington Catholic High School. In Kentucky. The perfect incubator for bigotry and foulness of all kinds. Catholic high schools produced Bill English’s gaybaiting son, Kerre Woodham, Gerry Brownlee, hundreds of terrible Australian politicians, and crybaby Brent Kavanaugh.
They do some good, as well, it must be said.
Young people radicalised in religious schools….sounds familiar…
There is a much longer video that some what supports what she has said.
The youths were already there long before anyone else as they were waiting on their group to form for the MFL. Whilst waiting they were approached by a couple of members of the Black Israelites (not Muslims she screwed that up). These BI members called them crackers and racists based upon their MAGA apparel ( probably not wrong).
After the BI members left the Native American group marched up to the youths. The youths at that stage were already chanting their school song. The NA group stopped right in front of the young man. They literally moved into his space and he held his ground. This is where the video everyone has seen is cut in. Both groups stand their ground and continue doing exactly what they had been doing before hand.
When cut the way it was and given a narration that the group of young men surrounded the group of NAs it paints a picture that doesn’t actually reflect reality.
I think it was silly of the Catholic School boys to react they way they did as it would always be easy to paint it the way it was. If roles were reversed and this was a group of young activists who stood in front of the MFL and didn’t yield the narrative would have been far more supportive of them.
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2019/01/20/covington-catholic-incident-indigenous-peoples-march-longer-video/2630930002/
edit *The Black Isrealites were still there and the Native American is saying he placed himself there to diffuse the situation.*
A group of fundamentalist youngsters crowd an elderly man, get in his face, and deride his heritage with their chanting and tomahawk chop chop gesticulation, but they deserve the benefit of the doubt?
Nah.
of course they deserve the benefit of the doubt, they are the offspring of that important white working class economic anxiety.
Only they get to surround an elderly men and get to block him for going forwards and backwards, only they get to shout at a native american man, a veteran, an elder to ‘build that wall’.
Its their god given right as being born white with a penis and a ballsack.
All other get to shut the fuck up and do as their told.
Well they had a point – I reckon Native Americans should have built a wall about 500 years ago.
As for ballsacks see this on Football hooligans
If we want to be better than the right who we decry as using lies and miss information to twist a message then we have to be accurate.
They did not surround him. They held their ground when he walked up to them. They did not encircle them. He and the other members of his group walked into their group.
You can agree or disagree with how a bunch of MAGA chuds react to the situation but you can’t change that facts around how the confrontation started just to put out the message you want too.
Be better than the right. Be accurate and make your argument based upon reality or invalidate your point. It is that simple.
“held their ground”???
You know, that thing where you’re allowed to shoot people if you’re afraid of them for some reason? Oh wait, that was stand your ground. I guess he should be grateful they didn’t shoot him.
Those boys! Scallywags!! But “their ground”? I didn’t know they … had any?
In any case, it would have been polite, Christian even, to give ground to the old fellow; he seemed nice and wasn’t pushy. Youngsters could, ‘sup to them of course, defer to the elders and make them welcome. That stern young man though! Wasn’t he determined and staunch! His steely-eyed resolve to hold his ground has done wonders for the indigenous people’s cause, I reckon 🙂
Plus the young man’s slight smile of satisfaction at showing his power as the untouchable white. (I have a daddy who can beat your daddy if necessary, and you daren’t touch me or I’ll accuse you of assault and have you dealt with.)
Where was the alternative route the Indians could have followed. At one stage the Omaha seemed to move to the left to go round him and he seemed to move also and stand in his way. On either side the other boys, youfs, were hollerin and hootin. I couldn’t see how he could get past and didn’t see that it was the right thing for some young white youf to refuse to move when the group wanted to move forward towards the government building up wide steps where there was room for both groups, if there had been any desire to allow citizen freedom to attend a meeting at a government site.
Bear him no malice @ Joe90. It’s possible the poor bugger might be one of those others – probably ‘a gay’, and there would we be?
Nothing one or two more rounds of ‘counselling’ from his betters can’t fix.
Very good point.
They’ll start cutting off heads any minute now joey.
I daresay they’ll stick to harassing and intimidating pregnant women.
But hey, plenty of time for them to move on and up to fire bombing abortion clinics and murdering doctors.
You might like to know @ Morrisey, I’ve kept track of a number of offspring subjected to the perils of the Catholic Church’s idea of producing an ‘all rounder’ through their edification system.
The majority I’ve come across have grown up being right-little ‘fucktards’ – many abused, a few going on to become abusers, and still others becoming politicians whilst clinging to any vestige of respectability they can draw on to resist change and accept all that ‘personal responsibility’ shit
Personal responsibility is for everyone else.
I DO wish Chris Finlayson all the best however in his future endeavours.
BTW. have you ever noticed how much the gNatz resemble the religion (as opposed to the faith)
Most of those that have any degree of compassion and all that kaka instilled in them regard themselves as ‘lapsed’.
But then I guess you could say the same thing about other ‘religiously attached’, Especially among gNatzi’s ranks (Kanwaljit and Parmjeet as just a couple of examples)
But then of course MY (me me me I I I) faith is 100% pure
An Irisher who forgets ‘no dogs or Irish’ has a lot to answer for. I knew a Gay Irish couple who had a big downer on Maori. Subjective ignorance is a great comfort. In the meanwhile. Let alone my Jewish racist client.’ Schwartzes’.
Interesting…the contraceptive pill only includes the 7 day break to keep the Pope happy. I put this information firmly into the ‘Things We Should Have Been Told Earlier’ category…unbelievable that ALL women should be taking a medication in a ‘suboptimal way’ to please the Pope…
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/01/19/contraceptive-pill-can-taken-every-day-month-new-nhs-guidance/
https://www.pressreader.com/
Ouch.
https://twitter.com/ManInTheHoody/status/1087107499646308358
Media personality walks free after serious assault charges are dropped. Also gets permanent name suppression despite outcome! WTF!
One law for us and another law for “them” it seems.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12189960
As no evidence was offered to prove guilt – what’s wrong with this.
Do you think people should be convicted and named / shamed with no evidence offered?
Let me get back to you about that. I’ll check with Michelle Duff @Stuff.
James (6.1) Of course not.
However my point being, if it had been an ordinary citizen, with no celebrity/prominent status, do you think his name would be permanently suppressed in the same circumstances? IMHO, I doubt it somehow, as has been the case in similar situations, with names published in media.
Do you see this as being fair? I certainly don’t!
The same laws must apply to all regardless, with no favours due to status or position.
So you see this as the correct outcome – but it should have been applied to others?
Sports opinionist, perchance?
What d’ya reckon? Those on the various sites that have been making implications and insinuations and just plain making stuff up about J Ardern and Sroubek will be into it, doing the same about the ‘media personality’?
Don’t know the name? Well why not resort to the usual, just think of someone you hate and throw around aspersions about them. No names directly of course, just enough to be within the legal limits. Don’t worry about moral ones.
Why is Stephen Mills purporting to speak for “The Left”?
Who on earth chose him for this spot? Richard Griffin?
From the Left and From the Right, RNZ National, Monday 21 January 2019
Katherine Ryan, Stephen Mills, Trish Sherson
This Monday morning politics slot has been a basket case for years. The right winger has usually been Matthew Hooton, who has often seized the opportunity to behave like Donald Trump in a beauty contest changing room, or the Waikato Chiefs with a young girl hired for “entertainment”, or that “Unruly Family” in a motel, or the All Blacks when they have a non-referee ignoring everything they do: i.e., he has behaved like a complete prick, secure in the knowledge that little or nothing would be done to curb him.
The problem was not so much Hooton’s swinish misbehaviour; it was the failure of host Katherine Ryan to control him, as well as the tendency of the “Left” person to not only say little or nothing in opposition, but to actually support what Hooton had said. This was never more true than when the “Left” was represented by Paul Holmes’s former high school mate Mike “I Agree With Matthew” Williams. Another notable weakling was the union man Peter Harris.
There have been bright spots, however. Hooton was frequently outpointed and nonplussed by the excellent Andrew Campbell, and was usually reduced to a resentful silence by the much cleverer, far more articulate Laila Harré.
The regular “left” representative on the programme now is Stephen Mills, an Australian who makes you realize just why there’s so little respect for the Labor Party over there. We’ve encountered this fellow before. Three years ago, also in the first edition of this program for the year, Mills sneered at unions as “dinosaurs”, scoffed at the rise of politicians like Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders, and asserted grandly that “most Labour voters in New Zealand would support Hillary Clinton” and would regard a Jeremy Corbyn-style leader as “inappropriate for New Zealand.”
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-18012016/#comment-1119733
Today, his views remain just as brassy, and just as ill informed. Discussing the Brexit catastrophe and the failure of May in the last election campaign, Mills intoned: “I hold absolutely no brief for Jeremy Corbyn but…” He also speculated on the possiblity of a “sensible centrist coalition” emerging in British politics, whatever that means. Yenta Hodge and Tony Benn’s chickenhawk son allying with sensible Boris perhaps?
In case you were wondering what happened to those intelligent and principled “Left” contributors, the midday news supplied at least one answer: the Prime Minister’s new chief press secretary is ….. Andrew Campbell.
Things get even more dismal this afternoon, by the way. Wallace Chapman’s guests on the “new look”, “refreshed”, “revamped” Panel are Michelle Boag and…. Mike Williams. An interesting exercise for anyone who can stand listening to it would be to count the number of times Williams says “I agree with Michelle.”
A nifty appraisal of RNZ’s traditional lame-brain approach to politics. I only disagree on a couple of points. Mike Williams is a sensible centrist who I usually find myself agreeing with. I get that you self-identify as more partisan than him. Nothing wrong with sharing common ground with the opposition though, as long as it is reciprocated.
I agree that Laila Harré is articulate. I could even have agreed she’s perceptive. Clever, though, just made me smile. Not a snowball’s chance in hell!!
I usually listen to The Panel and have found it much more interesting now that Wallace Chapman is the host. It will be interesting to see how he copes/deals with Michelle Boag and Mike Williams (while internally shuddering at the thought of that woman will be muttering).
I agree, although I’m waiting until I can afford the lugsury of a smashed avocado on toast with a hint of bacon on the side, complete with a little sea salt and white pepper, perhaps even with some boutique Wairarapa Olive Oil splattering before I feel more confident to comment.
Do you worry about Sunday mornings though? I’ve already planned mine. From now on, they’ll have to be an early morning to the Te Papa market, and then off to a Subway to indulge in some Lambie on rye.
RNZ listenings going forward, will probably be ditched in favour of some publicly-funded, privately-produced effort at current fears like the Nayshun where future media stars are built.
OWT
Will the listenings have commensurate learnings?
Will the current fears mention past regrets?
Do we get the option to say ‘Nay’ and ‘shun’ the stars?
Oil-wise – when does a drizzle become a splatter?
I’m not sure yet @ AB. I’m still trying to interpret my wonderings although I’m closely monitoring the utterings of the @ Waynes and a couple of Paganies (until recently I admit to having confused with a couple of Panines’s trying to negotiate a SUV along a Kapiti Highway – no doubt one of whom was on her way to some gorgeous media engagement to offer some words of wisdom ‘from the left’)
Mike Williams is a sensible centrist who I usually find myself agreeing with.
Fair comment, Dennis. He’s actually a lot tougher than I made him sound. I’ve seen him on a couple of occasions really dealing to a young and vacuous National Party woman on television, and when he decides to challenge Hooton rather than find bogus “common ground” with him, he’s formidable. I agree with a lot of what he says. I’m just disappointed when he takes the easy option of agreeing magnanimously with the likes of Hooton and Boag.
I get that you self-identify as more partisan than him.
I’m not at all partisan. Mike Williams is the former president of the Labour Party.
Nothing wrong with sharing common ground with the opposition though, as long as it is reciprocated.
That’s the problem though. Hooton and Boag concede nothing, ever. The only concession either of them ever makes is when they lapse into a seething, angry silence. Boag was memorably driven into a black funk when Bomber Bradbury asked her to tell the listeners which rich people were going to leave New Zealand, as she claimed, if the rich were taxed slightly more.
“the Prime Minister’s new chief press secretary is ….. Andrew Campbell”
Bravo.
count the number of times Williams says “I agree with Michelle.”
I can report that the first time occurred four minutes after the start (around 3.49pm).
I heard that!
MIchelle Boag did actually reciprocate at 4.53pm and say “I totally agree with Mike”. Think it was about the young yahoos mocking the native american.
True enough. She’s not totally horrible.
Technically you are correct, 99.9% isn’t total.
Nice one, fender.
https://media1.tenor.com/images/2b6138c8abd50d00965e784d948a88df/tenor.gif?itemid=4733491
Stephen Mills makes the demo-cracy that courses through my veins desiccate into dust. Thanks Richard Griffen, you did your job well. Of course you won’t meet your pa in the heaven of the good intentioned. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy … til then. Never liked any of that welfare state generation who put their anti-bureaucraticism before the people’s interests.
Oil blueberry has had a stroke there is justice after all he just be faking
As another human being I have sympathy for Cameron Slater. He has had two strokes and will be seriously impaired. Whatever he hoped to achieve will be curtailed. Hope he and his family manage his recovery well.
Whilst I have every sympathy for someone who has had a stroke, Slater has form for pulling a sickie when things turn against him and blaming his illness on everyone that has conspired against him…
Soooo…
There is every possibility he hasn’t had a stroke, merely a debilitating intrusion of reality via the courts.
I’ve never come across a cunt nursing a stroke before. I wonder what it looks like.
West Coaster feral maybe?
Maybe there is such a thing as karma so I’ll be ready to convert next time I head offshore to the lands of the less fortunate
Be Nice!
He’s paralysed down his right side.
He’s a Lefty now.
You should be disgusted with yourself for calling a stroke justice.
Agreed @ James. I’m certainly disgusted with allowing myself to have had one. Never fear though, I’ve had learnings about personal responsibility and it won’t happen again – I have an obligation to the taxpayer to make sure it doesn’t.
Mike (8) …
Regardless of Cameron Slater’s murky history of knocking people when they are down and out, as well as indulging in dirty politics, there is no need to be so mean spirited, by calling a stroke justice!
I have no time for Slater whatsoever. However if he has suffered two strokes, then I hope he manages to come through OK with plenty of support. Time will tell what the outcome will be one way or the other.
It’s almost as if there’s an election coming up.
.
https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1087133200076414976
…..conversation today with an “Ex Pat”: an English Migrant in NZ. He had picked up from FB or talkback…..
“Jacinda Arder is hi-tailing off to Europe because NZ cannot export to EU anymore when England Brexits. ”
Why, I hear you ask.
“Because NZ sells to Europe via England because we are part of the Commonwealth. With England out of the EU etc etc…. and therefore we shouldn’t be taking the piss out England over Brexit. ”
Has anyone heard shit like this on talkback?
Slater and his acolytes blame “enemies” for stroke
https://twitter.com/bryce_edwards/status/1087072346953797633
Must have pissed off a sith lord. Darth Judith, maybe?
Otherwise hypertension and obesity are the usual suspects. According to my doctor’s regular commentary, anyway.
Once the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance have finished at Davos, they would do well to consider the Oxfam report on the rapid sucking sound of wealth from the many who had a little bit, to the tiny few who have almost all of it now:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/personal-finance/news/article.cfm?c_id=12&objectid=12193391
“Graeme Hart has amassed a US$10.1 billion ($14.98b) fortune, while Chandler has $2.1b, she said.
The report reveals their collective wealth increased by NZ$1.1b while the poorest 50 per cent of New Zealand’s population decreased their wealth by NZ$1.3b.
Other stark facts show the top 5 per cent has more wealth – 45 per cent – than the bottom 90 per cent – 42 per cent, while the top 1 per cent of the population has 25 per cent of all wealth in New Zealand.
Le Mesurier said they were focussing on the issue of appropriately taxing wealth in New Zealand, not income tax on everyday Kiwis.
“One of the key things we can do to tackle inequality here and across the world is to tax wealth more. Our taxes pay for schools, hospitals and infrastructure … across the world, rich multinational corporations and extremely wealthy individuals are not paying their fair share.”
Oxfam was now waiting to see what Michael Cullen’s Tax Working Group final report will come up with when it’s released in the next month or two.”
There’s nothing like the previous Christmas bills and the fresh welter of bills that accompany a new year and going to school and university and new rental accommodation to recognise how far and how fast families left right and centre of you are falling down, far away from any actual wealth progression.
This is the year for the Labour-led coalition to redistribute and grow common wealth , not for the few remaining accumulators.
It requires a system transformation. Radical surgery, from a govt of pragmatists. Good luck with that! 🙄
Off topic, but thank you all for any kind thoughts I had my hip op Friday morning and I am well and home today Cheers/
Oh good – hope you have a speedy recovery.
Great news, all the best for your recovery 🙂
Take good care Patricia. Hope your positive progress continues 🙂
Cheers
Kia ora the am show It’s about time that climate change is finally getting through trumps blocking tack tick from his puppets on the worlds media in Davos the reality is finally being talked about CLIMATE CHANGE. There you go backing another attack on the tangata whenua population as half the people in jail are maori and if you are maori once the unjustice system gets its CLAWS into a maori IT never lets you go. Alt right policy minaority suppression backed by the am show thats how someone floated his toilet . A spray tan does not make one MAORI paula Back at you on your Jamie statement. Aotearoa cannot point the finger at other countrys breaches of human rights when they are breaching there tangata whenua/minority cultures rights every minute of the day. Yes our Pacific Island Cousin’s are suffering the effect’s of sea level rise caused by climate change global warming NOW.
I no of a accountant who tryed to put forestry worker’s on a contracted self employment system she soon back tracked I told the employer he could not do that because he would be loading his worker’s with tax responsibilitys they did not understand ie they would not pay there tax’s correctly and end up bankrupt . Being on a selfemployed contract only suit’s the wealthy. The wealthy look for anyway to make a profit weather it causes hardship on other’s or not.
This goverment is doing more on climate change that paula did they were the climate wrecking goverment national were shonky carbon credit’s forest clearing goverment before they got into power we had forest that took a hour to drive through now lucky to be 5 minutes blink and one will miss the trees on SH5 Talking about your flash holidays and putting a boot into the common poor people 50 % of people can not afford a holiday if we did we could not pay the bills if we stopped working for 2 weeks .
Ka kite ano
I say we are just Guardian of the whenua/ land and awa/rivers tangaroa/ seas .
A responsible will society guarantee that when we pass the land rivers and sea’s on to our grandchildren it be as good or better than when we inherited it thats not What is happening at the minute . We are making a big mess of the grandchildrens future. cut that dumb shit out
The pipeline plan that will drain the lower Darling River dry
‘If you think this is bad,’ say locals of recent mass fish kills, ‘just wait until the Menindee Lakes project goes ahead’
On the banks of the Darling, near Menindee, two grown men are fighting back tears.
It’s a week on from the fish kill that saw hundreds of thousands of fish die near their small town, including Murray cod that were estimated to be about 70 years old. These fish had survived the millennium drought of the late 1990s. Yet here they are dying.
Each morning Graeme McCrabb and his mates patrol the river banks, looking for signs that another catastrophic event is about to occur – an event they argue is man-made.
Last week Guardian Australia visited Menindee where we spent hours by a large waterhole which is all that remains at this point of the sometimes mighty Darling, Australia’s longest river.
Temperatures are forecast to be over 40C again this week and there is sense of foreboding as the river levels continue to dwindle, the water an ugly shade of bright green due to algal blooms.
“I am gutted,” says McCrabb as we watch a large cod floating in the middle of the river, dead.
“We were here when it came to the surface, We watched it die.”
This is the biggest environmental catastrophe in the history of the river
Graeme McCrabb
“That one’s in trouble too,” he says pointing to a large fish which turns on its side, flashing its white belly, tail languidly flicking in an effort to right itself.
Four enormous cod, each about 80cm in length, rest near a shallow sandbank at the lip of the pool, trying to catch the more oxygenated water from the almost imperceptible flow into it.
They hardly move. This is extremely unusual behaviour for these native fish, which are classified as a vulnerable species.
“This is the biggest environmental catastrophe in the history of the river, and no one is here. It beggars belief,” says McCrabb of the lack of visits by any one from the federal government or the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) . The NSW minister responsible for fisheries, Niall Blair did visit, but toured the river by boat and did not meet locals, citing safety concerns.
McCrabb’s friend Paul Grose is close to tears. “I am passionate about the cod. They’re just a beautiful fish,” he says. He wants to mount a rescue mission, and move them to a larger body of water, but neither man is sure the fish will survive.
Menindee, too, is becoming endangered.
For the Indigenous people along this stretch of the river, the Barka, the concept of a drier river, flowing less frequently, is devastating.
Literally “the river people”, the Barka have been granted native title along the river and co-manage Kinchega National park. But they are watching their land die around them.
It could also challenge the very existence of towns like Pooncarie, population 150, 130km south of Menindee on the lower Darling. A hundred years ago it was a river port but now survives as a tourist town and a fishing spot.
“It certainly affects us in so far as fishing,” says the owner of the Port Pitstop, Val Kitson, as she watches the river dwindle.
“We still have travellers go through, we still have locals and the school’s about to reopen so that’s a bonus for us,” she says
“But we don’t have fishermen up here or campers. Over Christmas there was no one here.”
Walgett’s water crisis: NSW considers options after ‘concerning’ sodium levels found
Read more
The fish kill was the last straw.
“A little town like this that relies on tourism, fishing,” says Mouse, one of the locals at the pub. “It going to kill us,” he says of the Menindee plan.
“It’s an utter shame, it’s wrong,” Kitson adds. Ka kite ano links below
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jan/23/the-pipeline-plan-that-will-drain-the-lower-darling-river-dry
Its quite easy to see that all human kinds ill’s can be linked to unequal wealth distrubution if they would give half there money the world will be a much better place.
The top 26 billionaires own $1.4 trillion — as much as 3.8 billion other people
(CNN Business)The world’s billionaires are growing $2.5 billion richer every day, while the poorest half of the global population is seeing its net worth dwindle.
Billionaires, who now number a record 2,208, have more wealth than ever before, according to an Oxfam International report published Monday. Since the global financial crisis a decade ago, the number of billionaires has nearly doubled.
The annual study was released ahead of the yearly World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, which brings together some of the wealthiest and most influential people on Earth. The 106-page report is meant to call attention to the growing gap between rich and poor.
The combined fortunes of the world’s 26 richest individuals reached $1.4 trillion last year — the same amount as the total wealth of the 3.8 billion poorest people.
ost of these mega-wealthy are American, according to the Forbes list of billionaires used by Oxfam. The names include Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Microsoft’s Bill Gates, Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, who collectively are worth $357 billion, according to Forbes.
Oxfam recommends that nations tax wealth at fairer levels, raise rates on personal income and corporate taxes and eliminate tax avoidance by companies and the super-rich. It also advocates providing universal free health care, education and other public services — and ensuring that women and girls also benefit. And it suggests investing in public services — including water, electricity and childcare — to free up women’s time and limit the number of unpaid hours they work. link below ka kite ano
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/20/business/oxfam-billionaires-davos/index.html
Kia ora Newshub condolences to the people who were injured in the slip at Cape Kidnappers use to dive off their it was awesome watching the gannets diving.
The capitalist conman is going hard in NZ the Poutama trade training con those people have prayed on the young minority cultures. Its cool that Jacinda is on the Davos stage with David Attenborough and Al Gore. You see the alt right oil barons puppets distractions is working with Britain America and France not at that world meeting that main topic is about fighting climate change. Condolences to the whanua of the soccer player Sala who’s plane went down in the English Channel on his way to start his new job English Premier league.
I think that a do it yourself cervical cancer smear test is good I see all the invasive test my partner goes through and feel sorry for her.
Hopefully puddles the chiwawa dog is found. Ka kite ano
Some Eco Maori Music for the minute
Some Eco Maori Music for the minute.