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 …. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQiOA7euaYA
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
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
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 ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
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Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
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Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
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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 ….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQiOA7euaYA
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
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF2mD8RIYWE
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
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrlyta58QGk
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
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktvTqknDobU&list=PLp7pAH9am84N6aHTurqluG-PZzAKP0NA2
Some Eco Maori Music for the minute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NymG9JQ5WH8