The past, James?
Key’s still an MP, isn’t he?
Or has he been spirited away, along with any memory of his parcle-tongued reign?
I suppose what you’re hoping, James, is that we’ll give English a clean “bill” of health and forget that he’s been polluted by Key’s behaviour for 6 years, trained by the same people Key was and complicit in the disgraceful things Key did, and that he’ll still have Key whispering in his ear now. But no, James, we’re not so easily bamboozled, especially by someone as shallow and obvious as you.
That’s a bit rich James – that’s all that National has done since it came into Government – it was all Labour’s fault until it was just ad nauseum listening to it. You are pathetic.
I asked, Pete, whether you’d commented on Key’s “performance” during his interview while overseas; you know, the one where he denied the parlous state of New Zealand’s environment and the views of Mike Joy. It was, by many accounts, a cringe-worthy interview and certainly the interviewer expressed his disbelief at the then Prime Minister’s slippery tongue. I wondered if you’d written a post on that, hoping to read your thoughts on that issue, given that you have commented on the present Prime Minister’s foreign visit here on a blog that has readers who like to think more deeply about such things. So, Pete, did you?
Key made many trips overseas and had quite a few interviews. I’ve criticised him for puerile behaviour. But you are diverting into history (with a lot of vagueness). Sharpen up.
The subject here was how English presented himself on his trip over the last week or so. Reports have generally been favourable. Do you disagree with them?
The polls show that.
National back up Labour down.
English just has to not fuck up.
Not likely.
Labour Greens need to get non voters out and unseat Dunne.
To stand any chance.
Poor Labour held prisoner by it’s own neo liberal economic ideology, unable to mount any kind of meaningful attacks or counter punches to National, who only have to hold their boat steady to probably win, yes even with English at the helm.
Watching Labour slowly drown in a pool of it’s own discredited ideology is really depressing stuff.
Adrian, if you’re so saddened by what you see as Labour’s depressing fate, how about you:
1) Get involved in the party and promote your vision of its problems and possible solutions – help rescue it from what you see as its slow demise, and/or
2) Stop stirring against the party that you claim some association with/ loyalty to (enough to be depressed on its behalf).
Sadly, I strongly suspect you won’t do either of these. (With friends like you, who needs enemies?)
BTW, you (and others) tend to throw the term “neoliberal” around pretty loosely. Labour isn’t big on transfer of assets from the public to private sector, and that’s a cornerstone of neoliberalism. Just saying…
Red blooded, fair comments, I will answer both as best I can.
I had been involved in the party ( long ago) but was left very disillusioned and gutted by the core ideology that was being pushed at the time.
1. I thought about becoming involved more directly again last election when Anna Lorck set up her office next door to my shop. However after becoming aware of her completely out of touch policies around seasonal labour (amongst other things) there was no way I could get behind her. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503459&objectid=11720136
…and sure as hell not Nash in Napier.
So that door was closed.
although that being said, I am still very active politically, just not through normal party structures.
2. ‘Stirring’ although I would use the word critiquing, the party is I feel my, and every labour supporters obligation and responsibility to critique the direction of the party should they feel it is being led astray.
I am a very loyal friend, so I have been told.
Labour since Douglas is responsible for major asset sales in New Zealand, and until it fully rejects that laissez faire centrist ideology, then that is what Labour will perceived to be, and to some extent stand for.
Labour have never apologized for selling our assets.
The reason I am so hard on Labour, is that they are so far removed from real working families now, that they, without the slightest hint of embarrassment suggested $5-600,000 homes in AKL as being ‘affordable’.
But I also believe that in the core of the Labour Party, is the structure that represents our only real hope of breaking the chains of neo liberalism, and working together as a country back toward a more equal, fair and caring society for all…but that will only happen, in my view, under a left Socialist Democratic Labour.
But unfortunately that is nothing like our Labour Party today.
From their own website,
Fixing the Housing Crisis…
‘They are too focused on looking after those at the top rather than families in the middle.’
Not ‘looking after’ working families..no just the middle class,
yes that’s Labour in their own words on their own site!
Adrian, the current Labour party is not the same Labour government of the 1980’s. And aren’t you being rather skewered with cherry picking Labour’s website by misquoting there?
We are all neo-liberal in that we live in a neo-liberal system and do neo-liberal things. Certainly some more than others, like choosing the cheapest power or phone company for instance. I think we need to look at the neo-liberal aspects of our lives and try and change them. Then there could be real change.
Leftie, Well I wouldn’t say I prefer National to remain in power, however I am in the same camp as Slavoj Zizek, I believe neo liberalism, and especially center left neo liberalism to be a political disease, and radical action needs to be taken to avert disaster… I will leave Zizek to explain better than I…..
I know this is a quite unpopular position, and I am fully prepared to debate my own stance on it and could be persuaded otherwise, if arguments to the contrary offered another way to turn Labour back to a Socialist Democratic Left platform…still, as I have also said, Labour was radically changed ideologically by an internal revolution in 1984, and I believe that consequently an internal revolution within the party will be needed to remove the ‘new labour neoliberal’ ideology from the party.
BTW as to your comment that I…”skewered with cherry picking Labour’s website by misquoting”
I have done nothing of the sort, my quote was taken directly from the official Labour site. This was their wording, and as I am sure you well know, wording, and word placement in politics is very very important, so don’t come at me with that rubbish.
Adrian, pretty sure that’s what you said on TDB when you were asked if you wanted National to stay in power. And as for “They are too focused on looking after those at the top rather than families in the middle.” Sounds like Labour were talking about National. Best you put up a citation, so your quote can be read in context.
BTW, has National ever apologized for selling off our assets, past and present? Will John Key apologize for what he has done?
As Andrew Little said “I don’t see how I can be personally held responsible for the actions of predecessors.”
“Chief Justice Roberts, President Carter, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, fellow Americans, and people of the world: thank you.
We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and to restore its promise for all of our people.
Together, we will determine the course of America and the world for years to come.
We will face challenges. We will confront hardships. But we will get the job done.
Every four years, we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power, and we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their gracious aid throughout this transition. They have been magnificent.
Today’s ceremony, however, has very special meaning. Because today we are not merely transferring power from one Administration to another, or from one party to another – but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People.
For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost.
Washington flourished – but the people did not share in its wealth.
Politicians prospered – but the jobs left, and the factories closed.
The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country.
Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s Capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.
That all changes – starting right here, and right now, because this moment is your moment: it belongs to you.”
Read the rest of President Trump’s great, great speech here:
He basically criticised every politician sharing the stage with him for their betrayal of America’s working class.
‘Today’s ceremony however, has very special meaning, because today, we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another or from one party to another, but we are transferring power from Washington, DC. And giving it back to you, the people.
For too long, have reaped the rewards of government while people have borne the cost. Washington flourished, but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered period, but the jobs left and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories. Their triumphs have not been your triumphs and while they celebrated in our nation’s capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.
That all changes starting right here and right now, because this moment is your moment. It belongs to you. It be longs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all across America. This is your day. This is your celebration. And this, the United States of America, is your country.’
‘Today we are not merely transferring power from one Administration to another, or from one party to another – but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People.’
You have every right to be skeptical, Paul. If Andrew Little gave the same speech I’d be critical too. But if just for a moment you can imagine Donald Trump, President of the USA, delivering on his promises, wouldn’t that make America great again?
I vote fot that. Would actually be a considerable improvement IMHO
And yes thats my genuine opinion. The moderation here sucks! . Often used to win the argument rather than foster dialogue
Um, because authors put a lot of energy, thought, and effort in writing threads and somebody may come only with perfectly legitimate on-topic criticism that doesn’t fall within the moderation rules but still get moderated because in the author’s eyes his or her work is being unfairly attacked.
Or if you want the short version some authors can get rather touchy about people saying bad things about what they’ve written. Especially if they’ve put a lot of work into it.
Can you please provide three examples that demonstrate what you are suggesting? That’s links to specific moderation, plus an explanation from you of which bit you think is the moderator objecting to someone saying bad things about what they’ve written. Thanks.
Moderation on TS isn’t to foster dialogue (that’s up to the authors and commenters). It’s to prevent the worst of the trolling and derailments from wrecking the place and putting people off esp authors (and to protect the site from legal issues).
And speaking of Colonel Viper where is my BFF? I thought his latest ban would be over by now. Surely he’d be in here or over on the other thread celebrating President Trump’s inauguration.
HDCAFriendlyTroll
History will be the judge on that.
Even best intentions will not be able to restore the jobs in any country as robotics will have the greatest impact since the industrial revolution.
He will be faced with a choice between finding a peaceful way of transition that includes education, income and poverty, health and elder care, institutionalized racism, civil rights, personal responsibility … shall I go on? Or using force, at home or abroad. As the nature of work and income is about to change in very profound ways neither Trump nor any other leader will escape the fact that new ways of society structures need to be found.
With the speech Trump gave and the absolute alignment with the military (its called having a buck each way), my prediction at this stage is not as rosy as yours. History has shown that it is the lazy mans walk and what more – talk – that always has mapped the future (may I stretch at this junction “man as “men”) and aggression, stand over tactics, oppression are hailed as virtues. And to make it really scary, using “above all god” in the parting sentence is concerning. There are parallels to a speech some 80 odd years ago.
So again, the jury is out and history will tell.
The bad news.
1. The beating of war drums with China.
2. His focus on a law and order society.
Chris Hedges describes the speech as exhibiting the feeling of a crisis cult. It highlighted the worst aspects of American exceptionalism and imperialism.
He says the promises won’t be delivered and then the state will be used against the vulnerable.
Yeah…….it is what he said. He also sought to paint patriotism and prejudice mutually exclusive. Is that the predominant lesson of history ? Don’t think so.
It seems that Dame Paula Bennett of Waitakere, whose idea of job creation was permanent multiple security guards at WINZ offices, will be visiting Kaikoura to reassure shaken locals.
She may have to bring her new labour market program with her.
[your comments should come through now.] – Bill
I notice your canard re what he said being “left wing” is no longer up Paul. How come ? You deferring to Archie CV Bunker are you ?…….editing, leaving it to ACVB to deliver the “tremendous” left wing news are you ?
No I was editing my words.
Trump is making a faux appeal to working class interests and it will work because there is no real left wing option in the US.
Therersa May – warning corporations about shirking their tax-paying responsibilities (another rightee stealing lines from the left, while promoting so-called “free trade” and “globalisation”. In this NY Times article, it talks about NZ as being one of the countries the UK is aiming to make free trade deals.
Her defense of free trade was slightly jarring coming after Britain’s decision to quit the largest free-trade grouping on earth, the European Union, judging that control over immigration and complete sovereignty mattered more.
She also spoke at a time when free-trade deals are increasingly unpopular, particularly among the people she was accusing the crowd in Davos of ignoring, and with President-elect Donald J. Trump talking of protectionism and criticizing free-trade pacts.
But with big multinational banks and companies already announcing that they will reduce their staffing in London because of the vote to leave the European Union, known as Brexit, Mrs. May was eager to reassure them that Britain would emerge bigger and better from the divorce.
…
Britain wants to negotiate trade deals with “old friends” and “new allies,” she said, adding that tentative discussions have begun with Australia, India and New Zealand, and that China, Brazil and the Persian Gulf states have expressed interest in striking trade deals.
Britain is especially keen to do a deal with Washington, and Mr. Trump has said he is eager to start. But until Britain formally leaves the European Union, deemed unlikely before March 2019, it can only discuss such deals, not sign them.
Hmmm… isn’t Trump talking out against any trade deals that don’t strongly benefit the US? A trade deal between the US and UK that strongly benefits both, and previously overlooked middle and low income people? I’ll be interested to see how that goes down.
“Strongly benefit” are your words. What Trump has said is that America will no longer act where there is no benefit and that they recognise the right of other nations to act in that nation’s best interest.
It seems that Dame Paula Bennett of Waitakere, whose idea of job creation was permanent multiple security guards at WINZ offices, will be visiting Kaikoura to reassure shaken locals.
She may have to bring her new labour market program with her
Was expecting to see a bit of a drop (just a small one) in the last poll (Roy Morgan – but yeah) for national post keys departure.
But very happy to see a small rise for English and national and a drop to labour. A good way to start an election year. Will be interesting to track the rest of the polls coming up.
It was also a negligible change for Labour, down 1.5, but now people are insisting that Labour+Greens matter a combined drop of 3.5% must be a bit worrying for those who thought the MoU was a game changer, and those who thought Key’s self demotion was a game changer.
Labour’s start to the year has been very disappointing. Picking a fight with Peters and pledging a bill to circumvent workplace safety that one had previously lobbied for is an odd stance.
Little’s delay in announcing he wouldn’t stand in Rongotai was also odd, he should have dealt with that immediately King announced she was standing down, he knew it was coming. Instead of putting it to bed last year he has put his indecision on show at a time he needed to be making a strong start to the year.
Relying on Mt Albert to kick off their campaign proper is very risky. Labour (and Greens) cannot make it look like a cosy campaign jack up, unless they are seen to compete seriously it could easily backfire.
Ardern standing looks a bit like rearranging the deck chairs. It would have been better to have new talent on show, someone like Deborah Russell would have looked much better.
Little conceded that polls were bad – “I have to lead a party that starts from 2014 at a 25 per cent vote, polling at the moment at late 20s, 30 per cent sort of mark. So we have a lot of work to do, and I don’t underestimate that.”
That hard work should have been evident from January 1 in election year. Labour need to be careful they don’t sleep walk to an election nightmare.
They didnt think!
“Conventional wisdom” is that MMP parties have to declare who they are with before the election. Its crap but has become a “fact” . Its because they believe the public are too dumb to understand MMP. Winston has never bought into this doctrine and he gets along ok.
Before that he was rejected by the voters of Tauranga.
He hasn’t been in any governing arrangement since 2005-2008, so his success rate hasn’t been great, despite media talking him up as ‘king maker’ at every opportunity – I saw this again somewhere today.
John key running away after National’s whopping defeat in the Mt. Roskill by election, and with a general election just around the corner, sent out signals that he thinks National isn’t going to win. John key did say if National lost he would quit politics.
Good post. Labour ought to win the election given how popular they are. Opinion polls show we are heading in the wrong direction. English cannot debate and is a loser. Yeah Right.
Fisiani. National lost the flag referendum, the Northland and Roskill by elections, and failed badly in the local elections, all in a row, so much for that “popularity” and “opinion polling.”
Also interesting to note that most of the polling was done before English made his comment about many Kiwis cringing at Waitangi.
Next time the Nats will be further ahead.
Dame Paula Bennett of Waitakere, whose idea of job creation was permanent multiple security guards at WINZ offices, will soon be visiting Kaikoura to reassure shaken locals.
She may have to bring her new labour market program with her ..
‘Bob Jones can now descend back down into the abyss whence he came.
This isn’t surprising. Jones is a corpse compelled by witchcraft to say the most obviously racist thing in any given situation. The only joy he can extract from this mortal plane comes when he’s raining blows on those he believes are beneath him, be they beggars, flight attendants, reporter Rob Vaughn, or victims of indecent assault who he believes have themselves to blame for making the “silly” mistake of walking in a park.
“If I’m a rich old white man. Everyone else should be a rich old white man,” he whines with each rattling breath. “And if they’re not, they’re lazy or criminals or even Māoris.”
Now now Paulsky, breath, the alternate view is that jones just believes the purpose of government is to protect liberty and property rights and equal oppportunity and let people get on and be responsible for their lives, in contrast to nanny state from cradle to grave and assume every necessity for life is and entitlement Now I agree sir bob may have expressed his opinion in a provocative way but no need for your support of hate speeach, agism and bigotry against elderly white folk
A couple of years ago, Jones had a piece in the Herald’ bitterly complaining about how NZ has now become the biggest “nanny state” in the world, probably one of the few things that I could find to agree with him.
Dame Paula Bennett of Waitakere, whose idea of job creation was permanent multiple security guards at WINZ offices, will soon be visiting Kaikoura to reassure shaken locals.
She may have to bring her new labour market program with her.
It is interesting that ex PM had an army of protectors around him at all times, weird for a little country like NZ, when you compare the PM’s of, say the UK and Australia, where they’re ability to mix with general without the need for “men in dark glasses”, it really does say a lot about the divisiveness of the man, that is if you can call him a “man”.
Neoliberals Know The Price Of Everything And The Value Of Nothing
My father likes to say that some people know the price of everything and the value of nothing. The same could be said of the neoliberals of the world, who–in case you missed my previous piece–are now transcendent in most policy circles across the world.
To review, the neoliberal agenda is one of deregulation, unfettered trade, fiscal austerity (with the attendant reduction in social programs), privatization and tax reduction. Fundamental to the neoliberal ideology is that government regulation and planning of economic activity are inherently flawed and cannot bring about the desired ends of efficiency, prosperity and social harmony.
Instead, price is the great and sufficient transmitter of information across the economy and across society at large. Price is the best barometer for all decisions. Hence, the emphasis on privatizing almost everything in society including education and health care.
Neoliberals believe that voting with your money is at least, if not more important, than voting in elections in a free society. The freer the market, the more choices consumers will have, and the more competitive the market, the better the quality will be.
There are several problems, of course, with the price mechanism. First, it only takes into account costs which are directly borne by the provider of a product or service. So-called externalities such as pollution and climate change are not tallied in the price. In order for those costs to be included, say, by the imposition of a carbon tax, the government would have to intervene, something not consistent with neoliberal ideas.
Second, such a monomaniacal focus on price alone pre-empts a broader view of social goals, reducing them merely to price signals. But not every social good can be reduced to a price signal in a nominally “free” market.
“The Finance and Expenditure Committee has considered Petition 2011/101 of Penelope Mary Bright and 13 others, requesting
That the House conduct an urgent inquiry into why New Zealand Auditor-General Lyn Provost did not disclose that she was a shareholder in Sky City Entertainment Group Ltd at the time she declined to conduct an urgent investigation into the failure of the Organised and Financial Crime Agency of New Zealand to carry out “due diligence” on the increased risk of money-laundering arising from the New Zealand International Convention Centre (Bill) 2013.
We have no matters to bring to the attention of the House. ”
Time for the House to include the proven ‘anti-corruption campaigner?
That’s pretty disgusting. It has been know for a long time that if you want to launder money you go to Sky City. There’s some roulette type game that you can bet your money on black and red and only if it goes to one number on the board you lose. That way you can bet your money, have a huge chance of winning and then ask for your winnings in a cheque. That way if IRD, social welfare or anyone else asks where you got your house/Mercedes etc when you earn zero income you say ‘I won it at Sky City and here is my cheque to prove it.
Now that Trump has shown that just spewing out a firehose of bullshit can be a successful electoral technique, we need to more on guard than ever. Unfortunately, when processing a lie, the mind first admits the possibility that it might be true – and then many minds never take the next step of rejecting it.
I went on the Auckland women’s march. RNZ says over 1000 attended – I’d say a few thousand – was quite a big, peaceful and good humoured march.
There was no real police presence. I think we were meant to walk on the footpath. But people just started walking in the road – and that’s how it proceeded.
I didn’t realise there was also an anti-Trump march planned for 1pm at Aotea Square, Auckland. I had left by then. TV1 on the two planned marches
And it says:
One American man told 1 NEWS he had turned up and out to march in Auckland “for equality, against greed and power”.
Green MP Julie Anne Genter, investigative journalist Nicky Hager and climate change activist Aaron Packard will be speaking at the Love Trumps Hate event in Wellington.
Speakers from the trans community, the union movement, the Mexican community, the Palestine solidarity movement, the feminist movement and the climate justice movement will be appearing at the Aotearoa Against Trump event in Auckland.
Just back from the Dunedin Women’s Rally (one of more than 650 events throughout the world linked to the March on Washington). While it was sparked by the dreadfulness of Trump’s views and actions towards women, the focus was very much on lifting up and affirming women’s worth and power here in Aotearoa and supporting others in their struggles internationally. I hope other rallies were equally uplifting and strengthening.
The NZ demonstrations were organised by some US women living in NZ.
We need a whole big, broad movement – for a fairer, more sustainable, and collaborative society, where everyone has a living income and access to affordable health care, education, etc.
[don’t tell lies about my views or comments. You are the one in that thread who said, and I quote, “Obviously the march is against Trump’s *inauguration*, not Trump himself.”. You obviously missed the point of the moderation, which is to reduce the amount of time moderators have to spend on these kinds of derailments. You are now banned from the Pike River thread, and this is also a warning to not misrepresent my views or comments or risk a site wide ban. – weka]
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National Messiah? Chris Luxon identifies himself as an evangelical Christian. If he is genuine in this self-characterisation, then he will take every opportunity his public office provides to proselytise on behalf of his faith. He will also feel obliged to bear witness against beliefs and practices he believes to be ...
I'm going to make a Reckless Prediction™ that the Tories have 'topped out' in the 'poll of polls' / Britain Elects multipoll tracker at about 38%, and in the next week we will start to see Labour creep up on them.In fact, we might just be seeing the start of ...
by The Council of Disobedient Women Lizzie Marvelly: “I may have missed this… has @afterellen gone all terf-y? Or am I reading something incorrectly? “ https://twitter.com/LizzieMarvelly/status/1191840059105742849 After Ellen is a lesbian website that is unashamedly pro-lesbian, as you’d expect. So why is Ms Marvelly so bothered about lesbians having their ...
Did you know there once was a time when it was illegal to be a gypsy (aka Romani) in Britain?That was between 1530, when the Egyptians Act was passed, and 1856, when it was repealed.Amongst other things, the act forbade the entry of 'Egyptians' into England, ordered those already there ...
Some days I sit and think, “what will I write…?” What do you say when you get to 1000 posts? Maybe you just start where you are, diverge to where this all began, then offer a collection of reader’s favourite posts, and a few of your own? (And throw in ...
Counter-Puncher: The “activists” and “radicals” (his own words) from the Indian community who took such strong exception to Shane Jones’ remarks about Immigration NZ’s treatment of arranged marriages, may end up bitterly regretting their intervention. Jones is not the sort of person who turns the other cheek to his critics.SHANE ...
In the spirit of Remember, remember the fifth of November, let's keep this in mind FOREVER.
Oh dear. Extraordinary interview on PM with Andrew Bridgen and @EvanHD just now. Bridgen was defending Jacob Rees Mogg’s Grenfell comments. Evan asked him if JRM had meant to say he would have left ...
Collision Course? In conditions of ideological white-out, the international bankers’ “Woop-Woop! Pull Up!” warning may have come too late to save global capitalism.WHAT DOES IT MEAN when international bankers are more willing to embrace radical solutions than our politicians and their electors? At both the International Monetary Fund and the ...
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a conundrum. It is a disease that was described hundreds of years ago and the bacteria that causes it (Bordetella pertussis) isolated in 1906. We have had vaccines for about 80 years but this disease is defiant in the face of human immunity. I wanted to ...
The Zero Carbon Bill has just passed its third reading, uanimously. In the end, National supported it - but we all know they'll turn around and gut it the moment they regain power. Meanwhile, I guess ACT's David Seymour didn't even bother to show up. I am on record as ...
Dr Lindsay Robertson, Dr Jerram Bateman, Professor Janet HoekMembers of the public health community hold divergent views on how access to vaping products or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) products should be arranged. Some believe ENDS should be as widely available as smoked tobacco and argue for liberal ...
When the Police were trying to cover up for the National Party over Dirty Politics, they went all-in with their abuses of power. They illegally search Nicky Hager's house, violating his journalistic privilege and invading his privacy. They unlawfully acquired Hager's bank records. They did the same to left-wing blogger ...
Last month, in response to a wave of protests by Extinction Rebellion, the British government purported to ban their protests from the whole of London. It was a significant interference with the freedoms of expression and assembly, and another sign of the country's decline into tyranny. But now, a court ...
Last year, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security reported on significant problems with the intelligence warrant system. While they were unwilling to declare any warrant "irregular" (meaning unlawful) due to the recent law change, they were also not willing to give the system a clean bill of health. Now, they've ...
The National Party has come out in support of encouraging greater vaccination uptake. But it sure isn’t the way I’d do it. National’s suggested docking the benefits of those on benefit whose kids aren’t keeping up with their vaccinations. Some in National have suggested extending that to payments under Working ...
Feeding The Flames: It is simply not enough to demand an end to “corruption”, or “inequality”, or the overbearing influence of the authorities in Beijing. These are just “lowest common denominator” demands: the sort of slogans that pull people onto the streets. They are not a plan.WHERE’S THE PLAN? Across ...
The labour market statistics have been released, and unemployment has risen to 4.2%. There are 115,000 unemployed - 11,000 fewer than when Labour took office. In that time the minimum wage has gone up by $2 an hour, which shows that the right's fears about increases causing unemployment are simply ...
The Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee has called for submissions on Andrew Little's tyrannicalTerrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Bill. Normally I encourage participation in the democratic process. I am not doing so in this case. Instead, I encourage all of you to boycott this submissions process, and to post ...
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nzIf tiny concentrations of carbon dioxide can hold enough heat ...
Aviation is one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and within it, one of the fastest sources is elite travel: billionaires flitting around the world in their private jets, spewing excessive pollution into the atmosphere just so they can avoid mixing with us dirty peasants. But in ...
That's what we face if we don't stop climate change, according to a warning from 11,000 scientists:The world’s people face “untold suffering due to the climate crisis” unless there are major transformations to global society, according to a stark warning from more than 11,000 scientists. “We declare clearly and unequivocally ...
by Phil Duncan Here’s just a few of the kind of threats issued day in and day out against gender-critical women – feminists, marxists, etc – overwhelmingly by MEN (albeit men identifying as women). “Kill all Terfs”. “Shoot a Terf today”. “All terfs deserve to be shot in the head”. ...
This is the third of the synopses of parts of the opening chapter of John Smith’s Imperialism in the 21st Century (New York, Monthly Review Press, 2016). The synopsis and commentary below is written by Phil Duncan. Unlike the humble cup of coffee and t-shirt that we looked at in ...
Tom MooreTraditionally a food source and cutting tool, freshwater mussels/kākahi are now widely valued as water filters that help clean our waterbodies and maintain ecosystem health throughout Aotearoa. The improvement they provide in water quality can make it easier for other animals to live in streams and rivers, as ...
And to think he gave all the potential goodwill away with that moronic, cult-like statement (repeated ad nauseam by many National hardliners) that Key is quite simply “the greatest PM we ever had”…Installation complete: this was nothing ...
The Zero Carbon Bill is back in the House today for its second reading. While this isn't the final stage, its still effectively D-Day for the bill. Because today, at around 5pm, is when we're going to find out if it has a majority, whether National will support it or ...
Winston Peters is in court today, suing a bunch of former Minister and civil servants over their pre-election leak of his superannuation repayment. He's characterised the leak as malicious, and said that it is repugnant that his information was passed on to Ministers to use for political advantage. And he's ...
Murray CoxDo I have to finish my favourite genome? That’s an often-asked question. Geneticists generally strive to produce high-quality genomes that sequence every last gene, making full use of the state-of-the-art technologies coming on stream. Sequencing DNA means determining the order of the four chemical building blocks – called ...
Transformative Politics: The idea is to turn each recipient into an unwitting accomplice in their own transformation. From interested observer to hyped-up activist, sharing our messages promiscuously with ‘friends’. You’ll be part of an ever-expanding circulatory system, Jennifer, for the ideas that will win us the election.”JENNIFER SKITTERED her chair ...
The boycott is a fundamental tool of protest. By choosing who we buy from, we can send a message, and hopefully change corporate behaviour. Historically, boycotts have been effective, for example over apartheid in South Africa and Israel, in forcing divestment from Myanmar, and in ending bus segregation in the ...
Jan Rivers spoke at the Abortion Legislation Select Committee in favour of the bill, but in opposition to calls from other submitters to exchange the word ‘woman’ for ‘person’ throughout the bill. Jan is a supporter of the feminist group Speak Up For Women and has recently written an excellent ...
I checked my traffic stats:I was intrigued by 'monica29' - who was this very dedicated individual? I clicked on the link, to be greeted with ...Ho, hum.Spreadin' the word, spreadin' the word. Doesn't matter who hears it, as long as it gets out there. ...
There have been three polls since the election was announced, and I will shamelessly steal YouGov / UK Polling Report's Anthony Wells' summary of them:Survation – CON 34%, LAB 26%, LDEM 19%, BREX 12%, GRN 1% Ipsos MORI – CON 41%, LAB 24%, LDEM 20%, BREX 7%, GRN 3% YouGov ...
The following article is translated from Lutte Ouvrière, the weekly newspaper of the organisation usually known by the same name in France. When, for the second time this year, Chilean President Piñera announced an increase in the price of Metro tickets from 800 to 830 pesos, students in the high ...
Today, a worker contacted me asking if she could go to the police over her employer stealing thousands of dollars from her in unpaid wages. The employer also did not pay this worker’s taxes or student loan which amounts to tax fraud. As a workers rights activist, who founded the ...
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, They're Yours: Is there any person more vulnerable than a jilted lover on the rebound? Or, anything more certain than that the charmer, the predator, the glib spinner of lies and promises will seek such broken people out? Yes, of course, he will love every one of ...
Though Jonathan Romain is a fairly high profile Rabbi, writing in several papers and popping up on TV and the radio, this story doesn't seem to have made it to the Guardian yet, so I'll take the unusual step of linking the Stephen Pollard edited Jewish Chronicle:Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain ...
There's an election afoot, and that is when noted opinion formers such as myself get to make wild fools of ourselves by pretending we have the faintest idea what will happen.So, here is my absurdly optimistic prediction:Labour - 285Conservative - 262SNP - 53Lib Dems - 20PC - 5Ireland - 18 ...
Image Credit:Increase Social Media Traffic & Website Traffic I notice a few regulars no longer allow public access to the site counters. This may happen accidentally when the blog format is altered. If your ...
Belinda CridgeI was reading my son a story last night. A great tale of derring-do of five mountaineers scaling the Matterhorn for the first time. One in the party had tried six times previously and failed, this was the last attempt before winter closed another season. They tried a ...
As introduced, the Zero Carbon Bill included an expansive secrecy clause, which would have covered virtually all decisions by the Climate Change Commission over our most important policy area. The Ministry for the Environment admitted this was a mistake (or as they put it, an "oversight"), and the select committee ...
Rachael Shaw, Victoria University of WellingtonWhen we think about animals storing food, the image that usually comes to mind is a squirrel busily hiding nuts for the winter. We don’t usually think of a small songbird taking down an enormous invertebrate, tearing it into pieces and hiding these titbits ...
. . NZ First’s success in putting the euthenasia bill to a public referenda may not be the victory they believe it to be. They may even have sounded the death-knell for a second Labour-NZ First-Green coalition. On 23 July this year, NZ First MP, Jenny Marcroft, submitted a Supplementary ...
Darroch Ball, Spokesperson for Justice New Zealand First is proud that a key Coalition Agreement commitment which will provide for a more transparent and effective criminal justice system has been realised. Legislation to establish the Criminal Cases Review Commission, an independent body focused on identifying and responding to possible miscarriages of ...
"Today we have made a choice that will leave a legacy... I hope that means that future generations will see that we, in New Zealand, were on the right side of history." - Jacinda Ardern, Third Reading of the Zero Carbon Bill ...
Darroch Ball, New Zealand First List MP A Member’s bill has been proposed that would provide income tax exemptions for all New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel while on operational deployment overseas. The Income Tax (Exemption for Salary or Wages of NZDF Members on Active Deployment) Amendment Bill proposed by New Zealand First ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, New Zealand First Leader New Zealand First is proud to have brought common sense to the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill, which passed its final reading in Parliament today. Party Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters says months of hard work went into negotiating a balanced ...
Jenny Marcroft MP, Spokesperson for Health New Zealand First has listened to calls to recognise paramedics as registered health professionals under the Health Practitioners’ Competence Assurance Act (the Act).Today, the Coalition Government announced plans for paramedics to be registered as health practitioners under the Act, and the establishment of a ...
We began the week by commemorating the New Zealand Wars and celebrating a major increase in the number of teachers. Then, we were busy supporting offenders into work and getting our rail back on track after years of underinvestment. And that's just the start! ...
In October I was sworn in as the Mayor of Lower Hutt.It’s the privilege of my life to serve Hutt people as their Mayor. There is something really special to be able to serve the community where I was raised, and where I live. ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Racing Racing Minister Winston Peters met with Korea Racing Authority Chairperson Nak Soon Kim in Seoul today to discuss closer cooperation between the New Zealand and Korean horse racing industries. As part of the visit to the Seoul Racecourse, Mr Peters witnessed ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is investing $10 million to establish Otago as the centre of New Zealand’s creative digital industry over the next ten years, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. “The initiative will bring us closer to the vision of ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF)’s skills and employment programme will help young Otago people into long-term forestry careers, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. Te Ara Mahi will invest $63,000 in the 2020 school year to support eight 17 and 18 ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) will support local plans to revitalise and stimulate economic development opportunities in Otago, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. The four Regional Economic Development Ministers have approved an in-principle investment of $19.9 million towards the region’s ...
Mark Patterson, Spokesperson for Primary Industries New Zealand First is pleased to have received the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) report on the Coalition Government’s Mycoplasma bovis eradication efforts, which shows significant progress in the fight against the disease. New Zealand First Spokesperson for Primary Industries, Mark Patterson, says the report’s findings ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development Hon David Parker, Minister for Trade and Export Growth The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is investing to support economic growth opportunities for Otago’s engineering and manufacturing sectors, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Trade and Export Minister David Parker announced today. Almost $20 million ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Foreign Minister Winston Peters and his South Korean counterpart, Kang Kyung-wha, discussed in Seoul today opportunities to work more closely in the Pacific and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Mr Peters and Minister Kang confirmed New Zealand and the ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development Hon Nanaia Mahuta, Minister for Māori Development The three marae in the historic Parihaka Pa complex in Taranaki have been upgraded to high speed broadband with the support of the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF), Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. “Connecting the ...
Hon Ron Mark, Minister of Defence Minister of Defence Ron Mark will today launch the Advancing Pacific Partnerships 2019 Defence Assessment during a speech at Te Papa. The Assessment outlines how Defence will partner with our Pacific Island neighbours and invest in Pacific regional security architecture. The Plan aligns with the Coalition ...
A new Provincial Growth Fund investment could create about 80 new jobs in Gisborne over the next two years, turning a local small business into a “beacon of employment” in the process. Regional Economic Development Parliamentary Under-Secretary Fletcher Tabuteau said the PGF’s Te Ara Mahi funding stream would provide $1.6m ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters will travel to the Republic of Korea and Japan next week. “The Republic of Korea and Japan are two of New Zealand’s closest partners in the region with whom we share common values and ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced today that New Zealand is leading a police support mission in Bougainville as the region prepares to vote in a non-binding referendum on its political future. “New Zealand has accepted an invitation ...
New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is defending Immigration New Zealand (INZ) after it instructed officials to stop granting visas as an exception to instructions. He has also lashed out at immigrant leaders upset with the tightening of the rules, saying they had an “elevated sense of entitlement”. Members of ...
A change to the End of Life Choice Bill was passed in Parliament, meaning if politicians decide to vote for the law it must be approved by the public first. A binding referendum was a condition insisted on by New Zealand First, and Jenny Marcroft’s supplementary order paper (SOP) successfully ...
Groups involved with innovative fisheries research projects are encouraged to apply for government support in the latest funding round from the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures programme. Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash says the SFF Futures funding is designed to be flexible enough to support small or large projects across a ...
The Government has fixed an issue affecting how Immigration New Zealand has processed visa applications for culturally arranged marriages, which will now see a consistent process applied which ensures people with legitimate arranged marriages can visit New Zealand while also preventing any rorting of the system. Earlier this year Immigration ...
The Royal Commission into the Attacks on Christchurch Mosques will report back on 30 April 2020 to give it more time to hear submissions and consider information, Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin announced today. The Royal Commission was originally scheduled to report back to Government by 10 December 2019. “There has ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Washington DC today to attend a ministerial meeting focused on defeating ISIS, and to continue pursuing New Zealand’s trade opportunities. Mr Peters will participate in a meeting of Foreign and Defence Ministers from key countries contributing to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. ...
The recently crowned Bird of the Year, the hoiho/yellow eyed penguin, is getting a much needed helping hand alongside more than 168 other community conservation projects announced Minister for Conservation Eugenie Sage today. 168 community conservation projects throughout New Zealand are benefiting from $8 million in government grants, including $500,000 ...
Controls on assault rifles and semi-automatic firearms are to be broadened to include some types of pistols, under changes to a bill currently making its way through Parliament. Police Minister Stuart Nash has tabled a Supplementary Order Paper to the Arms Legislation Bill, which is currently before a Select Committee ...
Minister of Defence Ron Mark will travel to Singapore today to conduct a counterpart visit and to co-chair the third annual Singapore-New Zealand Defence Ministers’ Meeting with his counterpart, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen. “Singapore is one of our most important defence partners in the region, and our ...
Nelson’s Salisbury School is to be rebuilt, creating a modern and suitable learning environment for students at the residential special school, Education Minister Chris Hipkins and Associate Education Minister Tracey Martin announced today. The school for girls aged 8-15, in Richmond, was earmarked for closure by National until the process ...
The panel undertaking a comprehensive review of the Resource Management Act has identified the main issues to be addressed and options for reform and is calling for feedback to inform its final report. In July the Government announced the comprehensive review of the resource management system, including the RMA - ...
An important safety valve has been added to New Zealand’s criminal justice system with the third reading of the Criminal Cases Review Commission Bill today. The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) will investigate claimed miscarriages of justice. “We’ve seen how our justice system can very occasionally get things spectacularly wrong, ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters welcomes the tabling of the Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) 2019 Annual Report in Parliament today. He says the 2019 Annual Report marks the point when New Zealand’s racing industry’s decline was arrested and a turnaround started. RITA’s 2019 Annual Report recorded an industry net profit ...
The New Zealand Government is today sending 21 firefighters to help fight the ongoing catastrophic Australian bushfires. “The fires in Australia are in some of the toughest, most challenging conditions ever,” says Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin. “As of yesterday morning, there were 100 active bushfire-related incidents across Queensland and ...
More frontline support for schools through a new education agency, as part of a redesigned Ministry of Education More support for principals and school boards including through a new centre of leadership and local leadership advisor roles New independent disputes panels for parents and students Management of school property ...
The Government’s reform of the Tomorrow’s Schools system is a watershed moment in education and an opportunity to create meaningful change for ākonga Māori and their whānau, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis said today. “Last year through Kōrero Mātauranga | Education Conversation, Māori teachers, parents, ākonga, whānau, hapū and iwi ...
Infrastructure Minister is welcoming the first of many updated project pipelines from the newly established New Zealand Infrastructure Commission today. The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, has released an expanded pipeline of major capital projects – another crucial step towards delivering better infrastructure outcomes. “The first iteration of the ...
Tougher gun laws designed to improve public safety through firearms prohibition orders are proposed in a new document released for public input. Police Minister Stuart Nash says firearms prohibition orders (FPOs) would give new powers to Police to ensure high-risk individuals come nowhere near firearms. “We have already prohibited the ...
Andy Coupe has been confirmed as TVNZ’s new Board Chair. “Mr Coupe has strong commercial and capital markets experience and TVNZ has benefited from his technical knowledge of business and finance, as well as his extensive governance experience,” the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Kris Faafoi said. Andy ...
Associate Minister of Transport Julie Anne Genter today officially opened a separated pathway, following the completion of the Kaiwharawhara Stream bridge, which will improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians along Hutt Road. The $6.8m Hutt Road project provides a separated path for cycling and pedestrians, the replacement of informal parking ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today announced the appointment of career diplomat Si’alei van Toor as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Russia. “I’m pleased to appoint Ms van Toor to this position. She brings a wealth of experience to the role having previously served as Senior Trade Adviser to the ...
The Treasury’s 2019 Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) will be released on Wednesday December 11, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. The Coalition Government will publish the 2020 Budget Policy Statement at the same time, outlining the priorities for Budget 2020. Further details on arrangements for the release will ...
A new initiative to better support small businesses through hands-on mentoring and advice has been launched by the Minister for Small Business. The first event in the Kiwi Business Boost series of regional workshops and online tools has been launched in Wairoa by Stuart Nash. “The Business Boost initiative combines ...
The latest Quarterly Connectivity Report shows that more and more New Zealanders are moving to Ultra-fast Broadband (UFB), with Rolleston having the highest uptake at 74 per cent, as at the end of September. “This means that nearly three quarters of Rolleston’s households and businesses have moved to ultra-fast services. ...
The passing of the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill will help ensure a safe planet for our kids and grandkids, the Minister for Climate Change James Shaw said today. The landmark legislation which provides a framework to support New Zealanders to prepare for, and adapt to, the effects ...
The review of Oranga Tamariki practice around the planned uplift of a Hastings baby in May shows significant failings by the Ministry and that the planned and funded changes to shift from a child crisis service to a proper care and protection service need to be accelerated, Children’s Minister Tracey ...
Education Minister Chris Hipkins has wished students the best of luck for this year’s NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship exams which start tomorrow. Around 140,000 students will have participated in 119 NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship exams by the end of the exam period on 3 December. “I want to ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today announced the appointment of Bede Corry as New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. “The appointment of a senior diplomat to this important role underlines the significance New Zealand places on our relationship with the United Kingdom,” said Mr Peters. “The United ...
An innovative approach to boosting the number of frontline Police has seen 20 new officers graduate from one of the uncommon training wings in Auckland. Police Minister Stuart Nash says the graduation of 20 constables today means that 1,765 new Police officers have been deployed since the coalition government took ...
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says the 1.2 million hours of community work completed by offenders in the last financial year has helped local communities right across the country. “Community work sentences are a great way for people to pay something positive back to society. There is a massive benefit to ...
"A pathway for Police in leadership with Iwi Māori, to achieve the aspirations of Māori whānau." Police launch of Te Huringa o Te Tai, Pipitea Marae, Thorndon Quay, Wellington Nau mai, haere mai. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, ka nui te mihi, ki a koutou. Hello everyone, warm greetings to you all. ...
Working New Zealanders are getting more in their back pockets under the Coalition Government’s economic plan. Stats NZ data today shows average weekly ordinary time earnings are up by $83 since the Government took office. This shows that working New Zealanders are getting higher take-home pay, and that employers are ...
The Government is supporting schools to cut down their energy consumption and reduce environmental impacts, with a quarter of all schools having their lights replaced with LEDs, a sustainability contestable fund and a plan to improve the environmental sustainability of all schools in the future. Education Minister Chris Hipkins and ...
Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis heads to China on Friday to lead the New Zealand Government presence at the China-New Zealand Year of Tourism closing ceremony. The ceremony will take place at Canton Tower in Guangzhou on Sunday 10 November. “The Year of Tourism has been mutually beneficial for both New ...
Should we plan for drought or deluge and how is CO2 released from the ocean’s floor? Several climate change projects were given a boost in the latest Marsden Fund investment of $83.6 million, Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods said today. “Climate change is long-term challenge that requires out-of-the-box ...
Leaders of 16 countries negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have announced the completion of negotiation on the text as well as agreement on virtually all market access issues between 15 countries. The leaders said they will work with India to resolve its outstanding concerns in a way that ...
Civil Defence Minister Hon Peeni Henare says World Tsunami Awareness Day today (5 November) is a chance for all New Zealanders to learn more about the tsunami risk in our regions and the right actions to take to stay safe. “All of New Zealand’s coastline is at risk of tsunami. ...
New Zealand’s more than 1000 paramedics are to have their role as key frontline health professionals formally recognised and regulated in the same way as doctors and nurses, Health Minister David Clark says. The Government has agreed to regulate paramedics under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. “Paramedic leaders ...
Changes to insolvency law announced by the Government today will include requirements to honour up to 50 per cent of the value of gift cards or vouchers held by consumers, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi says. “When a business is insolvent, these consumers are often left out of ...
Six New Zealanders tonight received medals for their meritorious work in the frontline public service. The Public Service Medal, established by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, is awarded annually. “For the second year this Government has recognised public servants who have made a real difference to the lives of New ...
Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker heads to Shanghai today for the China International Import Expo and meetings focused on reforming the WTO. Over 90 New Zealand companies will be exhibiting at the second China International Import Expo (CIIE), which runs from 5-10 November. “China is one of New Zealand’s ...
Drivers holding a current five-year learner or restricted car or motorbike licence, expiring between 1 December 2019 and 1 December 2021, will receive an automatic two-year extension, Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter announced today. Over 144,000 drivers’ time-limited licences are due to expire in the next two years; 67,000 ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.Euthanasia Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Euthanasia bill proves there’s power in a party-of-one Sam Sachdeva ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sally Wasef, Postdoctoral research fellow, Griffith University These days, not many Aussies consider the ibis a particularly admirable creature. But these birds, now colloquially referred to as “bin chickens” due to their notorious scavenging antics, have a grandiose and important place in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ward, PhD candidate, University of Sydney The ABC has announced it will not provide live radio coverage of the Olympics for the first time in 67 years for budgetary reasons, and because Australians now have the “increased ability to access Olympics ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philip Mosley, Research Fellow, Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting one in 350 Australians. It’s caused by the loss of cells deep within the brain that produce a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Degeneration ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael James Walsh, Assistant Professor Social Science, University of Canberra The concept of “home” refers to more than bricks and mortar. Just as cities are more than buildings and infrastructure, our homes carry all manner of emotional, aesthetic and socio-cultural significance. Our ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lin Crase, Professor of Economics and Head of School, University of South Australia The deal to crank up Adelaide’s desalination plant to make more water available to farmers in the drought-stricken Murray-Darling Basin makes no sense. It involves the federal government paying ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fiona Andreallo, Lecturer in digital culture, University of Sydney When thinking of sexbots, companionship might not be the first word that comes to mind. But sexbot advertising promises more than sex toys. It is also selling emotional intimacy: robots marketed as if ...
Ahead of the 50 Shades of Green march on parliament today, Jon Pemberton – chairman of the Ag Proud NZ Trust – urges members of the rural community to avoid confrontation and focus on rebuilding the relationship with our urban friends. “Ag Proud NZ understands ...
Paula Bennett and Anne Tolley are financially off the hook after Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters accepted they did not leak his private information. ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Another unexpected OCR move, NZ First Foundation donations under scrutiny, and End of Life Choice bill passes pending referendum.Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr seems intent on giving as many surprises as possible with the OCR. After slashing it in August when it was ...
The fate of RNZ and TVNZ may soon be in the hands of Cabinet ministers, with a proposal to disestablish both broadcasters and create an entirely new public media entity. ...
Electricity retailing is about to be changed by artificial intelligence and the move away from fossil fuels. Watch a video interview with Simply Energy's Murray Dyer. ...
Tomorrow the Australian minister for agriculture is in Christchurch to lobby for a ban on words like “milk” and “meat” from the labels of meat and dairy alternatives. Shama Sukul Lee, the founder of alternative meat startup Sunfed, says the campaign is not about the consumer: it’s driven by a ...
It’s setting up a high school and John Key is an investor, but leaked documents show the $380m education startup locks parents into tough contracts worth tens of thousands of dollars.A tutoring company with former prime minister John Key on its board is charging parents as much as $60,000 to ...
"It's highly concerning that Parliament has voted for the End of Life Choice Bill to become law, pending a referendum," says Renée Joubert, Executive Officer of Euthanasia-Free NZ . ...
The End-of-Life Choice Society is pleased MPs have recognised that the majority of voters across a wide spectrum of society want a law change to allow the terminally ill to die free of intolerable pain and suffering, its president Dr Mary Panko said ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brian Oliver, Research Leader in Respiratory cellular and molecular biology at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and Senior Lecturer, School of Medical & Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology Sydney New South Wales and Queensland are in the grip of a devastating ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Toni Noble, Adjunct Professor, Institute for Positive Psychology & Education, Australian Catholic University More than 600 schools have been closed, and some damaged, in recent days as bushfires rage across Queensland and New South Wales. Some students have been urgently evacuated while ...
Early on Thursday NZ time, the Trump impeachment inquiry kicks into high gear, as the previously closed-door proceedings are replaced with televised public hearings. Here’s the lowdown.What’s about to happen?Just over seven weeks since Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced an impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump’s dealings with Ukraine, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grace Moore, Senior lecturer in English, the University of Otago, New Zealand, University of Otago Bushfire writing has long been a part of Australian literature. Tales of heroic rescues and bush Christmases describe a time when the fire season was confined only ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tanya M Howard, Senior research fellow, University of New England It’s five years since government worker Glen Turner was murdered by a farmer in a confrontation over land clearing laws. Media reporting after his death frequently propagated the image of the “poor ...
The option of requesting assisted dying for people with terminal illness as provisioned by the proposed End of Life Choice Bill has all but divided the country. ...
The Deputy Prime Minister's case against two top civil servants, two former ministers, and a ministry has wrapped at the Auckland High Court, with the judge is reserving his decision. ...
The extension of the Royal Commission report to 30 April 2020 means all other government responses to the mosque attack should be equally delayed, according to the Council of Licenced Firearms Owners (COLFO). ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rick Sarre, Professor of Law and Criminal Justice, University of South Australia Australians woke to the news last weekend that a 19-year-old Warlpiri man had been shot and killed by a police officer in Yuendumu, 300km north-west of Alice Springs. A confrontation ...
Excessively stringent freshwater policies that won’t achieve significantly better water quality outcomes will cost New Zealanders more than $80 billion over the next thirty years, says DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle. “The water quality limits ...
Yesterday the government announced their reform of 1989’s Tomorrow’s Schools legislation. Claire Amos, a school principal in Auckland, reflects on what it all means. When the first draft of the Tomorrow’s School Report landed back in December 2018, I reflected that “the only real concern is that we are not brave enough ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Simpson, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Macquarie University It has been called “the robbery of the century”. Martin Shields and Nicholas Diable, two British investment bankers, are on trial in Germany for helping structure a massive tax evasion scheme, known as cum-ex ...
A group of about a dozen MPs from Labour and National have addressed a last-minute protest at Parliament, on the day the End of Life Choice Bill is due to pass its final reading. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Mathews, Professor, School of Law, Queensland University of Technology Two judges in the High Court of Australia this morning referred Cardinal George Pell’s application for special leave to appeal his convictions to a full bench of the High Court. While not ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee has opened for submissions on Supplementary Order Paper No 408 to the Arms Legislation Bill. Submissions can be made online and close on Friday 29 November 2019 at midnight. Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) 408 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stanley Shanapinda, Research Fellow, La Trobe University Yesterday, New South Wales and Queensland issued fire warnings classified as either “catastrophic”, “severe” or “extreme” – and these conditions will remain in the coming days. The Bureau of Meteorology’s fire danger rating for Wednesday, ...
Newly launched carbon offsetting company Carbonclick want to make it easier for businesses and consumers to save the planet. CEO Dave Rouse and CPO Jan Czaplicki explain that while carbon offsetting isn’t the solution to global warming, it’s necessary.We have pumped our skies full of greenhouse gases for over 200 ...
Premiering tonight on TVNZ DUKE, Tara Ward explores the salty depths of Spiky Gold Hunters. Spiky Gold Hunter is Country Calendar for hard arses. DUKE’s new documentary series follows six Kiwis as they search the Foveaux Strait for kina, a job with great financial reward but huge risk. These divers work ...
The Reserve Bank announced on Wednesday that it hold the Official Cash Rate at 1 percent when bank economists had widely predicted and recommended a 25 basis point cut. ...
It’s time for our leaders to harness their power to take action on meaningful and sustained welfare policy changes, so that all children can have the opportunity to live good lives and to experience a happy, healthy childhood, says Child Poverty ...
Winston Peters' lawyer appears to have accepted in the High Court that two former National ministers he is suing for $450,000 for breaching his privacy were not the source of the leak or responsible for it. ...
Artist Lema Shamamba highlights the threads that connect cellphone use to violence and exploitation in the Democratic Republic of Congo in her first solo exhibition at Auckland’s Objectspace. Embroidered into a purple and yellow dress, a woman has one baby slung on her front and another on her back. Looking at ...
Gloria Steinem speaks to On the Rag about what she has learned from over 50 years of feminist activism. In this very special episode of On the Rag, we are joined by journalist, author, activist and feminist hero Gloria Steinem ahead of the launch of her new book The Truth Will ...
A law change that would allow assisted dying in certain select cases is coming up to a final reading in parliament tonight. Here are some of the many views on the matter we’ve published.As the End of Life Choice bill has made its way through parliament, it has become clear ...
The National Party is floating the idea of replacing the tertiary fees-free policy with a scheme like KiwiSaver to pay for University or polytechnic courses; and the Crown says Winston Peters claim his privacy was breached falls away entirely when held up against the law. ...
Malcolm Harbrow, at No Right Turn, has picked up on an important governance issue which our web search (a brief one, we acknowledge) suggests was missed by the mainstream media. The Referendums Framework Bill was due back from Parliament’s Justice Select Committee yesterday. Harbrow would have been monitoring its progress because he was one of around ...
The State Services Commission has shut down the inquiry into how Budget sensitive information was accessed from the Treasury website, because a key member failed to declare a conflict of interest. ...
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The catastrophic bushfires in Australia are framed very differently depending on which media you consume, writes Duncan Greive from Sydney.The horizon started the day crisp and clear, the bushfires out there but not palpable. A group of 60 or so media from across Australia and New Zealand, all holed up ...
Open Mike 21/01/2017 
Recently more than 150 post-graduate students and young scientists presented an open letter to the Green Party via The Spinoff, encouraging them to reconsider their position on genetic modification. Their target is tackling climate change issues.[1] Can any party continue to be dismissive about genetic modification (GM) contributing to ...8 mins ago
by Deirdre O’Neill Under Thatcher and then Blair and continuing up until our contemporary moment, the working class has seen its culture slowly and progressively destroyed. The change from an industrial society to a service society produced a marked shift in focus from the working class as the backbone of ...14 hours ago
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It seems fair to say that we currently live in a problematic political moment in world history. Democracies are in decline and dictatorships are on the rise. Primordial, sectarian and post-modern divisions have re-emerged, are on the rise or have been accentuated by political evolutions of the moment such as ...19 hours ago
by The Council of Disobedient Women In her excellent oral submission to the Abortion reform select committee on 31st October on behalf of Otago University’s Department of Public Health, historian and public health researcher Hera Cook stated: “We would ask that the committee not use the term ‘pregnant persons’ and ...2 days ago
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2 days ago
If FFNZ really put their faith in “Top Medical Journals” they would now be amending their billboards to recognise new research results. Image from FFNZ but updated to agree with the latest research. ... 4 days ago
And to think he gave all the potential goodwill away with that moronic, cult-like statement (repeated ad nauseam by many National hardliners) that Key is quite simply “the greatest PM we ever had”…
Installation complete: this was nothing ... 1 week ago
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Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.
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New Zealand baggage handling equipment maker Glidepath has been sold to a French company. ...39 mins ago
Paula Bennett and Anne Tolley are financially off the hook after Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters accepted they did not leak his private information. ...1 hour ago
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Another unexpected OCR move, NZ First Foundation donations under scrutiny, and End of Life Choice bill passes pending referendum.Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr seems intent on giving as many surprises as possible with the OCR. After slashing it in August when it was ...1 hour ago
Philip Matthews celebrates two remarkble - and remarkably different - portraits of the great Colin McCahon. ...2 hours ago
Electricity retailing is about to be changed by artificial intelligence and the move away from fossil fuels. Watch a video interview with Simply Energy's Murray Dyer. ...2 hours ago
Arranged marriages where partners had the freedom to say no may not be included under a new partnership visa fix. Dileepa Fonseka explains. ...2 hours ago
National's education plans has some good stuff, but the promises that will resonate most could have come from Labour. ...2 hours ago
Elite female sporting events will ultimately speak for themselves to fans who need convincing they are worthwhile watching. ...3 hours ago
David Seymour's End of Life Choice Bill won over Parliament where other MPs had failed - but the real fight may just be beginning. ...3 hours ago
The University of Auckland's Dr Louise Humpage makes a plea to Jacinda Ardern to ban private fireworks once and for all. ...3 hours ago
A new Māori policing strategy, designed to get reoffending numbers down, has been met with skepticism. ...4 hours ago
Despite its best efforts to lower power prices, the Government might see a retail rate hike just six months before next year's election. ...13 hours ago
The price of avocados has been smashed to their lowest in almost three years, and the price of other fruit and veges are also falling. ...18 hours ago
The Reserve Bank announced on Wednesday that it hold the Official Cash Rate at 1 percent when bank economists had widely predicted and recommended a 25 basis point cut. ...18 hours ago
The Reserve Bank has held the Official Cash Rate steady at a record low 1 percent. ...18 hours ago
Winston Peters' lawyer appears to have accepted in the High Court that two former National ministers he is suing for $450,000 for breaching his privacy were not the source of the leak or responsible for it. ...19 hours ago
An undeclared conflict of interest has seen the initial Budget leak probe abandoned, an a new investigation launched. ...19 hours ago
The recent outbursts by Shane Jones about Indian migration should be strenuously rejected. ...20 hours ago
The National Party is floating the idea of replacing the tertiary fees-free policy with a scheme like KiwiSaver to pay for University or polytechnic courses; and the Crown says Winston Peters claim his privacy was breached falls away entirely when held up against the law. ...20 hours ago
Malcolm Harbrow, at No Right Turn, has picked up on an important governance issue which our web search (a brief one, we acknowledge) suggests was missed by the mainstream media. The Referendums Framework Bill was due back from Parliament’s Justice Select Committee yesterday. Harbrow would have been monitoring its progress because he was one of around ...20 hours ago
Infratil has reported a profit drop after making large investments, including buying a half stake in telecommunications company Vodafone. ...21 hours ago
The country's biggest listed transport company, Mainfreight, has had a 6 percent lift in profit as better trading in overseas markets has offset the slower growth in local markets. ...22 hours ago
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11785966
Poor Audrey. Having trouble letting go.
Bill English had a good international trip by most accounts. He represented New Zealand well as Prime Minister.
Didn’t appear on any foreign television shows saying puerile things then?
Did you comment on Key’s idiotic interview at the time, Pete?
Gee you live in the past. Move on man.
You will still be blaming Key when English wins the election.
The past, James?
Key’s still an MP, isn’t he?
Or has he been spirited away, along with any memory of his parcle-tongued reign?
I suppose what you’re hoping, James, is that we’ll give English a clean “bill” of health and forget that he’s been polluted by Key’s behaviour for 6 years, trained by the same people Key was and complicit in the disgraceful things Key did, and that he’ll still have Key whispering in his ear now. But no, James, we’re not so easily bamboozled, especially by someone as shallow and obvious as you.
“Gee you live in the past. Move on man.”
Good advice. Will English et al finally stop blaming Clark for all NZ’s ills?
Good point.
When will National stop blaming Labour?
They’ve been in power for 8 years and still we hear it was Labour’s fault.
A Labour government puts NZ back a decade so National will take full responsibility in 2018.
That’s a bit rich James – that’s all that National has done since it came into Government – it was all Labour’s fault until it was just ad nauseum listening to it. You are pathetic.
I’ve criticised Key a number of times in the past, but I don’t know what relevance that has now. How much have you criticised Turei and Shaw?
From what I’ve seen English represented New Zealand well in Europe, especially for a rooky PM. Did you see it differently?
I asked, Pete, whether you’d commented on Key’s “performance” during his interview while overseas; you know, the one where he denied the parlous state of New Zealand’s environment and the views of Mike Joy. It was, by many accounts, a cringe-worthy interview and certainly the interviewer expressed his disbelief at the then Prime Minister’s slippery tongue. I wondered if you’d written a post on that, hoping to read your thoughts on that issue, given that you have commented on the present Prime Minister’s foreign visit here on a blog that has readers who like to think more deeply about such things. So, Pete, did you?
Key made many trips overseas and had quite a few interviews. I’ve criticised him for puerile behaviour. But you are diverting into history (with a lot of vagueness). Sharpen up.
The subject here was how English presented himself on his trip over the last week or so. Reports have generally been favourable. Do you disagree with them?
“The subject here was…”
Thanks, Pete. Gotta go now.
Thanks for your attempted hit and run, shows that you haven’t changed much.
Have you Pete?
Successful hit, Pete, but no running, mate. I had a forest garden workshop to run and fixing up your nonsense before it began was pretty simple.
The polls show that.
National back up Labour down.
English just has to not fuck up.
Not likely.
Labour Greens need to get non voters out and unseat Dunne.
To stand any chance.
Unless those non voters vote for national. And some of them will.
And some of them won’t.
But when you are sooooo far behind you need the ratio to be waaaay in the lefts favour. And stats say they won’t be.
You forget Mt. Roskill and that’s just wishful thinking on your part.
Poor Labour held prisoner by it’s own neo liberal economic ideology, unable to mount any kind of meaningful attacks or counter punches to National, who only have to hold their boat steady to probably win, yes even with English at the helm.
Watching Labour slowly drown in a pool of it’s own discredited ideology is really depressing stuff.
Adrian, if you’re so saddened by what you see as Labour’s depressing fate, how about you:
1) Get involved in the party and promote your vision of its problems and possible solutions – help rescue it from what you see as its slow demise, and/or
2) Stop stirring against the party that you claim some association with/ loyalty to (enough to be depressed on its behalf).
Sadly, I strongly suspect you won’t do either of these. (With friends like you, who needs enemies?)
BTW, you (and others) tend to throw the term “neoliberal” around pretty loosely. Labour isn’t big on transfer of assets from the public to private sector, and that’s a cornerstone of neoliberalism. Just saying…
Red blooded, fair comments, I will answer both as best I can.
I had been involved in the party ( long ago) but was left very disillusioned and gutted by the core ideology that was being pushed at the time.
1. I thought about becoming involved more directly again last election when Anna Lorck set up her office next door to my shop. However after becoming aware of her completely out of touch policies around seasonal labour (amongst other things) there was no way I could get behind her.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503459&objectid=11720136
…and sure as hell not Nash in Napier.
So that door was closed.
although that being said, I am still very active politically, just not through normal party structures.
2. ‘Stirring’ although I would use the word critiquing, the party is I feel my, and every labour supporters obligation and responsibility to critique the direction of the party should they feel it is being led astray.
I am a very loyal friend, so I have been told.
Labour since Douglas is responsible for major asset sales in New Zealand, and until it fully rejects that laissez faire centrist ideology, then that is what Labour will perceived to be, and to some extent stand for.
Labour have never apologized for selling our assets.
The reason I am so hard on Labour, is that they are so far removed from real working families now, that they, without the slightest hint of embarrassment suggested $5-600,000 homes in AKL as being ‘affordable’.
But I also believe that in the core of the Labour Party, is the structure that represents our only real hope of breaking the chains of neo liberalism, and working together as a country back toward a more equal, fair and caring society for all…but that will only happen, in my view, under a left Socialist Democratic Labour.
But unfortunately that is nothing like our Labour Party today.
From their own website,
Fixing the Housing Crisis…
‘They are too focused on looking after those at the top rather than families in the middle.’
Not ‘looking after’ working families..no just the middle class,
yes that’s Labour in their own words on their own site!
Adrian, the current Labour party is not the same Labour government of the 1980’s. And aren’t you being rather skewered with cherry picking Labour’s website by misquoting there?
+100 Red-Blooded.
We are all neo-liberal in that we live in a neo-liberal system and do neo-liberal things. Certainly some more than others, like choosing the cheapest power or phone company for instance. I think we need to look at the neo-liberal aspects of our lives and try and change them. Then there could be real change.
that’s an interesting take TFG. Leaving aside those who have little choice, how many people opposed to neoliberalism live that out in their lives?
Choosing the best customer service or best price does not make someone a neoliberal. Just makes you different from a doormat.
Adrian. If memory serves, didn’t you say on TBD, sometime back, that you preferred the National government to remain in power?
Leftie, Well I wouldn’t say I prefer National to remain in power, however I am in the same camp as Slavoj Zizek, I believe neo liberalism, and especially center left neo liberalism to be a political disease, and radical action needs to be taken to avert disaster… I will leave Zizek to explain better than I…..
I know this is a quite unpopular position, and I am fully prepared to debate my own stance on it and could be persuaded otherwise, if arguments to the contrary offered another way to turn Labour back to a Socialist Democratic Left platform…still, as I have also said, Labour was radically changed ideologically by an internal revolution in 1984, and I believe that consequently an internal revolution within the party will be needed to remove the ‘new labour neoliberal’ ideology from the party.
BTW as to your comment that I…”skewered with cherry picking Labour’s website by misquoting”
I have done nothing of the sort, my quote was taken directly from the official Labour site. This was their wording, and as I am sure you well know, wording, and word placement in politics is very very important, so don’t come at me with that rubbish.
Adrian, pretty sure that’s what you said on TDB when you were asked if you wanted National to stay in power. And as for “They are too focused on looking after those at the top rather than families in the middle.” Sounds like Labour were talking about National. Best you put up a citation, so your quote can be read in context.
BTW, has National ever apologized for selling off our assets, past and present? Will John Key apologize for what he has done?
As Andrew Little said “I don’t see how I can be personally held responsible for the actions of predecessors.”
<a href="http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/08/30/waatea-5th-estate-labour-vs-nz-first-the-fight-for-maori-votes/
That particularly shameful interview was on BBC’s HardTalk programme….
That con man is cringeworthy.
Poor Pete also having trouble letting go. WTF does one do when le raison d’etre has fucked off ? Oh that’s right, redeploy the ‘suckshin’. Tasty !
Trump, greatest President since Reagan!
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/20/president-trump-takes-office-vowing-to-restore-prosperity-fight-for-country.html
Congratulations, Mr President!
How can Trump be the greatest president since Reagun? he just got sworn in and hasn’t actually done anything, HDCAFriendlyTroll.
BTW, Was Reagun a great president?
maybe they should give him a nobel prize in the hope he achieves something.
Lol
“Chief Justice Roberts, President Carter, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, fellow Americans, and people of the world: thank you.
We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and to restore its promise for all of our people.
Together, we will determine the course of America and the world for years to come.
We will face challenges. We will confront hardships. But we will get the job done.
Every four years, we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power, and we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their gracious aid throughout this transition. They have been magnificent.
Today’s ceremony, however, has very special meaning. Because today we are not merely transferring power from one Administration to another, or from one party to another – but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People.
For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost.
Washington flourished – but the people did not share in its wealth.
Politicians prospered – but the jobs left, and the factories closed.
The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country.
Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s Capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.
That all changes – starting right here, and right now, because this moment is your moment: it belongs to you.”
Read the rest of President Trump’s great, great speech here:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/20/full-text-president-donald-trumps-inauguration-speech.html
He basically criticised every politician sharing the stage with him for their betrayal of America’s working class.
‘Today’s ceremony however, has very special meaning, because today, we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another or from one party to another, but we are transferring power from Washington, DC. And giving it back to you, the people.
For too long, have reaped the rewards of government while people have borne the cost. Washington flourished, but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered period, but the jobs left and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories. Their triumphs have not been your triumphs and while they celebrated in our nation’s capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.
That all changes starting right here and right now, because this moment is your moment. It belongs to you. It be longs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all across America. This is your day. This is your celebration. And this, the United States of America, is your country.’
‘Today we are not merely transferring power from one Administration to another, or from one party to another – but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People.’
Do you believe he means those things and will work for them?
No.
But there are many desperate people in America who will.
And desperate people turn to demagogues.
You have every right to be skeptical, Paul. If Andrew Little gave the same speech I’d be critical too. But if just for a moment you can imagine Donald Trump, President of the USA, delivering on his promises, wouldn’t that make America great again?
When do people like Trump ever deliver on promises? Was America ever, really great?
Call it Left, call it Right. What it amounts to is a massive shift in power. It’d be like as if Colonel Viper got made moderator-in-chief.
I agree – a significant change in power.
” Colonel Viper got made moderator-in-chief.”
I vote fot that. Would actually be a considerable improvement IMHO
And yes thats my genuine opinion. The moderation here sucks! . Often used to win the argument rather than foster dialogue
Authors shouldn’t be able to moderate their own posts. Too much skin in the game.
“Authors shouldn’t be able to moderate their own posts. Too much skin in the game.”
The moderation you’ve been objecting to today was not done by the post’s author. Nor was your own moderation today.
Only if you take conflicts of interest seriously, unlike some politicians..
How is moderating one’s own post inherently a conflict of interest?
You are right. Sorry, paying too much attention to distant politicians.
Um, because authors put a lot of energy, thought, and effort in writing threads and somebody may come only with perfectly legitimate on-topic criticism that doesn’t fall within the moderation rules but still get moderated because in the author’s eyes his or her work is being unfairly attacked.
Or if you want the short version some authors can get rather touchy about people saying bad things about what they’ve written. Especially if they’ve put a lot of work into it.
Can you please provide three examples that demonstrate what you are suggesting? That’s links to specific moderation, plus an explanation from you of which bit you think is the moderator objecting to someone saying bad things about what they’ve written. Thanks.
Nope because I haven’t been keeping tabs. But now that you’ve asked, I will.
please drop it in a comment in front of me in Open Mike.
Moderation on TS isn’t to foster dialogue (that’s up to the authors and commenters). It’s to prevent the worst of the trolling and derailments from wrecking the place and putting people off esp authors (and to protect the site from legal issues).
Were that it was so!
And speaking of Colonel Viper where is my BFF? I thought his latest ban would be over by now. Surely he’d be in here or over on the other thread celebrating President Trump’s inauguration.
Banned for four weeks. The first of many this year I predict.
Anti-worker anarchists like Trump and CV will fail in the short and long term.
Especially CV who has no redeeming points whatsoever.
Whatever with a Goldman Sachs cabinet the Vampire capitalists are in charge.
No chance of any change.
All talk and no trousers.
HDCAFriendlyTroll
History will be the judge on that.
Even best intentions will not be able to restore the jobs in any country as robotics will have the greatest impact since the industrial revolution.
He will be faced with a choice between finding a peaceful way of transition that includes education, income and poverty, health and elder care, institutionalized racism, civil rights, personal responsibility … shall I go on? Or using force, at home or abroad. As the nature of work and income is about to change in very profound ways neither Trump nor any other leader will escape the fact that new ways of society structures need to be found.
With the speech Trump gave and the absolute alignment with the military (its called having a buck each way), my prediction at this stage is not as rosy as yours. History has shown that it is the lazy mans walk and what more – talk – that always has mapped the future (may I stretch at this junction “man as “men”) and aggression, stand over tactics, oppression are hailed as virtues. And to make it really scary, using “above all god” in the parting sentence is concerning. There are parallels to a speech some 80 odd years ago.
So again, the jury is out and history will tell.
What could possibly go wrong when you’ve got god on your side and a gun in your hand?
The bad news.
1. The beating of war drums with China.
2. His focus on a law and order society.
Chris Hedges describes the speech as exhibiting the feeling of a crisis cult. It highlighted the worst aspects of American exceptionalism and imperialism.
He says the promises won’t be delivered and then the state will be used against the vulnerable.
Yeah…….it is what he said. He also sought to paint patriotism and prejudice mutually exclusive. Is that the predominant lesson of history ? Don’t think so.
It seems that Dame Paula Bennett of Waitakere, whose idea of job creation was permanent multiple security guards at WINZ offices, will be visiting Kaikoura to reassure shaken locals.
She may have to bring her new labour market program with her.
[your comments should come through now.] – Bill
Kaikoura needs to immediately erect a large sign at the town’s perimeter saying, “Sod off, you nauseating hypocrite!”
I notice your canard re what he said being “left wing” is no longer up Paul. How come ? You deferring to Archie CV Bunker are you ?…….editing, leaving it to ACVB to deliver the “tremendous” left wing news are you ?
No I was editing my words.
Trump is making a faux appeal to working class interests and it will work because there is no real left wing option in the US.
I see where you’re coming from Paul…….you told The Standard’s self-perceived royalty Archie CV Bunker that ? The “faux” bit I mean.
Archie Bunker?
Don’t get you?
A bigoted big-mouth idiot from an old US comedy series.
Was he a US take on Alf Garnett (Til Death Do Us Part)?
Yes
Yup. I think the US version was called “All in the Family”, or something similar.
The future Independent MP for Mt Albert Penny Bright explaining to Auckland Mayor and Councillors how the private procurement model breeds corruption.
🙂
Therersa May – warning corporations about shirking their tax-paying responsibilities (another rightee stealing lines from the left, while promoting so-called “free trade” and “globalisation”. In this NY Times article, it talks about NZ as being one of the countries the UK is aiming to make free trade deals.
Hmmm… isn’t Trump talking out against any trade deals that don’t strongly benefit the US? A trade deal between the US and UK that strongly benefits both, and previously overlooked middle and low income people? I’ll be interested to see how that goes down.
“Strongly benefit” are your words. What Trump has said is that America will no longer act where there is no benefit and that they recognise the right of other nations to act in that nation’s best interest.
American has always acted for it’s own benefit. It’s just they have done so, so badly that, looking back, it seems as if they haven’t.
It seems that Dame Paula Bennett of Waitakere, whose idea of job creation was permanent multiple security guards at WINZ offices, will be visiting Kaikoura to reassure shaken locals.
She may have to bring her new labour market program with her
Was expecting to see a bit of a drop (just a small one) in the last poll (Roy Morgan – but yeah) for national post keys departure.
But very happy to see a small rise for English and national and a drop to labour. A good way to start an election year. Will be interesting to track the rest of the polls coming up.
It was a negligible change for National.
It was also a negligible change for Labour, down 1.5, but now people are insisting that Labour+Greens matter a combined drop of 3.5% must be a bit worrying for those who thought the MoU was a game changer, and those who thought Key’s self demotion was a game changer.
Labour’s start to the year has been very disappointing. Picking a fight with Peters and pledging a bill to circumvent workplace safety that one had previously lobbied for is an odd stance.
Little’s delay in announcing he wouldn’t stand in Rongotai was also odd, he should have dealt with that immediately King announced she was standing down, he knew it was coming. Instead of putting it to bed last year he has put his indecision on show at a time he needed to be making a strong start to the year.
Relying on Mt Albert to kick off their campaign proper is very risky. Labour (and Greens) cannot make it look like a cosy campaign jack up, unless they are seen to compete seriously it could easily backfire.
Ardern standing looks a bit like rearranging the deck chairs. It would have been better to have new talent on show, someone like Deborah Russell would have looked much better.
Little conceded that polls were bad – “I have to lead a party that starts from 2014 at a 25 per cent vote, polling at the moment at late 20s, 30 per cent sort of mark. So we have a lot of work to do, and I don’t underestimate that.”
That hard work should have been evident from January 1 in election year. Labour need to be careful they don’t sleep walk to an election nightmare.
Serious question: why would anyone think that the MoU was a game changer?
Who was it going to gain votes from?
Not NZ First voters, because the Greens are only really after the youth vote and think that baby boomers have a lot to answer for.
Not National voters because they all think the Greens are even further left than the most extreme Labour MP.
Has it done anything, other than signal that Labour doesn’t think it can win?
I think it was a terrible decision by labour – prob a better deal for the greens.
It will be a movement of votes between the two and more moderate voters moving away to nzf or nats
They didnt think!
“Conventional wisdom” is that MMP parties have to declare who they are with before the election. Its crap but has become a “fact” . Its because they believe the public are too dumb to understand MMP. Winston has never bought into this doctrine and he gets along ok.
“Winston has never bought into this doctrine and he gets along ok.”
Winston was out of parliament last term, I seem to recall…
It was the term before, 2008-2011.
Before that he was rejected by the voters of Tauranga.
He hasn’t been in any governing arrangement since 2005-2008, so his success rate hasn’t been great, despite media talking him up as ‘king maker’ at every opportunity – I saw this again somewhere today.
In 1998, Winston Peter’s apologized to Tauranga voters for forming a coalition government with the National party.
<a href="https://fmacskasy2.wordpress.com/1998/09/14/peters-sorry-about-coalition/
John key running away after National’s whopping defeat in the Mt. Roskill by election, and with a general election just around the corner, sent out signals that he thinks National isn’t going to win. John key did say if National lost he would quit politics.
Agreed.
Good post. Labour ought to win the election given how popular they are. Opinion polls show we are heading in the wrong direction. English cannot debate and is a loser. Yeah Right.
Fisiani. National lost the flag referendum, the Northland and Roskill by elections, and failed badly in the local elections, all in a row, so much for that “popularity” and “opinion polling.”
Also interesting to note that most of the polling was done before English made his comment about many Kiwis cringing at Waitangi.
Next time the Nats will be further ahead.
Dame Paula Bennett of Waitakere, whose idea of job creation was permanent multiple security guards at WINZ offices, will soon be visiting Kaikoura to reassure shaken locals.
She may have to bring her new labour market program with her ..
Brilliant take down of Bob Jones.
‘Bob Jones can now descend back down into the abyss whence he came.
This isn’t surprising. Jones is a corpse compelled by witchcraft to say the most obviously racist thing in any given situation. The only joy he can extract from this mortal plane comes when he’s raining blows on those he believes are beneath him, be they beggars, flight attendants, reporter Rob Vaughn, or victims of indecent assault who he believes have themselves to blame for making the “silly” mistake of walking in a park.
“If I’m a rich old white man. Everyone else should be a rich old white man,” he whines with each rattling breath. “And if they’re not, they’re lazy or criminals or even Māoris.”
http://thespinoff.co.nz/society/18-01-2017/opinion-bob-jones-can-now-descend-back-down-into-the-abyss-from-whence-he-came/
Now now Paulsky, breath, the alternate view is that jones just believes the purpose of government is to protect liberty and property rights and equal oppportunity and let people get on and be responsible for their lives, in contrast to nanny state from cradle to grave and assume every necessity for life is and entitlement Now I agree sir bob may have expressed his opinion in a provocative way but no need for your support of hate speeach, agism and bigotry against elderly white folk
A couple of years ago, Jones had a piece in the Herald’ bitterly complaining about how NZ has now become the biggest “nanny state” in the world, probably one of the few things that I could find to agree with him.
Dame Paula Bennett of Waitakere, whose idea of job creation was permanent multiple security guards at WINZ offices, will soon be visiting Kaikoura to reassure shaken locals.
She may have to bring her new labour market program with her.
It is interesting that ex PM had an army of protectors around him at all times, weird for a little country like NZ, when you compare the PM’s of, say the UK and Australia, where they’re ability to mix with general without the need for “men in dark glasses”, it really does say a lot about the divisiveness of the man, that is if you can call him a “man”.
+1 NewsFlash.
Chilly morning. Extra blanket on the bed and new snow on the mountain.
What a stuffed up summer.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/88610721/mt-taranaki-gets-a-dusting-of-midsummer-snow
Testing
Neoliberals Know The Price Of Everything And The Value Of Nothing
My father likes to say that some people know the price of everything and the value of nothing. The same could be said of the neoliberals of the world, who–in case you missed my previous piece–are now transcendent in most policy circles across the world.
To review, the neoliberal agenda is one of deregulation, unfettered trade, fiscal austerity (with the attendant reduction in social programs), privatization and tax reduction. Fundamental to the neoliberal ideology is that government regulation and planning of economic activity are inherently flawed and cannot bring about the desired ends of efficiency, prosperity and social harmony.
Instead, price is the great and sufficient transmitter of information across the economy and across society at large. Price is the best barometer for all decisions. Hence, the emphasis on privatizing almost everything in society including education and health care.
Neoliberals believe that voting with your money is at least, if not more important, than voting in elections in a free society. The freer the market, the more choices consumers will have, and the more competitive the market, the better the quality will be.
There are several problems, of course, with the price mechanism. First, it only takes into account costs which are directly borne by the provider of a product or service. So-called externalities such as pollution and climate change are not tallied in the price. In order for those costs to be included, say, by the imposition of a carbon tax, the government would have to intervene, something not consistent with neoliberal ideas.
Second, such a monomaniacal focus on price alone pre-empts a broader view of social goals, reducing them merely to price signals. But not every social good can be reduced to a price signal in a nominally “free” market.
http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/16/neoliberals-know-the-price-of-everything-and-the-value-of-nothing/
How corrupt is New Zealand?
Seen this?
https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-NZ/50DBSCH_SCR6208_1/2064c8e8f81a4…
“The Finance and Expenditure Committee has considered Petition 2011/101 of Penelope Mary Bright and 13 others, requesting
That the House conduct an urgent inquiry into why New Zealand Auditor-General Lyn Provost did not disclose that she was a shareholder in Sky City Entertainment Group Ltd at the time she declined to conduct an urgent investigation into the failure of the Organised and Financial Crime Agency of New Zealand to carry out “due diligence” on the increased risk of money-laundering arising from the New Zealand International Convention Centre (Bill) 2013.
We have no matters to bring to the attention of the House. ”
Time for the House to include the proven ‘anti-corruption campaigner?
I think so.
Penny Bright
2017 Independent candidate
Mt Albert by-election.
That’s pretty disgusting. It has been know for a long time that if you want to launder money you go to Sky City. There’s some roulette type game that you can bet your money on black and red and only if it goes to one number on the board you lose. That way you can bet your money, have a huge chance of winning and then ask for your winnings in a cheque. That way if IRD, social welfare or anyone else asks where you got your house/Mercedes etc when you earn zero income you say ‘I won it at Sky City and here is my cheque to prove it.
Now that Trump has shown that just spewing out a firehose of bullshit can be a successful electoral technique, we need to more on guard than ever. Unfortunately, when processing a lie, the mind first admits the possibility that it might be true – and then many minds never take the next step of rejecting it.
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/donald-trump-lies-liar-effect-brain-214658
I went on the Auckland women’s march. RNZ says over 1000 attended – I’d say a few thousand – was quite a big, peaceful and good humoured march.
There was no real police presence. I think we were meant to walk on the footpath. But people just started walking in the road – and that’s how it proceeded.
I didn’t realise there was also an anti-Trump march planned for 1pm at Aotea Square, Auckland. I had left by then. TV1 on the two planned marches
And it says:
Just back from the Dunedin Women’s Rally (one of more than 650 events throughout the world linked to the March on Washington). While it was sparked by the dreadfulness of Trump’s views and actions towards women, the focus was very much on lifting up and affirming women’s worth and power here in Aotearoa and supporting others in their struggles internationally. I hope other rallies were equally uplifting and strengthening.
Good, but have you organised more? Or are you working together in the future?
The speakers did say this is just the beginning of action…. we need to be a movement!
Photo I posted on Twitter: signs + pussy hat
Not my signs or hats. Some US-ians, I think.
The NZ demonstrations were organised by some US women living in NZ.
We need a whole big, broad movement – for a fairer, more sustainable, and collaborative society, where everyone has a living income and access to affordable health care, education, etc.
Awesome
Great to hear that red-blooded. Thanks to you and Carolyn for the reports.
You mean like saying you’re against Donald Trump’s inauguration is not the same as saying you’re against Donald Trump.?
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
who said that?
You did.
referring to:
[don’t tell lies about my views or comments. You are the one in that thread who said, and I quote, “Obviously the march is against Trump’s *inauguration*, not Trump himself.”. You obviously missed the point of the moderation, which is to reduce the amount of time moderators have to spend on these kinds of derailments. You are now banned from the Pike River thread, and this is also a warning to not misrepresent my views or comments or risk a site wide ban. – weka]
Speaking of crowds…
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/01/20/can_you_tell_the_difference_between_these_two_inauguration_photos.html
It appears that the outgoing government would rather be taken to court than tackle the cannabis debate.
Grey said the Ministry of Health’s claim that CBD was of the same property as the psychoactive constituent of cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was incorrect.
“The Ministry of Health want CBD to be covered by the Misuse of Drugs Act, but they can’t get any experts that will say that it is,” Grey said.
Comments to that article were interesting..
‘The police need to be freed from chasing cannabis users so they can focus on the meth epidemic.’
‘Just legalize it now like they are around the world… Funny how it is “bad” for you, till a company gets involved’
Russell Brown wrote a post about that: http://publicaddress.net/hardnews/is-the-ministry-of-health-acting-outside/
Thanks for the link Sacha, much appreciated