This week has been Labour’s best week in a long, long time. Between a movement left against neoliberalism, and achieving (slightly) improved conditions for workers through the mondayising of Anzac day and Waitangi day and Louisa Wall’s wonderful achievement of Marriage equality they achieved a great deal.
National gives the impression of being on the ropes with the Dotcom and other fiascos and you get the feeling that Key’s reputation is finally being tarnished. And although one poll does not a summer make the latest Roy Morgan suggests that things are finally improving.
It was a good week for Labour-Green. Without the Green support, NZ Power would have had less impact. Some very good Green support for the marriage bill: especially liked Mojo Mather’s speech.
And the polls are promoting the possibility of a Labour-Green government.
Agreed entirely Karol. I concentrated on Labour because it has been a while since they have had a good week whereas the Greens have had a number of good weeks recently.
Aye! And there are one or two Plunkets who’ve had their wet little fingers in the air testing which way the most popular wind is blowing. I think they detect a change. Hopefully there’ll be morA.
Agreed re Labour (and the Greens) but I just hope that Labour – or rather certain Caucus members – don’t mess it up as has happened on too many previous occasions by shotting themselves and Labour in the foot.
IIRC both the TVNZ and TV3 polls are due out today, so here’s hoping the Roy Morgan results are reflected in these.
Just to add to Key’s week, he has been included in BuzzFeedâs selection of the â15 Most Ridiculous World Leaders Of All Timeâ for his three way handshake.
This change in the wind. Sensed as a slight and new fluttery movement in the air. Can we say its finally come?…
Rosie
The news that the Green Party are to host an all party conference on climate change is another sign that we may be witnessing a sea change in New Zealand politics. From conservative and timid to more left and bold.
This sea change in politics may not be limited to just New Zealand.
A sample poll of American Republican Party members carried out by George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, revealed that most conservative voters want action on Climate Change.
Only 52 per cent thought climate change was happening, but 62 per cent said the US should take steps to address the issue â suggesting that even some who are unsure about climate change still think it’s worth responding to the potential threat. Seventy-seven per cent thought the US should use more renewable energy.
Does this study say something for our politicians here?
It has been accepted wisdom for some time now, that raising the issue of climate change in an election campaign is a vote killer.
On this understanding, in 2011, an unspoken gentleman’s agreement made sure that climate change, was not made an election issue by any of the contending parties standing for parliament.
Could this be about to change?
Could a political party that made climate change an election plank, with a campaign demand to drastically cut Green House Gas emissions, do well in the polls?
Going on the US poll it is possible. Times have moved on, the signals are stronger and public awareness is greater.
Whatever the resulting fortunes, for individual parties, we need to hold this debate. Every election we put it off, means one more term of the government cycle without a mandate to act.
The government is fast rotting from the head down.
Blatant lies and dissembling are right in our faces from John Key, John Banks, Tony Ryall, Paula Bennett, Judith Collins to Susan Devoy.
Interestingly one of the questions was do you think Key is a liar!!!
Dv
Certainly a revealing departure from the usual bog standard sans-political, political poll questionnaires;
ie.
“Who is your preferred Prime Minister”,
“If an election was held tomorrow. Who would you vote for?”
etc, etc.
That such a question is being asked, shows that the government must be worried about their image. After all, that is all they have. When will we ever get a poll that actually asks about policy?
What I would like to see a poll where there is a polling question that asked;
“Would you vote for a party that advocated:
(a) No action against climate change
(b) Moderate action against climate change
(c) Extreme, or possibly extreme actions against climate change?”
Ah, but you see, it wasn’t their 8-year-old, it was an American 8-year-old, and for some of the above commentors the US is always going to be the Great White Satan. Not so easy to say when you have actually been touched by terrorism.
Oh God, Heather Roy. The Army Reservist buzz was something that she used to promote her “I won’t take any nonsense” tough commando girl image back in the day. It seems that militancy is a theme that right wingers are fond of. Think of those right wing extremist that are also survivalist nuts. Kyle Chapman springs to mind. They think that authoritarianism is the way to solve the worlds woes.
Touting dodgy charter schools, pouring money into elite private schools, while they can’t even ensure their state schools are open for the required time!
As a teacher this article annoys me. Obviously published at the beginning of the school holidays to generate more anti feeling towards teachers and imply that they are having even more time off. The facts are shoddy-I don’t know of any school that would have closed just for a meeting about Novopay. Under our collective agreement we are allowed to have 2 Paid Union Meetings a year and the one just taken was to discuss and be informed about our negotiations which have been ongoing since August last year and don’t seem to be progressing much. The parents interviewed seemed more upset that their children had to be looked after for a day rather than being concerned that the children were missing out on learning, showing that some look on school as a baby sitting service.
That article must have been written by a 10 year old. What a mess. I think this is the first time that Easter has fallen outside the term holiday. That would be easy to miss but easy to adjust. A pity Private Schools were not subject to the minimum number of days. They can start finish whenever they like.
“Security is not really a problem any more.”
The NZ Army has made Bamiyan safe—according to the NZ Army
Radio NZ National, Insight, Sunday 21 April 2013.
Presented by Belinda McCammon
There’s a brilliant scene in the TV series Friday Night Lights, where young Matt Saracen is talking with his dad, who’s just come back from Iraq. MATT SARACEN: How are things going over there? HIS FATHER:[long, uncomfortable pause]Great. We’re building schools, fixing roadsâŠ.
This is followed by a long long pause, as father and son acknowledge the unspoken truth behind the pat, formulaic lie.
I was reminded of that superb piece of television when I listened to Insight this morning. New Zealand is finally pulling out of its unwise, unhappy, shameful decade-long involvement in the occupation of Afghanistan. To finally get shot of it, the government sent over the Governor-General, the Minister of Defence and some compliant reporters, on this occasion required to fill the role of public relations people. One of those reporter/PR flacks was Belinda McCammonâŠ.
The mission to Afghanistan gets off to a very poor start with the planeload of New Zealand dignitaries stranded on the tarmac, unable to leave the plane because of “security concerns.”
Once they do get off the plane and into the heavily fortified New Zealand compound, the interviews are almost comical in their evasion of realityâŠ.
BELINDA McCAMMON: So is Bamiyan province making progress? COMMANDER SHOLTO STEPHENS: Oh, definitely. Around this area there were several documented massacres of Hazara people by the Taliban. They now have good governance, security and sealed roads. So that’s three major ticks that they’ve got. Don’t try to tell them that the New Zealand involvement hasn’t been a success!
One voice above all others is almost sublime in its glibness and hypocrisyâŠ.
JONATHAN COLEMAN: We’ve done a lot to get rid of corruption. There’s still a need to build up institutions, like the public service. There’s lots we can be proud of.
But all the assurances and and all of the spin has obviously not convinced Belinda McCammon. She is a lot brighter and less biddable than other officially approved “journalists” who have been sent over there. She actually has the courage to undermine the words of Coleman and Commander StephensâŠ.
BELINDA McCAMMON: But it’s hard to escape the feeling of uncertainty.
Then it’s back to the bullshit from the army spin merchantsâŠ.
ARMY SPOKESMAN: The atmosphere here is benign. We are reasonably confident that the local security forces can manage the situation.
This is promptly undermined by radio time pips, and recordings of a recent news broadcast: “The Minister of Defence says that reality has come home to New Zealand troops in Afghanistan, after two New Zealand soldiers were killed overnightâŠ.”
And then another one: “New Zealand has lost three more soldiers, just a few days after the deaths of two of their colleagues in BamiyanâŠ.”
Cut to a ceremony unveiling a memorial to New Zealanders who have died in Bamiyan. Belinda McCammon notes that the locals all have their faces covered. Obviously they do not share the bounding optimism of Jonathan Coleman and Sholto Stephens.
Somebody from the New Zealand Embassy vapors enthusiastically: “There’s a general air of prosperity here, you know. There’s endless possibility out there⊠a great WORLD of opportunity out thereâŠPresident Karzai remarked to us over lunch that the GDP per capita has increased TEN-FOLD over the last ten years and I like to think we have played our part in that.”
Then we hear the Governor-General, Sir Jerry Mateparae, talking platitudinous nonsense as always: “Many challenges remain for Bamiyan and AfghanistanâŠThe seeds we have sown together⊔
There are 29 interpreters, plus their families, coming to live in New Zealand. The young interpreter who spoke to Belinda McCammon obviously does not believe any of the talk about Afghanistan being safer. He wants to get out as fast as possible.
Some pompous nonsense by Lt. Gen. Rhys Jones, and some sober analysis by Robert Ayson from Victoria University.
Final “analysis” is by the ever-positive Commander Sholto Stephens. “The locals have got a good grasp of the security situation,” he states, still maintaining that diligent air of high seriousness. “In fact,” he goes on, “security is not really a problem any more.” (Perhaps he’d forgotten that planeload of New Zealanders too afraid to even leave the plane at the airport.) The fact is, continues Commander Stevens, Afghanistan is simply engulfed by crime, which makes it no different to other places around the world.
So there we have it. According to the New Zealand Defence Force, all the crime and all the killings are a POSITIVE SIGN. Things are getting better! Every killing, every bombing, every standover, every act of extortion is a step to true liberation!
——————————————————————————————-
There was not a mention of the shameful episodes of New Zealand soldiers being browbeaten by American goons into breaking the law and handing over captive civilians to possible torture and summary execution. Of course, there is one respected and knowledgeable New Zealand journalist in Afghanistan: Jon Stephenson. He was not even mentioned, let alone interviewed. Instead we got to hear the rigorously on-message voices of Jonathan Coleman, Lt. Gen. Rhys Jones, Sholto Stephens, a vapid diplomat, and the Governor-General.
Belinda McCammon, or her editors, did a splendid job of undermining these official lies by playing those radio news broadcasts straight after the lies; however, an assessment of New Zealand’s foreign policy requires robust and rigorous analysis, not ironic counterpointing. Irony is the resort of the weak, the fearful and the heavily censored. We need honest and forthright journalism. Belinda McCammon did a good job, but she is no Jon Stephenson.
There’s a documentary on Wednesday evening on Maori T.V. at 8.30 p.m. that ‘challenges New Zealandâs Role in Afghanistan.’ It’s called ‘He Toki Huna: New Zealand in Afghanistan’.
Glad to know it’s not just me who felt a warm glow reading that one North :). I received the link from my politically and environmentally active twenty year old daughter this morning and after quickly reading it thought, that’s my girl! I would have been more effusive and enthusiastic in my recommendation but reined myself in and went for dignified endorsement instead..
I was on brunch cooking duties this morning so I haven’t had a chance to trawl through the comments. I’ll have that pleasure this afternoon.
I guess the Right will attempt to tar the lot of them with the “commie academic” label. I was reading an article somewhere recently about a British born Marxian economist (can’t recall the name dammit) who has been teaching courses on Das Kapital since he arrived in the USA back in the sixties. Sounded fascinating but I doubt if I possess the intellectual heft to read and follow fellas like that.
Clockie: will be sourcing some David Harvey in book form (so many books, so little time) I was, as many know, a diesel / truck mechanic before I went mad and took up gardening and fear of the Lord đ
Heâs a social theorist rather than an economist but I guess in some ways the difference between those two things is, well, academic really.
The difference is that the economists are far lesser people as they’ve forgotten or purposefully dropped the fact that economics used to be part of philosophy. They forgotten the should part of economics.
Heh. David Harvey is a Geographer. I had a fair few of his readings in my Human Geography classes. I didn’t have the intellectual heft to fully understand him either. Heavy writing. I’m glad he started making videos, they’re so much easier to understand so I stick with those unless I need the detail.
“Heâs a social theorist rather than an economist but I guess in some ways the difference between those two things is, well, academic really.”
Imo the difference between a Human Geographer and an Economist is that the Geographer will take on any theoretical perspective that suits what they’re investigating – the scroungers of the academic world đ – and incorporate society, environment, economy and whatever else is needed to get a full picture of the research in question. It means they’re good academic and research collaborators. Human Geography went through the ‘lets be a science’ bent and came through it. Economists are still stuck in a reductionist mode, discarding any societal or environmental intrusion in their purist models.
It made it quite difficult to reconcile the two views as an undergrad studying both, so I stuck with geography, it made much more sense to me.
Thanks Ghost, pleased you enjoyed it. It’s unusual to have an opportunity to put in a word for Human Geography.
Karol, Social Justice and the City was my introduction to Harvey. It really hard work for me to understand the concepts because I had begun university years after leaving school at 15 and with no qualifications. I felt that book pretty much marked the end of Geography’s ‘scientific’ project, and gave me the sense I could take more of a holistic view of a topic than I otherwise would have.
The plant in West was inspected in 2011 by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), which issued a fine of $10,100 for missing placards and ânot having a security planâ in violation of Hazardous Materials Regulations. A compromise was reached in 2012 after corrective actions were taken, which included the plant admitting to the violations and paying a lowered penalty of $5,250.
Apparently the plant owners failed to self-report that they were holding massive quantities of ammonium nitrate on site to the regulatory agency the Department for Homeland Security.
Along with TNT, ammonium nitrate is a key ingredient in WW I / WWII / Korean War era high explosives.
This reminds me of the coolstore in the North Island where fighting a fire there killed a fireman. They were using stuff they shouldn’t have been.
These results underline that we have to have an active on the ground inspectorate. Let the government think of such plants as potential weapons of mass destruction!
And industries like forestry as potentially hazrdous and risky so that proper systems are followed and regularly inspected. (This wouldn’t mean there never would be deliberate or ignorant and stupid actions but they would be kept to a minimum.)
The explosion was estimated to be equivalent to about 1â2 kilotonnes of TNT and was heard as a loud bang in Munich, more than 300 km away. The pressure wave ripped roofs off up to 25 km away and destroyed windows even farther away. In Heidelberg (30 km from Oppau), traffic was stopped by the mass of broken glass on the streets
[…]
According to some descriptions, only 450 tonnes exploded, out of 4,500 tonnes of fertilizer stored in the warehouse.
Lovely to see Joyce on Q + A mouthing ” these (‘communist’) clowns……. ” as he tried to dismiss Parker.
Lovely because if that’s how National intends to counter (1) the smack to the head which Labour/Greens have delivered re electricity and (2) a seeming trend towards dissatisfaction generally, a great bunch of the public are going to hoot and say – ” So those clowns are calling everyone else clowns now……..What ? What ? ”
Additionally, significant numbers will identify and be repelled by the disgustingly arrogant look of it – ” Now don’t you worry about it you (dumb) people. Take it from us…….they’re just clowns “. Wanking on about North Korea and Albania and Chavez and communism is only gonna make National look more desperately bullshitty.
This is not 1975. Dancing Cossacks was a stunt which will not work today. Why ? Because in ’75 the Cold War spectre was Kiwis’ property being forcibly appropriated by the government into the hands of the government, a la communism. Today the Global Bankers’ Bonuses spectre is Kiwis’ property being forcibly appropriated by the government into the hands of fifty times millionaires and their foreign buddies. And this as the people get inexorably poorer and the already fabulously wealthy get inexorably richer.
So this government is left to deal in some other way with the incompetent clown equation already more or less set in stone: Key – “I don’t have a clue smirk smirk……..”, ” I don’t recall……..oh hang on, yes I do………as you were, I do, but differently “. Parata. My God who doubts it ? The dodgy Banks. Key put him there over a cuppa. He’s still there because Key won’t read official reports. The list goes on.
To the Gosman and the Chris73 and the King Kong and the BM and others – perceptions boys and girls. Perceptions. Your snorting arrogance has blinded you to the fact that perceptions cut both ways. And to the fact that lies and corruption while not capitalised quite yet are certainly in the frame. Simply, the public at large are not like your greedy hardcore neo-liberals or your snotty wee wannabee John Key cargo-cultists. The public smells the whiff of bullshit once, then twice, then again and again – Whanganui-like hoha at the cumulation of repeated whiffs producing stench. Add arrogance. As above – “What ?……What ?”
Can Gosman’s Mum please update her report that he/she was last seen in his/her room crying inconsolably ? Mum, you need to be warned. There’s a poll out tonight which apparently asks the question – ” Is John Key a liar ? “. Mum, there’s an 0800 number you can have.
Taxpayers are paying Cabinet Ministers their high salaries and want to see value for money; taxpayers expect them to govern for us and to do a lot more than abuse great policy ideas on prime time television.
Meanwhile, the power bosses should be coming out and be really strident – a lot more vocally nasty, given their obscene remunerations are being put at risk:
My conversations with investment advisors at social events have been that it is difficult for ‘mums and dads’ investors to get fuller information, unlike institutional investors. So Rod Oram is quite right.
My advice to the NZ public at this stage is to think very carefully about buying the MRP shares, especially if there are other investment options.
Looks like John Key is lining up mums and dads to be screwed.
With the general trend towards a new normal, the power market, taken together with the domestic and international economic climate, do not bode so well.
Funny thing is, if labour and the melons form the next government, I’d make a ton more money under them than what I’d do under National.
By the time the next election rolls around I should be making basically all my money overseas
With the dollar collapsed and all the wealth fleeing off shore, my money will be safe overseas gaining in value while all the other poor souls suffer with job losses collapsing house prices sky rocketing food bills etc.
I’d be amazed if they last a term and when Shearer and the rest of the communists do get the boot you won’t see a left party in government for a generation.
In the aftermath of the economic destruction, I will bring my money back and buy up properties etc at pennies on the dollar.
You really shouldn’t believe in the Apocolypse mate, it makes you seem like a nutter.
Especially since the greatest capitalist nation in the world the USA has just suffered massive house price collapses, rocketing unemployment, wages deflation, and people fleeing the USD into gold and also hard productive assets.
See isn’t that interesting, we haven’t experienced any of that.
I wonder why?
As for the apocalypse comment, that’s what Normans whole economic policy is based around which is the collapse of the worlds economies due to fossil fuel depletion,he’s bet the house on it.
The guy’s a dangerous religious zealot, he will try to disconnect NZ from the world economy and it will be a disaster.
Because Australia regulates banks far more than the US and A do. That’s the only reason I can see. Or is the right answer Obama Muslim Communist Kenyan?
BM – I wonder you could see your keyboard through your gales of tears. Gosman’s Mum is setting up a support group. Join it. But hang on…….all is not lost:
Para 1 – You’d make a ton more money under labour/melons.
There’s the answer that really attracts you BM.
Para 2 – Your money will be offshore safe and secure, gaining in value
You absolutely sure about that ? Don’t choose Cyprus.
Para 2 – Collapse collapse collapse in NZ
Because YOU would take your money out ? Thick self-centred fool you are.
Para 3 – Shearer and the rest of the communists…….
Well done Senator Joe McCarthy The Dancing Shitshack ! You must be 120 years old by now.
Para 4 – “I will come back and buy up properties etc at pennies in the dollar……..”
So you’ll be voting labour /melons then BM ?
Nothing you’ve ever said on this blog suggests the vaguest understanding of the concept of an economic common good so of course you’ll be voting for them labour/melon communists. If what you say is correct you’d shoot yourself in the foot if you didn’t wouldn’t you ?
I suspect the truth is this: you’ve made a bob (probably less than your blowhardish allusions imply) and you’re on this blog demanding congratulations. Don’t talk to the people on this blog BM. Without documented proof of the financial empire you’ve built you’re not likely to get the lionising and obedience you seek. Talk to Dunnokeyo. He’s got a few knighthoods left in his back pocket.
Imagine the thrill of first-class check-in out at the airport mate………..Sir Bowel Motion !!!!
With the dollar collapsed and all the wealth fleeing off shore, my money will be safe overseas gaining in value while all the other poor souls suffer with job losses collapsing house prices sky rocketing food bills etc.
Wow, you don’t even the delusional economic theory that you follow.
HINT: A lower dollar will boost demand of NZ goods on the world market and so demand for workers will also increase and thus wages will rise.
Iâd be amazed if they last a term and when Shearer and the rest of the communists do get the boot you wonât see a left party in government for a generation.
Keep dreaming – it’s National and their stooges that we won’t see in government for a generation. Same as what happened to the first Labour government.
Dreadful interviewing from Corin Dann, he let Joyce push him around. David Parker is terrible on TV, especially against a bully like Joyce.
Dann should have just said, “ok so you’re telling the public that you have no solution to higher electricity prices and that they should just suck it up?”
Parker is terrible but Shearer is much worse and must be kept out of sight even if the interviewer is a light-weight like Dann. Natz’ tactic would be to smoke out Shearer and then put his mumble, stumble and fumble on display.
Shearer is improving; practice makes an expert; even Joker’s can shape-shift; U seem either practiced or a quick learner yourself at this collectivity gig. đ Hope that you are enjoying your day and that lunch has settled.
“scales” lift from their eyes; Shearers assurance rises as NAct spokes people fall and foul;
Middle Earth may be a little naive but given enough time they catch on.(crosses fingers and prays three times)
I consistently watch the pollies presentation critically; Shearer is improving, both in the house and on the box.
Labour are playing a more restrained game it appears, for example moderation in exposure of Cunliffe, even Robertson appears settled (at the end of the day it is the perception of the potential voters that elect parties to power) and solidarity, co-operation, appears to be cementing their progress. It is definately the tory-shill MSM they have to be careful of and the incompetence and bias of interviewers like Wood and establishment commentator fools like Edwards and Ralston (what is it about wealth and privilage that generally makes it inversely proportional to real humanity?)
My gardening tip of the day: take deep slow belly breaths, in through the nose 1 2 3 4 5…out 2 3 4 5, it appears that those on the right of the political spectrum are less able to put this technique into practice and defer to instinct primarily; they cannot help themselves, as a generalization. (the political polls, and analysis of such that is to be found on The Standard is far superior to any image / sound bite to be entertained by on the 6 O’Clock News ;-D
16:8 Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice
16:7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
Remember the days they used to leave hanged or crucified criminals or political enemies near the gateways of ancient cities to serve as visual warnings to all citizens?
Well, they’ve just done it with a post autopsy photo of the dead, older, badly disfigured Boston Marathon bombing suspect. Screw friends, family, due process, coroners report, etc.
Who says that the parallels between Imperial Rome and the US don’t hold?
I saw the photo, its not nice. Following link is just a text description of the leak.
assuming that picture is authentic, let’s hope that is not a symbolic cadaver of miranda caution, legal representation, and trial by jury and judge according to the laws of the land.
If Obama – or, say, anybody – were standing in front of banners of the bullet riddled corpse then yeah, that would seem to be an apt comparison. The fact that a photo was circulated among law enforcement and leaked, in this electronic media driven world we live in, is utterly unsurprising.
The photo sends a pretty clear signal. Did I say it was surprising? Where did I indicate surprise that officials would break their own rules and circulate images like this?
The photo sends a pretty clear signal that there are no secrets any more.
For God’s sake it isn’t even front page on Reddit, how much of a warning could it be? And by tomorrow no one will remember anyway, because Taylor Swift is going to wear something really interesting. Lighten up!
Evidence and documentation regarding investigations in process should not be forwarded to unauthorised persons. Especially where the dignity of otherwise unassociated friends and family members is involved.
Just listening to a piece on nat radio about the constitutional review going on. A Dr Maria Barge talked about Maori representation, how it arose and what it should be, etc. She was certainly correct about most everything she said but completely missed the elephant in the room, namely whether such racial separatism is any good for a modern society. Her entire piece was predicated on the existence of the Treaty and rights that existed pre-Treaty, which is all fine and dandy, but like pretty much every commentator in this area the question of the suitability of the Treaty and any pre-existing rights is completely and utterly ignored.
I think this is a major flaw in this area. The use of the Treaty and whether it actualy achieves what it needs to achieve today is simply not looked at. It is not discussed. It is not considered. It is like everyone just blindly goes on about the existence of the Treaty and what it contains, leading to the question f whether it has been honoured. Of course, those components are entirely legitimate. But the underlying value and quality of the Treaty is not considered and this is very poor form on our part as a country.
If the Treaty turns out to be flawed and it is unthinkingly set in even harder stone in our constitutional arrangements then it will clearly lead to trouble.
This subject is ignored. It is not the right approach.
And then dear old Geoff Palmer goes and does the exact same thing in relation to a question from the floor.
A person asked about equality / racial separatism in the constitution. Palmer answered by saying he disagreed with the person because various rights such as aboriginal title existed before the Treaty.
See? He missed the elephant in the room too.
Nobody disputes that various rights such as aboriginal title existed before the Treaty, but that was not at all what the question was about. The question was about the quality, value, usefulness of those various rights (and te tiriti), not whether they exist.
I would have thought at least Palmer would hae understood the difference. Bit disappointing.
ethnic / racial “trouble” is a’blowin in anyway vto; this constitutional reveiw, which is Excellently-timed, is just fueling the fire; listened to talk-back radio, read a right-wing blog lately, or the comments in The Herald?
Yes, no I don’t try to listen to or read them things, they just get depressing. But yep, unfortunately such a question as that posed does also drag in all the ugly yuckiness that throws itself up everytime such an issue arises.
I was kind of hoping that the clear air in such a forum as that on nat radio may have allowed some space to discuss the issue, particularly as it is about constitutional arrangememts in the future. It is about the most appropriate place ever for the issue to be well aired and considered – yet to date it is missing.
yes. one does have to have a strong constitution to be a witness to these times; still, nothing to be achieved by looking away; at least at The Standard many are on the same page literally, if not actually đ
comment 101, or not… Calling All Angels
(thanks for the guidance re a desktop folks, felix, Al1en, Lanth. DoSs, Draco and Lynn; hopefully a few others took notes; I wrote those components down Viper; $600 and bits left over, cheap as chips)
More Power To Ya. Yeeeeeeeeeeha!
Judy’ll be hosting a pregnantly “nudge nudge wink wink don’t mention Colmar-Brunton” Sunday supper out in Clevedon right now. Repeatedly excusing herself to call Steven J – “Kia Ora Steven…….just calling to see how you are……. who’s over at your place ?”. SJ’s not picking up.
Meanwhile over in Parnell Dunnokeyo’ll be taking solace in big-noting at a BBQ for Max’s adoring, entitled wee prat mates from down the street.
Gerry’ll be cruising the broken streets of Christchurch hazard-jacket clad looking for someone to witness a malodourously flatulent display of being on the job.
Banks’ll be manically swilling down botox pills with rare single malt.
Pointless you say ? Indeed not !
Out of this extraordinary phenomenon of hoi-polloi temeritousness will arise a record-grossing new tele-drama……… “Shonky Python”. I’m not kidding. Pete and Fran emailed the concept to Warners shortly after lunch.
Sorry……..failed to mention Gossie. According to hisher Mum heshe is still locked in hisher room, sonorous sobbing emanating therefrom. My God. This will not end well. It’s been 48 hours.
Meanwhile BM is running reds on the way to the airport in the BM?, sans chauffeur (to whom heshe owes holiday pay, the cad). Boarding the first flight bound for……..well anywhere really. Anywhere there’s no extradition treaty. Careful about that departure card declaration re the excess of $10K mate. You may not be able to come back to buy up all that threepenny real estate.
Oh how Cruel Chance has beset us and laboured our melons !
He is beyond training. Someone in the caucus must see that the Labour Party needs an effective spokesperson for their policies.
Compare and contrast with Norman.
This is too important to stuff up. NZ can’t afford 3 more years of the neo-liberal experiment. our schools, health system will be destroyed if change does not happen in 2014.
If the Labour Party are reading this, please act on behalf of NZ.
I must have missed the announcement that Labour/Greens was taking control of NZ’s monetary supply, and instead of borrowing itself into oblivion, was going to have the RBNZ issue any funds required to *keep the lights on*, build hospitals, schools etc…
We know that Norman has referenced *printing money*, but I am quite sure he does not want to be the victim of a *truncated existance*, being part of the governmment, that was going to turn the debt tap off, and pull the banksters a brown eye!
No, no….the neoliberal experiment will continue quite nicely, regardless of who is in charge!
Edit: Yes, Shearer is byond training, but filling his role beautifully!
Colmar Brunton usually favours the Nats. That they are now polling their lowest since 2005 in CB is the most significant sign yet that John Key has “jumped the shark”.
Let’s see what the next Digipoll says. If that confirms the trend, then knives sharpening indeed…
Nicky boy, you never got around to saying what your life experience actually consisted of, mentioning of mental health issues aside, and know it all, online demeanor, and part time blog tough guy…
Far as I can tell, you do not have anything which resembles *understanding*, which was gained by living outside what ever little place you inhabit!
Lets hear it sonny jim!
Or at least give me a rage fuelled rant, I so miss those of late…
Its got nothing to do with you, double standards, Open Mike or otherwise, you know that, and it was the best you could come up with to run interference for another clumsey interjection!
*groan* – now Key is picking himself up off the ropes, and, desperate to appear relevant, is promoting incentives to attract big spending tourists to NZ – via convention centres, etc. and targeting emerging economies in places like Indonesia, India and Latin America.
What planet is he on? Latin America? Wouldn’t they get more and bigger for their bigger bucks in the US and Canada? Indonesia? Wouldn’t Aussie be more attractive?
look forward to a cable-car being laid under the sea-bed to Beijing.
essentially karol, attracting more Asian migration and investment is the big picture for the business class.
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review â The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didnât make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalemâs statement â âImplementation of âCass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – ITâS A COMMONPLACEÂ of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: âWeâll govern for all New Zealanders.â On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
 Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-rightâs plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of Historyâs clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.ITâS A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Actâs and NZ Firstâs extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country heâs described as âfragileâ, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of MÄori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz  from the Beehive The governmentâs official website â which Point of Order monitors daily â not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winterâs night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfatherâs house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of MÄori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary â including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal â that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealandâs media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been Nationalâs media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but heâs not ...
Chris Trotter writes –Â New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Keyâs flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMPâs five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as âits largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliffâ. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Governmentâs Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. Itâs important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the countryâs leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that âcorruptâ the nationâs ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Governmentâs Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. Itâs important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes –Â The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that âthe first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.â When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECDâs second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commissionâs 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the governmentâs official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious:Â we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisition  NOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamarikiâs statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. âThere are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a âfirst strikeâ (that is, a âstage-1 convictionâ under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a âsecond strikeâ. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesnât normally happen in politics. Thatâs refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to âsaveâ the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Governmentâs official website – arrived in Point of Orderâs email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive  Melissa Lee â as may be discerned from the screenshot above â has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. Â ...
Todayâs Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and itâs only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. âThis is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. âThe government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicineâ, said Ayesha Verrall âThis is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoonâs interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour childrenâs spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te PÄti MÄori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veteransâ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veteransâ affairs spokesperson Greg OâConnor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxonâs management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonightâs court decision to overturn the summons of the Childrenâs Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about MÄori without evidence, says Te PÄti MÄori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. âThe judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last yearâs severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labourâs environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our countryâs most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Governmentâs Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a âget out of jail freeâ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te PÄti MÄori Justice Spokesperson, TÄkuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, MÄori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealandâs good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National governmentâs lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te PÄti MÄori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. âThis act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.â Said Te PÄti MÄori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for TÄmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te PÄti MÄori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mĆ TÄmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with MÄori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Governmentâs democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. âOur Governmentâs thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening â  Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealandâs foreign policy, weâd like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. âCreating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northlandâs marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. âThis is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the countryâs total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. âThe beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ć-RÄkau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mĆ Ć-RÄkau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ć-RÄkau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Governmentâs plan to supercharge New Zealandâs EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four â and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Governmentâs plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. âI have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People â Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Governmentâs plan to restore law and order. âSpeaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealandâs human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). âNew Zealandâs goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. âIâm putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure âone stop shopâ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. âThe NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
WhÄnau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. âGiving these whÄnau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Governmentâs goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave OâSullivan (OBE). âOur sympathies are with the OâSullivan family with the sad news of Dave OâSullivanâs recent passing,â Mr Peters says. âHis contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmacâs largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff.  âAccess to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwisâ lives. Weâve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,â says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. âWe know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,â Dr Reti says. âEvery day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikoheâs new $14.7 million sports complex. âThe completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,â Mr Jones says. âThis facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Petersâ engagements in TĂŒrkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges.  âReturning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,â Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen â good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood â a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - Â It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Â Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Â Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. âOur Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealandâs hydrogen future, with the opening of the countryâs first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. âI want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealandâs own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealandâs energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. âThe report shows that New Zealandâs emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,â Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where heâll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Governmentâs work to restore law and order. âAttending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealandâs human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the worldâs largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. âThe reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealandâs wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin  NgÄ mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho  Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.  I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. âOur Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealandâs overseas missions.  âOur diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealandâs interests around the world,â Mr Peters says.  âI am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. Â âOver 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. âIt is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. âOur coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
Rongotai MP Julie Anne Genter has apologised in Parliament after National accused her of intimidating and attacking one of its ministers in the House. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Prime Minister and state and territory leaders met on Wednesday as the national cabinet to discuss a crisis gripping Australia â the horrific number of women murdered this year. The killings have shocked ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Radhika Raghav, Teaching Fellow, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Otago Netflix Indian director Sanjay Leela Bhansali is known for his big-budget Bollywood production, featuring grand sets, star casts, meticulously choreographed dance sequences and lavish costumes, jewellery and furnishings. ...
Sir Robert devoted his life to disability rights after living in institutions in his younger years, says KaihautĆ« Tika HauÄtanga | Disability Rights Commissioner Prudence Walker. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University Violence against women is not a womenâs problem to solve, it is a whole of society problem to solve; and men in particular have to take responsibility. Those were the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Allen, Senior Lecturer in Chemical and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of Newcastle Snapshot freddy/ShutterstockPlans to revive an old coal-fired power station using bioenergy are being considered in the Hunter region of New South Wales. Similar plans for the station ...
Responding to the long-awaited release of judgesâ special allowances, including free air travel and hotels for spouses, generous sabbaticals, and access to limousines, Taxpayersâ Union spokesman Alex Murphy said: âIn what world does your employer ...
Analysis - The United States has unveiled plans to boost the weapons trade with Australia and the UK, on the same day that Winston Peters is expected to sketch NZ's position on AUKUS. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrea Carson, Professor of Political Communication, Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy, La Trobe University Since Australiaâs First Nations Voice to Parliament referendum in October 2023, diverse commentaries have sought to explain why it failed. But what does an analysis of media ...
Lawyers representing two iwi as well as the MÄori Women’s Welfare League on Wednesday asked the Court of Appeal to overturn last week’s High Court decision on the Waitangi Tribunal’s decision to summons Children’s Minister Karen Chhour. The Tribunal is currently investigating the Governmentâs decision to repeal section 7AA of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government will introduce legislation to ban deepfake pornography and provide more funding for the eSafety Commission to pilot age-assurance technologies. The contribution of internet sites to gender-based violence was one major issue ...
Average ordinary time hourly earnings, as measured by the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES), increased 5.2 percent in the year to the March 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. Annual wage cost inflation, as measured by the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dimitrios Salampasis, FinTech Capability Lead | Senior Lecturer, Emerging Technologies and FinTech, Swinburne University of Technology Clem Onojeghuo/Unsplash In the digital era, the job market is increasingly becoming a minefield â demanding and difficult to navigate. According to the Australian Bureau ...
As of the March 2024 quarter, we can now look back on 20 years of data related to youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET), as collected by the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS), according to figures released by Stats NZ today. "The ...
Thousands of workers attended public events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch today to celebrate International Workersâ Day (May Day), but union representatives are urging caution and vigilance over the Governmentâs blatantly "anti-worker" ...
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in the March 2024 quarter, compared with 4.0 percent in the previous quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. ...
The PSA is warning the Government that the sensitive information of New Zealanders held by various agencies will fall into the wrong hands if the latest round of proposed cuts goes ahead. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Talitha Best, Professor of Psychology, CQUniversity Australia Victoria Rodriguez/Unsplash How do sugar rushes work? â W.H, age nine, from Canberra What a terrific question W.H! Letâs explore this, starting with some of the basics. What is sugar? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karinna Saxby, Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne MART PRODUCTION/Pexels Increasing income support could help keep women and children safe according to new work demonstrating strong links between financial insecurity and domestic violence. ...
ANALYSIS:By Olli Hellmann, University of Waikato When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day today on April 25, itâs not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also to mark a defining event for national identity. The battle of Gallipoli against ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark A Gregory, Associate Professor, School of Engineering, RMIT University The telecommunications industry faces a major shakeup following the release of the post-incident report on last Novemberâs 12-hour Optus outage. Telecommunications companies will have to share more information with customers during future ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Bookseller Confessional, in which we get to know Aotearoaâs booksellers. This week: Eden Denyer, bookseller at Unity Books Auckland.Weirdest question/request youâve had on the shop floorA mother came in looking for anything we might have on Alaskan bison as that was her little boyâs ...
NZCTU Economist Craig Renney said new data released by Statistics New Zealand shows the need for Government to act now, with unemployment rising from 3.4% to 4.3%. ...
The outpouring of anger over Maiki Shermanâs hyperbolic presentation of this weekâs ânightmareâ poll is itself an overreaction, argues Stewart Sowman-Lund. Politicians love nothing more than to pretend they donât care about polls. This week, deputy prime minister Winston Peters said he didnât give a âratâs derriereâ about a TVNZ ...
Asia Pacific Report NgÄti Kahungunu in Aotearoa New Zealandâs Hawkes Bay region has become the first indigenous MÄori iwi (tribe) to sign a resolution calling for a âceasefire in Palestineâ, reports Te Ao MÄori News. Reporter Te Aniwaniwa Paterson talked to Te OtÄne Huata, who has been organising peace rallies ...
By Dale Luma in Port Moresby âWe want grants and not concessional loans,â is the crisp message from Papua New Guinea businesses directly affected by the Black Wednesday looting four months ago. The businesses, which lost millions after the January 10 rioting and looting, say they need grants as part ...
Happy May Day. Join a union. Q: Whatâs worse than a staff break room where the only place to sit and have a cup of tea is on a teetering stack of old pornography magazines? A: Your boss replacing the magazine stacks with chairs that are âheartily encrusted with ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor Former opposition leader Matthew Wale has been announced as the second prime ministerial candidate ahead of the election in Solomon Islands tomorrow. He will face off against former foreign affairs minister Jeremiah Manele, who was announced by the Coalition for National Unity and Transformation ...
We get but one birthday a year â why not make it last as long as possible by scheduling as many meals with friends and family as you can? This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. How do you celebrate your birthday? Do you celebrate at ...
A Koi TĆ« discussion paper released today proposes sweeping changes to New Zealandâs media industry. The principalâs key author, Gavin Ellis, explains how journalists have a key role to play in making others value their role in society. This is an abridged version of a piece first published on knightlyviews.com ...
The Governmentâs spending cuts are again targeting support for MÄori with proposed reform of the agency charged with advising on MÄori wellbeing and development. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Douglas, Honorary Senior Lecturer, UNSW Aviation., UNSW Sydney The history of budget jet airlines in Australia is a long road littered with broken dreams. New entrants have consistently struggled to get a foothold. Low-cost carrier Bonza has just become the industryâs ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rosalind Dixon, Director, Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law, UNSW Sydney Australia is finally having a sustained conversation about violence against women and what we can do about it. It is more than time. Australian women and girls continue to experience ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne stockfour/Shutterstock Preliminary bulk billing data released this week shows a 2.1% rise in bulk billing up to March. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Schulz, Senior Lecturer, University of Adelaide Australia is once again grappling with how we can stop gendered violence in our country. Protests over the weekend show there is enormous community anger over the number of women who are dying and National ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University AnastasiaDudka/Shutterstock What if the government was doing everything it could to stop thieves making off with our money, except the one thing that could really work? Thatâs how it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Harrington, Senior Lecturer in English and Cultural Studies, University of Canterbury The Conversation It seems to be a time of old favourites. This month our experts have recommended two new seasons â the second season of Alone Australia (although ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland A bright Eta Aquariid meteor photobombed this photo of comet C/2020 F8 (SWAN) in May 2020.Jonti Horner Meteors â commonly known as shooting stars â can be seen on any night of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Flannery, Honorary fellow, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Current concentrations of carbon dioxide (COâ) in Earthâs atmosphere are unprecedented in human history. But COâ levels today, and those that might occur in coming decades, did occur millions of years ago. ...
Winston Peters has been keen to dismiss speculation on our involvement in Aukus but will give a speech tonight on the direction of our foreign policy, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoffâs morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Usmar, Lecturer in Critical Media Literacies, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images With the coalition governmentâs ban of student mobile phones in New Zealand schools coming into effect this week, reaction has ranged from the sceptical (kids will just get ...
Hospitals around the country are not allowed to make a single hiring decision without the approval of Te Whatu Ora's head office, including for cleaners and administration staff. ...
A new report on protecting journalism and democracy in New Zealand recommends a levy be charged on global platforms like Facebook and Google to fund media firms undertaking public interest reporting. It also calls for the reinstatement of a powerful Broadcasting Commission to distribute public funding for journalism and other ...
On International Workers' Day, also known as May Day, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi and the wider union movement are celebrating the proud history of the labour movement during a tough time for working people. ...
From bills to beards, a walk through the former Green co-leaderâs time in politics. After close to a decade in politics, James Shaw is preparing to bid farewell to parliament. Tonight will see the former minister deliver his valedictory address, certain to be a speech filled with Shawâs trademark wit ...
Two months ago, MPs unanimously voted to give themselves a week off in Efeso Collinsâ honour. On Tuesday, most were too busy to give even an hour of their time. The day FaâanÄnÄ Efeso Collins died, parliament felt different. In a building that operates at a breakneck pace, everyone stopped ...
Indiaâs election involves hundreds of millions of people and is a months-long affair. Hereâs how voting works and whatâs at stake.The biggest-ever election in world history started on April 19, with more than 10% of the worldâs population eligible to vote. Elections in India, the worldâs most populous country ...
After the Christchurch earthquake, the then-national civil defence boss compared his experience to “putting a team on the rugby field who have never ever played together before”. Now, eight years later â and following a damning inquiry into the emergency response of cyclones Gabrielle, Hale and the Auckland anniversary weekend floods â ...
“I had just come off the end of a major robbery case which I had been working on for six months when I got a call on the afternoon of September 1, 1992, that some remains had been found at a building site in Devonport, so I drove over with ...
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Comment: Journalists are very good at telling other peopleâs stories, but they fall well short when writing about their own profession. Perhaps that is why it is so undervalued. Every successive poll on the publicâs attitude toward journalism is more alarming than the last. In the last month we have ...
Opinion: A young MÄori woman and her Pacific partner arrive at their local hospital by ambulance. She has gone into labour at just under 24 weeks, but the couple havenât recognised the symptoms â and donât know the risks of premature birth for their baby. By the time they arrive, ...
Behind closed doors, NZ First will be arguing fiercely against any watering down of the ministerial decision-making powers in the Bill The post Bishop backtracks after fast-track backlash appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Emotional scenes played out in the Invercargill courthouse on the first two days of the coronial inquest into the death of Gore toddler Lachlan Jones, in which the boyâs mother was accused of disposing of her sonâs body. The second season of Newsroomâs award-nominated podcast The Boy in the Water ...
Opinion: The impression from the carpark is very inviting. The area is well fenced but barred so there is easy visibility of loved ones. Inside, the spaces are welcoming and clean and staff are friendly and clearly comfortable. I am greeted by âKimâ. She has worked here for three years, ...
This week has been Labour’s best week in a long, long time. Between a movement left against neoliberalism, and achieving (slightly) improved conditions for workers through the mondayising of Anzac day and Waitangi day and Louisa Wall’s wonderful achievement of Marriage equality they achieved a great deal.
National gives the impression of being on the ropes with the Dotcom and other fiascos and you get the feeling that Key’s reputation is finally being tarnished. And although one poll does not a summer make the latest Roy Morgan suggests that things are finally improving.
It was a good week for Labour-Green. Without the Green support, NZ Power would have had less impact. Some very good Green support for the marriage bill: especially liked Mojo Mather’s speech.
And the polls are promoting the possibility of a Labour-Green government.
Agreed entirely Karol. I concentrated on Labour because it has been a while since they have had a good week whereas the Greens have had a number of good weeks recently.
True, micky. It has been a week when the political direction seems to have turned a little left.
With this form, Russel Norman should launch a leadership campaign next time DC bottles it đ
perceptive
Aye! And there are one or two Plunkets who’ve had their wet little fingers in the air testing which way the most popular wind is blowing. I think they detect a change. Hopefully there’ll be morA.
This change in the wind. Sensed as a slight and new fluttery movement in the air. Can we say its finally come? Can we begin to hope again?
Agreed re Labour (and the Greens) but I just hope that Labour – or rather certain Caucus members – don’t mess it up as has happened on too many previous occasions by shotting themselves and Labour in the foot.
IIRC both the TVNZ and TV3 polls are due out today, so here’s hoping the Roy Morgan results are reflected in these.
Just to add to Key’s week, he has been included in BuzzFeedâs selection of the â15 Most Ridiculous World Leaders Of All Timeâ for his three way handshake.
http://www.listener.co.nz/commentary/the-internaut/john-key-named-among-15-most-ridiculous-world-leaders-of-all-time/
http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/the-goofiest-world-leaders-of-all-time
The news that the Green Party are to host an all party conference on climate change is another sign that we may be witnessing a sea change in New Zealand politics. From conservative and timid to more left and bold.
This sea change in politics may not be limited to just New Zealand.
A sample poll of American Republican Party members carried out by George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, revealed that most conservative voters want action on Climate Change.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23365-republican-voters-want-action-on-climate-change.html
Does this study say something for our politicians here?
It has been accepted wisdom for some time now, that raising the issue of climate change in an election campaign is a vote killer.
On this understanding, in 2011, an unspoken gentleman’s agreement made sure that climate change, was not made an election issue by any of the contending parties standing for parliament.
Could this be about to change?
Could a political party that made climate change an election plank, with a campaign demand to drastically cut Green House Gas emissions, do well in the polls?
Going on the US poll it is possible. Times have moved on, the signals are stronger and public awareness is greater.
Whatever the resulting fortunes, for individual parties, we need to hold this debate. Every election we put it off, means one more term of the government cycle without a mandate to act.
Polling company rang us Reed?.
Interestingly one of the questions was do you think Key is a liar!!!
Crikey! Was there a 1-10 option (say 1 being Lance Armstrong, 10 being Goebbels)?
My wife answer and I think it was Yes or No only.
The government is fast rotting from the head down.
Blatant lies and dissembling are right in our faces from John Key, John Banks, Tony Ryall, Paula Bennett, Judith Collins to Susan Devoy.
smelly “fish” Phoebe đ
Reid Research do TV3’s polling and a poll is expected to be released tonight.
Hmmm …
A bad result will have them scurrying to renew the Crosby Textor contract quick as …
Certainly a revealing departure from the usual bog standard sans-political, political poll questionnaires;
ie.
“Who is your preferred Prime Minister”,
“If an election was held tomorrow. Who would you vote for?”
etc, etc.
That such a question is being asked, shows that the government must be worried about their image. After all, that is all they have. When will we ever get a poll that actually asks about policy?
What I would like to see a poll where there is a polling question that asked;
“Would you vote for a party that advocated:
(a) No action against climate change
(b) Moderate action against climate change
(c) Extreme, or possibly extreme actions against climate change?”
Oops Sorry. Not as blunt as that.
Do politician suffer from brain fade.
I made the wrong interpretation from my discussion with her!!!
The Slate, on why we should be worried the captured Boston (alleged) bomber is not being read his Miranda rights.
More on the public safety exceptions.
http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/law-enforcement-bulletin/february2011/legal_digest
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-miranda-and-the-public-safety-exception/
“Fine. Good, evenâthat gun could have put other people in danger.”
Replace gun with ‘possible associate terrorists’ and the author has sort of answered her as titled concern.
That, and..
When the truth gets bent out of shape, its easier to *remove morefreedoms*, and control larger swaths of people daily lives!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/17/fbi-federal-reserve-bomb-plot
Yup, lies, lots of them…
Too easy.
“Too easy.”
Said the guy caught on film placing a nail bomb next to an eight year old.
Ah, but you see, it wasn’t their 8-year-old, it was an American 8-year-old, and for some of the above commentors the US is always going to be the Great White Satan. Not so easy to say when you have actually been touched by terrorism.
Yes I seem to remember you crying about Iraqi and Afghanistan 8 year olds all the time.
I do, you son of a bitch, but I don’t feel the need to take out an add in the paper like I’m collecting merit badges like some people I could mention.
mention away…
The Boston bombers, Islam and America.
http://b.globe.com/11pNb0V
http://omidsafi.religionnews.com/2013/04/20/10-essential-points/
http://nyti.ms/YAwgHb
Watching Q+A and the on panel is Heather Roy, Army Reservist???? FFS how is that relevant? apart from the Army stories on the show.
Belligerent idiotic opinions have just as much right to be broadcast as thought through informed opinions …
Oh God, Heather Roy. The Army Reservist buzz was something that she used to promote her “I won’t take any nonsense” tough commando girl image back in the day. It seems that militancy is a theme that right wingers are fond of. Think of those right wing extremist that are also survivalist nuts. Kyle Chapman springs to mind. They think that authoritarianism is the way to solve the worlds woes.
ANZAC Day approaching.
National education policy in a total shambles.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/8577034/School-closures-hit-parents-pockets
Touting dodgy charter schools, pouring money into elite private schools, while they can’t even ensure their state schools are open for the required time!
As a teacher this article annoys me. Obviously published at the beginning of the school holidays to generate more anti feeling towards teachers and imply that they are having even more time off. The facts are shoddy-I don’t know of any school that would have closed just for a meeting about Novopay. Under our collective agreement we are allowed to have 2 Paid Union Meetings a year and the one just taken was to discuss and be informed about our negotiations which have been ongoing since August last year and don’t seem to be progressing much. The parents interviewed seemed more upset that their children had to be looked after for a day rather than being concerned that the children were missing out on learning, showing that some look on school as a baby sitting service.
That article must have been written by a 10 year old. What a mess. I think this is the first time that Easter has fallen outside the term holiday. That would be easy to miss but easy to adjust. A pity Private Schools were not subject to the minimum number of days. They can start finish whenever they like.
Keeping up with the Joneses?.
http://www.zdnet.com/cispa-passes-u-s-house-death-of-the-fourth-amendment-7000014205/
the Right’s amendment
“Security is not really a problem any more.”
The NZ Army has made Bamiyan safe—according to the NZ Army
Radio NZ National, Insight, Sunday 21 April 2013.
Presented by Belinda McCammon
There’s a brilliant scene in the TV series Friday Night Lights, where young Matt Saracen is talking with his dad, who’s just come back from Iraq.
MATT SARACEN: How are things going over there?
HIS FATHER: [long, uncomfortable pause]Great. We’re building schools, fixing roadsâŠ.
This is followed by a long long pause, as father and son acknowledge the unspoken truth behind the pat, formulaic lie.
I was reminded of that superb piece of television when I listened to Insight this morning. New Zealand is finally pulling out of its unwise, unhappy, shameful decade-long involvement in the occupation of Afghanistan. To finally get shot of it, the government sent over the Governor-General, the Minister of Defence and some compliant reporters, on this occasion required to fill the role of public relations people. One of those reporter/PR flacks was Belinda McCammonâŠ.
The mission to Afghanistan gets off to a very poor start with the planeload of New Zealand dignitaries stranded on the tarmac, unable to leave the plane because of “security concerns.”
Once they do get off the plane and into the heavily fortified New Zealand compound, the interviews are almost comical in their evasion of realityâŠ.
BELINDA McCAMMON: So is Bamiyan province making progress?
COMMANDER SHOLTO STEPHENS: Oh, definitely. Around this area there were several documented massacres of Hazara people by the Taliban. They now have good governance, security and sealed roads. So that’s three major ticks that they’ve got. Don’t try to tell them that the New Zealand involvement hasn’t been a success!
One voice above all others is almost sublime in its glibness and hypocrisyâŠ.
JONATHAN COLEMAN: We’ve done a lot to get rid of corruption. There’s still a need to build up institutions, like the public service. There’s lots we can be proud of.
But all the assurances and and all of the spin has obviously not convinced Belinda McCammon. She is a lot brighter and less biddable than other officially approved “journalists” who have been sent over there. She actually has the courage to undermine the words of Coleman and Commander StephensâŠ.
BELINDA McCAMMON: But it’s hard to escape the feeling of uncertainty.
Then it’s back to the bullshit from the army spin merchantsâŠ.
ARMY SPOKESMAN: The atmosphere here is benign. We are reasonably confident that the local security forces can manage the situation.
This is promptly undermined by radio time pips, and recordings of a recent news broadcast: “The Minister of Defence says that reality has come home to New Zealand troops in Afghanistan, after two New Zealand soldiers were killed overnightâŠ.”
And then another one: “New Zealand has lost three more soldiers, just a few days after the deaths of two of their colleagues in BamiyanâŠ.”
Cut to a ceremony unveiling a memorial to New Zealanders who have died in Bamiyan. Belinda McCammon notes that the locals all have their faces covered. Obviously they do not share the bounding optimism of Jonathan Coleman and Sholto Stephens.
Somebody from the New Zealand Embassy vapors enthusiastically: “There’s a general air of prosperity here, you know. There’s endless possibility out there⊠a great WORLD of opportunity out thereâŠPresident Karzai remarked to us over lunch that the GDP per capita has increased TEN-FOLD over the last ten years and I like to think we have played our part in that.”
Then we hear the Governor-General, Sir Jerry Mateparae, talking platitudinous nonsense as always: “Many challenges remain for Bamiyan and AfghanistanâŠThe seeds we have sown together⊔
There are 29 interpreters, plus their families, coming to live in New Zealand. The young interpreter who spoke to Belinda McCammon obviously does not believe any of the talk about Afghanistan being safer. He wants to get out as fast as possible.
Some pompous nonsense by Lt. Gen. Rhys Jones, and some sober analysis by Robert Ayson from Victoria University.
Final “analysis” is by the ever-positive Commander Sholto Stephens. “The locals have got a good grasp of the security situation,” he states, still maintaining that diligent air of high seriousness. “In fact,” he goes on, “security is not really a problem any more.” (Perhaps he’d forgotten that planeload of New Zealanders too afraid to even leave the plane at the airport.) The fact is, continues Commander Stevens, Afghanistan is simply engulfed by crime, which makes it no different to other places around the world.
So there we have it. According to the New Zealand Defence Force, all the crime and all the killings are a POSITIVE SIGN. Things are getting better! Every killing, every bombing, every standover, every act of extortion is a step to true liberation!
——————————————————————————————-
There was not a mention of the shameful episodes of New Zealand soldiers being browbeaten by American goons into breaking the law and handing over captive civilians to possible torture and summary execution. Of course, there is one respected and knowledgeable New Zealand journalist in Afghanistan: Jon Stephenson. He was not even mentioned, let alone interviewed. Instead we got to hear the rigorously on-message voices of Jonathan Coleman, Lt. Gen. Rhys Jones, Sholto Stephens, a vapid diplomat, and the Governor-General.
Belinda McCammon, or her editors, did a splendid job of undermining these official lies by playing those radio news broadcasts straight after the lies; however, an assessment of New Zealand’s foreign policy requires robust and rigorous analysis, not ironic counterpointing. Irony is the resort of the weak, the fearful and the heavily censored. We need honest and forthright journalism. Belinda McCammon did a good job, but she is no Jon Stephenson.
Here’s a more honest assessment of the situation in BamiyanâŠ.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203630604578072620297779196.html
And here’s why the Governor-General could be looking at a date with the International Criminal CourtâŠ.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1104/S00150/has-gov-general-designate-jerry-mateparae-misled-the-nation.htm
There’s a documentary on Wednesday evening on Maori T.V. at 8.30 p.m. that ‘challenges New Zealandâs Role in Afghanistan.’ It’s called ‘He Toki Huna: New Zealand in Afghanistan’.
Thanks for that, Paul. I shall watch with high interest.
Check out this rather sweet slap-down of a notable academic justification for austerity programmes. Very nice I thought.
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/04/grad-student-who-shook-global-austerity-movement.html
Rather sweet slap-down Clockie ? You are an admirably calm fulla aren’t you ?
Magnificent, bloody magnificent I’d call it !
Thank you so, so much for the link.
Note the first of 253 comments at the foot of the article from one Glebec.
Just how much of the TINOW justification for austerity derives from negligence, clay feet, wilful fraud, variously ?
Glad to know it’s not just me who felt a warm glow reading that one North :). I received the link from my politically and environmentally active twenty year old daughter this morning and after quickly reading it thought, that’s my girl! I would have been more effusive and enthusiastic in my recommendation but reined myself in and went for dignified endorsement instead..
I was on brunch cooking duties this morning so I haven’t had a chance to trawl through the comments. I’ll have that pleasure this afternoon.
That grad student is from U Mass Amhurst. Which happens to be where the USA’s leading Marxian economist, RD Wolff, is emeritus professor đ
rdwolff.com
I guess the Right will attempt to tar the lot of them with the “commie academic” label. I was reading an article somewhere recently about a British born Marxian economist (can’t recall the name dammit) who has been teaching courses on Das Kapital since he arrived in the USA back in the sixties. Sounded fascinating but I doubt if I possess the intellectual heft to read and follow fellas like that.
don’t put your self down (plenty of people on the right of the political speculum to do that for you).
I know I’m not a total moron but neither am I a practised intellectual, so, just being realistic really :). Here is the guy I was trying to remember:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Harvey_(geographer)
He’s a social theorist rather than an economist but I guess in some ways the difference between those two things is, well, academic really. đ
There is a series of talks and interviews featuring him on you tube;
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=david+harvey+capital&oq=david+harvey&gs_l=youtube.1.4.0l10.2303.10835.0.15170.12.12.0.0.0.0.628.2937.1j1j9j5-1.12.0…0.0…1ac.1.eujZCiA5seo
which I dipped into one day. Very interesting guy.
Sorry, I’m a mechanical guy not digi-tech enough to know how to fix that link.
Clockie: will be sourcing some David Harvey in book form (so many books, so little time) I was, as many know, a diesel / truck mechanic before I went mad and took up gardening and fear of the Lord đ
The difference is that the economists are far lesser people as they’ve forgotten or purposefully dropped the fact that economics used to be part of philosophy. They forgotten the should part of economics.
Also they’ve created an economic theory which doesn’t involve people and their social wellbeing in the least.
Heh. David Harvey is a Geographer. I had a fair few of his readings in my Human Geography classes. I didn’t have the intellectual heft to fully understand him either. Heavy writing. I’m glad he started making videos, they’re so much easier to understand so I stick with those unless I need the detail.
“Heâs a social theorist rather than an economist but I guess in some ways the difference between those two things is, well, academic really.”
Imo the difference between a Human Geographer and an Economist is that the Geographer will take on any theoretical perspective that suits what they’re investigating – the scroungers of the academic world đ – and incorporate society, environment, economy and whatever else is needed to get a full picture of the research in question. It means they’re good academic and research collaborators. Human Geography went through the ‘lets be a science’ bent and came through it. Economists are still stuck in a reductionist mode, discarding any societal or environmental intrusion in their purist models.
It made it quite difficult to reconcile the two views as an undergrad studying both, so I stuck with geography, it made much more sense to me.
really enjoyed this comment rosy; hope that you get the feedback
Yes, I do like some of the developments in Human Geography over the last couple of decades.
I have been into David Harvey since I read his “Condition of Postmodernity”. I think he focuses a lot on urban geography.
His book “A Brief History of Neoliberalism” is my main reference point for my thinking on “neoliberalism”.
what led you to yesterdays OM, or do you rely on an RSS feed?
Thanks Ghost, pleased you enjoyed it. It’s unusual to have an opportunity to put in a word for Human Geography.
Karol, Social Justice and the City was my introduction to Harvey. It really hard work for me to understand the concepts because I had begun university years after leaving school at 15 and with no qualifications. I felt that book pretty much marked the end of Geography’s ‘scientific’ project, and gave me the sense I could take more of a holistic view of a topic than I otherwise would have.
Just do what Harvey himself did – re-read it. He didn’t get it the first time either.
Ha, guy with the ability to add a row of numbers together disproves theoretical pillar of austerity economics.
Also, I think someone has posted this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOP2V_np2c0
before, but it’s so good it bears being brought to the fore again.
Thanks Clockie, a nice plain language vid.
Moment of the Waco fertiliser plant explosion. Ouch. And notice how light travels faster than an atmosphere propagated shockwave.
Texas, the best state to do business in.
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/04/19/1893601/update-last-inspection-of-west-texas-fertilizer-plant-was-in-1985/
UPDATE
The plant in West was inspected in 2011 by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), which issued a fine of $10,100 for missing placards and ânot having a security planâ in violation of Hazardous Materials Regulations. A compromise was reached in 2012 after corrective actions were taken, which included the plant admitting to the violations and paying a lowered penalty of $5,250.
Apparently the plant owners failed to self-report that they were holding massive quantities of ammonium nitrate on site to the regulatory agency the Department for Homeland Security.
Along with TNT, ammonium nitrate is a key ingredient in WW I / WWII / Korean War era high explosives.
http://rt.com/usa/texas-blast-dhs-disclosure-149/
This reminds me of the coolstore in the North Island where fighting a fire there killed a fireman. They were using stuff they shouldn’t have been.
These results underline that we have to have an active on the ground inspectorate. Let the government think of such plants as potential weapons of mass destruction!
And industries like forestry as potentially hazrdous and risky so that proper systems are followed and regularly inspected. (This wouldn’t mean there never would be deliberate or ignorant and stupid actions but they would be kept to a minimum.)
I’d say there’s a little corporate buttock clenching going on.
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/20/17838304-red-flag-texas-plant-had-1350-times-amount-of-chemical-that-would-trigger-oversight?lite
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/04/20/lawmaker-texas-fertilizer-plant-was-willfully-off-the-grid/
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Plant-was-cited-for-lack-of-permit-4445141.php
West was a baby compared to the Oppau explosion.
The explosion was estimated to be equivalent to about 1â2 kilotonnes of TNT and was heard as a loud bang in Munich, more than 300 km away. The pressure wave ripped roofs off up to 25 km away and destroyed windows even farther away. In Heidelberg (30 km from Oppau), traffic was stopped by the mass of broken glass on the streets
[…]
According to some descriptions, only 450 tonnes exploded, out of 4,500 tonnes of fertilizer stored in the warehouse.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppau_explosion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonium_nitrate_disasters
joe90
Thought provoking wikipedia link- thoughts not good.
Lovely to see Joyce on Q + A mouthing ” these (‘communist’) clowns……. ” as he tried to dismiss Parker.
Lovely because if that’s how National intends to counter (1) the smack to the head which Labour/Greens have delivered re electricity and (2) a seeming trend towards dissatisfaction generally, a great bunch of the public are going to hoot and say – ” So those clowns are calling everyone else clowns now……..What ? What ? ”
Additionally, significant numbers will identify and be repelled by the disgustingly arrogant look of it – ” Now don’t you worry about it you (dumb) people. Take it from us…….they’re just clowns “. Wanking on about North Korea and Albania and Chavez and communism is only gonna make National look more desperately bullshitty.
This is not 1975. Dancing Cossacks was a stunt which will not work today. Why ? Because in ’75 the Cold War spectre was Kiwis’ property being forcibly appropriated by the government into the hands of the government, a la communism. Today the Global Bankers’ Bonuses spectre is Kiwis’ property being forcibly appropriated by the government into the hands of fifty times millionaires and their foreign buddies. And this as the people get inexorably poorer and the already fabulously wealthy get inexorably richer.
So this government is left to deal in some other way with the incompetent clown equation already more or less set in stone: Key – “I don’t have a clue smirk smirk……..”, ” I don’t recall……..oh hang on, yes I do………as you were, I do, but differently “. Parata. My God who doubts it ? The dodgy Banks. Key put him there over a cuppa. He’s still there because Key won’t read official reports. The list goes on.
To the Gosman and the Chris73 and the King Kong and the BM and others – perceptions boys and girls. Perceptions. Your snorting arrogance has blinded you to the fact that perceptions cut both ways. And to the fact that lies and corruption while not capitalised quite yet are certainly in the frame. Simply, the public at large are not like your greedy hardcore neo-liberals or your snotty wee wannabee John Key cargo-cultists. The public smells the whiff of bullshit once, then twice, then again and again – Whanganui-like hoha at the cumulation of repeated whiffs producing stench. Add arrogance. As above – “What ?……What ?”
Can Gosman’s Mum please update her report that he/she was last seen in his/her room crying inconsolably ? Mum, you need to be warned. There’s a poll out tonight which apparently asks the question – ” Is John Key a liar ? “. Mum, there’s an 0800 number you can have.
Taxpayers are paying Cabinet Ministers their high salaries and want to see value for money; taxpayers expect them to govern for us and to do a lot more than abuse great policy ideas on prime time television.
Meanwhile, the power bosses should be coming out and be really strident – a lot more vocally nasty, given their obscene remunerations are being put at risk:
http://tvnz.co.nz/business-news/power-bosses-salaries-top-1m-5412754
And even if you did consider buying shares in MRP there may be a problem in getting advice as Rod Oram found.
“Professional advice on Mighty River Power is highly elusive. ”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/columnists/8577703/Tight-lips-over-Mighty-River-Power-analysis
My conversations with investment advisors at social events have been that it is difficult for ‘mums and dads’ investors to get fuller information, unlike institutional investors. So Rod Oram is quite right.
My advice to the NZ public at this stage is to think very carefully about buying the MRP shares, especially if there are other investment options.
Looks like John Key is lining up mums and dads to be screwed.
With the general trend towards a new normal, the power market, taken together with the domestic and international economic climate, do not bode so well.
Funny thing is, if labour and the melons form the next government, I’d make a ton more money under them than what I’d do under National.
By the time the next election rolls around I should be making basically all my money overseas
With the dollar collapsed and all the wealth fleeing off shore, my money will be safe overseas gaining in value while all the other poor souls suffer with job losses collapsing house prices sky rocketing food bills etc.
I’d be amazed if they last a term and when Shearer and the rest of the communists do get the boot you won’t see a left party in government for a generation.
In the aftermath of the economic destruction, I will bring my money back and buy up properties etc at pennies on the dollar.
You really shouldn’t believe in the Apocolypse mate, it makes you seem like a nutter.
Especially since the greatest capitalist nation in the world the USA has just suffered massive house price collapses, rocketing unemployment, wages deflation, and people fleeing the USD into gold and also hard productive assets.
See isn’t that interesting, we haven’t experienced any of that.
I wonder why?
As for the apocalypse comment, that’s what Normans whole economic policy is based around which is the collapse of the worlds economies due to fossil fuel depletion,he’s bet the house on it.
The guy’s a dangerous religious zealot, he will try to disconnect NZ from the world economy and it will be a disaster.
We’re a more socialist nation than the USA, with tighter regulations on our banking and financial sector.
Because Australia regulates banks far more than the US and A do. That’s the only reason I can see. Or is the right answer Obama Muslim Communist Kenyan?
Probably because John Key and National hadn’t yet got round to turning us into their financial hub of the South Seas?
BM – I wonder you could see your keyboard through your gales of tears. Gosman’s Mum is setting up a support group. Join it. But hang on…….all is not lost:
Para 1 – You’d make a ton more money under labour/melons.
There’s the answer that really attracts you BM.
Para 2 – Your money will be offshore safe and secure, gaining in value
You absolutely sure about that ? Don’t choose Cyprus.
Para 2 – Collapse collapse collapse in NZ
Because YOU would take your money out ? Thick self-centred fool you are.
Para 3 – Shearer and the rest of the communists…….
Well done Senator Joe McCarthy The Dancing Shitshack ! You must be 120 years old by now.
Para 4 – “I will come back and buy up properties etc at pennies in the dollar……..”
So you’ll be voting labour /melons then BM ?
Nothing you’ve ever said on this blog suggests the vaguest understanding of the concept of an economic common good so of course you’ll be voting for them labour/melon communists. If what you say is correct you’d shoot yourself in the foot if you didn’t wouldn’t you ?
I suspect the truth is this: you’ve made a bob (probably less than your blowhardish allusions imply) and you’re on this blog demanding congratulations. Don’t talk to the people on this blog BM. Without documented proof of the financial empire you’ve built you’re not likely to get the lionising and obedience you seek. Talk to Dunnokeyo. He’s got a few knighthoods left in his back pocket.
Imagine the thrill of first-class check-in out at the airport mate………..Sir Bowel Motion !!!!
Nope, I’m still voting National.
It’s much better for the country if I do.
I love your religious faith in the face of all facts
For you maybe. But for a hell of a lot of people it will be much much worse.
BM
Send your requirements to all the political leaders. I am sure they will tailor their policies for your particular benefit.
sour grapes then
Wow, you don’t even the delusional economic theory that you follow.
HINT: A lower dollar will boost demand of NZ goods on the world market and so demand for workers will also increase and thus wages will rise.
Keep dreaming – it’s National and their stooges that we won’t see in government for a generation. Same as what happened to the first Labour government.
It makes no difference, in the greater scheme of things, who the government of this country is.
We do not control our own country, and have not since 1961!
Control was ceded earlier than that, but the 1961 IMF loans, and conditionality’s policies which came with those loans, are still playing out!
Dreadful interviewing from Corin Dann, he let Joyce push him around. David Parker is terrible on TV, especially against a bully like Joyce.
Dann should have just said, “ok so you’re telling the public that you have no solution to higher electricity prices and that they should just suck it up?”
Dann repeatedly appears to be a light-weight.
Parker is terrible but Shearer is much worse and must be kept out of sight even if the interviewer is a light-weight like Dann. Natz’ tactic would be to smoke out Shearer and then put his mumble, stumble and fumble on display.
Shearer is improving; practice makes an expert; even Joker’s can shape-shift; U seem either practiced or a quick learner yourself at this collectivity gig. đ Hope that you are enjoying your day and that lunch has settled.
Shearer should have been practising on tv this morning then?
Still lots of time on this side of the let’s-give-him-another-six months.
“scales” lift from their eyes; Shearers assurance rises as NAct spokes people fall and foul;
Middle Earth may be a little naive but given enough time they catch on.(crosses fingers and prays three times)
I consistently watch the pollies presentation critically; Shearer is improving, both in the house and on the box.
Labour are playing a more restrained game it appears, for example moderation in exposure of Cunliffe, even Robertson appears settled (at the end of the day it is the perception of the potential voters that elect parties to power) and solidarity, co-operation, appears to be cementing their progress. It is definately the tory-shill MSM they have to be careful of and the incompetence and bias of interviewers like Wood and establishment commentator fools like Edwards and Ralston (what is it about wealth and privilage that generally makes it inversely proportional to real humanity?)
My gardening tip of the day: take deep slow belly breaths, in through the nose 1 2 3 4 5…out 2 3 4 5, it appears that those on the right of the political spectrum are less able to put this technique into practice and defer to instinct primarily; they cannot help themselves, as a generalization. (the political polls, and analysis of such that is to be found on The Standard is far superior to any image / sound bite to be entertained by on the 6 O’Clock News ;-D
Linking TDB posts into TS is catchy
Salt, and Light
16:8 Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice
16:7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
Better to Give A Little Bit than a
Crime Of The Century
Remember the days they used to leave hanged or crucified criminals or political enemies near the gateways of ancient cities to serve as visual warnings to all citizens?
Well, they’ve just done it with a post autopsy photo of the dead, older, badly disfigured Boston Marathon bombing suspect. Screw friends, family, due process, coroners report, etc.
Who says that the parallels between Imperial Rome and the US don’t hold?
I saw the photo, its not nice. Following link is just a text description of the leak.
http://www.ibtimes.com/tamerlan-tsarnaev-death-photo-surfaces-autopsy-picture-reddit-slain-boston-bombing-suspect-no-1
Do you subscribe to reddit or was it a ghost protocol search?
Hows your day going?
assuming that picture is authentic, let’s hope that is not a symbolic cadaver of miranda caution, legal representation, and trial by jury and judge according to the laws of the land.
Cruising along, dreary day, bright spirits, thank you kindly
Who is “they”?
If Obama – or, say, anybody – were standing in front of banners of the bullet riddled corpse then yeah, that would seem to be an apt comparison. The fact that a photo was circulated among law enforcement and leaked, in this electronic media driven world we live in, is utterly unsurprising.
The photo sends a pretty clear signal. Did I say it was surprising? Where did I indicate surprise that officials would break their own rules and circulate images like this?
The photo sends a pretty clear signal that there are no secrets any more.
For God’s sake it isn’t even front page on Reddit, how much of a warning could it be? And by tomorrow no one will remember anyway, because Taylor Swift is going to wear something really interesting. Lighten up!
I had hoped you would take the actions of law enforcement and government officials more seriously.
Oh, you’d be unhappy about anything less than a full embrace of your empire-conspiracy-fetish narrative.
Evidence and documentation regarding investigations in process should not be forwarded to unauthorised persons. Especially where the dignity of otherwise unassociated friends and family members is involved.
Is that really so hard for you to understand?
Boston Red Sox fans and Neil Diamond.
coincidentally, was just listening to Neil Diamond singing
Last Thing On My Mind off the album “Stones”
Just listening to a piece on nat radio about the constitutional review going on. A Dr Maria Barge talked about Maori representation, how it arose and what it should be, etc. She was certainly correct about most everything she said but completely missed the elephant in the room, namely whether such racial separatism is any good for a modern society. Her entire piece was predicated on the existence of the Treaty and rights that existed pre-Treaty, which is all fine and dandy, but like pretty much every commentator in this area the question of the suitability of the Treaty and any pre-existing rights is completely and utterly ignored.
I think this is a major flaw in this area. The use of the Treaty and whether it actualy achieves what it needs to achieve today is simply not looked at. It is not discussed. It is not considered. It is like everyone just blindly goes on about the existence of the Treaty and what it contains, leading to the question f whether it has been honoured. Of course, those components are entirely legitimate. But the underlying value and quality of the Treaty is not considered and this is very poor form on our part as a country.
If the Treaty turns out to be flawed and it is unthinkingly set in even harder stone in our constitutional arrangements then it will clearly lead to trouble.
This subject is ignored. It is not the right approach.
And then dear old Geoff Palmer goes and does the exact same thing in relation to a question from the floor.
A person asked about equality / racial separatism in the constitution. Palmer answered by saying he disagreed with the person because various rights such as aboriginal title existed before the Treaty.
See? He missed the elephant in the room too.
Nobody disputes that various rights such as aboriginal title existed before the Treaty, but that was not at all what the question was about. The question was about the quality, value, usefulness of those various rights (and te tiriti), not whether they exist.
I would have thought at least Palmer would hae understood the difference. Bit disappointing.
ethnic / racial “trouble” is a’blowin in anyway vto; this constitutional reveiw, which is Excellently-timed, is just fueling the fire; listened to talk-back radio, read a right-wing blog lately, or the comments in The Herald?
Yes, no I don’t try to listen to or read them things, they just get depressing. But yep, unfortunately such a question as that posed does also drag in all the ugly yuckiness that throws itself up everytime such an issue arises.
I was kind of hoping that the clear air in such a forum as that on nat radio may have allowed some space to discuss the issue, particularly as it is about constitutional arrangememts in the future. It is about the most appropriate place ever for the issue to be well aired and considered – yet to date it is missing.
yes. one does have to have a strong constitution to be a witness to these times; still, nothing to be achieved by looking away; at least at The Standard many are on the same page literally, if not actually đ
comment 101, or not…
Calling All Angels
(thanks for the guidance re a desktop folks, felix, Al1en, Lanth. DoSs, Draco and Lynn; hopefully a few others took notes; I wrote those components down Viper; $600 and bits left over, cheap as chips)
More Power To Ya. Yeeeeeeeeeeha!
Colmar Brunton has Nats on 43%. Lowest since 2005. Labour is on 36%.
Key’s personal popularity has taken a hit too. Down five to 39%.
Good solid result for Labour. I can hear the sound of knives sharpening over in the National caucus. What did they have the Greens come in at?
Greens 13, Winston 3. Conservatives 2, others 1 each, except the MP, who have vanished, apparently.
I see Key lost 5 personal points, but Shearer’s own rating did not move.
As long as we fight the election on policy, it shouldn’t matter. Brand Key alone isn’t enough this time.
Judy’ll be hosting a pregnantly “nudge nudge wink wink don’t mention Colmar-Brunton” Sunday supper out in Clevedon right now. Repeatedly excusing herself to call Steven J – “Kia Ora Steven…….just calling to see how you are……. who’s over at your place ?”. SJ’s not picking up.
Meanwhile over in Parnell Dunnokeyo’ll be taking solace in big-noting at a BBQ for Max’s adoring, entitled wee prat mates from down the street.
Gerry’ll be cruising the broken streets of Christchurch hazard-jacket clad looking for someone to witness a malodourously flatulent display of being on the job.
Banks’ll be manically swilling down botox pills with rare single malt.
Pointless you say ? Indeed not !
Out of this extraordinary phenomenon of hoi-polloi temeritousness will arise a record-grossing new tele-drama……… “Shonky Python”. I’m not kidding. Pete and Fran emailed the concept to Warners shortly after lunch.
Sorry……..failed to mention Gossie. According to hisher Mum heshe is still locked in hisher room, sonorous sobbing emanating therefrom. My God. This will not end well. It’s been 48 hours.
Meanwhile BM is running reds on the way to the airport in the BM?, sans chauffeur (to whom heshe owes holiday pay, the cad). Boarding the first flight bound for……..well anywhere really. Anywhere there’s no extradition treaty. Careful about that departure card declaration re the excess of $10K mate. You may not be able to come back to buy up all that threepenny real estate.
Oh how Cruel Chance has beset us and laboured our melons !
SHONKEY PYTHON! You just made my day Northie, ta muchly
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/national-s-popularity-slips-seven-year-low-poll-5413152
However 3news not so good, as usual.
Shearer on 3 News: “That’s just John Key talking out of his…. mouth.”…?
PS; And Key saying it’s his “centre right” government versus the Labour Green’ “far left”…. somebody please get out there and call it the BS it is!
Yep, awful. The are other ways to say arse without looking lame.
Don’t call it bullshit. Laugh, and say ‘Look, John Key just doesn’t know where the centre is anymore’.
Damn, that’s a good line…
oooh, was talking into the wrong microphone; Germany may turn off the Fawcett; Far-out
http://www.ibtimes.com/german-debt-rises-dangerous-highs-1197869
Chinese are buying gold faster than cabbages đ
http://www.ibtimes.com/chinese-consumers-rush-buy-gold-global-gold-prices-plunged-last-week-1204823
He is beyond training. Someone in the caucus must see that the Labour Party needs an effective spokesperson for their policies.
Compare and contrast with Norman.
This is too important to stuff up. NZ can’t afford 3 more years of the neo-liberal experiment. our schools, health system will be destroyed if change does not happen in 2014.
If the Labour Party are reading this, please act on behalf of NZ.
I must have missed the announcement that Labour/Greens was taking control of NZ’s monetary supply, and instead of borrowing itself into oblivion, was going to have the RBNZ issue any funds required to *keep the lights on*, build hospitals, schools etc…
We know that Norman has referenced *printing money*, but I am quite sure he does not want to be the victim of a *truncated existance*, being part of the governmment, that was going to turn the debt tap off, and pull the banksters a brown eye!
No, no….the neoliberal experiment will continue quite nicely, regardless of who is in charge!
Edit: Yes, Shearer is byond training, but filling his role beautifully!
The Reid Research is a rogue.
Colmar Brunton usually favours the Nats. That they are now polling their lowest since 2005 in CB is the most significant sign yet that John Key has “jumped the shark”.
Let’s see what the next Digipoll says. If that confirms the trend, then knives sharpening indeed…
A bit odd at TV3. Reid poll:
Nat 49.4
Lab 30.2
Green 11.5
NZF 3.8
Trends and all that but differences a bit umm strange?
How do Reid source their poll?
Any difference between this poll’s methodology is different from the other companies’ technique?
http://crispian-jago.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/the-conspiracy-theory-flowchart-they.html
And muzza “believes” which ever ones get the best response :3
Nicky boy, you never got around to saying what your life experience actually consisted of, mentioning of mental health issues aside, and know it all, online demeanor, and part time blog tough guy…
Far as I can tell, you do not have anything which resembles *understanding*, which was gained by living outside what ever little place you inhabit!
Lets hear it sonny jim!
Or at least give me a rage fuelled rant, I so miss those of late…
or, you may both park up on a sandy knoll and enjoy a spot of surf-casting…
nor have you, muzza
I gotta ride; me movie is on I’m told. :-D.
How does my RFI to Nick, involve you, McFlock?
Open mike, fool. Just pointing out your double standard, just in case you want to correct it for the spectators.
Its got nothing to do with you, double standards, Open Mike or otherwise, you know that, and it was the best you could come up with to run interference for another clumsey interjection!
Let Nick speak for himself, if he can manage it!
Oh, I’m sure ‘the man’ muzz would like shut me up for speaking truth to lunacy, but I have the interwebz! I am invincible!
Come see the censorship inherent in the system!
đ
*goes back to Firefall*
*groan* – now Key is picking himself up off the ropes, and, desperate to appear relevant, is promoting incentives to attract big spending tourists to NZ – via convention centres, etc. and targeting emerging economies in places like Indonesia, India and Latin America.
What planet is he on? Latin America? Wouldn’t they get more and bigger for their bigger bucks in the US and Canada? Indonesia? Wouldn’t Aussie be more attractive?
look forward to a cable-car being laid under the sea-bed to Beijing.
essentially karol, attracting more Asian migration and investment is the big picture for the business class.
now, where were we before we got all hot and distracted, oh yes,
China’s State Council, or cabinet, examines US Human Rights Records (see, vinyl’s back in style)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/china-turns-the-tables-and-criticizes-the-us-for-its-own-human-rights-record/2013/04/21/f5c61b5c-aa3d-11e2-9e1c-bb0fb0c2edd9_story.html
How the West missed a chance to make peace with Tehran,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/10007603/Iran-how-the-West-missed-a-chance-to-make-peace-with-Tehran.html
oooh, Revolving Doors
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/10006992/The-debt-ridden-EU-stares-bankruptcy-in-the-face.html
oooh, declines in the EU Stockmarkets too; wonder what it all means đ
http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article40054.html