Kim’s still “got it” in dealing with duplicitous politicians. She allowed some space around Key for his crap to impact on the listener, nice change from the now prevalent hectoring style that eschews even a micro pause.
Election promise broken – ‘The Government will not be delivering on its pre-election promise of free doctors visits for all primary aged children. The ACC Minister has set the Corporation’s funding at a level that will cover only an estimated 90 percent of doctors’ visits for children who are injured(…)Nikki Kaye said the costs of getting the remaining number of injured children free visits outweighs the benefits.”
Meanwhile, professional rugby players earning 100+K get all the costly treatments for free when injured.
How is that fair?
Yep. ACC also covers accidents outside of the workplace. For professional athletes their organisations typically “top up” the payment ACC provides so that the athlete does not have to cough up the patient co-payment themselves.
Surely you guys all know by now, that children don’t count in this country and all tax payers money should be used to prop up highly paid Nat loving sports people and corporates!
Possibly not paid by the RU. I remember when the Warriors started up, ACC assigned special officers to them so any problems could be quickly treated. I would expect a national icon such as the All Blacks to get at least the same level of attention. Or maybe things have changed since those days.
ceos on 2 million a year can get acc. thats partly the point. a system for all. usually they have private insurance both health and income so would not get Acc
Private health insurance doesn’t affect entitlement to ACC. If you have it you get both when/if you are injured.
Also, ACC has long had a unit that deals with the injuries of “special” people – high court judges, sports professionals, politicians, TV presenters etc. -ie the rich and/or powerful have their own unit at ACC dedicated to looking after them separately from the plebs.
I believe this unit exists because it is important in maintaining the status quo that those whose voices are heard aren’t treated the way ordinary people are.
Everyone gets the same treatment. Some just get more of it and without having to wait, or be told their broken neck from a collapsed scrum is a degenerative condition. Like Australia, we are a nation of equals, where Jack is as good as his master. Just don’t tell Jack though, or he might get ideas.
Kim Hill on National Radio MR….what a treat! Yes, John Key sounded surly and the Health and Disability Commissioner has just had a well deserved hammering over the official response to the stupidity at Greymouth Hospital which killed a 15 year old boy.
Ports of Auckland is proceeding with two huge wharf extensions, despite public protests, a political call to halt work and a legal challenge against consents for the work.
Last night Mayor Len Brown was taking a relaxed approach to the work at the port, saying a council request to halt work was still under consideration.
The lawfulness of the consents is being challenged in the High Court in Auckland on June 2 by Urban Auckland, a society of architectural and planning professionals.
Reaction to Mr Hawkins’ statement was swift.
Stop Stealing Our Harbour spokesman Michael Goldwater said the decision to proceed with the extensions displayed incredible arrogance and complete disregard for what the port’s bosses were saying.
Waitemata and Gulf councillor Mike Lee accused the port company of insubordination, while North Shore councillor Chris Darby said the company appeared to be deliberately toying with the council and thinks it is “immune to our unequivocal requests”.
Seems like they are taking a leaf out of their hero the PM’s playbook.
It seems to be more common today. People in all spheres are talking more bullshit and telling lies blatantly and deceiving people and doing just whatever they want as they see the PM get away with it. You know, the “whatever it takes” mantra.
“Stop Stealing Our Harbour spokesman Michael Goldwater said the decision to proceed with the extensions displayed [ incredible arrogance and complete disregard for what the port’s bosses were saying ] perfect alignment with a capitalist perspective.”
Producers will be required to register their powdered baby milk formula with the food and drug regulatory agency, according to a draft revision to the Food Safety Law, submitted to the bi-monthly legislative session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee for its third reading on Monday.
In an earlier draft, submitted in December, the provision on powdered baby milk formula stipulated that firms should only ensure their formulas were on record.
According to Stuff if we turn out on Anzac day we are supprting the deployments against ISIS? How dare they.
“Australians and New Zealanders are being urged to turn out in force on Anzac Day to show they are not cowed by Islamic State terror plots.”
“The best thing Australians and New Zealanders can do is to turn up in very large numbers at Anzac events, wherever they are, to support our values, our interests, our armed forces,” Abbott said.”
But you know the reality now? Now that terror threats are on the list at the mall? …. the reality is that the horse has bolted…. we are at war …… the propaganda has passed a tipping point …. the truth is now gone …… you are either with us or against us …… the entire narrative over the middle east, terror, war America Australia has just changed the last few days ….. (always intended of course. in evidence see timing of particular events)
Was planning to attend the local ceremony in Devonport this year but the crass and blatant political manipulation of the event by the two most abhorrent Australasian leaders of all time has now ensured I will not be there.
I will plant my poppy (in memory of my father who saw action in the final year of WW1 and all of WW2) later in the day after everybody has gone.
Maybe there should be a dusk commemoration by those who are remembering as a symbolic counterpoise to those who turn up at dawn but who seem to have forgotten?
ANZAC DAY PEACE COMMEMORATION to remember all casualties of war will take place at 2pm on Saturday 25 April at the Peace Pole in front of Otago Museum. It will last between 20-30 minutes.
Organised by the Peace Movement Aotearoa. Not quite dusk,and probably silent, so those who find silence uncomfortable should come late:-)
Abbott referred to this Iraq “training” squad of close to 1,000 people as “sons of anzacs”………
What would those who died at Gallipoli and other places think of Abbott, Key and their actions?
I would guess the true anzacs would not wish this on their sons at all…. and especially not in these circumstances around the US and the middle east the last decade or two.
The Iraq squad are not sons of anzacs, that is complete and utter horseshit
Abbott is so crass ! and crude …. and our PM goes along with all this jingoism presumably because “war” stirs our nationwide pride and will keep him being elected ! Maybe …… and maybe not …. there must be a stirring of disgust starting to run through most NZers at the blatant commercialism going on, surely ? Especially those whose families suffered in one way or another thru WW1.
I found that sickening as well – sullying the meaning of a festival that has an established place in the lives of New Zealanders and Australians. The concept of respect is alien to guys like Abbott and Key.
I suspect they’d support both because the two of them are still hostage to the stupid ideas of racial superiority that led to Gallipoli in the first place.
Welcome to our future… where public amenity is transferred to corporate interests for nothing with no oversight (apart from a few incompetent council resource consents people) and even when there is huge public protest, the so called ‘owner’ the council run by CEO Stephen Town who has been very silent through all of this does nothing, and our elected officials also do nothing.
While the Ports of Auckland with a strong record of intensionally breaking the law gets a free run to steal our harbour.
Welcome to our future, where public amenity like our harbour is transferred into corporate control like the Ports of Auckland by a handful of barristers and council resource consent officials and the public is not allowed a say in the process.
Nothing from Stephen Brown CEO of Auckland Council…. someone check his pulse to see if he is still alive …
Ports of Auckland is a company with a proven record of illegal action. One would think with the amount of lawyers on speed dial at the council they could get an injunction to stop work, but no, as usual do nothing.
Ports of Auckland has been ordered to pay $40,000 for deliberately breaking the law in 2012.
“Lynton Crosby, the Conservatives’ election campaign director, is facing a growing Cabinet backlash over his strategy, with ministers worried that the party is pumping out an aggressive and uninspiring message to voters.”
Because the Crosby campaign is designed to make people not want to vote. It only 49% of people who voted Tracey. Which is just 30 odd % of the population. Another 30 odd % are sick of the politics of hate, fear, and manipulation. These fine souls voted with their feet and did not vote.
Another 30 odd % are sick of the politics of hate, fear, and manipulation. These fine souls voted with their feet and did not vote.
The single main reason people do not vote is that they ‘didn’t get round to it, forgot or were not interested’
Only about 7% of non voters express anything like a ‘protest’ reason for not voting.
How many of those who did vote only voted because they were guited into it by the “don’t vote, don’t complain” crowd. I know I have been in this catagory in the past and my wife is currently there. Until there is a box to vote for none of the above then we will not have a truely representative democratic process.
I can’t think of anything more pointless than a ‘none of the above’ vote. If that’s all you want to say then just don’t bother voting. Nothing = nothing.
If you have an alternative in mind, and there are a significant number of citizens that support that alternative, then start a political Party to represent it and get it on the ballot paper so citizens have the opportunity to vote for it.
I can’t think of anything more pointless than a ‘none of the above’ vote. If that’s all you want to say then just don’t bother voting. Nothing = nothing.
For some reason you believe that a no confidence vote is the same as a “nothing” vote. You couldn’t be more wrong.
For some reason you think that ‘none of the above’ is the same thing as ‘no confidence’.
A ‘no confidence’ vote is a condemnation of a specific person or entity within a system, and has the effect of forcing a positive action to restore confidence in that system.
That is quite different to the ‘None of the above’ Crashcart suggests, which is a condemnation of everyone within a system, and as far as I can see, if it happened without some alternative to everyone in the current system being available, it would have no point what so ever. Except anarchy perhaps?
“No confidence” doesn’t apply to individual people or entities. In student union elections (at least in Auckland, from memory) there’s a “no confidence” option in multi-candidate ballots.
Interestingly there’s also a “no vote” option so one could decide how strongly to assert one’s objections.
That is quite different to the ‘None of the above’ Crashcart suggests, which is a condemnation of everyone within a system, and as far as I can see, if it happened without some alternative to everyone in the current system being available, it would have no point what so ever. Except anarchy perhaps?
Really? Then that’s exactly what we should do as anarchy is exactly what we need.
“The single main reason people do not vote is that they ‘didn’t get round to it, forgot or were not interested’
Only about 7% of non voters express anything like a ‘protest’ reason for not voting.”
Piffle
Then you go on with more piffle The lost sheep – is it the argument of the unthinking or self-righteous, I really don’t know – “go start your on political party”. What a trifling boring and dullard argument. How about you go organise some sheep and put them in a pig pen if your not happy with the world. That’s what you said – piffle.
People are not happy with this world, or how it’s run – but don’t talk to anyone – just sit in your room and pontificate about how your great system and ideas of governance are the only option. Just more right wing turgid arguments against the people. The TINA buzz sanctimoniously put, just like the late roger dogulas. So if your going to lambaste us with piffle, any chance you could do it with a modicum of originality?
“The single main reason people do not vote is that they ‘didn’t get round to it, forgot or were not interested’”
That’s three reasons there, Tls, and they come under the single biggest category of why people didn’t vote – Disengaged – which included:
I didn’t get round to it or I forgot about it/am not interested 21.0
I didn’t think it was worth voting because my vote wouldn’t have made a difference 7.1
I didn’t think it was worth voting because it makes no difference which party is in government 7.0
I didn’t think it was worth voting because politicians only care about being in power 5.1
Dislike politicians, the political system, or all parties 3.0(*)
Total Disengaged 43.2
(*) Relative sampling error is 30–49.9 percent, and should be viewed with caution.)
The ‘not interested’ category could probably do with separation from the ‘forgot/didn’t get around to it’ options, imo. Without further explanation it could just as easily fit with any one of the other options in the Disengaged category.
I am glad to see that Prof Jane Kelsey has called attention to the incorrect implication given by both Radio NZ and the NZ Herald that the Fast Track for the TPPA had been achieved by Obama. In fact the Fast Track Bill had just been tabled in the US Congress.
The RNZ headline was “Obama to get fast-track authority for TPP”
These parts of the report distinctly gave the impression that this was a done deal.
“The US Congress has agreed to give President Barack Obama the authority to fast-track its signing.
However, the US commitment still has hurdles to overcome.
The agreement, struck by the leaders of the tax-writing committees, will grant the president so-called trade promotion authority, which will limit lawmakers to taking only a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote on any eventual trade deal without any power to amend it.
The Republican chairs of the Senate’s Finance Committee and Ways and Means Committee had to agree to stringent requirements for the trade deal to win over the ranking Democrat on the finance panel.”
Tim Groser no doubt was pushing that line. I hope that NZ’s interests are not being sacrificed by Tim Groser on his altar of ambition to become NZ’s Ambassador in Washington.
Any folks here who are in Dunedin and have an interest in Irish/working class/left history might be interested in a couple of talks I’m giving on campus about the 1916 Rebellion in Ireland and its aftermath.
The talks are at 5pm, today (Tuesday), April 21 and 5pm, next Tuesday (April 28) and are in Room 4, upstairs in the Clubs and Societies building at 84 Albany Street.
In the first talk I’ll be looking at the lead-up to the Rising, in particular the arrival in Irish society of the working class as an organised industrial/political force with the formation especially of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union, founded by James Larkin and later led by James Connolly, the development of its newspaper (the widely-read Irish Worker, edited by Sean O’Casey) and of the workers’ militia (the Irish Citizen Army, led by Connolly, Michael Mallin and Countess Markievicz; the formation of the first republican paramilitary organisation, Na Fianna Eireann, founded by Countess Markievicz; the revitalisation of the Irish Republican Brotherhood by young militants like Sean MacDiarmada and the return of the veteran Tom Clarke; the formation of a republican women’s movement (Inghinidhe na hEireann), founded by Maud Gonne; and the Irishwomen’s Suffrage League.
I’ll look at the 1913 Dublin Lockout and the Home Rule Crisis and the different responses within Irish nationalism to World War 1.
Today’s Herald “Chinese bank giant pushes into New Zealand mortgage market…”
Stop the World a moment.
Where is NZ Inc heading?
We have a person who was singularly able to influence New Zealand social policy for many years as the Reserve Bank Governor, (failed to lead National to government even through “Hollow Men” tactics and push his agenda) now turns up heading a foreign bank which is bleeding more “Decent Ordinary Blokes” money offshore.
“Industrial and Commercial Bank of China New Zealand began lending last year and made $11.2 million in home loans in the 12 months to December 31, according to a disclosure statement lodged with the Companies Office.”
Apparently these new banks are keeping the Aussie banks honest.
“Last year Reserve Bank deputy governor Grant Spencer said the arrival of Chinese and Indian banking giants was a “watershed event” that would help keep the dominant Australian-owned lenders “on their toes”.
Now, what say for starters, the Government instructed that all of it’s business (education, health, roading etc) be put the way of KIWI Bank.
And speaking of people on boards of big banks – it is forever interesting how the New Zealand Herald (et al), when trumpeting the new Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and its entrance to the NZ market, have completely forgotten to mention that Jenny Shipley is a Director on the Board of the ICBC’s ‘sister bank’ the Chinese Construction Bank and has been since 2007.
Even when discussing recent NZ Government appointments, and listing the appointees responsibilities and previous experience, they just forget to include this apparently insignificant fact?
Our Jenny Shiply indépendant chair of Mainzeal until 2 weeks before it collapsed into bankruptcy. Great to see the banks want to see such a ‘successful’ director. It’s not cronyism and connections – really….
Sorry CR but making 11.2 million would be servicing a few more mortgages wouldn’t it??? I took that to read “extracted”. Wouldn’t have thought lending 11.2 would be the sort of small change that Brash would be involved in. Stand to be corrected on that …
Here’s a little story about play nice, or you don’t get paid.
It’s about a small company legally supplying a necessary service to 15 million people around the world and getting absolutely shafted by corporate bully boys for doing nothing but offering a better business model.
Oh and he lives in NZ, while he waits, assets stripped, to be extradited while JK backslaps with the US Movie industry.
Another enemy of the people from our Beloved Leader. Nicky Hager, John Campbell, Snowdon, Dotcom, Catton, so many people who seem to want a ‘different’ type of democracy from the Nats and the Entertainment Industry.
If only Dotcom had invested in residential property all would have been well.
In a free market, a company can make whatever decisions they feel like. If they don’t want to deal with gays or blacks, for example, there will be no legislative pressure requiring them to do so. A company can be as vile as its owners feel like. The free market will end up with concentration of economic power in fewer and fewer hands. It is not a good thing and Paypal refusing to deal with Mega is not against the ideals of the free market.
FYI, our favorite ex-Northland MP is now CEO of Carrington Resort on the Karikari Peninsula. The resort is now owned by a Chinese consortium who are buying and developing large tracks of the peninsula. Margaret Mutu conspicuous by her absence. What nexts ?
Much as the early reports on Sabin’s appointment referred to it as to the position of CEO of the Peppers Carrington Resort, a subsequent (edited) report on the NBR corrected this to CEO of Magnificant Jade:
Former National MP Mike Sabin has been appointed as chief executive officer of Magnificent Jade, which oversees the New Zealand-based assets of Chinese real estate developer Shanghai CRED.
In 2013, Shanghai CRED bought Northland’s luxurious Peppers Carrington Resort for a sum understood to be almost $29 million. It was reported on NBR ONLINE and other media earlier this week that Mr Sabin had been appointed chief executive officer of the resort.
However, the Mantra Group, which operates the resort under the Peppers luxury resort brand, has since confirmed that Mr Sabin has not or is not an employee of Peppers, and that Peppers was not consulted on the appointment.
…
It is understood that Shanghai CRED is planning to upscale Peppers Carrington Resort into the largest five star resort in New Zealand and Mr Sabin’s appointment as chief executive of Magnificent Jade is central to this development.
(note: this article has been updated to reflect that Mr Sabin is CEO of Magnificent Jade, and not Peppers Carrington Resort)
So it seems that Sabin will not be actually the “on the spot” hands-on manager of the resort itself. Presumably Simon Jones, who has apparently been in this position for some years, will continue to be the CEO/manager of the resort itself.
Well, a spokesman for the Peppers Carrington deal is the Shanghai Pengxin/Crafar Farms go-to guy Cedric Allan, who has a little known strategic communications consultancy business with Michelle Boag. So I guess there might be a really slim chance of them being in contact with the Chinese Construction Bank Director, ex National Party Leader, regular Government Board appointee and almost one term PM Dame Jenny Shipley.
Speaking of Dame Jenny, I am reminded of something she said back in 2011
“The Chinese don’t want land, the Chinese want the resources and protein,”
They have certainly been busy securing the resources, One Pure is an excellent example of that. further resource grabs are evident all over New Zealand and who knows, maybe tourism counts as protein for the mind?
Exactly,CV – although I have no links etc to verify this. Unfortunately at present I have little time to follow through on this …. but it is annoying me which usually means that insomnia will result – and what do you do when you cannot sleep ………………….
Organised by a girlfriend of Kate Middleton’s. Always reminds me of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire when the elite can’t be bothered to hide their decadence from the rest of society any more.
+1 Yep I would have liked to see an enquiry. I don’t think Peter Ellis was guilty or had a fair trial, while people in power like Lord Janner in the UK and the roast buster youths get away with no prosecution.
On the programme ‘I am Innocent” there was a case where a Dad was put away for abusing his kids, when all along it was their ‘support person’ the Stepfather who was the abuser, who stood behind them in court convicting the Dad, and the kids were confused and were not allowed to retract. The law is unjust in this area.
Peter Ellis was obviously innocent. His bad luck was to be a male working with children at a time that collective madness overtook many social workers and child psychologists. I remember around that time, a microcephalic psychologist tried explaining to me that my father had sexually abused me and that I had suppressed the memories. This was based on nothing except distorted memories of a lecture she’d just been to. God save us from crusading psychologists.
I’m reasonably certain that there was a specific type of vindictive or self righteous professional woman who rejoiced at seeing Peter Ellis pay for his “crimes” – and still does. The result echoes decades down the track – men stay well away from early childhood and primary school education, and as a society we’re Ok with it.
Couple of weeks ago I was out running/training at the park I usually run at, big public place, sports teams and that sort of thing present, and a girl roughly 11 or 12 asked if she could run with me. I made the stupid on-the-spot-answer that she could. We ran together for one lap. I walked beside her when she stopped to catch her breath, let her set the pace, encouraged her forward, reinforced that she should pay attention to what she thought and felt. We talked about sport, good practice, and training. I had about five minutes to impress the alternative to what I’d seen the local coaches slamming into the children:
masculine pain/gain
division of mind/body
everyone for themselves
heroes over teams
individuals over support.
I can’t go back to that park now. That’s the price I have to pay. I won’t speak to another young person again – there are only so many parks round here. Society sees a grown man running with a young girl and immediately thinks “Pedophile”. What I should have done, what society wants me to reply to youngsters who approach me, is, “No go away!”
Thanks NZ. Great country you’re putting together here.
To the contrary Charles, you should go back to the same park and run as you have always done. If anyone asks to join in, you can easily decline. But please, it should not prevent you from going back again. That just feeds the disease.
easy to say until someone else decides you look dodgy.
I remember a story of a guy near a local beach who saw a crying, unattended toddler. He felt he had to get a female to go up to the kid, as it would be a bad look if he went up and a parent saw it at the wrong moment (strange guy, crying kid) and went off the handle.
I recommend watching the film “Capturing the Friedmans” an HBO documentary film directed by Andrew Jarecki. It focuses on the 1980s investigation of Arnold and Jesse Friedman for child molestation. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Documentary Feature in 2003.
May the TPPA die and go back to hell from whence it came. Hey, let’s sell our country for some magic beans! I am amazed the US Congress is staffed by wiser and more intelligent people than our own governing gits.
John Berry
Bloody Hell!
Shits getting so bad I’m getting close to the point of burying my head in the sand, its really driving me to despair. Has the whole world gone fucking mad recently or is it just me?
Native Affairs with Mihingarangi Forbes on Maori TV is astonishingly powerful .. check on their website for replays. And next week, they have a vital debate on the importance of public broadcasting in NZ.
Plus, of course, they are the go-to place on Anzac Day. Sam Neill has made what looks like a fine documentary .. he was interviewed about it last night on Native Affairs … and for sure he is no fan on Pry Minister Key. Definitely worth a watch ..
“Alex Swney pleads guilty to a further $2.5 million fraud
Hamish McNicol · Tuesday April 21, 2015 ·
Alex Swney, the former boss of Auckland business organisation Heart of the City, has pleaded guilty to further fraud charges of more than $2.5 million.
Mr Swney appeared in the Auckland District Court this morning to answer a charge brought by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) of dishonestly using documents.
He has pleaded guilty to the charge and was remanded on bail until his next appearance on April 30.
The maximum prison term for the charge is seven years.
Mr Swney created fictitious invoices while at Heart of the City which resulted in payments of more than $2.5 million to accounts controlled by him.
SFO director Julie Read says the misappropriation increased the cost of the services provided by the organisation and reduced the benefits delivered by it.
“Fraud of this size by employees who are entrusted with the management and expenditure of substantial sums of money is very costly for both the businesses concerned and more broadly for the community as it harms the integrity of these organisations,” she says.
In January, Mr Swney also admitted to charges laid by the IRD covering $1.8 million in unpaid taxes.
He had initially denied the charges last year but after switching lawyers to Murray Gibson changed his plea.
The IRD also alleges Mr Swney owes $1.4 million in penalties and interest.
Mr Swney will be sentenced on four of the original IRD charges this month, after another 34 initial charges were dropped.
He also faces civil proceedings by Heart of the City’s board, which undertook an independent investigation when the allegations surfaced.
Heart of the City is mostly funded by targeted business rates and its purpose is to promote business in the Auckland CBD.
In its most recently available annual report for 2011-2012, the organisation records receiving $4.47 million in revenue.
Earlier this year the association teamed up with Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (ATEED) to fund a domestic tourism campaign.
It also had funded the Whitcoulls Santa each Christmas, but NBR Rich Listers the Mansons and SkyCity are now funding the statue for five years.
Mr Swney had been at the helm of the business association for more than a decade.
In 2007 he unsuccessfully ran for mayor of (then) Auckland City Council, which he lost to John Banks. ”
________________________________________________________________________________________
Happy to watch TV3 news and Campbell live but have an instinctive rapid response when a Paul Henry promo suddenly comes on and I have to panic switch channels quickly to avoid looking at or hearing him.
Consequently I mostly watch TV1.
Retiring in Britain is tiring to contemplate. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2042630/New-era-hippies-Millions-50s-relying-home-pension.html A recent report highlighted the huge financial pressure on Britain’s older people.
HomeLet, a firm of lettings experts, looked at the number of its clients between the age of 66 and 70 who were selling their home and moving into rental accommodation.
Over the last year, it found a 30 per cent increase in those putting up the ‘For Sale’ sign – a move likely to be fuelled by a chronic lack of cash….
Another survey warned yesterday that people turning to renting are facing record costs.
The study revealed that it is cheaper to buy a home than to rent the same property in 45 of the country’s 50 largest towns…. the asking price of all two-bedroom flats available to buy or to rent…..
On average, it found the cost of the monthly rental bill higher than the cost of the mortgage.
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And if you said this life ain't good enoughI would give my world to lift you upI could change my life to better suit your moodBecause you're so smoothAnd it's just like the ocean under the moonOh, it's the same as the emotion that I get from youYou got the ...
Aotearoa remains the minority’s birthright, New Zealand the majority’s possession. WAITANGI DAY commentary see-saws manically between the warmly positive and the coldly negative. Many New Zealanders consider this a good thing. They point to the unexamined patriotism of July Fourth and Bastille Day celebrations, and applaud the fact that the ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: and on the week in geopolitics, including the latest from Donald Trump’s administration over Gaza and Ukraine; on the ...
Up until now, the prevailing coalition view of public servants was that there were simply too many of them. But yesterday the new Public Service Commissioner, handpicked by the Luxon Government, said it was not so much numbers but what they did and the value they produced that mattered. Sir ...
In a moment we explore the question: What is Andrew Bayly wanting to tell ACC, and will it involve enjoying a small wine tasting and then telling someone to fuck off? But first, for context, a broader one: What do we look for in a government?Imagine for a moment, you ...
As expected, Donald Trump just threw Ukraine under the bus, demanding that it accept Russia's illegal theft of land, while ruling out any future membership of NATO. Its a colossal betrayal, which effectively legitimises Russia's invasion, while laying the groundwork for the next one. But Trump is apparently fine with ...
This is a guest post by George Weeks, reviewing a book called ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin AshtonBook review: ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin Ashton (2015) – and what it means for Auckland. The title of this article might unnerve any Greater Auckland ...
This story was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Within just a week, the sheer devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires has pushed to the fore fundamental questions about the impact of the climate crisis that have been ...
In this world, it's just usYou know it's not the same as it wasSongwriters: Harry Edward Styles / Thomas Edward Percy Hull / Tyler Sam JohnsonYesterday, I received a lovely message from Caty, a reader of Nick’s Kōrero, that got me thinking. So I thought I’d share it with you, ...
In past times a person was considered “unserious” or “not a serious” person if they failed to grasp, behave and speak according to the solemnity of the context in which they were located. For example a serious person does not audibly pass gas at Church, or yell “gun” at a ...
Long stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, February 13 are:The coalition Government’s early 2024 ‘fiscal emergency’ freeze on funding, planning and building houses, schools, local roads and hospitals helped extend and deepen the economic and jobs recession through calendar ...
For obvious reasons, people feel uneasy when the right to be a citizen is sold off to wealthy foreigners. Even selling the right to residency seems a bit dubious, when so many migrants who are not millionaires get turned away or are made to jump through innumerable hoops – simply ...
A new season of White Lotus is nearly upon us: more murder mystery, more sumptuous surroundings, more rich people behaving badly.Once more we get to identify with the experience of the pampered tourist or perhaps the poorly paid help; there's something in White Lotus for all New Zealanders.And unlike the ...
In 2016, Aotearoa shockingly plunged to fourth place in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. Nine years later, and we're back there again: New Zealand has seen a further slip in its global ranking in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). [...] In the latest CPI New Zealand's score ...
1. You’ve started ranking your politicians on how much they respect the rule of law2. You’ve stopped paying attention to those news publications3. You’ve developed a sudden interest in a particular period of history4. More and more people are sounding like your racist, conspiracist uncle.5. Someone just pulled a Nazi ...
Transforming New Zealand: Brian EastonBrian Easton will discuss the above topic at 2/57 Willis Street, Wellington at 5:30pm on Tuesday 26 February at 2/57 Willis Street, WellingtonThe sub-title to the above is "Why is the Left failing?" Brian Easton's analysis is based on his view that while the ...
Salvation Army’s State of the Nation 2025 report highlights falling living standards, the highest unemployment rates since the 1990s and half of all Pacific children going without food. There are reports of hundreds if not thousands of people are applying for the same jobs in the wake of last year’s ...
Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Correction: On the article The Condundrum of David Seymour, Luke Malpass conducted joint reviews with Bryce Wilkinson, the architect of the Regulatory Standards Bill - not Bryce Edwards. The article ...
Tomorrow the council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee meet and agenda has a few interesting papers. Council’s Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport Every year the council provide a Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport which is part of the process for informing AT of the council’s priorities and ...
All around in my home townThey're trying to track me down, yeahThey say they want to bring me in guiltyFor the killing of a deputyFor the life of a deputySongwriter: Robert Nesta Marley.Support Nick’s Kōrero today with a 20% discount on a paid subscription to receive all my newsletters directly ...
Hi,I think all of us have probably experienced the power of music — that strange, transformative thing that gets under our skin and helps us experience this whole life thing with some kind of sanity.Listening and experiencing music has always been such a huge part of my life, and has ...
Business frustration over the stalled economy is growing, and only 34% of voters are confidentNicola Willis can deliver. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 12 are:Business frustration is growing about a ...
I have now lived long enough to see a cabinet minister go both barrels on their Prime Minister and not get sacked.It used to be that the PM would have a drawer full of resignations signed by ministers on the day of their appointment, ready for such an occasion. But ...
This session will feature Simon McCallum, Senior Lecturer in Engineering and Computer Science (VUW) and recent Labour Party candidate in the Southland Electorate talking about some of the issues around AI and how this should inform Labour Party policy. Simon is an excellent speaker with a comprehensive command of AI ...
The proposed Waimate garbage incinerator is dead: The company behind a highly-controversial proposal to build a waste-to-energy plant in the Waimate District no longer has the land. [...] However, SIRRL director Paul Taylor said the sales and purchase agreement to purchase land from Murphy Farms, near Glenavy, lapsed at ...
The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has been a vital tool in combatting international corruption. It forbids US companies and citizens from bribing foreign public officials anywhere in the world. And its actually enforced: some of the world's biggest companies - Siemens, Hewlett Packard, and Bristol Myers Squibb - have ...
December 2024 photo - with UK Tory Boris Johnson (Source: Facebook)Those PollsFor hours, political poll results have resounded across political hallways and commentary.According to the 1News Verizon poll, 50% of the country believe we are heading in the “wrong direction”, while 39% believe we are “on the right track”.The left ...
A Tai Rāwhiti mill that ran for 30 years before it was shut down in late 2023 is set to re-open in the coming months, which will eventually see nearly 300 new jobs in the region. A new report from Massey University shows that pensioners are struggling with rising costs. ...
As support continues to fall, Luxon also now faces his biggest internal ructions within the coalition since the election, with David Seymour reacting badly to being criticised by the PM. File photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Not since 1988 when Richard Prebble openly criticised David Lange have we seen such a challenge to a Prime Minister as that of David Seymour to Christopher Luxon last night. Prebble suggested Lange had mental health issues during a TV interview and was almost immediately fired. Seymour hasn’t gone quite ...
Three weeks in, and the 24/7 news cycle is not helping anyone feel calm and informed about the second Trump presidency. One day, the US is threatening 25% trade tariffs on its friends and neighbours. The reasons offered by the White House are absurd, such as stopping fentanyl coming in ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Wherever you look, you'll hear headlines claiming we've passed 1.5 degrees of global warming. And while 2024 saw ...
Photo by Heather M. Edwards on UnsplashHere’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s politics and economy in the week to Feb 10 below. That’s ahead of live chats on the Substack App and The Kākā’s front page on Substack at 5pm with: on his column in The ...
Is there anyone in the world the National Party loves more than a campaign donor? Why yes, there is! They will always have the warmest hello and would you like to slip into something more comfortable for that great god of our age, the High Net Worth Individual.The words the ...
Waste and fraud certainly exist in foreign aid programs, but rightwing celebration of USAID’s dismantling shows profound ignorance of the value of soft power (as opposed to hard power) in projecting US influence and interests abroad by non-military/coercive means (think of “hearts and minds,” “hugs, not bullets,” “honey versus vinegar,” ...
Health New Zealand is proposing to cut almost half of its data and digital positions – more than 1000 of them. The PSA has called on the Privacy Commissioner to urgently investigate the cuts due to the potential for serious consequences for patients. NZNO is calling for an urgent increase ...
We may see a few more luxury cars on Queen Street, but a loosening of rules to entice rich foreigners to invest more here is unlikely to “turbocharge our economic growth”. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Let us not dance daintily around the elephant in the room. Our politicians who serve us in the present are not honest, certainly not as honest as they should be, and while the right are taking out most of the trophies for warping narratives and literally redefining “facts”, the kiwi ...
A few weeks ago I took a look at public transport ridership in 2024. In today’s post I’m going to be looking a bit deeper at bus ridership. Buses make up the vast majority of ridership in Auckland with 70 million boardings last year out of a total of 89.4 ...
Oh, you know I did itIt's over and I feel fineNothing you could say is gonna change my mindWaited and I waited the longest nightNothing like the taste of sweet declineSongwriters: Chris Shiflett / David Eric Grohl / Nate Mendel / Taylor Hawkins.Hindsight is good, eh?The clarity when the pieces ...
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 16 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 10The Kākā’s weekly wrap-up of news about politics and the economy is due at midday, followed by webinar for paying subscribers in Substack’s ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, February 2, 2025 thru Sat, February 8, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
Today, I stumbled across a Twitter Meme: the ending of The Lord of the Rings as a Chess scenario: https://x.com/mellon_heads/status/1887983845917564991 It gets across the basic gist. Aragorn and Gandalf offering up ‘material’ at the Morannon allows Frodo and Samwise to catch Sauron unawares – fair enough. But there are a ...
Last week, Kieran McAnulty called out Chris Bishop and Nicola Willis for their claims that Kāinga Ora’s costs were too high.They had claimed Kāinga Ora’s cost were 12% higher than market i.e. private devlopersBut Kāinga Ora’s Chair had already explained why last year:"We're not building to sell, so we'll be ...
Stuff’s Political Editor Luke Malpass - A Fellow at New Zealand IniativeLast week I half-joked that Stuff / The Post’s Luke Malpass1 always sounded like he was auditioning for a job at the New Zealand Initiative.Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. For a limited time, subscriptions are 20% off. Thanks ...
At a funeral on Friday, there were A4-sized photos covering every wall of the Dil’s reception lounge. There must have been 200 of them, telling the story in the usual way of the video reel but also, by enlargement, making it more possible to linger and step in.Our friend Nicky ...
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 from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is methane the ...
The Government’s idea is that the private sector and Community Housing Providers will fund, build and operate new affordable housing to address our housing crisis. Meanwhile, the Government does not know where almost half of the 1,700 children who left emergency housing actually went. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong ...
Oh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youOh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youSongwriters: Alexander Ebert / Jade Allyson CastrinosMorena,I’m on a tight time frame this morning. In about an hour and a half, I’ll need to pack up and hit the road ...
This is a post about the Mountain Tui substack, and small tweaks - further to the poll and request post the other day. Please don’t read if you aren’t interested in my personal matters. Thank you all.After oohing-and-aahing about how to structure the Substack model since November, including obtaining ...
This transcript of a recent conversation between the Prime Minister and his chief economic adviser has not been verified.We’ve announced we are the ‘Yes Government’. Do you like it?Yes, Prime Minister.Dreamed up by the PR team. It’s about being committed to growth. Not that the PR team know anything about ...
The other day, Australian Senator Nick McKim issued a warning in the Australian Parliement about the US’s descent into fascim.And of course it’s true, but I lament - that was true as soon as Trump won.What we see is now simply the reification of the intention, planning, and forces behind ...
Among the many other problems associated with Musk/DOGE sending a fleet of teenage and twenty-something cultists to remove, copy and appropriate federal records like social security, medicaid and other supposedly protected data is the fact that the youngsters doing the data-removal, copying and security protocol and filter code over-writing have ...
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tuneBird fly high by the light of the moonOh, oh, oh, JokermanSong by Bob Dylan.Morena folks, I hope this fine morning of the 7th of February finds you well. We're still close to Paihia, just a short drive out of town. Below is the view ...
It’s been an eventful week as always, so here’s a few things that we have found interesting. We also hope everyone had a happy and relaxing Waitangi Day! This week in Greater Auckland We’re still running on summer time, but provided two chewy posts: On Tuesday, a guest ...
Queuing on Queen St: the Government is set to announce another apparently splashy growth policy on Sunday of offering residence visas to wealthy migrants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, February 7:PM Christopher ...
The fact that Waitangi ended up being such a low-key affair may mark it out as one of the most significant Waitangi Days in recent years. A group of women draped in “Toitu Te Tiriti” banners who turned their backs on the politicians’ powhiri was about as rough as it ...
National’s cuts to disability support funding and freezing of new residential placements has resulted in significant mental health decline for intellectually disabled people. ...
The hundreds of jobs lost needlessly as a result of the Kinleith Mill paper production closure will have a devastating impact on the Tokoroa community - something that could have easily been avoided. ...
Today Te Pāti Māori MP for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, released her members bill that will see the return of tamariki and mokopuna Māori from state care back to te iwi Māori. This bill will establish an independent authority that asserts and protects the rights promised in He Whakaputanga ...
The Whangarei District Council being forced to fluoridate their local water supply is facing a despotic Soviet-era disgrace. This is not a matter of being pro-fluoride or anti-fluoride. It is a matter of what New Zealanders see and value as democracy in our country. Individual democratically elected Councillors are not ...
Nicola Willis’ latest supermarket announcement is painfully weak with no new ideas, no real plan, and no relief for Kiwis struggling with rising grocery costs. ...
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
Hundreds of engineers are losing their jobs and leaving our shores due to infrastructure project delays, creating "significant" risk to our nation's development, says the head of New Zealand's engineering body. ...
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says the deal with China “complements, not replaces” the relationship with New Zealand after signing it yesterday. Brown said “The Action Plan for Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) 2025-2030” provides a structured framework for engagement between the Cook Islands ...
The government should not set military style academies into youth justice law, the children's commissioner says, despite its first bootcamp getting a glowing report. ...
The infamous over-the-suit T-shirt worn by the PM at a Parliament barbecue has gone on sale to raise funds for children living in poverty, in a TradeMe auction. ...
MONDAYSheriff Seymour rode slowly down the main street of Dodge on his faithful white horse Atlas Network.He liked what he saw.Children were being fed free lunches prepared by kind people who collected the scraps from an offal rendering plant.“Very strongly flavoured liver, such as ox liver, can be soaked overnight ...
Once upon a time it was all about being an astronaut, a firefighter or doctor; but these days kids have their sights set on becoming vloggers or YouTubers.That’s according to a 2019 study by Lego that surveyed 3000 children between the ages of eight to 12 from the US, the ...
Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was. From the moment I started high school and realised almost every other girl in my year was at least partially interested in what the boys were up to, I realised that I would be single for life. The feeling wasn’t one of ...
The Pacific profiles series shines a light on Pacific people in Aotearoa doing interesting and important work in their communities, as nominated by members of the public. Today, Selina Alesana Alefosio.All photos by Geoffery Matautia.On a bright Sunday morning from her grandparent’s home in Pito-one, I spoke with ...
The White Lotus star reflects on her life in TV, including the local ad reference that doesn’t work in Australia, and her bananas co-star on Neighbours.Morgana O’Reilly was scrolling her phone next to her sleeping son on an idle Saturday morning when she got the call confirming that she ...
Claire Mabey explores the pros and cons of puff quotes on book covers.In January, Publishers Weekly put out an article by Sean Manning – publisher of Simon & Schuster’s flagship US imprint – in which he said he’d “no longer require authors to obtain blurbs for their books”.The ...
New Zealand’s Entomological Society is hosting its annual bug of the year contest. Here are some of the insects in the running. For some reason – perhaps humans’ inherent competitiveness, the idealisation of democracy, the need to demarcate winners and losers – one of the best ways to get people ...
A journey along the border, with words and illustrations by Bob Kerr.The Spinoff Essay showcases the best essayists in Aotearoa, on topics big and small. Made possible by the generous support of our members.The Sunset Limited leaves Union Station New Orleans on time at nine in the morning. We ...
Neville Peat is the 2024 recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in nonfiction. He’s written 56 books, mostly on natural history; this excerpt is from The Falcon and the Lark: A New Zealand High Country Journal, first published in 1992. The falcon wintering on the Rock and ...
It was a light-hearted gesture Greta Pilkington will be forever grateful for – thanks to an Aussie rival who jumped in when the Olympic sailor couldn’t be at her own graduation.Pilkington, then 20, had been leading a double life – while qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the ILCA ...
I was born in the back of my grandfather’s ute, by an overgrown windbreak in a remote place called Wahi-Rakauyou can’t find on a map. I was born a girl but given the man’s name Harvey, as my dad always wanted a violent-minded boy to one day help him ...
“We’re not here to interfere in people’s property rights,” Ngāi Tahu’s Te Maire Tau has told the High Court.Tau, a historian, Upoko (traditional leader) of Ngāi Tūāhuriri, and a university professor of history, is the lead witness in a case designed to force the Crown to recognise the tribe’s rangatiratanga ...
Pacific Media Watch Trump administration officials barred two Associated Press (AP) reporters from covering White House events this week because the US-based independent news agency did not change its style guide to align with the president’s political agenda. The AP is being punished for using the term “Gulf of Mexico,” ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific Presenter/Bulletin editor France’s top diplomat in the Pacific region says talks around the “unfreezing” of New Caledonia’s highly controversial electoral roll are back on the table. The French government intended to make a constitutional amendment that would lift restrictions prescribed under the Nouméa Accord, which ...
By bringing these global voices to the fight for free expression in New Zealand, we’ll continue to protect and expand our culture of free speech, says Nathan Seiuli, the Free Speech Union's Events Manager. ...
The issue is no longer a hypothetical one. US President Donald Trump will not explicitly suggest death camps, but he has already consented to Israel’s continuing a war that is not a war but rather a barbaric assault on a desolate stretch of land. From there, the road to annihilation is ...
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Listening to Kim Hill interview John Key yesterday morning I am wondering how safe her job is. She was great and John did not sound very happy.
It’s so refreshing to hear a journalist on Morning Report for a change.
Kim’s still “got it” in dealing with duplicitous politicians. She allowed some space around Key for his crap to impact on the listener, nice change from the now prevalent hectoring style that eschews even a micro pause.
+1
so it seems ms ferguson is in gallipoli and ms hill is but a brief abberation. sigh.
Yip.
Brilliant cartoon by Malcolm Evans.
Totally sums it up.
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/04/21/malcolm-evans-anzac-selfies/
Election promise broken – ‘The Government will not be delivering on its pre-election promise of free doctors visits for all primary aged children. The ACC Minister has set the Corporation’s funding at a level that will cover only an estimated 90 percent of doctors’ visits for children who are injured(…)Nikki Kaye said the costs of getting the remaining number of injured children free visits outweighs the benefits.”
Meanwhile, professional rugby players earning 100+K get all the costly treatments for free when injured.
How is that fair?
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/271689/doctor-visit-promise-falls-short
It doesn’t matter; it’s the thought that counts.
+1 Unbelievable.
“Meanwhile, professional rugby players earning 100+K get all the costly treatments for free when injured.”
Um, pretty sure they would be paid for by the rugby union. You know, private medicine?
Are you sure? I thought ACC covered all work place injuries.
Yep. ACC also covers accidents outside of the workplace. For professional athletes their organisations typically “top up” the payment ACC provides so that the athlete does not have to cough up the patient co-payment themselves.
Surely you guys all know by now, that children don’t count in this country and all tax payers money should be used to prop up highly paid Nat loving sports people and corporates!
@ SAVE NZ – Hear hear.
Plus there’s the fact that children don’t vote, while sports people are Gods!
Possibly not paid by the RU. I remember when the Warriors started up, ACC assigned special officers to them so any problems could be quickly treated. I would expect a national icon such as the All Blacks to get at least the same level of attention. Or maybe things have changed since those days.
acc works closely with rugby cos nzru acc levies are high… and they want to reduce levies through accident reduction. plus role modelling blah blah.
insurers i would think… but they do occasionally use public hospital services in emergencies
same story .. lies, lies, lies ….
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/67908476/free-gp-visits-dont-cover-all-children–greens
Wait a minute, do professional sportspeople get ACC? Or are you talking about highly paid, amateur sportspeople?
ceos on 2 million a year can get acc. thats partly the point. a system for all. usually they have private insurance both health and income so would not get Acc
Private health insurance doesn’t affect entitlement to ACC. If you have it you get both when/if you are injured.
Also, ACC has long had a unit that deals with the injuries of “special” people – high court judges, sports professionals, politicians, TV presenters etc. -ie the rich and/or powerful have their own unit at ACC dedicated to looking after them separately from the plebs.
I believe this unit exists because it is important in maintaining the status quo that those whose voices are heard aren’t treated the way ordinary people are.
Everyone gets the same treatment. Some just get more of it and without having to wait, or be told their broken neck from a collapsed scrum is a degenerative condition. Like Australia, we are a nation of equals, where Jack is as good as his master. Just don’t tell Jack though, or he might get ideas.
Kim Hill on National Radio MR….what a treat! Yes, John Key sounded surly and the Health and Disability Commissioner has just had a well deserved hammering over the official response to the stupidity at Greymouth Hospital which killed a 15 year old boy.
From Granddaddy Herald..
Ports of Auckland is proceeding with two huge wharf extensions, despite public protests, a political call to halt work and a legal challenge against consents for the work.
Last night Mayor Len Brown was taking a relaxed approach to the work at the port, saying a council request to halt work was still under consideration.
The lawfulness of the consents is being challenged in the High Court in Auckland on June 2 by Urban Auckland, a society of architectural and planning professionals.
Reaction to Mr Hawkins’ statement was swift.
Stop Stealing Our Harbour spokesman Michael Goldwater said the decision to proceed with the extensions displayed incredible arrogance and complete disregard for what the port’s bosses were saying.
Waitemata and Gulf councillor Mike Lee accused the port company of insubordination, while North Shore councillor Chris Darby said the company appeared to be deliberately toying with the council and thinks it is “immune to our unequivocal requests”.
Carrying out illegal works on their land?
Seems like they are taking a leaf out of their hero the PM’s playbook.
It seems to be more common today. People in all spheres are talking more bullshit and telling lies blatantly and deceiving people and doing just whatever they want as they see the PM get away with it. You know, the “whatever it takes” mantra.
Such fine leadership ……
no knighthood for key
“Stop Stealing Our Harbour spokesman Michael Goldwater said the decision to proceed with the extensions displayed [ incredible arrogance and complete disregard for what the port’s bosses were saying ] perfect alignment with a capitalist perspective.”
FIFY
@saveNZ
Rod Oram takes the POA position apart here.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201751312/business-commentator-rod-oram
@Bearded Git
Thanks – that’s well worth listening to! Will repost.
‘Interesting’ timing…
Probably just a completely innocent coincidence.
According to Stuff if we turn out on Anzac day we are supprting the deployments against ISIS? How dare they.
“Australians and New Zealanders are being urged to turn out in force on Anzac Day to show they are not cowed by Islamic State terror plots.”
“The best thing Australians and New Zealanders can do is to turn up in very large numbers at Anzac events, wherever they are, to support our values, our interests, our armed forces,” Abbott said.”
No comments enabled on the story
Yes I saw that. It is disgusting.
But you know the reality now? Now that terror threats are on the list at the mall? …. the reality is that the horse has bolted…. we are at war …… the propaganda has passed a tipping point …. the truth is now gone …… you are either with us or against us …… the entire narrative over the middle east, terror, war America Australia has just changed the last few days ….. (always intended of course. in evidence see timing of particular events)
we must watch what we say
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/last-post-first-light/67904656/australianew-zealand-pms-urge-a-show-of-force-on-anzac-day
and this
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/67881452/War-memorials-Australian-heart-is-made-in-India
Was planning to attend the local ceremony in Devonport this year but the crass and blatant political manipulation of the event by the two most abhorrent Australasian leaders of all time has now ensured I will not be there.
I will plant my poppy (in memory of my father who saw action in the final year of WW1 and all of WW2) later in the day after everybody has gone.
Well said Anne. My thoughts will go with you.
Maybe there should be a dusk commemoration by those who are remembering as a symbolic counterpoise to those who turn up at dawn but who seem to have forgotten?
ANZAC DAY PEACE COMMEMORATION to remember all casualties of war will take place at 2pm on Saturday 25 April at the Peace Pole in front of Otago Museum. It will last between 20-30 minutes.
Organised by the Peace Movement Aotearoa. Not quite dusk,and probably silent, so those who find silence uncomfortable should come late:-)
j s
Thanks for that; I was thinking 12pm not 2pm, must have misread email.
The time was changed. Will check with PMA to make sure that the correction has been widely circulated. Thanks for letting me know Pasupial.
+100
Agree completely
Abbott referred to this Iraq “training” squad of close to 1,000 people as “sons of anzacs”………
What would those who died at Gallipoli and other places think of Abbott, Key and their actions?
I would guess the true anzacs would not wish this on their sons at all…. and especially not in these circumstances around the US and the middle east the last decade or two.
The Iraq squad are not sons of anzacs, that is complete and utter horseshit
Abbott is so crass ! and crude …. and our PM goes along with all this jingoism presumably because “war” stirs our nationwide pride and will keep him being elected ! Maybe …… and maybe not …. there must be a stirring of disgust starting to run through most NZers at the blatant commercialism going on, surely ? Especially those whose families suffered in one way or another thru WW1.
I found that sickening as well – sullying the meaning of a festival that has an established place in the lives of New Zealanders and Australians. The concept of respect is alien to guys like Abbott and Key.
They should be a bit clearer about the values they’re wanting to support. Do they mean the massacre of Palestinian villagers by Kiwi Anzacs:
http://www.smh.com.au/national/anzacs-atrocity-had-to-be-done-digger-20090724-dw5x.html
or the machine-gunning of protesting Egyptians by Australian Anzacs:
http://www.solidarity.net.au/highlights/nothing-to-celebrate-in-anzac-the-bloody-history-of-the-british-empire/
I suspect they’d support both because the two of them are still hostage to the stupid ideas of racial superiority that led to Gallipoli in the first place.
Not many people know about those incidents
BTW – this is the same Ports of Auckland that were fined $40k for deliberately breaking the law in 2012.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10853815
Welcome to our future… where public amenity is transferred to corporate interests for nothing with no oversight (apart from a few incompetent council resource consents people) and even when there is huge public protest, the so called ‘owner’ the council run by CEO Stephen Town who has been very silent through all of this does nothing, and our elected officials also do nothing.
While the Ports of Auckland with a strong record of intensionally breaking the law gets a free run to steal our harbour.
Welcome to our future, where public amenity like our harbour is transferred into corporate control like the Ports of Auckland by a handful of barristers and council resource consent officials and the public is not allowed a say in the process.
Nothing from Stephen Brown CEO of Auckland Council…. someone check his pulse to see if he is still alive …
Ports of Auckland is a company with a proven record of illegal action. One would think with the amount of lawyers on speed dial at the council they could get an injunction to stop work, but no, as usual do nothing.
Ports of Auckland has been ordered to pay $40,000 for deliberately breaking the law in 2012.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10853815
“Lynton Crosby, the Conservatives’ election campaign director, is facing a growing Cabinet backlash over his strategy, with ministers worried that the party is pumping out an aggressive and uninspiring message to voters.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-mps-revolt-against-lynton-crosbys-aggressive-uninspiring-strategy-10094564.html
So, the Brits are seeing through it, the Aussies see through it, but 49% of kiwis don’t.
Because the Crosby campaign is designed to make people not want to vote. It only 49% of people who voted Tracey. Which is just 30 odd % of the population. Another 30 odd % are sick of the politics of hate, fear, and manipulation. These fine souls voted with their feet and did not vote.
Another 30 odd % are sick of the politics of hate, fear, and manipulation. These fine souls voted with their feet and did not vote.
The single main reason people do not vote is that they ‘didn’t get round to it, forgot or were not interested’
Only about 7% of non voters express anything like a ‘protest’ reason for not voting.
http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/people_and_communities/Well-being/civic-human-rights/non-voters-2008-2011-gen-elections.aspx
How many of those who did vote only voted because they were guited into it by the “don’t vote, don’t complain” crowd. I know I have been in this catagory in the past and my wife is currently there. Until there is a box to vote for none of the above then we will not have a truely representative democratic process.
I can’t think of anything more pointless than a ‘none of the above’ vote. If that’s all you want to say then just don’t bother voting. Nothing = nothing.
If you have an alternative in mind, and there are a significant number of citizens that support that alternative, then start a political Party to represent it and get it on the ballot paper so citizens have the opportunity to vote for it.
For some reason you believe that a no confidence vote is the same as a “nothing” vote. You couldn’t be more wrong.
For some reason you think that ‘none of the above’ is the same thing as ‘no confidence’.
A ‘no confidence’ vote is a condemnation of a specific person or entity within a system, and has the effect of forcing a positive action to restore confidence in that system.
That is quite different to the ‘None of the above’ Crashcart suggests, which is a condemnation of everyone within a system, and as far as I can see, if it happened without some alternative to everyone in the current system being available, it would have no point what so ever. Except anarchy perhaps?
“No confidence” doesn’t apply to individual people or entities. In student union elections (at least in Auckland, from memory) there’s a “no confidence” option in multi-candidate ballots.
Interestingly there’s also a “no vote” option so one could decide how strongly to assert one’s objections.
And what actions would those 2 options lead to if they gathered ? level of support Stephanie?
I think they have to run the election for that position again. Happened at least once at AUSA.
It’s quite similar. It’s certainly not a “nothing” like you claim it to be.
And so what would it lead to if it gathered a significant number of votes CR?
How would it have any point, unless there was an alternative offered?
that’s not for you or for me to decide mate.
Really? Then that’s exactly what we should do as anarchy is exactly what we need.
“The single main reason people do not vote is that they ‘didn’t get round to it, forgot or were not interested’
Only about 7% of non voters express anything like a ‘protest’ reason for not voting.”
Piffle
Then you go on with more piffle The lost sheep – is it the argument of the unthinking or self-righteous, I really don’t know – “go start your on political party”. What a trifling boring and dullard argument. How about you go organise some sheep and put them in a pig pen if your not happy with the world. That’s what you said – piffle.
People are not happy with this world, or how it’s run – but don’t talk to anyone – just sit in your room and pontificate about how your great system and ideas of governance are the only option. Just more right wing turgid arguments against the people. The TINA buzz sanctimoniously put, just like the late roger dogulas. So if your going to lambaste us with piffle, any chance you could do it with a modicum of originality?
“The single main reason people do not vote is that they ‘didn’t get round to it, forgot or were not interested’”
That’s three reasons there, Tls, and they come under the single biggest category of why people didn’t vote – Disengaged – which included:
I didn’t get round to it or I forgot about it/am not interested 21.0
I didn’t think it was worth voting because my vote wouldn’t have made a difference 7.1
I didn’t think it was worth voting because it makes no difference which party is in government 7.0
I didn’t think it was worth voting because politicians only care about being in power 5.1
Dislike politicians, the political system, or all parties 3.0(*)
Total Disengaged 43.2
(*) Relative sampling error is 30–49.9 percent, and should be viewed with caution.)
The ‘not interested’ category could probably do with separation from the ‘forgot/didn’t get around to it’ options, imo. Without further explanation it could just as easily fit with any one of the other options in the Disengaged category.
I am glad to see that Prof Jane Kelsey has called attention to the incorrect implication given by both Radio NZ and the NZ Herald that the Fast Track for the TPPA had been achieved by Obama. In fact the Fast Track Bill had just been tabled in the US Congress.
The RNZ headline was “Obama to get fast-track authority for TPP”
These parts of the report distinctly gave the impression that this was a done deal.
“The US Congress has agreed to give President Barack Obama the authority to fast-track its signing.
However, the US commitment still has hurdles to overcome.
The agreement, struck by the leaders of the tax-writing committees, will grant the president so-called trade promotion authority, which will limit lawmakers to taking only a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote on any eventual trade deal without any power to amend it.
The Republican chairs of the Senate’s Finance Committee and Ways and Means Committee had to agree to stringent requirements for the trade deal to win over the ranking Democrat on the finance panel.”
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/271465/obama-to-get-fast-track-authority-for-tpp
Tim Groser no doubt was pushing that line. I hope that NZ’s interests are not being sacrificed by Tim Groser on his altar of ambition to become NZ’s Ambassador in Washington.
Sorry, forgot link
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11435695
+1
Any folks here who are in Dunedin and have an interest in Irish/working class/left history might be interested in a couple of talks I’m giving on campus about the 1916 Rebellion in Ireland and its aftermath.
The talks are at 5pm, today (Tuesday), April 21 and 5pm, next Tuesday (April 28) and are in Room 4, upstairs in the Clubs and Societies building at 84 Albany Street.
In the first talk I’ll be looking at the lead-up to the Rising, in particular the arrival in Irish society of the working class as an organised industrial/political force with the formation especially of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union, founded by James Larkin and later led by James Connolly, the development of its newspaper (the widely-read Irish Worker, edited by Sean O’Casey) and of the workers’ militia (the Irish Citizen Army, led by Connolly, Michael Mallin and Countess Markievicz; the formation of the first republican paramilitary organisation, Na Fianna Eireann, founded by Countess Markievicz; the revitalisation of the Irish Republican Brotherhood by young militants like Sean MacDiarmada and the return of the veteran Tom Clarke; the formation of a republican women’s movement (Inghinidhe na hEireann), founded by Maud Gonne; and the Irishwomen’s Suffrage League.
I’ll look at the 1913 Dublin Lockout and the Home Rule Crisis and the different responses within Irish nationalism to World War 1.
Bigi linn (all welcome).
For poster, see: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/15/dunedin-talks-on-the-1916-rebellion-in-ireland/
Phil
Today’s Herald “Chinese bank giant pushes into New Zealand mortgage market…”
Stop the World a moment.
Where is NZ Inc heading?
We have a person who was singularly able to influence New Zealand social policy for many years as the Reserve Bank Governor, (failed to lead National to government even through “Hollow Men” tactics and push his agenda) now turns up heading a foreign bank which is bleeding more “Decent Ordinary Blokes” money offshore.
“Industrial and Commercial Bank of China New Zealand began lending last year and made $11.2 million in home loans in the 12 months to December 31, according to a disclosure statement lodged with the Companies Office.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11435747
Apparently these new banks are keeping the Aussie banks honest.
“Last year Reserve Bank deputy governor Grant Spencer said the arrival of Chinese and Indian banking giants was a “watershed event” that would help keep the dominant Australian-owned lenders “on their toes”.
Now, what say for starters, the Government instructed that all of it’s business (education, health, roading etc) be put the way of KIWI Bank.
And speaking of people on boards of big banks – it is forever interesting how the New Zealand Herald (et al), when trumpeting the new Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and its entrance to the NZ market, have completely forgotten to mention that Jenny Shipley is a Director on the Board of the ICBC’s ‘sister bank’ the Chinese Construction Bank and has been since 2007.
Even when discussing recent NZ Government appointments, and listing the appointees responsibilities and previous experience, they just forget to include this apparently insignificant fact?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11435185
http://www.ccb.com/en/investor/biogofdirectors.html
Our Jenny Shiply indépendant chair of Mainzeal until 2 weeks before it collapsed into bankruptcy. Great to see the banks want to see such a ‘successful’ director. It’s not cronyism and connections – really….
Sounds like they did mortgages on 20 Auckland houses. Nothing to write home about.
Sorry CR but making 11.2 million would be servicing a few more mortgages wouldn’t it??? I took that to read “extracted”. Wouldn’t have thought lending 11.2 would be the sort of small change that Brash would be involved in. Stand to be corrected on that …
Here’s a little story about play nice, or you don’t get paid.
It’s about a small company legally supplying a necessary service to 15 million people around the world and getting absolutely shafted by corporate bully boys for doing nothing but offering a better business model.
https://mega.co.nz/#blog_33
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/66829568/paypal-stops-processing-payments-to-kim-dotcoms-mega
(+ couldn’t see anything on NZH)
The developed world operates a free market economy? yeah ok, if you say so.
@Freedom +1
Oh and he lives in NZ, while he waits, assets stripped, to be extradited while JK backslaps with the US Movie industry.
Another enemy of the people from our Beloved Leader. Nicky Hager, John Campbell, Snowdon, Dotcom, Catton, so many people who seem to want a ‘different’ type of democracy from the Nats and the Entertainment Industry.
If only Dotcom had invested in residential property all would have been well.
In a free market, a company can make whatever decisions they feel like. If they don’t want to deal with gays or blacks, for example, there will be no legislative pressure requiring them to do so. A company can be as vile as its owners feel like. The free market will end up with concentration of economic power in fewer and fewer hands. It is not a good thing and Paypal refusing to deal with Mega is not against the ideals of the free market.
FYI, our favorite ex-Northland MP is now CEO of Carrington Resort on the Karikari Peninsula. The resort is now owned by a Chinese consortium who are buying and developing large tracks of the peninsula. Margaret Mutu conspicuous by her absence. What nexts ?
Much as the early reports on Sabin’s appointment referred to it as to the position of CEO of the Peppers Carrington Resort, a subsequent (edited) report on the NBR corrected this to CEO of Magnificant Jade:
Former National MP Mike Sabin has been appointed as chief executive officer of Magnificent Jade, which oversees the New Zealand-based assets of Chinese real estate developer Shanghai CRED.
In 2013, Shanghai CRED bought Northland’s luxurious Peppers Carrington Resort for a sum understood to be almost $29 million. It was reported on NBR ONLINE and other media earlier this week that Mr Sabin had been appointed chief executive officer of the resort.
However, the Mantra Group, which operates the resort under the Peppers luxury resort brand, has since confirmed that Mr Sabin has not or is not an employee of Peppers, and that Peppers was not consulted on the appointment.
…
It is understood that Shanghai CRED is planning to upscale Peppers Carrington Resort into the largest five star resort in New Zealand and Mr Sabin’s appointment as chief executive of Magnificent Jade is central to this development.
(note: this article has been updated to reflect that Mr Sabin is CEO of Magnificent Jade, and not Peppers Carrington Resort)
Full article is here –
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/sabin-linked-luxury-resort-goes-ground-over-new-ceo-jb-171490
So it seems that Sabin will not be actually the “on the spot” hands-on manager of the resort itself. Presumably Simon Jones, who has apparently been in this position for some years, will continue to be the CEO/manager of the resort itself.
Best to see where the likes of Shipley and Wong have been around this deal.
Well, a spokesman for the Peppers Carrington deal is the Shanghai Pengxin/Crafar Farms go-to guy Cedric Allan, who has a little known strategic communications consultancy business with Michelle Boag. So I guess there might be a really slim chance of them being in contact with the Chinese Construction Bank Director, ex National Party Leader, regular Government Board appointee and almost one term PM Dame Jenny Shipley.
Speaking of Dame Jenny, I am reminded of something she said back in 2011
“The Chinese don’t want land, the Chinese want the resources and protein,”
They have certainly been busy securing the resources, One Pure is an excellent example of that. further resource grabs are evident all over New Zealand and who knows, maybe tourism counts as protein for the mind?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10720024
as for Wong? Who knows? But did this ever get the follow up it warranted?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4347685/Ex-PM-Shipley-has-link-to-Wongs
Nice bits of intel there, freedom.
and in news just to hand
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/271820/jenny-shipley-to-lead-oravida-board
Exactly,CV – although I have no links etc to verify this. Unfortunately at present I have little time to follow through on this …. but it is annoying me which usually means that insomnia will result – and what do you do when you cannot sleep ………………….
Mindfulness of abdominal breathing
Sex clubs for wealthy women
Organised by a girlfriend of Kate Middleton’s. Always reminds me of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire when the elite can’t be bothered to hide their decadence from the rest of society any more.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/love-sex/67901076/What-does-a-sex-club-for-women-look-like
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/67919132/government-declines-inquiry-into-convictions-of-peter-ellis
*Sigh*
+1 Yep I would have liked to see an enquiry. I don’t think Peter Ellis was guilty or had a fair trial, while people in power like Lord Janner in the UK and the roast buster youths get away with no prosecution.
On the programme ‘I am Innocent” there was a case where a Dad was put away for abusing his kids, when all along it was their ‘support person’ the Stepfather who was the abuser, who stood behind them in court convicting the Dad, and the kids were confused and were not allowed to retract. The law is unjust in this area.
The planet has truly spun on its axis – I am 100% in agreement with PR.
*Sigh* indeed.
and Don Brash 🙂
Peter Ellis was obviously innocent. His bad luck was to be a male working with children at a time that collective madness overtook many social workers and child psychologists. I remember around that time, a microcephalic psychologist tried explaining to me that my father had sexually abused me and that I had suppressed the memories. This was based on nothing except distorted memories of a lecture she’d just been to. God save us from crusading psychologists.
I’m reasonably certain that there was a specific type of vindictive or self righteous professional woman who rejoiced at seeing Peter Ellis pay for his “crimes” – and still does. The result echoes decades down the track – men stay well away from early childhood and primary school education, and as a society we’re Ok with it.
Couple of weeks ago I was out running/training at the park I usually run at, big public place, sports teams and that sort of thing present, and a girl roughly 11 or 12 asked if she could run with me. I made the stupid on-the-spot-answer that she could. We ran together for one lap. I walked beside her when she stopped to catch her breath, let her set the pace, encouraged her forward, reinforced that she should pay attention to what she thought and felt. We talked about sport, good practice, and training. I had about five minutes to impress the alternative to what I’d seen the local coaches slamming into the children:
masculine pain/gain
division of mind/body
everyone for themselves
heroes over teams
individuals over support.
I can’t go back to that park now. That’s the price I have to pay. I won’t speak to another young person again – there are only so many parks round here. Society sees a grown man running with a young girl and immediately thinks “Pedophile”. What I should have done, what society wants me to reply to youngsters who approach me, is, “No go away!”
Thanks NZ. Great country you’re putting together here.
I understand where you’re coming from
Thanks Charles, that’s a great story you put together there.
To the contrary Charles, you should go back to the same park and run as you have always done. If anyone asks to join in, you can easily decline. But please, it should not prevent you from going back again. That just feeds the disease.
+1
easy to say until someone else decides you look dodgy.
I remember a story of a guy near a local beach who saw a crying, unattended toddler. He felt he had to get a female to go up to the kid, as it would be a bad look if he went up and a parent saw it at the wrong moment (strange guy, crying kid) and went off the handle.
I recommend watching the film “Capturing the Friedmans” an HBO documentary film directed by Andrew Jarecki. It focuses on the 1980s investigation of Arnold and Jesse Friedman for child molestation. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Documentary Feature in 2003.
It is food for thought on this issue.
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/democrats-free-trade-bill-117066.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obamas-evolution-on-trade-will-put-him-at-war-with-his-party/2015/04/15/dabd42f4-ccc8-11e4-a2a7-9517a3a70506_story.html
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11435695
There is a civil war in the US Democratic Party over the TPP and free trade.
Extremely heartening to see the vast majority of commentary on the herald article being against TPP.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11435695
I particularly liked
May the TPPA die and go back to hell from whence it came. Hey, let’s sell our country for some magic beans! I am amazed the US Congress is staffed by wiser and more intelligent people than our own governing gits.
John Berry
Magic beans, I love it!
And theres is a lot more similar sentiment.
If these guys are on our side, we’re on the wrong side.
What’s the difference between Daesh and Canberra? Language and Geography.
Bloody Hell!
Shits getting so bad I’m getting close to the point of burying my head in the sand, its really driving me to despair. Has the whole world gone fucking mad recently or is it just me?
Native Affairs with Mihingarangi Forbes on Maori TV is astonishingly powerful .. check on their website for replays. And next week, they have a vital debate on the importance of public broadcasting in NZ.
Plus, of course, they are the go-to place on Anzac Day. Sam Neill has made what looks like a fine documentary .. he was interviewed about it last night on Native Affairs … and for sure he is no fan on Pry Minister Key. Definitely worth a watch ..
http://www.maoritelevision.com/news/national/native-affairs-tides-blood
( and yes, Mihi worked a long time on Campbell Live so no surprises there !)
Seen this folks?
“Alex Swney pleads guilty to a further $2.5 million fraud
Hamish McNicol · Tuesday April 21, 2015 ·
Alex Swney, the former boss of Auckland business organisation Heart of the City, has pleaded guilty to further fraud charges of more than $2.5 million.
Mr Swney appeared in the Auckland District Court this morning to answer a charge brought by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) of dishonestly using documents.
He has pleaded guilty to the charge and was remanded on bail until his next appearance on April 30.
The maximum prison term for the charge is seven years.
Mr Swney created fictitious invoices while at Heart of the City which resulted in payments of more than $2.5 million to accounts controlled by him.
SFO director Julie Read says the misappropriation increased the cost of the services provided by the organisation and reduced the benefits delivered by it.
“Fraud of this size by employees who are entrusted with the management and expenditure of substantial sums of money is very costly for both the businesses concerned and more broadly for the community as it harms the integrity of these organisations,” she says.
In January, Mr Swney also admitted to charges laid by the IRD covering $1.8 million in unpaid taxes.
He had initially denied the charges last year but after switching lawyers to Murray Gibson changed his plea.
The IRD also alleges Mr Swney owes $1.4 million in penalties and interest.
Mr Swney will be sentenced on four of the original IRD charges this month, after another 34 initial charges were dropped.
He also faces civil proceedings by Heart of the City’s board, which undertook an independent investigation when the allegations surfaced.
Heart of the City is mostly funded by targeted business rates and its purpose is to promote business in the Auckland CBD.
In its most recently available annual report for 2011-2012, the organisation records receiving $4.47 million in revenue.
Earlier this year the association teamed up with Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (ATEED) to fund a domestic tourism campaign.
It also had funded the Whitcoulls Santa each Christmas, but NBR Rich Listers the Mansons and SkyCity are now funding the statue for five years.
Mr Swney had been at the helm of the business association for more than a decade.
In 2007 he unsuccessfully ran for mayor of (then) Auckland City Council, which he lost to John Banks. ”
________________________________________________________________________________________
Penny Bright
http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz
Happy to watch TV3 news and Campbell live but have an instinctive rapid response when a Paul Henry promo suddenly comes on and I have to panic switch channels quickly to avoid looking at or hearing him.
Consequently I mostly watch TV1.
What’s the chances of Labour jumping on this water issue Campbell live has been highlighting?
Retiring in Britain is tiring to contemplate.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2042630/New-era-hippies-Millions-50s-relying-home-pension.html
A recent report highlighted the huge financial pressure on Britain’s older people.
HomeLet, a firm of lettings experts, looked at the number of its clients between the age of 66 and 70 who were selling their home and moving into rental accommodation.
Over the last year, it found a 30 per cent increase in those putting up the ‘For Sale’ sign – a move likely to be fuelled by a chronic lack of cash….
Another survey warned yesterday that people turning to renting are facing record costs.
The study revealed that it is cheaper to buy a home than to rent the same property in 45 of the country’s 50 largest towns…. the asking price of all two-bedroom flats available to buy or to rent…..
On average, it found the cost of the monthly rental bill higher than the cost of the mortgage.
Hello Standard people,
I am writing a theoretical sociological essay with regards to Campbell Live’s potential dumping (or watering down) in the guise of Theodore Adorno’s Culture Industry thesis. Hopefully it’s a good one given the local application. Anyway, does anyone know where I can (reliably) follow up these TV ratings that have been so liberally tossed around in the ensuing arguments over Campbell’s commercial viability? I know this is not discussion, but I’ll be happy to share a link to the essay when it’s done. But only if you’re a fan of Campbell or Adorno, or both 😉
Brendan.
You’re asking late on a daily post that probably no one will read tomorrow. Suggest you ask early tomorrow on that day’s Open mike post.
One place for ratings (not sure if there are others) is here:
http://www.throng.co.nz/
Thanks 🙂