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.
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 😉
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Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Carereport in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquirypublished its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone iconon the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive:Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloittereport for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’sOliver LewisScoop:Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announcedthe Board of Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Orderimage, ...
Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
Waiting In The Wings:For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSAannounced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
Open access notablesImproving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society:To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
A late change to charter school legislation will cheat educators out of fair pay and negotiating power proving charter schools are just a vehicle to make profit out of our education system. ...
In 2004 te iwi Māori rallied against the Crown’s attempt to confiscate our coastlines and moana with the Foreshore and Seabed Act. This led to the largest hīkoi of a generation and the birth of Te Pāti Māori. 20 years later, history is repeating itself. Today the government has announced ...
It has been five and a half years since the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care was established to investigate the abuse of children, young people, and vulnerable adults within state and faith-based institutions. Yesterday, the final report - Whanaketia through pain and trauma, from darkness to light ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to take action off the back of the International Court of Justice ruling on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. ...
On Friday the International Court of Justice reaffirmed what Palestinian’s have been telling us for decades: that the occupation and colonisation of Palestinian lands by Israel is illegal and must end immediately. They also called for reparations for Palestinian’s who have lived under Israeli occupation since it began in 1967. ...
Labour calls on the Government to act after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territories is illegal. ...
The 53.7 percent rise in benefit sanctions over the last year is more proof of this Government’s disdain for our communities most in need of support. ...
Aotearoa could be a country where every child grows up feeling safe, loved and with a sense of belonging in their whānau and community. But for some of our children, this is far from reality. Instead, they are trapped in a maze of intergenerational harm that they can’t escape on ...
Te Pāti Māori are calling for David Seymour to resign as Associate Health Minister in response to his call for Pharmac to ignore the Treaty of Waitangi. “This announcement is just another example of the government’s anti-Tiriti, anti-Māori agenda.” Said Co-leader and spokesperson for health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. “Seymour thinks it ...
The soaring price of renting is driving the rise of inflation in this country - with latest figures from Stats NZ showing rents are up 4.8 per cent on average while annual inflation is at 3.3 per cent. ...
National’s Emissions Reduction Plan will take New Zealand further from the economy we need to ensure the next generation has a stable climate and secure livelihoods. ...
Following consultation with named parties and thorough consideration of privacy interests, the Green Party is in a position to release the Executive Summary of the final report from the independent investigation into Darleen Tana. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon should be asking serious questions of his Minister for Resources Shane Jones now it’s been revealed he misled the public about a dinner with mining companies that he didn’t declare and said wasn’t pre-arranged. ...
Te Pāti Māori have submitted to the Justice Select Committee against the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill. The bill will further entrench racism in our justice system and fails to focus on rehabilitation. “Reinstating Three Strikes will empower a systematically racist system and exacerbate the overrepresentation of Māori in ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee is set to make a determination on the Residential Tenancies Amendment (RTA) Bill in the coming weeks. “This legislation will give landlords the power to kick our whānau out onto the street for no reason” said Housing spokesperson, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “Their solution to the housing ...
“National’s campaign was about tackling crime and the best they can do is a two-year long Ministerial Advisory Group,” Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
“There are more examples of charter schools failing their students than there are success stories. The coalition Government is driving to dismantle our public school system and instead promote a privatised, competitive structure that puts profits before kids,” Jan Tinetti said. ...
“This government is choosing to deliberately mislead and withhold information, keeping our people in the dark about this government’s agenda and the future of our mokopuna,” said co-leader and spokesperson for Health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. The call comes after the demand from the Chief Ombudsman that Associate Minister of Health, Casey ...
“Today’s climate announcement by Simon Watts makes clear the National Government is simply paying lip service to meeting its climate change targets,” Megan Woods said. ...
National is choosing to make life harder for workers by taking away the rights our communities have fought hard for. Here's how they’re taking workers backwards. ...
Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue. We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views. “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
Tēnā tātou katoa, Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts. “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet. “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks. “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. At the heart of this report are the ...
For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024. “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane. “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says. “This will be our third visit to ...
Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today. “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum. While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation. “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan. “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests. Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone. Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
Last summer when Matairangi burned, Ginny and Tom stood at the window of their lounge, watching kākā shoot skyward from the burning trees. From the distance, they looked to Ginny like pages torn from books and thrown into a bonfire. It was Tom, voice tight, who told her it was ...
Opinion: The Canadian short story writer Alice Munro – winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013 – died in May at the age of 92. Her work was about “the damage people inflict on one another in the name of love”, Deborah Treisman wrote in the New Yorker. ...
This month marks two years since the most powerful telescope ever built sent its first pictures back to earth. From its lofty vantage point, beyond the moon in orbit around the sun, the James Webb Space Telescope was tuned to observe the first stars and galaxies being born soon after ...
Comment: After Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ preview several weeks ago, I had some optimism about the Government’s emissions reduction plan. Now I’ve read the discussion document, that hope has been dashed. How can the Government propose a plan that wants to take New Zealand taxpayers’ hard-earned money, and spend ...
Christopher Luxon: hurdles The little man from National jumps hurdles in his sleep. He’s quite good at it in his dreams and even though the reality doesn’t quite match up you have to give him credit for getting up every morning and crashing into the very first hurdle of the ...
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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 🙂