The Herald this morning has lashed the Government for legislating away the right of kiwis, apart from the few who already have, to seek to be paid for looking after their disabled Whanau.
In a particularly hitting passage it said “[i]t could be argued the World Cup and the Canterbury earthquakes were events out of the ordinary that demanded such an urgent response setting aside constitutional nuance. But that can hardly be said to be the case in terms of improving the support of disabled people and their families. The Government’s unseemly focus on reducing litigation risk has triggered a shabby piece of legislation and a deplorable flouting of parliamentary process.”
So why smash this through under urgency even though it does not come into effect until October?
The answer seems to be that in its haste to produce a “surplus” it had to get a potential liability off its books. Even very modest potential liabilities can negate the wafer thin surplus the government is pinning its reelection chances on.
Maybe the Herald could lead with ‘Democracy under attack.’
This totalitarian government should be a wake up call to the sleepy hobbits, as Bomber puts it.
We get angry when Loan Sharks trap the unwary and next minute the trapped are in an impossible place. So imagine the unwary being trapped through having the temerity to borrow for educational improvement! How stupid is she! Getting a degree indeed! Know your place woman!
I have a relative who wants to complete his MA but there is no Student Allowance. More debt.
Indeed there have been changes to tighten up the allowance and they were achieved by stealth which is the way this government likes to work. After 2.5 years as a fulltime extramural student I’ve had to stop studying because the allowance was ridiculous but the debt is still there. Anytime you go to studylink now it’s log on to igovernment so they can keep extra vigilance on students and make sure they get their pound of flesh.
I am still trying to work out how anyone would be eliagable for a post grad student allowance when most people would have used up their allocation in undergrad and honours
Well, some of us made use of student loan living costs for undergrad, which if you can find a cheap flat that does communal cooking is nearly liveable without turning to student job search for work. But if you’re unlucky, pretty much you need to have a steady part time job just to pay for rent, bills and your own food, as well as stuff like car costs, recreation etc, so the student allowance becomes very appealing to avoid the debt and give yourself more time for study and living.
The rational solution would be to go back to fully subsidised university and tertiary study, with appropriate gating via GPA and a complete scrapping of bums-on-seats funding and declare the current student debt as a lose and wipe it. As effectively tertiary education is an investment by society that usually leads to a person earning higher wages and so paying more in taxes, along with providing valuable skills or new businesses via start ups.
Unfortunately, well, NZ governments since the 1980’s have had an irrational love of short term benefits/costs and a rather twisted, non-empirical view of sustainable social costs vis viability, resulting in under investment in health, education and social security. Costs of which are now rather visible to all but the most ideological blind.
Not free…if you gained an income advantage from your higher level of education, then a truly progressive tax system would effectively mean your education entered into the realms of ‘fair exchange’.
But yup, although there would be a somewhat justified level of resentment from those who have bust their arses to repay loans to this point, wipe the debt.
I reckon that concentrating on the private benefit, provided it’s not extreme, is the wrong way of looking at things that are broad-brush policies.
Question is, do we as a society need an ongoing or even increasing number of highly trained individuals (from plumbers/gasfitters to brain surgeons)? If so, sticking a disincentive like fees and loans on people who we need (and who we need to stay in NZ) is counter-productive. If they get a massive income benefit from the increased training, then they pay tax on a higher threshold.
[edit] argh crap, that’s exactly what you said. My bad – busy day at the office
Chomsky claims that one of the main purposes of student loans was to discourage activism, both during and after the university years. When the government can arbitrarily change the interest rates, repayment thresholds, and minimum payments, any debtor is certainly in a vulnerable position.
The whole idiotic scheme should be done away with. University can be paid for via progressive taxation, or maybe even some form of work bonding. As it stands, someone setting up as a dentist, for example, basically has a mortgage to pay before they even start earning. This cost is pushed onto the wider community through increased professional charges. Taxpayers still pay for tertiary education indirectly anyway, so wouldn’t it be better to just pay for the study and maybe even benefit from said dentist working at a public clinic for a couple of years?
Actually if YOU do some reading (other than the Protocols or whatever it is you usually read), the US hasn’t stopped calling for a two state solution, they are in fact warning it must come soon before Israel goes too far.
No, but your hysterical Israel conspiracies incorporating any remotely Jewish celebrity beyond simply stating: Israel is a country in the Middle East and is doing bad things to further its interests, does mark you out as having a special antipathy for Jews. I don’t particularly like bigots. Nor do I like your relentless monologue of vitriol. You have nothing nice to say nor anything particularly constructive to contribute apart from one-sided anti-Semitic rants and acid bitchfests about broadcasters for th emost trite reasons.
It’s been the usual very bad day for poor old Populuxe1, and it just keeps getting worse. Let’s enjoy—if that’s the word for how one feels after encountering the outpourings of the deranged—his latest splash about in the depths of depraved rhetoric….
…your hysterical Israel conspiracies incorporating any remotely Jewish celebrity beyond simply stating: Israel is a country in the Middle East and is doing bad things to further its interests, does mark you out as having a special antipathy for Jews.
Of course, that unhinged barking says nothing about me or anything I have said. It does, sadly, say quite a lot about the unfortunate fellow who was driven to write it.
Nor do I like your relentless monologue of vitriol. You have nothing nice to say nor anything particularly constructive to contribute….
Yes I do, actually. And you know it. You go on obsessing on the bits that enrage you, though. I’m actually looking forward to it, in a grisly sort of way.
…. apart from one-sided anti-Semitic rants and acid bitchfests about broadcasters for th emost [sic] trite reasons.
Again with the anti-Semitic allegations. I challenge anyone—not you, Populuxe1, you’re not capable of rational argument—-to find one thing I have ever written that is anti-Semitic.
So? The BBC one deals with a number of proposals to ameliorate global warming, proposals being the key word.
The Guardian one gives a few symbols on a map, without any details. To look at one example, “increased precipitation” presumably means cloud seeding. This has been around for years, isn’t done on a global scale, and isn’t highly effective.
You ominously mentioned some program that had been going for fifty years. I see no evidence of anything like that.
However, there are several things which have been done and are still happening that affect climate over quite large areas. We can begin with CO2 and CH4 in the atmosphere, which have a truly global effect. Deforestation, forestation, urbanisation and the flooding of huge areas for hydroelectricity all have marked effects over reasonably large areas, but are not generally considered as being geoengineering.
I still have no real idea what you’re on about.
See also….
No. 8: Simon Bridges: “I don’t mean to duck the question” http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-20052013/#comment-635343
No. 7: Nigel Morrison: “Quite frankly, they’ve been VERY tough.” http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-15052013/#comment-633295
No. 6: NZ Herald PR dept: “Congratulations—you’re reading New Zealand’s best newspaper.”
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-13052013/#comment-632598
No. 5: Rawdon Christie: “…a FORMIDABLE replacement, it seems, is Claudette Hauiti.”
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-13052013/#comment-632594
No. 4: Willie and J.T.: “The X-Factor. Nah, nah, there’s some GREAT talent there!” http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-06052013/#comment-628803
No. 3: John Key: “Yeah we hold MPs to a higher standard.” http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-06052013/#comment-628703
No. 2: Colin Craig: “Oh, I have a GREAT sense of humour.” (TV3 News, 24 April 2013) http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-25042013/#comment-624381
No. 1: Barack Obama: “Margaret Thatcher was one of the great champions of freedom and liberty.” http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-19042013/#comment-621738
while seeing the case for food in schools..(aside from qualms about it being used by fonterra (and other unhealthy ‘food’-peddlers) to hook the young generations on their vile/cancer-causing-products)..
..isn’t such a move too much ambulance at bottom of cliff..?
..and would not so much of that clear need be obviated by the institution of a guaranteed minimum income for all citizens..?
..that would come close to ending poverty with one fell stroke..
..so my question would be..why not focus on moving the common-will towards that concept..?
..and my concerns are that the bandaid to poverty that food-in-schools will be..will be deemed for far too long to be ‘having done enough’ to fight the poverty that blights nz in 2013..
..that the energy of that common will/concern-at-poverty will be dissapated before the real reforms needed will/can be enacted..
Hmmm. So I’m guessing fuck all those mothers whose milk has dried up for medical reasons, or because they are in the middle of a famine, or they’ve had a double mastectomy, or they can’t for other reasons, or they don’t want to (I’m old-fashioned enough to think women should have the choice), or the father is raising the baby on his own because the mother has died in childbirth, or any one of a number of reasons. And the ant-milk hysteria is farcical, as ably demonstrated by the many generations who have grown up on cow milk.
Nice to see Jim doing a gig when he still took the music seriously and wasn’t totally trashed. Two years later and he probably couldn’t have recreated that performance.
i always found the doors (especially morrison) somewhat pedestrian/one-dimensional/white-boy/cartoon-rock..(especially compared to their competition/compatriots..)
..(a slightly heavier version of the eagles..?..monkees..?..)
..and given the signature organ-hooks came from manzarek..
..where does that leave morrison..?
..aside from flopping out his drug-addled wang a few-times on stage..?..and being generally ‘messy’ in his drug-use..
..what else did he do that any halfway competent bar-band lead singer couldn’t do..?
It must disappoint Maori National party supporters (I’m assuming there are some) that they aren’t allowed to have a candidate in the up-coming byelection. ).
Sure the result is predictable but it is still showing indifference if not contempt for those who would like to exercise their right to have their say in the democratic process and also those Maori who would like to stand as candidates for National.
I guess the message is for National supporters is to tick the Maori party candidate while Labour, Mana and the Greens? split the vote.
I don’t think Maori voters are as malleable and gullible as the bewildered folks of Epsom. It’s a Labour win, guaranteed. Look for the almost total collapse of the Key regime’s stooge party.
Gavin Ellis is Mogadon
National Radio, 11:59 a.m., Tuesday May 21, 2013.
I’m listening to that bore Gavin Ellis droning on in his utterly uninteresting fashion. I don’t know how Kathryn Ryan manages to stay awake. I swear she yawned a couple of times as this dullard bored on.
Surely there are more interesting media commentators available in this country.
Not only did he canvass the pain of the Anzus rift over New Zealand’s anti-nuclear laws and his part in the healing, he used the occasion to vent about the perils of deregulation leading to the global financial crisis in 2008, on multinationals making billions and paying little tax, and the responsibility of free traders to be focused on people.
He was playing to an audience that wasn’t there, that was obvious from the eye-rolling going on at the reception and the murmurs about it afterwards.
I found this bit interesting too in a disturbing way
Ten New Zealand companies with expertise in security and intelligence technology will spend several days at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington this week collaborating in a bid to expand their work with United States government agencies and companies.
Hey Marty – always be weary of anything an ex-politician attmpts to take credit for, especially one who played a core role in the destruction of so many lives, he deserves the gallows, nothing less!
Agree about the intelligence sharing, being disturbing, and that’s the little they want the plebs to know about.
The grid is formed, and was dropped a long time ago, yet people are still discussing, *rights/privacy/constitution*, and so on!
That’s all part of history now, cell phones, internet, smart meters, cloud et al, the control to legislate change at the whim of technology companies, and the control of the tech companies to enforce later versions of the technology through *retiring* earlier versions etc.
Technology will be the end of most people (it already is), thats a certainty, rather like the designed financial collapse/bankrupcy of NZ/Major cities, it has to happen, it can’t be any other way!
What struck me most about that piece is that the writer considers eye rolling and murmurs as an appropriate response to the issues Bolger mentioned. It really is “let them eat cake stuff”.
speaking of which, Morrissey,
Listened to Brian S. Roper , Political Historian, Otago University, on RNZ last night re Marxist perspective on Climate Change;
-“feedback loops = abrupt climate change= draconian government”.
A not so subtle propaganda exercise Ottolenghi’s Mediterranean Feast, Episode 6: Israel
Channel 4, played on Choice TV, Thursday 16 May 2013, 8:30 p.m.
When he unleashed his infamous foam-flecked rant against Hezbollah a few years ago, Anthony Bourdain established himself as the most aggressively ignorant of all celebrity chefs. The London-domiciled Israeli chef and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi is without doubt a more intelligent, personable and humane person than the coke-snorting, foul-mouthed, self-involved Bourdain.
Ottolenghi’s exploration of the delights of Israeli cuisine made for a highly interesting, engaging show. However, it contained a couple of outrageous, politically charged statements, one of them an outright lie, and some carefully managed evasions of the actual situation in Israel.
The outright lie comes first, as we see Ottolenghi speeding along a highway, enthusing about the hour of gustatory pleasures ahead of us: “I was brought up in the capital—JERUSALEM,” he shouts excitedly. “But the most dynamic city in Israel is Tel Aviv!” Cut to evocative shots of vibrant, bustling cafetarias and bars. It might be Italy, or Portugal, or Barcelona.
It seems like a small matter, an oversight, a mere mistake perhaps, to say that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. But Ottolenghi understood perfectly well what he was saying. Deliberately, flagrantly insisting that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel was the first of several little dishonesties to mar this program and take it beyond mere entertainment into the more sinister realm of state propaganda.
Ottolenghi might be an obvious and shameless liar, but he is a great guide to food and Israeli culture. The food he shows us is mouthwateringly gorgeous: hummus, flat breads, beef shakshuka, herb and ginger fishcakes with beetroot sauce, fig and goat-cheese tart with lemon icing, tomato and pomegranate salad. The men who cook these dishes are characters in their own right: smiling, affable, good-humored. But on his way out to the pomegranate farm of a chef called Shlomo, Ottolenghi casually drops another of his little propaganda bombs; as their car speeds past lush fields, he remarks that “until recently, this land was largely uncultivated.”
In Ottolenghi World, Jerusalem is simply beautiful, and ancient and mystical; an aesthetic and spiritual experience. We see extended coverage of Ottolenghi gathering herbs in the hills, which are, needless to say, picturesque, quiet and Palästinensischerfrei. There is not the slightest hint that there might be anything wrong; all views of the illegal, ugly, internationally condemned annexation wall have been meticulously excluded.
Then it’s back to the restaurant for pancakes stuffed with apple, sugar and goat’s cheese.
He’s an Israeli. As far as most Israelis are concerned, Jerusalem is the capital even if it isn’t internationally recognised as such. Hell, most Aucklanders are convinced Auckland is the capital of New Zealand. Not sure what your problem with Bourdain is – not enough Aryan baby blood in the motza balls?
So, in short, the vast majority of Israelies as practicing Jews are “terminally stupid” because as mandated by their faith in their worldview Jerusalem is the capital of the Jewish nation. And you don’t like anyone remotely popular. Especially if they’re Jewish….
Of the 88 cases mentioned 27 were found to have had no information intercepted.
The remaining were said to involve the collection of metadata and the Inspector-General formed the view that there had arguably been no breach, noting once again that the law is unclear.
Metadata is the information surrounding a communication as opposed to the communication itself. For instance in an email it would involve the sender, receiver, and time of transmission. The content of the email itself would not be included.
I am not sure that the legal situation is unclear, section 14 of the GCSB Act prohibits the “intercepting the communications of a person (not being a foreign organisation or a foreign person) who is a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident”. Overseas cases have always treated the metadata (for instance a phone number) as less worthy of privacy.
But if this is the case why doesn’t the Government just clarify this rather than give the GCSB open access?
But if this is the case why doesn’t the Government just clarify this rather than give the GCSB open access?
Because clarification is the last thing they want – instead, they want an uncertainty maintained and excuses – and a hand-picked crony has given exactly that. This is just perpetuating what’s already gone before.
What this country needs is a constitutional watchdog with teeth, but the Governor General is just another sock puppet and considering Goff’s actions over Peter Ellis and Ahmed Zaoui, as long as he’s in Labour, the “main opposition party” won’t do anything to change that once it’s “their turn” either.
“But if this is the case why doesn’t the Government just clarify this rather than give the GCSB open access?”
Because the news item is a puff-piece designed to try and put the issue to bed. In the next few days I expect we’ll hear John Key saying that he’s satisfied nothing illegal has happened with the GCSB and the law change will ensure this is never an issue again. And he’s right… it won’t be, because from now on the spying on NZers will be 100% Pure-ly Legit.
If there was arguably no breach, arguably, there was. So Mr Fletcher could also presumably have reported simply that the conclusion is that GCSB may have breached the law.
MS, your barking up the wrong tree if you think the intelligence services, give a rats, about adhering to legislative piffle!
The times they are a changin are way past concerning, but I’m pleased the agenda is becoming clear enough, that even the most stubborn mind should be starting to stir!
Banking/Military/Intelligence, dominates this world, and they’re tightening the net!
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TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. The data is from February this ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications:Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes – The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara Solomon Islands’ incumbent prime minister Manasseh Sogavare has been re-elected in the East Choiseul constituency. It is the opening move in the political chess match to form the country’s next government. Returning officer Christopher Makoni made the declaration late last night after ...
Headline: The moment of friction. – 36th Parallel Assessments In strategic studies “friction” is a term that it is used to describe the moment when military action encounters adversary resistance. “Friction” is one of four (along with an unofficial fifth) “F’s” in military strategy, which includes force (kinetic mass), ...
The Fast-track Bill, if passed, would allow three Ministers, unchallenged and unchecked, to approve the immediate extraction and exhaustion of one-off resources. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne iamharin/Shutterstock For many people, the term “bulk billed” refers to a GP visit they don’t have to pay ...
Emmas Hislop, Sidnam and Wehipeihana discuss what’s in a name. Emma Sidnam: Hello Emmas! Thank you so much for agreeing to do this with me. My first question for you is related to what’s been on my mind for a while. It’s very important. You see we’ve recently had some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Sievers, Research Fellow, Global Wetlands Project, Australia Rivers Institute, Griffith University Chris Brown Humans love the coast. But we love it to death, so much so we’ve destroyed valuable coastal habitat – in the case of some types of habitat, ...
Josh Thomson on the 80s milk ad jingle he can’t stop singing, the beauty of The Simpsons, why Jersey Shore is as good as Shakespeare and more. For someone who spends a lot of time on our screens, popping up in everything from 7 Days to Taskmaster, Educators to Good ...
In apparent defiance of the Biden administration, the Netanyahu government has now initiated missile strikes against Iran. Last Saturday night (Sunday morning in New Zealand) Iran launched more than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles against Israeli military targets. With the assistance of US, UK and possibly French forces, ...
Māori representation brings a perspective that encompasses not only the interests of Māori communities but also a broader, holistic approach to environmental stewardship and community well-being, principles deeply embedded in Te Ao Māori (the Māori ...
When Thomas James was on his solo camp as part of Outward Bound, the keen outdoorsman didn’t find it too challenging, as others often do. In what might just be the perfect illustration of his character, he saw it as a great opportunity to solve a few problems. “I thought, ...
This week in Auckland, a group of young people took over the microphone at a ministerial press conference, to explain why they oppose the Fast-Track Approvals Bill. One young woman said, ‘We’re here because we love Aotearoa New Zealand. We want to raise our children in an environment that’s thriving, ...
The summer was wonderful. Evie was wonderful, too; finally a teenager, finally worthy of long, hot days. She shaved her legs for the first time and bought cut-off shorts from the op-shop that made them look long. She got a Warehouse singlet so tight on her new shape that her ...
From the unstable and drippy to the hi-tech and pretty, here’s our ranking of all the tunnels you can drive through in this country. The first tunnel seems to have been built in 2200BC in Babylonia, kicking off a global phenomenon for digging holes in order to get places more ...
Lucinda Bennett on the art of being greedy but resourceful. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. When I picture the market, it is always this time of year. Crisp air, dripping nose, counting coins with cold fingers. Sunlight pale, filtered through specks of dew still ...
Zoë Colling’s favourite piece in the ‘That’s So Last Century’ collection is a lubrication chart for a sewing machine from the ’60s. It’s about the size of a postcard, and carefully maintained. “I like it that this piece of ephemera highlights that manual and technical side of the skill involved ...
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...
Our response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...
The new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...
The Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project You’re not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)Hot off the press, this debut ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...
Chief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...
The Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The ...
Barcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...
Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...
Yes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...
“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...
The Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s not the done thing to know – let alone ask – what our colleagues are paid. Yet, it’s easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...
The government’s plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Beneficiary numbers are up – and so are ...
Raglan Roast is a staple of Wellington coffee culture. But with five branches across the capital, which one is the best? I am a die-hard Raglan Roast fan. It’s consistently the most affordable cafe in Wellington, and one of the only places you can get a coffee after 3pm. So, ...
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Opinion: The famed American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood!” Burnham wouldn’t have been referring to the transport plans in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past five years; projects so big they hadn’t the credibility to ...
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The Herald this morning has lashed the Government for legislating away the right of kiwis, apart from the few who already have, to seek to be paid for looking after their disabled Whanau.
In a particularly hitting passage it said “[i]t could be argued the World Cup and the Canterbury earthquakes were events out of the ordinary that demanded such an urgent response setting aside constitutional nuance. But that can hardly be said to be the case in terms of improving the support of disabled people and their families. The Government’s unseemly focus on reducing litigation risk has triggered a shabby piece of legislation and a deplorable flouting of parliamentary process.”
The editorial is at http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10884930.
So why smash this through under urgency even though it does not come into effect until October?
The answer seems to be that in its haste to produce a “surplus” it had to get a potential liability off its books. Even very modest potential liabilities can negate the wafer thin surplus the government is pinning its reelection chances on.
New Zealand it’s time to get angry.
Shameful at so many levels.
Maybe the Herald could lead with ‘Democracy under attack.’
This totalitarian government should be a wake up call to the sleepy hobbits, as Bomber puts it.
Yeah, still waiting for that angry banner headline, Herald.
We’ll have to wait till the government suggests we use energy saving lightbulbs….
We’ll have to wait till the government suggests we use energy saving lightbulbs….
Correction: We’ll have to wait till the LABOUR government suggests we use energy saving lightbulbs.
A 19th Century style debtor’s prison for this woman if she should ever return?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/share-your-news-and-views/8694964/Me-and-my-100k-student-loan
We get angry when Loan Sharks trap the unwary and next minute the trapped are in an impossible place. So imagine the unwary being trapped through having the temerity to borrow for educational improvement! How stupid is she! Getting a degree indeed! Know your place woman!
I have a relative who wants to complete his MA but there is no Student Allowance. More debt.
Indeed there have been changes to tighten up the allowance and they were achieved by stealth which is the way this government likes to work. After 2.5 years as a fulltime extramural student I’ve had to stop studying because the allowance was ridiculous but the debt is still there. Anytime you go to studylink now it’s log on to igovernment so they can keep extra vigilance on students and make sure they get their pound of flesh.
I am still trying to work out how anyone would be eliagable for a post grad student allowance when most people would have used up their allocation in undergrad and honours
Well, some of us made use of student loan living costs for undergrad, which if you can find a cheap flat that does communal cooking is nearly liveable without turning to student job search for work. But if you’re unlucky, pretty much you need to have a steady part time job just to pay for rent, bills and your own food, as well as stuff like car costs, recreation etc, so the student allowance becomes very appealing to avoid the debt and give yourself more time for study and living.
What’s the solution to this? She can’t be the only person in similar straits and it’s not a problem that will go away by itself.
The rational solution would be to go back to fully subsidised university and tertiary study, with appropriate gating via GPA and a complete scrapping of bums-on-seats funding and declare the current student debt as a lose and wipe it. As effectively tertiary education is an investment by society that usually leads to a person earning higher wages and so paying more in taxes, along with providing valuable skills or new businesses via start ups.
Unfortunately, well, NZ governments since the 1980’s have had an irrational love of short term benefits/costs and a rather twisted, non-empirical view of sustainable social costs vis viability, resulting in under investment in health, education and social security. Costs of which are now rather visible to all but the most ideological blind.
Forgive all student debt and make getting an education free.
Not free…if you gained an income advantage from your higher level of education, then a truly progressive tax system would effectively mean your education entered into the realms of ‘fair exchange’.
But yup, although there would be a somewhat justified level of resentment from those who have bust their arses to repay loans to this point, wipe the debt.
I reckon that concentrating on the private benefit, provided it’s not extreme, is the wrong way of looking at things that are broad-brush policies.
Question is, do we as a society need an ongoing or even increasing number of highly trained individuals (from plumbers/gasfitters to brain surgeons)? If so, sticking a disincentive like fees and loans on people who we need (and who we need to stay in NZ) is counter-productive. If they get a massive income benefit from the increased training, then they pay tax on a higher threshold.
[edit] argh crap, that’s exactly what you said. My bad – busy day at the office
Who officially owns the student debt , these days?
The government. Looks like an asset on their balance sheet
a liability, do you not mean.
Nope, an asset.
and yet it’s one of the shortcomings of capitalism that having highly qualified citizens isn’t viewed as an asset for the state.
hey Flockie, how come you don’t put up many informative links? (if you don’t mind me asking.
Chomsky claims that one of the main purposes of student loans was to discourage activism, both during and after the university years. When the government can arbitrarily change the interest rates, repayment thresholds, and minimum payments, any debtor is certainly in a vulnerable position.
The whole idiotic scheme should be done away with. University can be paid for via progressive taxation, or maybe even some form of work bonding. As it stands, someone setting up as a dentist, for example, basically has a mortgage to pay before they even start earning. This cost is pushed onto the wider community through increased professional charges. Taxpayers still pay for tertiary education indirectly anyway, so wouldn’t it be better to just pay for the study and maybe even benefit from said dentist working at a public clinic for a couple of years?
“Middle East a hot topic as McCully meets Kerry”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10885007
Yeah we get it. We were us bitches, then we weren’t for a bit, now we are again.
McCULLY: Mr. Secretary of State, I hear the Arabs are revolting.
KERRY: Revolting? They’re utterly disgusting, noisome, beastly, loathsome, monstrous, obnoxious, odious, hideous, foul and frightful.
Gosh, that must be why the Democrats have been pushing for a two state solution since the Clinton presidency.
You know nothing. Do some reading, fool.
some reading below Morrissey
Thank you, my friend. I’ll have a look when I get back from downtown. Have to go now.
Actually if YOU do some reading (other than the Protocols or whatever it is you usually read), the US hasn’t stopped calling for a two state solution, they are in fact warning it must come soon before Israel goes too far.
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/05/why-kerry-was-wrong-to-say-the-two-state-solution-is-nearly-dead/275758/
Actually if YOU do some reading (other than the Protocols or whatever it is you usually read),
There you go again, attempting to smear instead of argue your corner. If you had any credibility, perhaps that crude jibe would have annoyed me.
Not really, I just like winding you up because I don’t like you
Not really, I just like winding you up because I don’t like you
No need to admit that you’re not serious; that’s been obvious for a long time. But why the personal animosity? That’s intriguing.
Do you often just start hating on people away from this Second Life forum?
No, but your hysterical Israel conspiracies incorporating any remotely Jewish celebrity beyond simply stating: Israel is a country in the Middle East and is doing bad things to further its interests, does mark you out as having a special antipathy for Jews. I don’t particularly like bigots. Nor do I like your relentless monologue of vitriol. You have nothing nice to say nor anything particularly constructive to contribute apart from one-sided anti-Semitic rants and acid bitchfests about broadcasters for th emost trite reasons.
It’s been the usual very bad day for poor old Populuxe1, and it just keeps getting worse. Let’s enjoy—if that’s the word for how one feels after encountering the outpourings of the deranged—his latest splash about in the depths of depraved rhetoric….
…your hysterical Israel conspiracies incorporating any remotely Jewish celebrity beyond simply stating: Israel is a country in the Middle East and is doing bad things to further its interests, does mark you out as having a special antipathy for Jews.
Of course, that unhinged barking says nothing about me or anything I have said. It does, sadly, say quite a lot about the unfortunate fellow who was driven to write it.
Nor do I like your relentless monologue of vitriol. You have nothing nice to say nor anything particularly constructive to contribute….
Yes I do, actually. And you know it. You go on obsessing on the bits that enrage you, though. I’m actually looking forward to it, in a grisly sort of way.
…. apart from one-sided anti-Semitic rants and acid bitchfests about broadcasters for th emost [sic] trite reasons.
Again with the anti-Semitic allegations. I challenge anyone—not you, Populuxe1, you’re not capable of rational argument—-to find one thing I have ever written that is anti-Semitic.
Attn: Murray Olsen (you asked for somewhere to start)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/graphic/2012/jul/17/geoengineering-world-map
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8338853.stm
So? The BBC one deals with a number of proposals to ameliorate global warming, proposals being the key word.
The Guardian one gives a few symbols on a map, without any details. To look at one example, “increased precipitation” presumably means cloud seeding. This has been around for years, isn’t done on a global scale, and isn’t highly effective.
You ominously mentioned some program that had been going for fifty years. I see no evidence of anything like that.
However, there are several things which have been done and are still happening that affect climate over quite large areas. We can begin with CO2 and CH4 in the atmosphere, which have a truly global effect. Deforestation, forestation, urbanisation and the flooding of huge areas for hydroelectricity all have marked effects over reasonably large areas, but are not generally considered as being geoengineering.
I still have no real idea what you’re on about.
LIARS OF OUR TIME
No. 9: NewstalkZB PR dept
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“News you NEED! Fast, fair, accurate!”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
—NewstalkZB, just before the news begins.
See also….
No. 8: Simon Bridges: “I don’t mean to duck the question”
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-20052013/#comment-635343
No. 7: Nigel Morrison: “Quite frankly, they’ve been VERY tough.” http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-15052013/#comment-633295
No. 6: NZ Herald PR dept: “Congratulations—you’re reading New Zealand’s best newspaper.”
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-13052013/#comment-632598
No. 5: Rawdon Christie: “…a FORMIDABLE replacement, it seems, is Claudette Hauiti.”
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-13052013/#comment-632594
No. 4: Willie and J.T.: “The X-Factor. Nah, nah, there’s some GREAT talent there!”
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-06052013/#comment-628803
No. 3: John Key: “Yeah we hold MPs to a higher standard.” http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-06052013/#comment-628703
No. 2: Colin Craig: “Oh, I have a GREAT sense of humour.” (TV3 News, 24 April 2013)
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-25042013/#comment-624381
No. 1: Barack Obama: “Margaret Thatcher was one of the great champions of freedom and liberty.” http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-19042013/#comment-621738
A very good post on Waitakere News about the government’s now-you-see-it;now-you-don’t food in schools policy.
while seeing the case for food in schools..(aside from qualms about it being used by fonterra (and other unhealthy ‘food’-peddlers) to hook the young generations on their vile/cancer-causing-products)..
..isn’t such a move too much ambulance at bottom of cliff..?
..and would not so much of that clear need be obviated by the institution of a guaranteed minimum income for all citizens..?
..that would come close to ending poverty with one fell stroke..
..so my question would be..why not focus on moving the common-will towards that concept..?
..and my concerns are that the bandaid to poverty that food-in-schools will be..will be deemed for far too long to be ‘having done enough’ to fight the poverty that blights nz in 2013..
..that the energy of that common will/concern-at-poverty will be dissapated before the real reforms needed will/can be enacted..
..phillip ure..
How is Fonterra an unhealthy food peddler again?
Is your new baby a calf or a human? Does your new baby prefer human proteins and enzymes to grow or cow proteins and enzymes to grow?
Hmmm. So I’m guessing fuck all those mothers whose milk has dried up for medical reasons, or because they are in the middle of a famine, or they’ve had a double mastectomy, or they can’t for other reasons, or they don’t want to (I’m old-fashioned enough to think women should have the choice), or the father is raising the baby on his own because the mother has died in childbirth, or any one of a number of reasons. And the ant-milk hysteria is farcical, as ably demonstrated by the many generations who have grown up on cow milk.
you got me there fair and square, having cow’s milk is indeed better than starving the baby on nothing during a famine.
populuxe:..first:..there are other options than just cow and breast milk..
..and yes..’generations’ also puffed furiously on cigarettes..
..put morphine/opium in cough medicines..
..(the list goes on and on..)
..surely you can see that is not really a rational argument/rejoinder you have proffered..?
..and like i said..do yr own research..make up yr own mind..
..just try to keep yr mind open to new knowledge..
..phillip ure
there is increasing evidence of the ill-effects from consuming baby-cow food..and bye-products..
..i have lots of that evidence at my place..under ‘vegan’..or if averse to going there..
..just google the question..and be overwhelmed by the evidence..
..don’t just take my word for it..eh..?
..phillip ure..
and a jaw-dropping (local-focused) fact from that evidence..is that the cancers increasingly being linked to dairy consumption..
..are cancers that we here in nz have at world-beating rates..
..and funny story..!..i think we are second in the world for consumption of that dairy…
..so..when you have that knowledge/awareness/warning locked in..
…it is easy to move to the opinion..that as far as health outcomes as adults are concerned..
..fonterra had may as well be handing out free-cigarettes to those schools..
..the concept/fonterra-plan is the same..hook ’em while they’re young..
..cancer..?..what cancer..?
..(and like i said..don’t take my word for it..do yr own research if doubting the veracity of these claims..
..and then start spreading the word..eh..?..
..but be warned..under the current repressive-laws..you could be opening yrslf up to charges of ‘economic-treason’..eh..?
..for even writing/talking/warning of such matters..
..wither free-speech..?..eh..?..)
..phillip ure..
and as compelling evidence of the benefits to be had from shedding that dairy-habit..
…have you seen bill clinton lately..?
..whoar..!..eh..?..he’s never looked that good..!..as fit as a jailhouse-rat..
..his daughter talked him into trying an animal-flesh/dairy-free diet..
..and ‘bubba?’…has now become “bubba!”
..and his heart-issues have all cleared up..
..go figure..!..eh..?
..phillip ure..
How can you tell a vegan? Don’t worry, they’ll tell you. Worse than Evangelical Christians.
how can you tell a reactionary-carnivore/dairyvore..?
..they don’t have to speak..usually the high-blood-pressure-flushed-face/short-breath/power-belly/old-skin will give them away..
..eh..?
phillip ure..
He even tells the simplest jokes wrongly.
Bad day keeps on gettin’ badder.
so..morrissey..i take it you don’t follow the dietary-recommendations of the person who’se name/persona you have borrowed..?
..um..!..why actually did you choose that name to borrow..?..that not eating animals thing being so important to morrissey..eh..?
..do you lean into his all round glumness..?
..(i’m having an irony-moment here..heh..!..)
phillip ure..
It’s the music and the politics, phillip.
Unfortunately, I lack my namesake’s strength of character and have remained something of a carnivore.
RIP Ray
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLAr-WlxMZY
Thanks for posting the link to that high quality recording of When The Music’s Over, Marty. Really enjoyed that.
Thanks Clockie yes I loved it too – watched it 3 times and I’m loving it – Ray was amazing on that keyboard, amazing – and as a group wow!!!
Nice to see Jim doing a gig when he still took the music seriously and wasn’t totally trashed. Two years later and he probably couldn’t have recreated that performance.
Yep truth
R.I.P Crystal Ship
i always found the doors (especially morrison) somewhat pedestrian/one-dimensional/white-boy/cartoon-rock..(especially compared to their competition/compatriots..)
..(a slightly heavier version of the eagles..?..monkees..?..)
..and given the signature organ-hooks came from manzarek..
..where does that leave morrison..?
..aside from flopping out his drug-addled wang a few-times on stage..?..and being generally ‘messy’ in his drug-use..
..what else did he do that any halfway competent bar-band lead singer couldn’t do..?
..phillip ure..
Ha, Neil Finn’s an OBE and you’re concerned that JM reverence is unwarranted?
It must disappoint Maori National party supporters (I’m assuming there are some) that they aren’t allowed to have a candidate in the up-coming byelection. ).
Sure the result is predictable but it is still showing indifference if not contempt for those who would like to exercise their right to have their say in the democratic process and also those Maori who would like to stand as candidates for National.
I guess the message is for National supporters is to tick the Maori party candidate while Labour, Mana and the Greens? split the vote.
I don’t think Maori voters are as malleable and gullible as the bewildered folks of Epsom. It’s a Labour win, guaranteed. Look for the almost total collapse of the Key regime’s stooge party.
Epsom was a clear case of Johnnymandering…wait for the PM to have a cuppa with the Maori Party candidate …Honemandering?
Gavin Ellis is Mogadon
National Radio, 11:59 a.m., Tuesday May 21, 2013.
I’m listening to that bore Gavin Ellis droning on in his utterly uninteresting fashion. I don’t know how Kathryn Ryan manages to stay awake. I swear she yawned a couple of times as this dullard bored on.
Surely there are more interesting media commentators available in this country.
Surely?
I can only hope that if you were comatose you would lay off the vitriol. It get’s tiresome after, well, actually, almost immediately.
Really? I’m as tiresome as Gavin Ellis?
I don’t think so. And neither do you.
It get’s [sic] tiresome….
A little mistake, maybe, but it makes you look second-rate. Flustered, were you?
No, more like a combination of flu and you sapping my faith in humanity
lol
McFlock, you managed a laugh at Pops irony, which is nice to see a show of support for him..
Good to see Poppy going full frontal again!
No, more like a combination of flu and you sapping my faith in humanity
You’re flustered.
Hope it’s nothing minor.
classy
Stay classy, Northcote Point.
Jeepers, Jim Bolger I applaud your speech.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10884963
I found this bit interesting too in a disturbing way
Hey Marty – always be weary of anything an ex-politician attmpts to take credit for, especially one who played a core role in the destruction of so many lives, he deserves the gallows, nothing less!
Agree about the intelligence sharing, being disturbing, and that’s the little they want the plebs to know about.
The grid is formed, and was dropped a long time ago, yet people are still discussing, *rights/privacy/constitution*, and so on!
That’s all part of history now, cell phones, internet, smart meters, cloud et al, the control to legislate change at the whim of technology companies, and the control of the tech companies to enforce later versions of the technology through *retiring* earlier versions etc.
Technology will be the end of most people (it already is), thats a certainty, rather like the designed financial collapse/bankrupcy of NZ/Major cities, it has to happen, it can’t be any other way!
What struck me most about that piece is that the writer considers eye rolling and murmurs as an appropriate response to the issues Bolger mentioned. It really is “let them eat cake stuff”.
speaking of which, Morrissey,
Listened to Brian S. Roper , Political Historian, Otago University, on RNZ last night re Marxist perspective on Climate Change;
-“feedback loops = abrupt climate change= draconian government”.
Jonathan Neale “Stop Global Warming”
http://books.google.co.nz/books/about/Stop_Global_Warming_Change_the_World.html?id=lWUcAQAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y
“The Carbon Bubble”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/aiko-stevenson/the-carbon-bubble_1_b_3114501.html
http://blogs.wsj.com/corporate-intelligence/2013/05/16/after-bubbles-in-dotcoms-and-housing-heres-the-carbon-bubble/
http://theenergycollective.com/davidhone/220316/carbon-bubble-reality-check
http://www.carbontracker.org/carbonbubble
(all these investments in carbon are spread across the major Stock Exchanges)
http://cleantechnica.com/2013/04/20/carbon-bubble-6-trillion-of-new-investments-at-risk/
Stock Exchanges
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/interactive/2013/apr/19/countries-exposed-carbon-bubble-map
Couldn’t find anything about a Marxist perspective of the link provided to Brian S Roper’s blog but I assume you mean this one.
Thanks Draco. a much-needed sabbatical coming methinks; catch up on some book-reading.
from the tele, and the radio;
-Pacific peoples, soaring unemployment; 19-24 year-olds- 43.5%
-Pacific children in poverty- 40%
Parata’s inane response- “upskill”, “work harder”.
China – U.S tech trade tensions; “a lose- lose for Obama” (and the ‘I’ word has been raised re Barack).
China – E.U trade wars over Solar Panel import duties; “a great mistake”.
Nietzsche and Taoism
(our prayers are with the PRC).
A not so subtle propaganda exercise
Ottolenghi’s Mediterranean Feast, Episode 6: Israel
Channel 4, played on Choice TV, Thursday 16 May 2013, 8:30 p.m.
When he unleashed his infamous foam-flecked rant against Hezbollah a few years ago, Anthony Bourdain established himself as the most aggressively ignorant of all celebrity chefs. The London-domiciled Israeli chef and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi is without doubt a more intelligent, personable and humane person than the coke-snorting, foul-mouthed, self-involved Bourdain.
Ottolenghi’s exploration of the delights of Israeli cuisine made for a highly interesting, engaging show. However, it contained a couple of outrageous, politically charged statements, one of them an outright lie, and some carefully managed evasions of the actual situation in Israel.
The outright lie comes first, as we see Ottolenghi speeding along a highway, enthusing about the hour of gustatory pleasures ahead of us: “I was brought up in the capital—JERUSALEM,” he shouts excitedly. “But the most dynamic city in Israel is Tel Aviv!” Cut to evocative shots of vibrant, bustling cafetarias and bars. It might be Italy, or Portugal, or Barcelona.
It seems like a small matter, an oversight, a mere mistake perhaps, to say that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. But Ottolenghi understood perfectly well what he was saying. Deliberately, flagrantly insisting that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel was the first of several little dishonesties to mar this program and take it beyond mere entertainment into the more sinister realm of state propaganda.
Ottolenghi might be an obvious and shameless liar, but he is a great guide to food and Israeli culture. The food he shows us is mouthwateringly gorgeous: hummus, flat breads, beef shakshuka, herb and ginger fishcakes with beetroot sauce, fig and goat-cheese tart with lemon icing, tomato and pomegranate salad. The men who cook these dishes are characters in their own right: smiling, affable, good-humored. But on his way out to the pomegranate farm of a chef called Shlomo, Ottolenghi casually drops another of his little propaganda bombs; as their car speeds past lush fields, he remarks that “until recently, this land was largely uncultivated.”
In Ottolenghi World, Jerusalem is simply beautiful, and ancient and mystical; an aesthetic and spiritual experience. We see extended coverage of Ottolenghi gathering herbs in the hills, which are, needless to say, picturesque, quiet and Palästinensischerfrei. There is not the slightest hint that there might be anything wrong; all views of the illegal, ugly, internationally condemned annexation wall have been meticulously excluded.
Then it’s back to the restaurant for pancakes stuffed with apple, sugar and goat’s cheese.
Occupation? What occupation?
He’s an Israeli. As far as most Israelis are concerned, Jerusalem is the capital even if it isn’t internationally recognised as such. Hell, most Aucklanders are convinced Auckland is the capital of New Zealand. Not sure what your problem with Bourdain is – not enough Aryan baby blood in the motza balls?
He’s an Israeli. As far as most Israelis are concerned, Jerusalem is the capital…
No, most Israelis, except the likes of Binjamin Netanyahu and the terminally stupid, are aware that Tel Aviv is the capital.
…even if it isn’t internationally recognised as such.
Jerusalem (Al Quds) is not the capital of Israel. Except in your head.
Hell, most Aucklanders are convinced Auckland is the capital of New Zealand.
No they are not.
Not sure what your problem with Bourdain is –
Bourdain is a fool. You need to find out something about him. (Something else you know nothing about.)
…not enough Aryan baby blood in the motza balls?
Wow, that was funny. No, not really.
So, in short, the vast majority of Israelies as practicing Jews are “terminally stupid” because as mandated by their faith in their worldview Jerusalem is the capital of the Jewish nation. And you don’t like anyone remotely popular. Especially if they’re Jewish….
So, in short, the vast majority of Israelies as practicing Jews are “terminally stupid”…
No, but I think we have established with a fair degree of certainty that you are.
on form today, we see, Pop. 😀 (are you reducing your carbon footprint).
Don’t tease him, ghostrider. He’s got the ‘flu, and is thoroughly discombobulated.
The Herald is reporting that the GCSB has been cleared of the illegal spying on New Zealanders by the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10885098)
Of the 88 cases mentioned 27 were found to have had no information intercepted.
The remaining were said to involve the collection of metadata and the Inspector-General formed the view that there had arguably been no breach, noting once again that the law is unclear.
Metadata is the information surrounding a communication as opposed to the communication itself. For instance in an email it would involve the sender, receiver, and time of transmission. The content of the email itself would not be included.
I am not sure that the legal situation is unclear, section 14 of the GCSB Act prohibits the “intercepting the communications of a person (not being a foreign organisation or a foreign person) who is a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident”. Overseas cases have always treated the metadata (for instance a phone number) as less worthy of privacy.
But if this is the case why doesn’t the Government just clarify this rather than give the GCSB open access?
I see they were investigating weapons of mass destruction.
Those bloody pressure cookers are every where.
*Potential* WMD
But if this is the case why doesn’t the Government just clarify this rather than give the GCSB open access?
Because clarification is the last thing they want – instead, they want an uncertainty maintained and excuses – and a hand-picked crony has given exactly that. This is just perpetuating what’s already gone before.
What this country needs is a constitutional watchdog with teeth, but the Governor General is just another sock puppet and considering Goff’s actions over Peter Ellis and Ahmed Zaoui, as long as he’s in Labour, the “main opposition party” won’t do anything to change that once it’s “their turn” either.
“But if this is the case why doesn’t the Government just clarify this rather than give the GCSB open access?”
Because the news item is a puff-piece designed to try and put the issue to bed. In the next few days I expect we’ll hear John Key saying that he’s satisfied nothing illegal has happened with the GCSB and the law change will ensure this is never an issue again. And he’s right… it won’t be, because from now on the spying on NZers will be 100% Pure-ly Legit.
If there was arguably no breach, arguably, there was. So Mr Fletcher could also presumably have reported simply that the conclusion is that GCSB may have breached the law.
MS, your barking up the wrong tree if you think the intelligence services, give a rats, about adhering to legislative piffle!
The times they
are a changinare way past concerning, but I’m pleased the agenda is becoming clear enough, that even the most stubborn mind should be starting to stir!Banking/Military/Intelligence, dominates this world, and they’re tightening the net!
We’re through the looking glass here people.
‘Arguably’. Says it all about Shonkey’s gummint. So much is ‘arguable’ in his world.
It’s so similar to Work and Income it’s spooky. The furniture and colour scheme I mean.
http://tinyurl.com/par3jpj
Imagine my complete lack of surprise:
“GCSB cleared of illegal spying”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10885098
EDIT: Mickey, snap!