“But capitalism without the prospect of failure is not any kind of market economy. We are running a large-scale, nontransparent, and dangerous government subsidy scheme for the benefit primarily of a very few, extremely wealthy people….
We should learn from both the WaMu and the Occupy movement. In both cases, the lesson is the same: concentrated financial power is a gift that keeps on giving â but not to you.”
Simon Johnson, a former chief economist of the IMF – thinks we should learn from #occupy, hmmm stalled huh.
Where have I ever argued that the responses to the financial crisis is the correct one. In fact I believe I have stated numerous times that Governments should NOT bail out corporations and/or banks. They should be left to fail. Of course that would mean more short term pain for people especially those on the bottom of the heap but it would be for the benefit of the economy as a whole in the long term. Capitalism requires business failures. It is politics that stops this from taking it’s natural course.
“Of course that would mean more short term pain for people especially those on the bottom of the heap but it would be for the benefit of the economy as a whole in the long term. “
Your lack of concern and empathy for other people is beyond my comprehension…
Can you explain to us why it should be the people “on the bottom of the heap” who should suffer the consequences of extreme capitalism?
That’s like saying that it was ok for Stalin to murder 30 million of his fellow contrymen/women, “for the benefit of the [socialist] economy as a whole in the long term.”
Ah Frank, I’m not sure I should bother answering your questions because if you were interested in getting to read different opinions from your own narrow view you would allow them on your own blog.
I will humour you a little by asking you a couple of questions though. What was the purpose of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and who did these organisations ultimately benefit?
Interesting how you deflect other peoples’ questions – and then have the cheek to demand answers to yours.
“Ah Frank, Iâm not sure I should bother answering your questions because if you were interested in getting to read different opinions from your own narrow view you would allow them on your own blog.”
You mean, apart from the 193 posts you’ve made on my Blog, Gosman?
Now, getting back to what I wrote above, and which you might care to address,
. â
âOf course that would mean more short term pain for people especially those on the bottom of the heap but it would be for the benefit of the economy as a whole in the long term
Your lack of concern and empathy for other people is beyond my comprehensionâŠ
Can you explain to us why it should be the people âon the bottom of the heapâ who should suffer the consequences of extreme capitalism?
Thatâs like saying that it was ok for Stalin to murder 30 million of his fellow contrymen/women, âfor the benefit of the [socialist] economy as a whole in the long term.â
Top marks Gos, I agree, let the bastards go to the wall. Lets face it if it were the rest of us we would be dropped from a great height.
Now, starter for 10…putting one and one together “It is politics that stops this” so the politicians are in the pay of the:
a. Banksters
b. Banksters mates
c. They are the banksters.
No the problem is that the Bankers have convinced the politicians that if they go to the wall the economy will be irretrievably harmed. While not true it is true that there is a risk of a serious economic downturn such as the great depression if the banking system freezes up, This tends to harm both rich and poor but as the poor have less cushion protecting them they obviously suffer more. This is the reason that bankers can hold a political gun against the heads of Government to protect them from going bust. Now I agree if they use that argument then they don’t have a stong argument for less Government interference in their business. That is why I think they should be left to fail.
Break the big banks up, nationalise the core infrastructure parts, segregate the casino investment banking divisions, return the power of printing money to the Crown; these steps will ensure that the financial terrorists cannot hold our country to ransom.
Gooseman your blind faith to your ideology shows how little you know about economics the great depression that went on for twenty years in the USA was caused by letting banks fail the best solution research has shown is to nationalize banks and let them return to profit using printed money to free up capital flow.
Nowhere in the world has your theory worked.
Air New Zealand is a perfect example of how it is done.
New Zealand nationalized banks in the 1930s under labour brought them back to profitability and our economy only suffered a 5 year depression.
Lucky we didn’t have your lot in power then.
You’ve made the mistake of thinking that the current banking crisis is a crisis of liquidity (hence your solution of freeing up cash flows in the banking sector).
Its not. Its a crisis of solvency. Almost every major investment bank out there, from JP Morgan to BNP Paribas to Deutschebank would be bankrupt tonight if they were to forced to mark their assets to market prices, and to bring their hidden off balance sheet liabilities on to the balance sheet.
In a situation like this, printing money cannot help.
Hmmm, Russia is an oligarchy run by ex KGB kleptocrats who have seized the assets of the former state and privatised them. They own Chelsea FC….and a whole lot of other private ventures around the world, privately, as in private property…….these guys control RT……very leftist I must say.
Replacing Banks with the Nat candidate for Epsom (as would surely be the result from a by-election) would put their charter schools policy into a curious position.
Some more balanced reporting on RNZ this morning over the akl wharf strike, interviewing Barnett of akl chamber of commerce ……..no other side, just Barnett who’s quite frankly a whining born to rule tosser offering no insight into the actual issues the strike is about.
Why not get the unions and members view they are after all the ones losing the most here.
Yep. I don’t think many right wingers would be happy if their job required them to be on call for 365 days of the year at 8 hours notice, the employer telling you at random, if you could have a weekend with your family, or not . With only 40 hours of each week paid for!
Basically POAL want the whole workforce to be always on call without paying for them to be standing by ready to work. Like Mcd’s with their expecting you to be available at 12 hours or less notice, but they only guarantee 12 hours per week to their “full time” staff.
Never ceases to amaze me that here in the private sector we club together for discounts as buying groups, we use restrictive practices (legal and “dubious”) to ensure that we have advantageous terms of trade, and we negotiate from a position of strength. Sounds like what Unions do, they are merely following good commercial practices to get the best price and to restrict competition.
Its also what those other great Unions do, the Chartered Accountant, the Law Society, Colleges of Surgeons etc etc
Consultants were paid as much as $275 an hour or $2500 a day, according to figures released by 31 government departments and agencies under the Official Information Act.
Some departments are increasing spending on consultants while getting rid of workers who, across all the departments involved, make an average of $33 an hour based on a 40-hour week.
So every person to a tee in Christchurch is appalled at the back-dated 14% pay rise given to the Council’s CEO (making 45% rise in 4 years) and all bloody Brownlee can do is say “button up Councillors and get in behind your mayor or some of you will get the sack”.
What planet is this ape on?
It is identical to his uniteral increase of the pay rates to the CERA overlords like Jenny Shipley some months ago.
Brownlee also claims that “people don’t know everything that’s going on” and should just shut up.
These events show that Brownlee has lost touch. Or perhaps that the power of his office is going to his head. Just remember that Brownlee – it is the office and not you which has the power.
He’s no lost touch. He was given this power until April 2012 and if you think he won’t use and abuse it you’re the one out of touch. This is were we are now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7IvLEpjPmc
Funny that, we have just had a major change in how we are expected to operate, all done without proper consultation, all released in the holiday season – over half of those affected won’t have a clue till mid-January.
This morningâs flight noted patches of oil, and a 3 km long metallic sheen about 20 metres wide heading northwest. Patches of rainbow sheen were visible for up to 7-8km off the western side of MĆtÄ«tÄ« Island about half a kilometre from the coast. A SCAT team is checking MaketĆ« spit and PÄpÄmoa beach today.
Just a couple of days after the ban on collecting Shellfish was lifted. There will be no MSM reporting on this because the all important tourist dollar has to be protected.
… too concerned about their tickets for the the Rugby World Cup I suspect. Weather was fine, see was calm, “not a problem, we’ll discuss it next week during the celebrations.”
Speaking of MSM not reporting on things… even after it was known 500 people had died in the Philippines flooding, none of the main television news services reported on this event. It wasn’t until yesterday when 652 people were confirmed to have died that Prime News finally reported on the flooding. In my opinion that’s three days after they should have. What are they afraid of I wonder… that people might start waking up to the effects of climate change?
Late breaking shock
Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae has just delivered the Speech
which was the 2008 speech
The National-lead Government is promising to spend its second term building a more competitive economy, reducing debt, creating jobs and lifting incomes
I dont know how that happened says Key.
Tolley has been asked to check why.
Inside comment is that there are so few Public Servant, nobody checked.
We are a nation of sheep.
After the Governor General’s delivery, he departed with ceremony and the elected members slowly filed back into the chamber. As they made their way back, they were greeted by a kapa haka group. Most continued on their way to take up their seats and then the cameras went back outside to the procession. One member must have decided to move over to meet and hongi with the group. And so the procession began – every subsequent elected member went over to meet-and-greet. (Nice touch?)
No, could’nt be…Shonkers was off in a hurry to delivery Christmas presents (little blond barbie dolls dressed in blue rosettes) to disadvantaged children in some Close in South Auckland. There was a bevvy of photographers in to, and a TV film crew.
hah this is fun.
hooton and his crew of sausage roll molesters instituted the permanent campaign.
so now I’m glad there is something to do all summer.
better than the cricket.
tee he.
Graeme Edgeler says the possibility of Bennett losing her seat and getting kicked out of Parliament is pretty slim, but surely given the stakes Labour needs to take the punt:
Yes, but it’s a matter of priorities: what’s more important? Stopping asset sales, or $30k? I think raising that amount wouldn’t be difficult in the circumstances. A decision just needs to be made now to go for it, then everyone gets cracking. Even if the odds, according some commentators, are low, we have to do it: the basis is to stop asset sales. This is what makes the situation different, exceptional.
You call an electoral petition a “trick in the book”? It’s a legitimate means available under the law. So someone legitimately exercising rights of appeal under the law somehow means they’re “sore losers” or up to “tricks”? Legal avenues like an electoral petition are there for a reason. The logical extension of what you’re saying is that the electoral petition provision, while we have there, it should never be used because parties shouldn’t look like “sore losers” or get up to “tricks”. Get real.
Ask an anarchist why they read white supremacist literature. Ask Odgers why she reads The Standard. (I have to say though that lately it’s been just brief glances and it’s getting harder and harder even doing that.)
Sad.
I could put up a picture of a drongo with anything I like in the background, but not here of course.
That would get me banned, yet others can do lies with pictures drongo
[lprent: Noone apart from authors can add pictures (or video now I fixed the bug) into the site. So you are suggesting something that you cannot do will get you banned? I realize you might be a bit challenged… But that?
Links to other sites don’t worry the mods – but we don’t like pure link-whoring. Our view is that you can pay for advertisements. So you have to write some origional content to accompany the link. Writing an articulate sentence explaining why people would want to clip the link!. Ummm ok now I can understand your problem… ]
Anyone notice that Pete George didnt post on this thread?
[lprent: You cannot draw conclusions from such occurrances and even pointing it out will sometimes earn moderator warnings. Quite simply most people do not spend their lives online. Expecting people to be present all of the time is unreasonable (even moderators). It is often a start of the pwned (and variants) idiocy which leads to flamewars that are irritating to most readers – especially to moderators. ]
On the thread Farewell NZ Institute we got a bit sidetracked by the reference to USA President Barack Obama. While trawling for some of my family information I came upon his family background. And for those interested in all the furore of whether he is a USA citizen etc here it is as detailed by William Addams Reitwiesner. link http://www.wargs.com/political/obama.html
Ancestry of Barack Obama
1 Barack Hussein Obama II, U.S. Senator from Illinois, U.S. President from 2009, b. Kapiolani Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, 4 Aug. 1961,
m. at Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, 3 Oct. 1992
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, b. Chicago 17 Jan. 1964, dau. of Frasier Robinson and of Marian Shields. Further details of her ancestry can be found here.
PARENTS
2 Barack Hussein Obama, Ph. D., b. Alego, Kenya [on the shores of Lake Victoria], … 1936, senior economist in the Kenyan Ministry of Finance, d. Nairobi, Kenya, … 1982, bur. Alego m. Maui, Hawaii, 2 Feb. 1961, div. filed Honolulu, Hawaii Jan. 1964
3 S[tanley] Ann Dunham, b. Wichita, Kansas, 29 Nov. 1942, d. Straub Clinic, Honolulu, Hawaii, 7 Nov. 1995 [SSDI 535-40-8522]
[lprent: all very interesting. However it was a full cut and paste. And it wasn’t even up on Penny’s own site. Perhaps she should put it there and link to it from here with a teaser – like everyone else does. ]
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Katie Kenny from Stuff published an article today with a lazy attempt at so-called âfact checkingâ my recent comments on the World Health Organisationâs concerning new regulations being developed. What is most surprising is that throughout this entire âfact checkingâ process, Kenny never once rang me asking for my side ...
The National Party has released another confused and rushed policy that will only further worsen the inequality that is driven by unaffordable housing. ...
Welcome to sunny and calm Wellington, which I know those of you who are visiting would of course expect to be the case. Itâs been a busy week since we put forward the 2023 Budget. Labour MPs have been out across the motu giving the good oil on the Budget. ...
Kia orana, Talofa lava, MÄlo e lelei, Taloha ni, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Noaâia e mauri, Ni sa bula vinaka, Kia ora, Tena Koutou Katoa. Labour Party President Jill Day, Prime Minister Hipkins, Party faithful, delegates and comrades, whÄnau and friends, itâs a privilege to be here today. I begin my ...
One of my kaumÄtua up North stood before the Waitangi Tribunal and said: âHe aha kÄ ahau, te tangata kore hara i mua i te Atua, e tu nei kia whakawaatia e koe, te tangata tÄhae, te tangata hara, te tangata kore tikanga?Ko koe kÄ te tika, kia tĆ« ...
New Zealanders will be highly concerned that the World Health Organisation proposes to effectively take control of independent decision making away from sovereign countries and place control with the Director General. W.H.O International Health Regulations on future outbreaks of disease aim to give the Director General extraordinary and wide-sweeping powers. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to take responsibility for reducing inflation by taxing wealth instead of leaving RBNZ to continue hiking the Official Cash Rate. ...
The Green Party has released its list of candidates for the 2023 election. With a mix of familiar faces, fresh new talent, and strong tangata whenua voices, this exceptional group of candidates are ready to set the direction of the next Government. ...
Thank you for your invitation to be here, after yesterday's budget, and for the opportunity to talk with you. In the economic and social turmoil following the arrival of COVID 19 in New Zealand many concerns emerged. How would we keep our economy going and maintain our exports which are ...
At the heart of Budget 2023 is a cost of living package, designed to ease the pressure on New Zealanders in the face of global inflation and the challenges of rebuilding from extreme weather events. It provides practical cost of living relief across some of the core expenses facing Kiwis ...
A long standing Green Party policy has been extended yet again in this yearâs Budget. This will deliver warmer homes for thousands of people, lower power bills, and cut climate pollution. ...
The Green Party is fully on board with free bus and train travel for under 12s and half price travel for under 25s - next stop, free travel for all under 18s, students, and apprentices. ...
Earlier this week, the Prime Minister announced a billion dollar flood and cyclone recovery package as part of Budget 2023. This is about doing the basics - repairing and rebuilding what has been damaged and making smart investments, including $100 million of protection funding to ensure future events donât cause ...
The Defence Ministers of New Zealand and Japan have signed a statement of intent for closer defence cooperation between the two Pacific regional partners. Andrew Little and H. E. Yasukazu Hamada met to sign the âStatement of Intent on Defence Cooperation in Maritime Security, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and ...
New Zealandâs most recent defence assessment identified climate change and geostrategic competition as the two greatest security challenges to our place in the South Pacific. To the first issue, partners engaging and re-engaging with Pacific Island Countries are finding that climate change is a security and existential threat in our ...
The government is continuing to support rangatahi in providing more funding into Maori Trades training and new He Poutama Rangatahi programmes across Aotearoa. âWeâre backing 30 new by MÄori for MÄori Kaupapa employment and training programmes, which will help iwi into sustainable employment or progress within their chosen careersâ says ...
Murihiku Marae was officially reopened today, setting a gold standard in sustainable building practices as well as social outcomes for the people of WaihĆpai Invercargill, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan says. âThe marae has been a central hub for this community since the 1980âs. With the support of $9.65 million ...
The first major public housing development in WhangÄrei for decades has reached completion, with 37 new homes opened in the suburb of Maunu today. The project on Tapatahi Crescent and Puriri Park Road, consists of 15 one-bedroom, 4 two-bedroom, 7 three-bedroom, 8 four-bedroom and 3 five-bedroom homes, as well as ...
Trade and Export Growth Minister Damen OâConnor will depart tomorrow for London to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Trade Ministersâ Meeting and then to Paris to vice-chair the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting. âMy travel to the United Kingdom is well-timed, with the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (UK FTA) ...
The Fuel Industry (Improving Fuel Resilience) Amendment Bill would: boost New Zealandâs fuel supply resilience and economic security enable the minimum stockholding obligation regulations to be adapted as the energy and transport environment evolves. âLast November, I announced a six-point plan to improve the resiliency of our fuel supply from ...
The Government is making sure those on low incomes will no longer have to wait five weeks to get the minimum weekly rate of ACC, and improving the data collected to make the system fairer, Minister for ACC Peeni Henare said today. The Accident Compensation (Access Reporting and Other Matters) ...
A compulsory code of conduct will ensure school board members are crystal clear on their responsibilities and expected standard of behaviour, Minister of Education Jan Tinetti said. Itâs the first time a compulsory code of conduct has been published for state and state-integrated school boards and comes into effect on ...
Tena koutou katoa and thank you, Mayor Nadine Taylor, for your welcome to Marlborough. Thanks also Doug Saunders-Loder and all of you for inviting me to your annual conference. As you might know, Iâm quite new to this job â and Iâm particularly pleased that the first organisation Iâm giving a ...
The Government will enter into a funding arrangement with councils in cyclone and flood affected regions to support them to offer a voluntary buyout for owners of Category 3 designated residential properties. It will also co-fund work needed to protect Category 2 designated properties. âFrom the beginning of this process ...
The Government has announced changes to strengthen requirements in venues with pokie (gambling) machines will come into effect from 15 June. âPokies are one of the most harmful forms of gambling. They can have a detrimental impact on individuals, their friends, whÄnau and communities,â Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds said. ...
The total Police workforce is now the largest it has ever been. Police constabulary stands at 10,700 officers â an increase of 21% since 2017 MÄori officers have increased 40%, Pasifika 83%, Asian 157%, Women 61% Every district has got more Police under this Government The Government has delivered on ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Nanaia Mahuta met with Korea President Yoon, as well as Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna, during her recent visit to Korea. âIt was an honour to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the first Korea â Pacific Leadersâ Summit. We discussed Pacific ambitions under the ...
The Governmentâs Research and Development Tax Incentive has supported more than $2 billion of New Zealand business innovation â an increase of around $1 billion in less than nine months. "Research and innovation are essential in helping us meet the biggest challenges and seize opportunities facing New Zealand. Itâs fantastic ...
The next âgiant leapâ in New Zealandâs space journey has been taken today with the launch of the National Space Policy, Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds announced. âOur space sector is growing rapidly. Each year New Zealand is becoming a more and more attractive place for launches, manufacturing space-related technology ...
A new Year 7-13 designated character wharekura will be built in PÄpÄmoa, Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis has announced. The wharekura will focus on science, mathematics and creative technologies while connecting Äkonga to the whakapapa of the area. The decision follows an application by the NgÄ PĆtiki Ä Tamapahore ...
Protecting the environment by establishing a stronger, more consistent system for freedom camping Supporting councils to better manage freedom camping in their region and reduce the financial and social impacts on communities Ensuring that self-contained vehicle owners have time to prepare for the new system  The Self-Contained Motor Vehicle ...
A new law passed last night could see up to 25 percent of Family Court judgesâ workload freed up in order to reduce delays, Minister of Justice Kiri Allan said. The Family Court (Family Court Associates) Legislation Bill will establish a new role known as the Family Court Associate. The ...
New Zealand businesses will begin reaping the rewards of our gold-standard free trade agreement with the United Kingdom (UK FTA) from today. âThe New Zealand UK FTA enters into force from today, and is one of the seven new or upgraded Free Trade Agreements negotiated by Labour to date,â Prime ...
The Government will reform outdated surrogacy laws to improve the experiences of children, surrogates, and the growing number of families formed through surrogacy, by adopting Labour MP TÄmati Coffeyâs Memberâs Bill as a Government Bill, Minister Kiri Allan has announced. âSurrogacy has become an established method of forming a family ...
Defence Minister Andrew Little departs for Singapore tomorrow to attend the 20th annual Shangri-La Dialogue for Defence Ministers from the Indo-Pacific region. âShangri-La brings together many countries to speak frankly and express views about defence issues that could affect us all,â Andrew Little said. âNew Zealand is a long-standing participant ...
Research, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall and the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang met in Wellington today and affirmed the two countriesâ long-standing science relationship. Minister Wang was in New Zealand for the 6th New Zealand-China Joint Commission Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation. Following ...
5 percent uplift clearer and simpler to navigate Domestic productions can access more funding sources 20 percent rebate confirmed for post-production, digital and visual effects Qualifying expenditure for post-production, digital and visual effects rebate dropped to $250,000 to encourage more smaller productions The Government is making it easier for the ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs (Pacific Region) Carmel Sepuloni will represent New Zealand at Samoaâs 61st Anniversary of Independence commemorations in Apia. âAotearoa New Zealand is pleased to share in this significant occasion, alongside other invited Pacific leaders, and congratulates Samoa on the milestone of 61 ...
The Government is continuing to support retailers with additional funding for the highly popular Fog Cannon Subsidy Scheme, Police and Small Business Minister Ginny Andersen announced today. âThe Government is committed to improving retailersâ safety,â Ginny Andersen said. âIâve seen first-hand the difference fog cannons are making. Not only do ...
The Government has received the first independent review of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says. The review, considered by the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee, was presented to the House of Representatives today. âEnsuring the safety and security of New Zealanders is of the utmost ...
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has expressed condolences on behalf of New Zealand to the Kingdom of Tonga following the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Mele Siuâilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili. âNew Zealand sends itâs heartfelt condolences to the people of Tonga, and to His Majesty King Tupou VI at this time ...
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has expressed condolences on behalf of New Zealand to the Kingdom of Tonga following the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Mele Siuâilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili. âNew Zealand sends itâs heartfelt condolences to the people of Tonga, and to His Majesty King Tupou VI at this time ...
Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have today announced the extension of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) deployment to Solomon Islands, as part of the regionally-led Solomon Islands International Assistance Force (SIAF). âAotearoa New Zealand has a long history of working alongside the Royal Solomon ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will travel to the Republic of Korea today to attend the KoreaâPacific Leadersâ Summit in Seoul and Busan. âKorea is an important partner for Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific region. I am eager for the opportunity to meet and discuss issues that matter to our ...
Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien OâConnor joined ministerial representatives at a meeting in Detroit, USA today to announce substantial conclusion of negotiations of a new regional supply chains agreement among 14 Indo-Pacific countries. The Supply Chains agreement is one of four pillars being negotiated within the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework ...
Our most spoken Pacific language is taking centre stage this week with Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa â Samoa Language Week kicking off around the country. âUnderstanding and using the Samoan language across our nation is vital to its survival,â Barbara Edmonds said. âThe Samoan population in New Zealand are ...
Over 90 per cent of New Zealanders are expected to receive this yearâs nationwide test of the Emergency Mobile Alert system tonight between 6-7pm. âEmergency Mobile Alert is a tool that can alert people when their life, health, or property, is in danger,â Kieran McAnulty said. âThe annual nationwide test ...
ENGLISH: WhakatĆhea and the Crown sign Deed of Settlement A Deed of Settlement has been signed between WhakatĆhea and the Crown, 183 years to the day since WhakatĆhea rangatira signed the Treaty of Waitangi, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little has announced. WhakatĆhea is an iwi based in ...
Elizabeth Longworth has been appointed as the Chair of the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO, Associate Minister of Education Jo Luxton announced today. UNESCO is the United Nations agency responsible for promoting cooperative action among member states in the areas of education, science, culture, social science (including peace and ...
Tourism and hospitality employer accreditation scheme to recognise quality employers Better education and career opportunities in tourism Cultural competency to create more diverse and inclusive workplaces Innovation and technology acceleration to drive satisfying, skilled jobs Strengthening our tourism workers and supporting them into good career pathways, pay and working conditions ...
Tourism and hospitality employer accreditation scheme to recognise quality employers Better education and career opportunities in tourism Cultural competency to create more diverse and inclusive workplaces Innovation and technology acceleration to drive satisfying, skilled jobs Strengthening our tourism workers and supporting them into good career pathways, pay and working conditions ...
 Greater access to primary care, including 193 more front line clinical staff More hauora services and increased mental health support Boost for maternity and early years programmes Funding for cancers, HIV and longer term conditions  Greater access to primary care, improved maternity care and mental health support are ...
 Greater access to primary care, including 193 more front line clinical staff More hauora services and increased mental health support Boost for maternity and early years programmes Funding for cancers, HIV and longer term conditions  Greater access to primary care, improved maternity care and mental health support are ...
Actâs plan to cut red tape and regulation was not a snappy soundbite policy, but while party faithfuls may need to re-read the fine print on what David Seymour announced today, they left the annual conference feeling confident ahead of this yearâs election A sold-out party conference this year for Act left ...
Commenting on ACTâs âPolicing Red Tape and Regulationâ policy announcement, Taxpayersâ Union Campaigns Manager, Callum Purves, said: âRed tape and regulation are some of the biggest hand brakes on New Zealandâs prosperity. They make it more ...
Real Change Now, SkyCity Theatre, 4 June 2023 Introduction Thank you, and what a show! Is it too late to call it âACTâs got talent?â Itâs just as well, ACTâs talent is as real as the problems New Zealand faces. Simon Court is a civil engineer. ...
New Minister and Ministry of Regulation to police red tape and hold Ministers and departments accountable Regulatory Standards Bill to require regulation meets good lawmaking principles Strong enforcement mechanisms to police new and existing regulations ...
This proposed ministry would be given the powers to evaluate new regulatory proposals, review red tape and change laws to remove surplus regulation. ...
Over 600 people crammed into the SkyCity Theatre today to demand real change as ACT MPs and candidates outlined a fresh vision for New Zealand. âThe size of this crowd, and the enthusiasm they showed for ACTâs people and policies, shows that ...
Today, Te PÄti MÄori announce Takuta Ferris will contest the Te Tai Tonga seat at this yearâs General Election. âTakura ran for the Te Tai Tonga seat for Te PÄti MÄori in 2020. It takes tremendous courage and commitment to put your hand ...
Claire Mabey reviews Josie Shapiroâs debut novel Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts, winner of the inaugural Allen & Unwin Fiction Prize.The aggressive misogyny of the early 2000s is the skeezy world in which Josie Shapiroâs quietly magnetic character, Mickey Bloom, comes of age. As a reader of the ...
Jack Santa Barbara asks if we've created a 'doomsday machine' by bringing artificial intelligence to a growth economy Comment: If you have the sense the world is fraying at the edges and things are getting worse faster than they are getting better, you wouldnât be alone. Various scholars and organisations have ...
How political parties have influenced our desire to own our own homes, says Professor Sebastian KohlOpinion: In the late 20th Century, in most countries and even cities in the world, the majority of residents were homeowners. Some 20 years later that picture has shifted considerably, leading many to question whether ...
Bard Billot on the barbarian BrownLast one out, turn off the lights Some months had passed Since Alaric the Brown had stormed the gates Of the Mighty Cosmopolis of Auk, Burning and Thrashing and Laying Waste. Now Alaric wandered his vast estates As the passion and ...
If I moved through the world with pulsing red lines across my body, would that allow others to see the reality of my pain? The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Ned Wenlock.I sit on a grey plastic chair, ...
From body horror to beige homeware, Alex Casey counts all the ways The Kardashians makes for a joyless watch in 2023.Watch enough seasons of reality TV and you will start to see parallels with the real seasons. In summer, where anything feels possible and everyone is merrily bashing around ...
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says he did not forward councillors a string of abusive emails that called them "dip shits", saying they were sent by staff "in a fit of excitement". ...
By Tess Brunton, RNZ News reporter New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins faced a grilling by University of Otago students during his trip to Ćtepoti yesterday. Students, staff and community members have been fighting against the universityâs request for staff to consider redundancies in a bid to save $60 million. ...
RNZ Pacific Transparency International Papua New Guinea has welcomed the conviction of lawyer Paul Paraka as the police confirm they are widening the investigation into the fraud case. The NGO admits the depths of Parakaâs activities, revealed by the case, are very worrying. Paraka, who had operated his own eponymous ...
Government and the tech sector are considering principles for an AI strategy, but there seems little urgency from ministers and no sign of action before the election. ...
Government and the tech sector are considering principles for an AI strategy, but there seems little urgency from ministers and no sign of action before the election. ...
Susan Wardellâs first picture book is nominated in two categories at this yearâs New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults. She tells Claire Mabey about the genesis of the book, and what she thinks of the state of childrenâs publishing in Aotearoa. Claire Mabey: What was the inspiration ...
In June 1997, a new reality TV juggernaut arrived on New Zealand screens. Tara Ward and Alex Casey look back on a quarter-century of Treasure Island mayhem. Twenty-six years ago this month, we watched 12 fresh-faced New Zealanders arrive on a Fijian beach with nothing but their hopes and dreams ...
Love, Instagram, and a new bed, from a dazzling new short story collection Alice had wanted a heart-shaped bed since she was sixteen, which was when she had started wanting most of the things she wanted now. She had imagined she would meet some Lolita-loving, Sugar Daddy type who ...
Governments around the world are searching for how to fix housing affordability, but the solutions will have to be local and community based, writes Nicole Gurran of the University of SydneyOpinion: From Sydney to San Francisco, the housing affordability crisis is affecting communities across the world. Younger generations priced out of ...
A lack of female football stars in the media didn't stop Claudia Bunge on her journey to the top; now the Football Fern hopes a new campaign helps girls see what they can become The first time Claudia Bunge watched a womenâs football game, it featured some of the Football Ferns she now ...
Councillors still weighing up their options before next weekâs budget vote say there has been insufficient information, communication and time to assess the consequences of a full selldown of airport shares Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is famous for his straight to the bone style of communication, but Thursdayâs budget announcement ...
Every day, pets are being removed from domestic violence situations around the country. Alex Casey talks to one of the workers on the front line. This story contains discussion of domestic violence and emotional abuse, please take care.Alice Hayward has never been busier. As a caseworker for Pet Refuge, ...
As the country contends with a cost-of-living permacrisis and an election year, is it too much to ask that our politicians donât spend a week playing petty games?It would be fitting to reflect on this week in politics by simply dropping this gif and, as with Succession itself, calling ...
As part of a weekly showcase of future leaders and inspirational young New Zealanders from the Hyundai Pinnacle Programme, Jennifer Palmer wants to know how we can treat neurodegenerative diseases more effectively | Content Partnership When Jennifer Palmer was growing up, her nickname was Chatterbox. âIâd always be saying, âWhy? ...
This is The Detail's Long Read â one in-depth story read by us every weekend. This week, we're diving into the back catalogues. It's The Preppers Next Door by Tom Doig, published in New Zealand Geographic magazine's November/December 2022 issue. You can read the full article, with accompanying photos by Cameron James McLaren, here. When Tom Doig ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author-poet and advocate for West Papuan independence has condemned a reported threat against the life of a New Zealand hostage pilot, Philip Mehrtens, held by Papuan liberation fighters and appealed to them to âkeep Philip safeâ. Jim Aubrey, a human rights activist who has campaigned ...
RNZ Pacific Members of Fijian communities in Auckland and Wellington are eager to meet Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka next week when he arrives on his first official state visit to Aotearoa New Zealand. Rabuka and wife Sulueti are expected to arrive in Auckland on Monday before meeting with the local ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has told a regional security forum that dialogue is a vital âguardrailâ in dealing with China, and praised US President Joe Bidenâs effort to establish âreliable and openâ US-China channels of ...
Flood-ravaged West Aucklanders are rejoicing after the government announced it will offer buyout options to people whose land is too risky to rebuild on. ...
Wayne Brown has sent councillors copies of insulting emails from the public, including one that called them "dip shits", while the deputy mayor says the mayor is not making the budget process easier. ...
The National Party wildly underestimated how popular its leader would be when he visited New Plymouth on Friday and had to turn people away at the door. Political editor Jo Moir found a patch of wall to lean against as Christopher Luxon got all sorts of questions and advice, not ...
By Repeka Nasiko in Lautoka The University of the South Pacific will be receiving additional funding from the Fiji government in the 2023-2024 national budget, says Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad. Speaking at a public consultation in Lautoka this week, he said the additional funding ...
By Gorethy Kenneth in Port Moresby The National Court has ordered the Papua New Guinea government to disclose the full details of the gold refinery deal it entered into with a Singapore-based company, National Gold Corporation. The court ordered Prime Minister James Marape (first defendant), Planning Minister Renbo Paita (second ...
Asia Pacific Report A new edition of the Okinawan Journal of Island Studies features social justice island activism, including a case study of Aotearoa New Zealandâs Pacific Media Centre, in what the editors say brings a sense of âurgencyâ in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion in scholarship. In ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Preliminary findings of a yet-to-be released Transparency International survey has found sextortion â demanding sexual favours in return for public services â is a major issue in parts of the Pacific. Papua New Guinea, the Federated States of Micronesia and Solomon Islands have higher ...
RNZ News New Zealandâs Media Freedom Council has called Auckland Mayor Wayne Brownâs exclusion of some media outlets from his budget speech today âunacceptableâ. In an appearance at Auckland Transportâs Viaduct headquarters, Brown took time out of pitching his plan to sell the cityâs holdings in Auckland Airport to complain ...
There are parallels between Indonesiaâs Aceh where anAustralian surfer faced a flogging, and West Papua where a New Zealand pilot may be facing death. Both provinces have fought brutalguerrilla wars for independence. One has been settled through foreign peacekeepers. The other still rages as outsiders fear intervention.By Duncan ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tina Hinton, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, University of Sydney Shutterstock The latest health trend on TikTok has been dubbed ânatureâs own Ozempicâ. Itâs the herbal preparation berberine. Influencers have been enthusiastically claiming its success in helping them lose weight, ...
The Government has announced new regulations to ensure venues and gambling societies uphold their responsibilities to prevent problem gambling and gambling harm. These regulations will apply to pubs, clubs and TAB NZ venues and will come into effect ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dean Aszkielowicz, Lecturer, Murdoch University On Thursday, Justice Anthony Besanko of the Federal Court dismissed defamation proceedings brought by former Special Air Service soldier Ben Roberts-Smith against several Australian news outlets. The court found that reporting by Nick McKenzie, Chris Masters ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Toby Walsh, Professor of AI, Research Group Leader, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock The world missed the boat with social media. It fuelled misinformation, fake news, and polarisation. We saw the harms too late, once they had already started to have a ...
The parliamentary petition calling for a national food strategy launched on the 1st of June and will remain open for signatures for eight weeks. The call is led by Eat New Zealand, Freedom Farms and Veterinarians for Animal Welfare Aotearoa (VAWA). ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock While plants canât walk, they can certainly travel. Some species have travelled vast distances over millennia, moving by different and varied modes. Some ...
Duncan Greive is joined by The Spinoff staff writer Shanti Mathias and The Bulletin editor Anna Rawhiti-Connell to discuss the Safer Online Services and Media Platforms document, and its implications for the future of digital media. For a very special episode of The Fold, Duncan Greive analyses the Safer Online ...
Yes, theyâre phenomenally expensive at the moment. But if you manage to track down a bargain or are keen on a splurge, thereâs plenty of ways to make the kĆ«mara worth it. As a child, there was no doubt in my mind: kĆ«mara was the worldâs best vegetable. This belief ...
Yes, theyâre phenomenally expensive at the moment. But if you manage to track down a bargain or are keen on a splurge, thereâs plenty of ways to make the kĆ«mara worth it. As a child, there was no doubt in my mind: kĆ«mara was the worldâs best vegetable. This belief ...
Wayne Brown called most of his councillors âfinancially illiterateâ during a press conference yesterday morning. He then went back to the office and sent them emails from constituents who called them âdip shitsâ.Auckland mayor Wayne Brown spent a good portion of Thursday morning berating his councillors. In a 9.30am press ...
Wayne Brown called most of his councillors âfinancially illiterateâ during a press conference yesterday morning. He then went back to the office and sent them emails from constituents who called them âdip shitsâ.Auckland mayor Wayne Brown spent a good portion of Thursday morning berating his councillors. In an 8.30am press ...
Budget 2023âs promise of significant additional ECE funding has the potential to help many centres avoid financial unviability and hardship, as long as the current 20-hours conditions are kept, prompting the Early Childhood Council to withdraw its ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Booksâ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (Chatto & Windus, $37)Letâs get quizzical: ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Booksâ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (Chatto & Windus, $37)Letâs get quizzical: ...
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care is being challenged in court by two of the institutions it is investigating Two churches have filed applications for a judicial review of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, arguing that they don't bear responsibility for care of ...
* This is an excerpt from Rec Room. Sign up for regular Friday dispatches here. Itâs a long weekend for most, so you might be keen to try out some new shows. Whatever you do, donât start with HBOâs Succession successor The Idol (Neon). Billed as an over-sexed journey into ...
* This is an excerpt from Rec Room. Sign up for regular Friday dispatches here. Itâs a long weekend for most, so you might be keen to try out some new shows. Whatever you do, donât start with HBOâs Succession successor The Idol (Neon). Billed as an over-sexed journey into ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Geoffrey Browne, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Melbourne School of Design, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock When a driver and a pedestrian approach a T-intersection, who has to give way? In newly published research we tested over 1,000 road usersâ knowledge ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicholas Khoo, Associate Professor of International Politics, University of Otago Getty Images Russiaâs war with Ukraine is now at a critical turning point. The relentless missile and drone strikes on the capital Kyiv may look like a sign of strength, ...
New Zealand scored highest in a recent global survey on protection against discrimination of transgender people, but for some, that sentiment did not extend to access to single-sex facilities. The latest global survey from Ipsos â the LGBT+ Pride 2023 survey â shows that 84% of New Zealanders believe transgender ...
New Zealand scored highest in a recent global survey on protection against discrimination of transgender people, but for some, that sentiment did not extend to access to single-sex facilities. The latest global survey from Ipsos â the LGBT+ Pride 2023 survey â shows that 84% of New Zealanders believe transgender ...
New Zealand Politics Daily is a collation of the most prominent issues being discussed in New Zealand. It is edited by Dr Bryce Edwards of The Democracy Project. Today’s contentMEDIA REGULATION AND CODE OF CONDUCT, BROADCASTING Glenn McConnell (Post): ‘The cost will be everyday Kiwis’: New media regulation concerns civil society (paywalled) ...
With at least four local actors in front of camera and two comedy vets behind the scenes, shouldnât it be âThe Office Australasiaâ? Itâs The Office, with a twist. âWe figured the world is ready for a loveable, flawed, lady bossâ, said BBC Studios ANZ general manager Kylie Washington. Indeed, ...
New Zealandâs trade deficit narrowed to $3.2 billion dollars in the March 2023 quarter, compared with $3.9 billion in the March 2022 quarter, according to data released by Stats NZ today. The main contributor to the narrowing of the deficit ...
Amazonâs top-selling digital reading device now offers much more than just books on a screen. But is that a good thing? All day, I think about words. From the moment I open my laptop, I tap away at my keyboard, turning letters into words, words into sentences and sentences into ...
The seat is the first on the general roll contested by Te PÄti MÄori this election, with Skipworth shifting her attention there after Meka Whaitiri defected to the party. ...
Climate Justice Taranaki criticises the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)âs proposals to enable vast expansion of renewable energy generation and transmission by removing policy barriers. âThe proposed national policy statements ...
Today, President of Te PÄti MÄori, John Tamihere has confirmed that Heather Te-Au Skipworth will stand for Te PÄti MÄori in the Tukituki electorate this election. Heather Te-Au Skipworth was previously confirmed as the candidate for the Ikaroa-Rawhiti ...
I thought of Gosman this morning as I was watching the latest Keiser report. Here you go cowboy hat boy. Some education: http://rt.com/programs/keiser-report/episode-225-max-keiser/
I always enjoy it on youtube đ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si8maUWB2ys&feature=g-u&context=G24c3fc7FUAAAAAAABAA
Yeah, me too but when I posted it it had not been put on youtube yet. LOL.
This made me think of Gosman too
“But capitalism without the prospect of failure is not any kind of market economy. We are running a large-scale, nontransparent, and dangerous government subsidy scheme for the benefit primarily of a very few, extremely wealthy people….
We should learn from both the WaMu and the Occupy movement. In both cases, the lesson is the same: concentrated financial power is a gift that keeps on giving â but not to you.”
Simon Johnson, a former chief economist of the IMF – thinks we should learn from #occupy, hmmm stalled huh.
http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/johnson27/English
Where have I ever argued that the responses to the financial crisis is the correct one. In fact I believe I have stated numerous times that Governments should NOT bail out corporations and/or banks. They should be left to fail. Of course that would mean more short term pain for people especially those on the bottom of the heap but it would be for the benefit of the economy as a whole in the long term. Capitalism requires business failures. It is politics that stops this from taking it’s natural course.
Your lack of concern and empathy for other people is beyond my comprehension…
Can you explain to us why it should be the people “on the bottom of the heap” who should suffer the consequences of extreme capitalism?
That’s like saying that it was ok for Stalin to murder 30 million of his fellow contrymen/women, “for the benefit of the [socialist] economy as a whole in the long term.”
In other words, the end justifies the means?
Ah Frank, I’m not sure I should bother answering your questions because if you were interested in getting to read different opinions from your own narrow view you would allow them on your own blog.
I will humour you a little by asking you a couple of questions though. What was the purpose of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and who did these organisations ultimately benefit?
Interesting how you deflect other peoples’ questions – and then have the cheek to demand answers to yours.
You mean, apart from the 193 posts you’ve made on my Blog, Gosman?
Or the article I reposted from Brian Edward’s blog (by permission), written by Kimbo – a staunch critic of Labour? http://fmacskasy.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/lessons-from-the-past-a-critique-of-labour/
Yeah… not many, if any, eh?
Now, getting back to what I wrote above, and which you might care to address,
. â
Your lack of concern and empathy for other people is beyond my comprehensionâŠ
Can you explain to us why it should be the people âon the bottom of the heapâ who should suffer the consequences of extreme capitalism?
Thatâs like saying that it was ok for Stalin to murder 30 million of his fellow contrymen/women, âfor the benefit of the [socialist] economy as a whole in the long term.â
In other words, the end justifies the means?
Top marks Gos, I agree, let the bastards go to the wall. Lets face it if it were the rest of us we would be dropped from a great height.
Now, starter for 10…putting one and one together “It is politics that stops this” so the politicians are in the pay of the:
a. Banksters
b. Banksters mates
c. They are the banksters.
No the problem is that the Bankers have convinced the politicians that if they go to the wall the economy will be irretrievably harmed. While not true it is true that there is a risk of a serious economic downturn such as the great depression if the banking system freezes up, This tends to harm both rich and poor but as the poor have less cushion protecting them they obviously suffer more. This is the reason that bankers can hold a political gun against the heads of Government to protect them from going bust. Now I agree if they use that argument then they don’t have a stong argument for less Government interference in their business. That is why I think they should be left to fail.
Too big too fail = too big to exist.
Break the big banks up, nationalise the core infrastructure parts, segregate the casino investment banking divisions, return the power of printing money to the Crown; these steps will ensure that the financial terrorists cannot hold our country to ransom.
Gooseman your blind faith to your ideology shows how little you know about economics the great depression that went on for twenty years in the USA was caused by letting banks fail the best solution research has shown is to nationalize banks and let them return to profit using printed money to free up capital flow.
Nowhere in the world has your theory worked.
Air New Zealand is a perfect example of how it is done.
New Zealand nationalized banks in the 1930s under labour brought them back to profitability and our economy only suffered a 5 year depression.
Lucky we didn’t have your lot in power then.
You’ve made the mistake of thinking that the current banking crisis is a crisis of liquidity (hence your solution of freeing up cash flows in the banking sector).
Its not. Its a crisis of solvency. Almost every major investment bank out there, from JP Morgan to BNP Paribas to Deutschebank would be bankrupt tonight if they were to forced to mark their assets to market prices, and to bring their hidden off balance sheet liabilities on to the balance sheet.
In a situation like this, printing money cannot help.
You do realise that RT is the equivalent of Fox news for leftist conspiacy theorists don’t you? Oh wait… that is why you watch it.
Yep, MF Global’s bankruptcy is a left wing conspiracy theory!
As for Goldman Sac’s involvement in Europe..
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/what-price-the-new-democracy-goldman-sachs-conquers-europe-6264091.html
Hmmm, Russia is an oligarchy run by ex KGB kleptocrats who have seized the assets of the former state and privatised them. They own Chelsea FC….and a whole lot of other private ventures around the world, privately, as in private property…….these guys control RT……very leftist I must say.
‘
“Surreal”
The word that John Banks used yesterday to describe his return to the House of Representatives.
Indeed.
The leader of a party who a few months ago he wasn’t even a member of.
Appointed to his position by another person who also at the time of his selection was also not a member.
What other one word descriptions could describe this farcical anointment?
(Representative wouldn’t be one of them).
Surreal will be an accurate depiction of his tenure this time around…..wonder if he’ll last the term.
Replacing Banks with the Nat candidate for Epsom (as would surely be the result from a by-election) would put their charter schools policy into a curious position.
Corporate takeover of a political party?
So surreal is now a synonym for ‘crooked’?
When will the SFO finally look at him and Orewa Slur daddy?
yes please
Some more balanced reporting on RNZ this morning over the akl wharf strike, interviewing Barnett of akl chamber of commerce ……..no other side, just Barnett who’s quite frankly a whining born to rule tosser offering no insight into the actual issues the strike is about.
Why not get the unions and members view they are after all the ones losing the most here.
Yep one of the Standard authors should do a post to dispel Cactus Kate’s spin on the issue.
Yep. I don’t think many right wingers would be happy if their job required them to be on call for 365 days of the year at 8 hours notice, the employer telling you at random, if you could have a weekend with your family, or not . With only 40 hours of each week paid for!
Basically POAL want the whole workforce to be always on call without paying for them to be standing by ready to work. Like Mcd’s with their expecting you to be available at 12 hours or less notice, but they only guarantee 12 hours per week to their “full time” staff.
Show me where to sign. I’ll take it at that pay, or even less to have such a job.
All the extra hours and double shifts to get the published pay. I doubt it.
Never ceases to amaze me that here in the private sector we club together for discounts as buying groups, we use restrictive practices (legal and “dubious”) to ensure that we have advantageous terms of trade, and we negotiate from a position of strength. Sounds like what Unions do, they are merely following good commercial practices to get the best price and to restrict competition.
Its also what those other great Unions do, the Chartered Accountant, the Law Society, Colleges of Surgeons etc etc
They had the Union on yesterday along with the Employer.
lol – and the union or one of its allies by itself at any time?
Govt’s consultants’ bill $375m and rising
Consultants were paid as much as $275 an hour or $2500 a day, according to figures released by 31 government departments and agencies under the Official Information Act.
Some departments are increasing spending on consultants while getting rid of workers who, across all the departments involved, make an average of $33 an hour based on a 40-hour week.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10774433
Thats so they can save $375 million on many more public servants
So every person to a tee in Christchurch is appalled at the back-dated 14% pay rise given to the Council’s CEO (making 45% rise in 4 years) and all bloody Brownlee can do is say “button up Councillors and get in behind your mayor or some of you will get the sack”.
What planet is this ape on?
It is identical to his uniteral increase of the pay rates to the CERA overlords like Jenny Shipley some months ago.
Brownlee also claims that “people don’t know everything that’s going on” and should just shut up.
These events show that Brownlee has lost touch. Or perhaps that the power of his office is going to his head. Just remember that Brownlee – it is the office and not you which has the power.
I don’t like this statement re: what it implies.
No VTO,
He’s no lost touch. He was given this power until April 2012 and if you think he won’t use and abuse it you’re the one out of touch. This is were we are now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7IvLEpjPmc
Just what are the police (or journalists) implying?
First, cell phones, now the bible – careful people what you have on the front seat
of your car.
“Devoted Christian had Bible with him in fatal crash…”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10774493
More on those lazy stalled occupiers, Occupy LSX takes it’s 4th space, an old court, where they’ll put the 1% on trial, here are pictures..
http://www.demotix.com/news/975833/occupy-london-squat-old-street-magistrates-court
Even the apologist for National, Herald, now, admits they stuffed around with the Rena salvage for at least 4 days.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10772196
Yep just as you said at the time. I guess just before Christmas is the right time to release this kind of news.
Just before christmas and just after the election.
Funny that, we have just had a major change in how we are expected to operate, all done without proper consultation, all released in the holiday season – over half of those affected won’t have a clue till mid-January.
Yesterday, Maritime NZ reported another oil spill from Rena.
Rena update (update 136)
Just a couple of days after the ban on collecting Shellfish was lifted. There will be no MSM reporting on this because the all important tourist dollar has to be protected.
… too concerned about their tickets for the the Rugby World Cup I suspect. Weather was fine, see was calm, “not a problem, we’ll discuss it next week during the celebrations.”
Speaking of MSM not reporting on things… even after it was known 500 people had died in the Philippines flooding, none of the main television news services reported on this event. It wasn’t until yesterday when 652 people were confirmed to have died that Prime News finally reported on the flooding. In my opinion that’s three days after they should have. What are they afraid of I wonder… that people might start waking up to the effects of climate change?
More incompetence from this government and Auckland ratepayers get to pick up the bill.
It obviously wasn’t enough that they massively increased the costs of Auckland Council through the super-city implementation incompetence.
This is an interesting way to balance the books. Lets just make someone else pay for it because we are incapable of handling the budget.
Give your thoughts on the Food Bill to the Greens.
http://blog.greens.org.nz/2011/12/21/mojo-and-steffan-lead-green-response-to-food-bill/
Late breaking shock
Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae has just delivered the Speech
which was the 2008 speech
The National-lead Government is promising to spend its second term building a more competitive economy, reducing debt, creating jobs and lifting incomes
I dont know how that happened says Key.
Tolley has been asked to check why.
Inside comment is that there are so few Public Servant, nobody checked.
No mention in the Speech from the Throne about policy for seniors.
Â
I guess they’re ignoring them because they are all “dying out” đ
We are a nation of sheep.
After the Governor General’s delivery, he departed with ceremony and the elected members slowly filed back into the chamber. As they made their way back, they were greeted by a kapa haka group. Most continued on their way to take up their seats and then the cameras went back outside to the procession. One member must have decided to move over to meet and hongi with the group. And so the procession began – every subsequent elected member went over to meet-and-greet. (Nice touch?)
No, could’nt be…Shonkers was off in a hurry to delivery Christmas presents (little blond barbie dolls dressed in blue rosettes) to disadvantaged children in some Close in South Auckland. There was a bevvy of photographers in to, and a TV film crew.
hah this is fun.
hooton and his crew of sausage roll molesters instituted the permanent campaign.
so now I’m glad there is something to do all summer.
better than the cricket.
tee he.
Bryce Edwards gives an area-by-area analysis of how Labour lost the party vote in Dunedin South.
Graeme Edgeler says the possibility of Bennett losing her seat and getting kicked out of Parliament is pretty slim, but surely given the stakes Labour needs to take the punt:
http://publicaddress.net/legalbeagle/paulas-peril-or-the-uncertain-scenario/
It’s a fair bit of money though. I’d love to see Bennett turfed out as much as anyone, but it is a lot to punt.
Yes, but it’s a matter of priorities: what’s more important? Stopping asset sales, or $30k? I think raising that amount wouldn’t be difficult in the circumstances. A decision just needs to be made now to go for it, then everyone gets cracking. Even if the odds, according some commentators, are low, we have to do it: the basis is to stop asset sales. This is what makes the situation different, exceptional.
And makes Labour look like sore losers trying any trick in the book to overthrow the will of the people.
Good move.
You call an electoral petition a “trick in the book”? It’s a legitimate means available under the law. So someone legitimately exercising rights of appeal under the law somehow means they’re “sore losers” or up to “tricks”? Legal avenues like an electoral petition are there for a reason. The logical extension of what you’re saying is that the electoral petition provision, while we have there, it should never be used because parties shouldn’t look like “sore losers” or get up to “tricks”. Get real.
This is interesting. Slater’s hoping Winston Peters dies. Why is he so nasty? He’s getting to be as nasty as Odgers.
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2011/12/face-of-the-day-41/
why would you read either of their blogs?
Ask an anarchist why they read white supremacist literature. Ask Odgers why she reads The Standard. (I have to say though that lately it’s been just brief glances and it’s getting harder and harder even doing that.)
Well, kudos to you for resisting the urge to soak your eyeballs in acid after reading such things.
drongo Could be dierbeaties
Sad.
I could put up a picture of a drongo with anything I like in the background, but not here of course.
That would get me banned, yet others can do lies with pictures drongo
[lprent: Noone apart from authors can add pictures (or video now I fixed the bug) into the site. So you are suggesting something that you cannot do will get you banned? I realize you might be a bit challenged… But that?
Links to other sites don’t worry the mods – but we don’t like pure link-whoring. Our view is that you can pay for advertisements. So you have to write some origional content to accompany the link. Writing an articulate sentence explaining why people would want to clip the link!. Ummm ok now I can understand your problem… ]
Yep, definitely stalled. #D17
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1p-w8BtzPg
What happened to my reply? I can’t be arsed typing it all again..
Anyone notice that Pete George didnt post on this thread?
[lprent: You cannot draw conclusions from such occurrances and even pointing it out will sometimes earn moderator warnings. Quite simply most people do not spend their lives online. Expecting people to be present all of the time is unreasonable (even moderators). It is often a start of the pwned (and variants) idiocy which leads to flamewars that are irritating to most readers – especially to moderators. ]
On the thread Farewell NZ Institute we got a bit sidetracked by the reference to USA President Barack Obama. While trawling for some of my family information I came upon his family background. And for those interested in all the furore of whether he is a USA citizen etc here it is as detailed by William Addams Reitwiesner. link http://www.wargs.com/political/obama.html
Ancestry of Barack Obama
1 Barack Hussein Obama II, U.S. Senator from Illinois, U.S. President from 2009, b. Kapiolani Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, 4 Aug. 1961,
m. at Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, 3 Oct. 1992
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, b. Chicago 17 Jan. 1964, dau. of Frasier Robinson and of Marian Shields. Further details of her ancestry can be found here.
PARENTS
2 Barack Hussein Obama, Ph. D., b. Alego, Kenya [on the shores of Lake Victoria], … 1936, senior economist in the Kenyan Ministry of Finance, d. Nairobi, Kenya, … 1982, bur. Alego m. Maui, Hawaii, 2 Feb. 1961, div. filed Honolulu, Hawaii Jan. 1964
3 S[tanley] Ann Dunham, b. Wichita, Kansas, 29 Nov. 1942, d. Straub Clinic, Honolulu, Hawaii, 7 Nov. 1995 [SSDI 535-40-8522]
OPEN LETTER: [deleted]
[lprent: all very interesting. However it was a full cut and paste. And it wasn’t even up on Penny’s own site. Perhaps she should put it there and link to it from here with a teaser – like everyone else does. ]