As someone who has lived in the region for 35 plus years, be assured it will be the 50.92% (Nat) and 10.98% (ACT) who will be doing 90% of the screaming and hollering.
TBH, I doubt it.
My understanding is that the majority of the work was emplacement of bus and cycle lanes on Lake Rd. I'd expect these to be more highly valued by the GP voters.
We have no bus lanes except a side lane at Belmont one way. If we had them we would have no car lanes. Don't know what they're planning to do. Remove the cycle lanes perhaps which are not used by many cyclists because it is too dangerous on that particular road.
The downside of this is, as we've seen everywhere else in Auckland, this increases travel time for single-occupancy vehicles (in the medium term) as well as making every commuter's life a misery with roadworks (in the short term).
I seriously doubt that the majority of Natioal-voting Devonport residents either use, or would plan to use a bus. And that the majority of them are single-occupancy vehicle users.
"be assured it will be the Nat and ACT who will be doing 90% of the screaming and hollering." Wait until the banning cells from school kids gets implemented later this year, they'll be "yes ban phones from schools, but don't dare my kids phone!".
I don't know what got into Ginny Anderson yesterday on NewsTalk ZB with Mark Mitchell and Hosking. I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing. On Newstalk ZB Week on Demand at 8.15 yesterday for the discussion.
She accused Mitchell, in his previous role as a security contractor, of having been paid to kill people, and asked him if he had kept a tally. Hipkins also disagreed with the comments and, as a result she has apologised. Personally I think the apology should be public rather than a text as it has at the moment, given the comment was public.
It isn't the first time Anderson has apologised for her (alleged) behaviour. So, perhaps it might be good for her to put her brain into gear before she opens her mouth.
Very little according ti former Labour Leader David Shearer who actually does know a great deal about the topic.
He says "It was during that work he interacted with many companies akin to Mitchell’s and said Andersen’s recent claim that the current Police Minister was “paid to kill people” is not a fair description of the work those companies do.
“I think that’s over the top and pretty divorced from reality, it would be better if she had sat down and had a chat with Mark and understood exactly how it works."
David Shearer would seem to be saying that the term "private military" would be a little misleading. He is proposing, at least as I read it, that they don't really behave like a military force but rather closer to the armed police that we see at New Zealand airports.
Let's assume for a minute that TMG does both police like security and grey area military work. Do you really think they're going to be upfront and honest about the grey area military work?
Shearer is obviously grateful for the security work that was done when he was in those countries. Equally obvious is that the security is needed. Neither of those preclude those companies also being involved in morally ambiguous work or outright unethical work. It seems unlikely that Shearer would have been exposed to that.
Shearer telling Andersen to talk with Mitchell is a nonsense. Let’s be generous and say it’s naive. If Mitchell started and ran a company that also does private military work, and he’s already been running PR lines on that, do you really think he’s going to tell Andersen?
"Let's assume for a minute that TMG does both police like security and grey area military work"
But, in the light of what Shearer says why should we assume that at all. There doesn't seem to be any evidence that they were involved in the "grey area" work you are talking about. Certainly Shearer, who was there doesn't seem to think they were. He says
“Given what I think Mark’s company was doing, it was pretty much what I would call a run-of-the-mill security company.
“It would have been doing passive security operations that basically entailed securing goods, compounds, embassies from attack and the only time they would have used their weapons would have been if they came under attack themselves.”
What evidence do we have that they were doing what people here are accusing them of? What evidence is there that that was the case?
Can I suggest the looking up of the definition of mercenary soldier..?
That may help in clarifying your view of what mitchell is/was…
And back in the mists of time there is an interview of mitchell by wallace chapman…where the subject of killing while a mercenary was raised..(sorry..no idea of link..)
My memory there is that mitchell gave a nude/nudge/wink/wink non-answer..
One that left me forever viewing him as mark 'the mercenary' mitchell.
“I say, therefore, that the arms with which a prince defends his state are either his own, or they are mercenaries, auxiliaries, or mixed. Mercenaries and auxiliaries are useless and dangerous; and if one holds his state based on these arms, he will stand neither firm nor safe; for they are disunited, ambitious and without discipline, unfaithful, valiant before friends, cowardly before enemies; they have neither the fear of God nor fidelity to men, and destruction is deferred only so long as the attack is; for in peace one is robbed by them, and in war by the enemy. The fact is, they have no other attraction or reason for keeping the field than a trifle of stipend, which is not sufficient to make them willing to die for you. They are ready enough to be your soldiers whilst you do not make war, but if war comes they take themselves off or run from the foe; which I should have little trouble to prove, for the ruin of Italy has been caused by nothing else than by resting all her hopes for many years on mercenaries, and although they formerly made some display and appeared valiant amongst themselves, yet when the foreigners came they showed what they were.”
And the Roman Empire itself ultimately degenerated and dissolved because of (among other things) an increasingly mercenary attitude on the part of the Emperor's Praetorian Guard – they supported whoever was going to reward them the most.
Mr Mitchell was a sell sword in a dirty war, as a mercenary he deserves no quarter. The arms industry and associated corporations made billions on the back of unjustified misery. Money that should have been spent on the US and other nations taxpayers that funded the shit show.
Mitchell hounded Andersen in Parliament and he deserves a good slap down. Mark Mitchell scammed his way into electorate selection originally if you read Nicky Hager’s “Dirty Politics”. He talks tough like a lot of politicians but I’d like to see him try and take patches off gang members–that will be a fight (possibly a war) they won’t easily win.
As Hipkins said in her defence, he is often provocative. And of course there is an element of truth in what she said.
I guess you could claim an "element of truth'' in the same way it could be claimed that the police or armed forces may end up killing people in the performance of their duties, and hence are "paid to kill''. That is not the same as being paid specifically to do that though. Nor is it something they generally seek to do, if it can be otherwise avoided.
Tiger and Phillip, I think you need to provide evidence to support your replies, otherwise you are just as bad as Anderson:
Mitchell went to Iraq in 2003 to work for British kidnap and ransom risk-management company Control Risks, providing security to officials of the Coalition Provisional Authority government.[3] He and his men were besieged in the Italian-run An Nasiriyah compound in southern Iraq by the Mahdi militia for five days in 2004.
So, the only mention of active conflict he was involved in was self-defence in a siege scenario. What was he supposed to do in that situation? Just stand back and let the attackers come in and kill everyone?
No..I am not 'speculating'..I am respecting the accepted meaning of the word mercenary..in this context..and I am repeating what I heard when mitchell was interviewed by wallace chapman…it is mitchell's own words I am using…
Whereas you are giving us a bunch of your 'reckons'..and the sparse wikipedia profile of mitchell..
If wanting to disprove my recollections..you could email wallace chapman and ask him his recollections of that interview..and also if it is still able to be heard..?
I was thinking about this in relation to my post about the upset residents of Devonport not getting their Lake road upgrades. In all the conversations on RNZ, the head of the local business association was not once asked a simple question – "The North Shore voted heavily for National at the election. Getting rid of the RFT was a National party policy. Do you think people are just getting what they voted for?" A provocative but necessary question IMHO. Same with Mark Mitchell. They guy was a hired gun. Did he not think his decisions might lead to some people to question him?
We seem to have a political class where questions about the negative consequences of their personal decisions are akin to asking the vicar about God at afternoon tea. One simply doesn’t do it in polite society. These people believe they are never accountable – accountability is for the lesser sorts. It is a class based arrogance that is riddled through our elite political discourse.
They moaned like hell when the cycle lanes were put in on Lake Road, but they are not wide enough for an extra lane. To widen much of Lake Road you have to bulldoze a lot of very valuable real estate. There are certainly places where you can tinker, but that just moves the problem up a bit to the next area of congestion around the motorway approaches.
I note that Mitchell doesn't deny what she alleges. I don't know why he can't just be honest that his work included killing people.
I just wish Anderson been more prepared to explain what mercenaries do in language that sounded credible. And to explain clearly what Mitchell's company was and did. Then it wouldn't have sounded like a personal attack.
… as a result she has apologised.
according to your link, she apologised for going to too far, she didn't apologise for what she said.
Weka, as I pointed out above, the only Wiki mention of him being in actual conflict that could have incurred deaths was a self-defence situation. I expect that if you, I, or any of our politicians, including Anderson, were in that compound, we would be very greatful of having people such as that there to defend us.
According to Mitchell, in his interview with HDPA, later in the day. He admits being invovled that self-defence scenario, but has no idea if the bullets he fired actually resulted in deaths on the otherside. I guess when there are lots of bullets flying around, it would be very hard to determine the outcome of specific bullets fired.
As a self declared mercenary he was there to kill.No questions asked.He was paid to execute that service.Whether he killed or not makes no difference.He was a hit man waiting for a job .
As a self declared mercenary he was there to kill.No questions asked.
Francesca, I think that statement is bordering on defamatory. You need to back that statement up with evidence. I agree that a possible consequence of him being there was that he might be required to exert lethal force, the same as with the police or armed forces. But, to claim that was his specific purpose goes far beyond that.
He fired bullets at people and was paid to do so?
Again, a possible outcome of him being there. But as far as I can see, not the express purpose. If he was in the army in the same circumstances, would you have a problem with the actions in those specific circumstances? If not, then I don't see any grounds for complaint.
Did Mitchell operate in wars that New Zealand was officially involved in, or was he up for any conflict that might be an earner for him?
If he had the blessings and support of the New Zealand Government and the people of New Zealand, then, perhaps, but if he was just freewheeling' across the globe, as a gun for hire, nah.
I agree about the self-declared mercenary bit, that needs a back up, because Mitchell is on record as saying he doesn't like the term 😉
But he founded a company that provides private sercurity services in war zones. Mercenary might not be technically the right term, but I think it's stretching credibility to suggest that a company like Threat Management Group is doing 'security' only and is not using private military contractors to do other kinds of work.
Typically, the US military has relied on American PSCs for armed guards such as Triple Canopy, MPRI,
Threat Management Group, Sabre International Security, EOD Technology, Blue Hackle, and Special
Operations Consulting – Security Management Group (SOC-SMG), but it also employs British, regional
and local firms such as Aegis Defense Services, ArmorGroup, Olive Group, Hart Group, Safenet Security
and Falcon Group.
The expansion of security contracting by the US military has been supported by the decision of the US
government to officially endorse the use of ‘deadly force’ by US security contractors in 2006.66
The fully
amended DFARS (2009) rule applicable today reads: ‘Contractor personnel performing security
functions are also authorized to use deadly force when such force reasonably appears necessary to
execute their security mission to protect assets/persons, consistent with the terms and conditions
contained in their contract or with their job description and terms of employment.’
Much of that relies on the definition of security. I see no reason to trust Mitchell on this, as outlined in my earlier comment about his PR skills and approach.
As far as I'm concerned a cigarette paper could be slid between a private military security contractor and a mercenary
Both private military contractors (PMC) and mercenaries work for money. Mercenaries are individual soldiers who can be hired by whoever pays them while PMCs recruit these people in an organisation.
I don't find private military companies particularly tasteful either tbh.
But I think the blame for their existence needs to be laid equally at the feet of Western governments who don't want to be seen to be directly involved in various scenarios around the world.
But there is a difference between that and accusing someone of essentially running around enjoying killing people as Anderson seemed to be implying when she asserted that Mitchell was a killer and enquired if he kept a tally of his kills, implying that it was something he was proud of doing.
But I think the blame for their existence needs to be laid equally at the feet of Western governments who don't want to be seen to be directly involved in various scenarios around the world.
sure. But the issue here isn't that some dude ran a PSC, it's that he then entered parliament bringing those values with him, and held a number of Ministerial positions including Defence and Police. It's entirely reasonable to look at his background, ask questions and hold him to account.
Andersen didn't imply he liked killing people, she said he made money from it.
“But the issue here isn’t that some dude ran a PSC, it’s that he then entered parliament bringing those values with him, and held a number of Ministerial positions including Defence and Police.”
I guess that would depend on the motivations for running such an organisation. If the motivation was to help with humanitarian assistance (as Mitchell claims) in areas where civilian workers are at risk of attack from various warlords etc, that is one thing. A lot of those sorts of organisations likely would not be able to function in that sort of environment otherwise.
If it’s objective was to hire itself out to any organisaiton or government for any purpose regardless of how henious or repressive, then that is something else entirely.
“Andersen didn’t imply he liked killing people,”
I think the question about keeping a tally implied that. As why would you do such a thing unless your goal was to keep increasing the tally?
I don’t find it credible that TMG were there for the fluffy bunnies. You seem to be putting up a false dichotomy. Either they’re there for humanitarian reasons, or they’re evil murderers. Whereas I think they’re a business that is there it make a profit and their niche is providing private security/military services in war zones. And that, by consent of the companies and governments, involves sometimes killing people.
There’s plenty of critique about such companies and why the profit motive is a problem. There’s further critique about putting someone with Mitchell’s values into Ministerial roles. Did you real the links I gave you?
If it’s objective was to hire itself out to any organisaiton or government for any purpose regardless of how henious or repressive, then that is something else entirely.
That really is a profoundly …. limited … understanding of why armed guards (whether paid by a government, or by private companies) might be needed in a conflict zone.
One of the standard reasons for armed guards, is to protect aid convoys.
Because, if you don't, they get stopped at the first insurgent roadblock and looted. Nothing gets through to the people who need it.
Even the UN Security Service employs private military and security companies in high-risk areas.
Despite an official stance by UN working groups against the use of private military and security companies except as a last resort, the UNDSS has widely contracted private military companies across deployments in various nations
Mitchell's problem here is that private companies that use mercenraries aren't known for being upfront about this. So when he talks about self-defence, we don't know if that is all he ever did, or if that's PR speak.
He founded a private military company, that makes profit from war. It's incredibly naive to think there was no killing involved by his company.
Anderson should have been better prepared. This from the Spinoff when Mitchell announced he was standing for parliament in 2018,
Rather than asking, as a nine-year-old might, if this aspiring party leader has killed anyone, we should be asking what he intends to do to ensure New Zealand money doesn’t end up promoting further violence. The signs are not encouraging where that’s concerned, as Mitchell has already been proactive in promoting private company bids for New Zealand Defence Force money. Billions of dollars of it.
To be clear, it isn’t the man that is necessarily cause for concern here. Rather, it is the relationship that Mitchell has with a highly unregulated and profit-oriented part of violent conflict that should raise concern for New Zealanders. Private military and security contractors have become a fundamental part of war. They have been instrumental in creating the increasingly murky and ethically bankrupt landscape of modern warfare. Quite apart from the absence of any real accountability for violations of human rights, the United Nations states that the use of PMSCs fundamentally threatens democracy in several ways. For instance, the use of contractors absolves nation states from their responsibilities to their own citizens around transparency and democratic control. Additionally, incentivising conflict through massive expenditure of public funds to the private sector increases the influence of private business on political choices and national policies.
At the end of that piece, the journo asked Mitchell three questions. Mitchell didn't answer them.
That raises the issue of honesty and whether Mitchell is inclined to be open and transparent, or manipulate comms to create an impression. Certainly in the Hosking piece yesterday it was clear he is skilled in PR.
I think the 'did you shoot people and how many?' is in fact pertinent, because the fact that Mitchell's PR speak is about avoidance and obfuscation rather than telling the truth in a circumspect way, suggests a level of political dishonesty that doesn't serve NZ or democracy.
Like I said, why doesn't he just be honest? I guess one answer to that is will people believe him given he has a history of avoidance and obfuscation.
That raises the issue of honesty and whether Mitchell is inclined to be open and transparent, or manipulate comms to create an impression.
Weka, I guess there are two answers to that. Firstly, in my experience, people who have been involved in conflict such as this often don't want to talk about their experiences because it very traumatising to them to know they might have ended someone elses life, even though it may have been justifiable in the circumstances. Horrors of war and all that.
Secondly, there may well be confidentiality agreements in place that limit what he is able to disclose.
I think the 'did you shoot people and how many?' is in fact pertinent,
If you listen to the interview, Anderson wasn't really asking the question. She was aserting that he was their to kill people, and wanted to know if he kept a tally.That is quite different IMO to asking the question you have proposed.
tsmithfield I think you are widening the net with this statement
Firstly, in my experience, people who have been involved in conflict such as this often don't want to talk about their experiences because it very traumatising to them to know they might have ended someone elses life, even though it may have been justifiable in the circumstances. Horrors of war and all that.
We need to draw a distinction between soldiers etc fighting for their country ie in declared world wars and those fighting for their pockets, mercenaries.
I know the former do not generally like to talk about these aspects, even if it is at a distance like shelling. People are trying to lump mercenaries in with the soldiers etc who went to answer the call in world wars who in no way resemble mercenaries. In fact some soldiers had distinct drops in pay after volunteering in comparison with their pre war pays. Something that would be untenable to a mercenary as their raison d'etre is to make money while 'fighting'
Weka has already linked to the Spinoff article
This part is important
To be clear, it isn’t the man that is necessarily (my bolding) cause for concern here. Rather, it is the relationship that Mitchell has with a highly unregulated and profit-oriented part of violent conflict that should raise concern for New Zealanders. Private military and security contractors have become a fundamental part of war. They have been instrumental in creating the increasingly murky and ethically bankrupt landscape of modernwarfare. Quite apart from the absence of any real accountability for violations of human rights, the United Nations states that the use of PMSCs fundamentally threatens democracy in several ways. For instance, the use of contractors absolves nation states from their responsibilities to their own citizens around transparency and democratic control. Additionally, incentivising conflict through massive expenditure of public funds to the private sector increases the influence of private business on political choices and national policies.
For what it is worth I personally equate mercenaries with slum landlords, mining companies exploiting people & resources in 3rd world countries, fashion companies selling high priced fashion goods made by, mainly women in unregulated, hazardous 3rd world workplaces, slavers of old and people who through greed place animals on ships so they can get big bucks.
The way you make your money says volumes about you personally I believe.
The blurring of lines between combat regularised by colour of right eg UN and mercenaries is regrettable in this latest instance.
I agree also that Ginny Anderson could have been better prepared. She definitely had the ethical/moral high ground but blew it a little.
Mods this is not going to be regular. I enjoy looking. May I post this just once please?
If you had listened carefully tsmithfield @ 2, you would have picked up Mitchell's attempt to run down the previous government with bald faced lies and the now tedious claims of 'death and destruction' (my phrasing) around everything the former government did and said.
We have had to listen to the crap for a long time and Mitchell has also been dumping on the former police minster for a long time. Ginny Anderson finally lost her temper and I don't blame her one bit. Mitchell is a nasty little creep.
You seem to be surprised by a government minister attempting to run down a previous government?
That's what every government, since the beginning of time, in every democracy in the world has done. It what makes politics both infuriating, while at the same time being a funny kind of spectator sport.
Losing her temper live on air in front of the largest listening audience in the country wasn't a great thing to do to win support. Which is why Chippy made the comments he did to fix the damage.
Mitchell must have clout through Judith Collins, and she has come up smelling of roses/ or should that be lillies after her prayer. i.e. Her active work through her relative Whale Oil to recruit "suitable" National candidates . Nicky Hager "The Hollow Men."
I think Andersen botched the attack on Mitchell. Because there is a legitimate critique of his time in Iraq. The question to ask him is this: does he think the Iraq war was justified?
If he says "no", the onus is on him to pass the money he made there back to the Iraqi people via some reputable charitable or humanitarian organisation.
If he says "yes", then that puts him offside with all civilised opinion and suggests he's unfit for public office.
My issue with Mitchell is this: how the hell could he not plainly see at the time that the whole invasion was a war crime cooked up on the back of a pack of lies and so decide to stay well clear of the place? Terrible judgment due to an authoritarian mindset would be my pick for why he could not see it.
I get it. Mitchell is accused of being a mercernary – alleged to have been involved in the business of killing people. He prevaricates in one explanation I saw from him.
So, politics being what they are, the baddie is Ginny Anderson. Her woeful lack of preparedness is around her appreciating the environment she operates in. The way we operate is that many would have her awarded the most grave of punishments whilst Mitchell would line up for a Victoria Cross.
What's worse is here 'we' are 6.00pm and 50 + comments and still thrashing about with our views on Mitchell and what we think his proclivities are.
This is a total own goal from Labour. If the centre left, is keen on re-election, this ain't a winning way.
They wanna appease the greed of some of our agricultural cousins by restarting live animal exports.
Nicotine Willis, as astute a financial mind parliament has know, needs fag tax to fund six properties Luxon the landlord tax.
They've scrapped the much needed ferries from being built which was not the major cost of Kiwirail's prudent investment.
(I bet the ship building outfit is laughing all the way to the bank, they will get paid a default plus have made progress on items that will be 40% more valuable to them.)
We've gotta get organised and energised by the right things.
So the NZ government subsidy comes off electric cars and sales crash …
… and o wait mek minnit Volkswagen and Tesla and BYD slash their prices to way below what the subsidy offered – not only here but across all the key markets.
"Debuting a new marketing campaign for the discount overnight, the deal sees the entry-level ID.4 Pro and ID.5 Pro prices get slashed from $79,990 and $86,490 to $59,990 and $67,490 — a significant drop of $20,000 and $19,000, respectively.
The flagship ID.5 Pro+ has also been given a discount; its price dropping from $95,490 to $88,490."
Early adopters often get stung as markets adjust, some of the initial rise in NZ EV sales was due to fleets for Govt. Dept.s. and companies.
Battery technology and charging networks are improving and for personal vehicles ICE will be taken over by EV eventually.
I’ve an EV Ioniq 5, mainly charged at home by solar panels–which have also got way cheaper–the feeling of driving past gas stations unless you need a cold drink–priceless.
Also have a mint XR BA Falcon which mainly sits in the garage…
The Chinese plan to tank the western automotive industry with a flood of cheap electric vehicles, The Germans are crapping themselves, having complacently done not very much about electric vehicles (everyone wants a 3 litre BMW for the Autobahn!) and the Japanese have also dropped the EV ball, with Toyota in particular on a Canute like campaign to convince us all hydrogen is the way to go.
⁵Do you really think EVs are that much of a panacea?
It means business as usual as we still go shopping at the unsustainable supermarkets, carry on driving through the drive throughs and get dropped off at the airport in our relatively low emission waka.
I must observe that this (removal of subsidy that had TS wringing it's hands when contemplated), can be viewed as a win for 7 house Luxon the Prime Minister.
EV ownership was not within short term reality of this household, now that we have helped fund a bunch of more affluent folk into their Teslas, it has become a shade more possible for us.
Edit, as you were, newsense makes a good point that may alter my comment.
Agree Phillip. I’m an old “V8 boy” from way back–Galaxies, Fairlanes and many others in my time, but am a fan now of EVs. They have great torque and way less moving parts to replace and pay for. Some of my mates have said the same but sub culture peer pressure and machoism is strong and they can’t quite go there yet.
EVs are no supreme answer but they help cut down on fossil fuel use.
A long, narrow, sparsely populated country like ours makes it difficult to have public transport everywhere, and neo liberalism makes it even more difficult.
Ahem, I got pantsed by some hippy dude in a trolley bus across the lights on a bike that was rather quick for mid 70's Like I was halfway down the bus…
That could have been me…I was the first long-haired person hired by the bus company..
I fought that battle through the levels up to the head of the then a.r.a….
It was an early lesson for me that a well-crafted/logical argument..and not giving up/in..can get you quite a long way…
Bus drivers then we're the straightest looking of all..even cops were sprouting hair in all sorts of places…
And I told them when first hired for training school..that I wasn't going to cut my hair…which was halfway down my back at the time..
I flew thru the training..having learnt to drive trucks at about age 12..I aced it..
Then the day before being released onto the public..I was told I had to cut my hair..which was the start of my climb thru the levels..
And eventually I faced the man himself…behind his huge desk..
I pointed the hairy policemen out to him and asked..'what's the problem?'
He babbled out some anecdotal about a fringe falling over eyes..and a bus crashing into a lampost..
I had like a super mullet..kinda tidy around the face..so I said to him: 'if I can stand in front of you and shake my head vigorously and no hair goes over my eyes..my hair can't be a danger..eh..?'
And victory was mine to savour…
And just as a heads-up the next windmill I will tilt at is the hypocrisies/irrationalities around elder drug use..
I am building a suite of arguments in support of elders (70 +) being able to access cocaine.. should they so desire..
During those decades I used it..when younger…I thought 'this drug will be brilliant when I get old'…and I bookmarked it for then…fully expecting rational drug laws to be in place by then..
Labour should of course have offered the subsidy only to manufacturers who would slash pre-subsidy prices below stipulated price points. And they should have selected only one or two manufacturers to receive the subsidy based on how much they slashed prices, the reliability record of their cars and the quality of their service network.
In any case, these are still extraordinarily expensive cars and even at these prices, EVs are no solution to anything. Not until something like a BYD Seagull turns up and is priced under $20k. But that's unlikely, because the local dealer network won't want to sabotage the rest of of their product range.
Mmmm. Don't think so. Or at least not stock brought into NZ.
I suspect that the stock levels were kept low by importers, in anticipation of a drop in sales in early 2024. I also suspect that they saw their sales being impacted by the lower-priced Chinese EVs – and that's another factor in the discounting.
If the same was done in removing all subsidies (hidden such as income being not income for income tax purposes and obvious ones such as tax on mortgage interest) to landlords and land owners then maybe house prices would come down?
Wellington City Council proposal to remove 2 disabled parking spots from the centre of a suburban shopping area to replace with EV charging spots so "EV owners can do their shopping while charging up." Disabled/mobility impaired booted to the end of the road and around the corner. EV charging is quite feasible there, and the drivers are far more likely to manage the (not much further) distance by foot.
Or is it a cynical ploy to force mobility card holders into purchasing EVs?
Weka, adding the link to this very specific plan would extremely narrow down my location, which I don't feel very easy about, despite using a pseudonym here. I'm aware of the providing a link rule, I hope that's not a problem. I can give the link to all the current traffic resolutions going on though
thanks Kay. The only rule is to link when quoting. People are free to talk about things without linking. In this case I couldn't find anything myself online and was interested to see what they were doing and why. I'm also fine with you not putting your pseudonym at risk.
Yes..!..very good..that defining/refining of the link rules..
I'm of a mind to think that the most useful use of a link..is as a tool to refute ill thought-out arguments/ideas..
It's good that ideas/concepts can be raised/discussed.. without having to footnote them with links…
I feel that the peak of the need for 'link' was back in those bad old days of squealing internet. .
Then it was a courtesy to readers..to help them navigate a torturously slow internet..
That was then..now everyone has access to blindingly fast internet..and if interested in topic being discussed..can access reams of information in seconds..
So no longer that much need for that link- courtesy ..
This includes making assertions that you are unable to substantiate with some proof (and that doesn’t mean endless links to unsubstantial authorities) or even argue when requested to do so.
If you're asked to provide proof for something you assert as a 'fact' then you should be prepared to do so.
Whenever I read about that lady and the rest of her cohort, I call vividly to mind a Tom Scott cartoon from a previous time NZF returned to the House after a spell outside it. Winston was portrayed as a hayseed mid-west US farmer, driving a cartload of straw-chewing hicks and warning them: "Now just keep quiet and say you're with me!".
For someone who rails against waka jumpers, when you look back at the crew of MPs NZ First has had, there’s been a diverse bunch of occasionally diametrically opposed folk. Winston is fairly much the only constant. From Neil Kirton to the Maori seats of Tuku and Tau to Richard Prosser to Tracey Martin to this most recent crop…
A minister of the Crown who dishonourably lies to parliament and someone who can provide evidence of this loses their job for doing so.
The government’s lack of standards are now obvious.
This is a government that intends to get away with lies.
Someone needs to set up a system for receiving "public service" leaks, because when whistleblowers are compromised representative and accountable government is compromised.
The case for a rent freeze or at the very least the Greens rent increase cap of 3% pa from 2021 – to reduce inflation and prevent poverty – explained. .
Thus far May has followed on from a quiet April in the blogging department, but in fairness, it has been another case of doing what I am supposed to be doing, namely writing original fiction. Plus reading. So don’t worry – I have been productive. But in order to reassure ...
Buzz from the Beehive A new government agency will open for business on July 1 – the Social Investment Agency. As a new standalone central agency effective from 1 July, it will lead the development of social investment across Government, helping ministers understand who they need to invest in, what ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The ...
Alwyn Poole writes – After being elected to Parliament in 2008 the maiden speech of Hipkins was substantially around education policy. He was Labour’s spokesperson for education 2011 – 2017. He was Minister for Education from 2017 until February 2023. This is approximately 88% of the time Labour ...
Eric Crampton writes – A fashion industry group is lobbying for protections. They make the usual arguments and a newer one. None of it makes sense. An industry group says it pumped $7.8 billion into the economy last year – that’s 1.9 percent of New Zealand’s GDP. ...
In December 2006, Fiji's military leader Voreqe Bainimarama overthrew the elected government in a coup. He ruled Fiji for the next 16 years, first as dictator, then as "elected" Prime Minister. But now, he's finally been sent to jail where he belongs. Sadly, this isn't for his real crime of ...
Don't like National's corrupt Muldoonist "fast-track" law? Aotearoa's environmental NGO's - Greenpeace, Forest & Bird, WWF, Coromandel Watchdog, Coal Action Network Aotearoa, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, and others - have announced a joint march against it in Auckland in June: When: 13:00, 8 June, 2024 Where: Aotea Square, Auckland You ...
Seymour describes sushi as too woke for school meals. There are no fish sushi meals recommended by the School Lunches programme. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Government will swap out hot meals for packaged sandwiches to save $107 million on school lunches for poor kids. MSD has pulled ...
I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadenceBut I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeahBut it's on the table, the fire's cookin'And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'But I'm goin' hungry, yeahSome ...
The Ardern Government’s chickens came home to roost yesterday with the news that the country is short of natural gas. In 2018, Labour banned offshore petroleum exploration, and industry executives say that the attendant loss of confidence by the industry impacted overall investment in onshore gas fields. Energy Resources Minister ...
Hi,If you’ve been digging through the newly launched Webworm store (orders are being dispatched worldwide as I type!) you’ll have noticed the best model we had was Calvin.This is Calvin.Calvin.Calvin is 7, and is the son of my producer over on Flightless Bird, Rob — aka “Wobby Wob”. Rob also ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Climate change is everywhere. And when something's everywhere it can feel like it's nowhere. So how do we get our heads ...
Its a law like gravity: whenever a right-wing government is elected, they start attacking democracy. And now, after talking to their Republican and Tory and Fidesz chums at the International Democracy Union forum in Wellington, National is doing it here, announcing plans to remove election-day enrolment. Or, to put it ...
Yesterday Winston Peters focussed his attention on the important matter at hand. Tweeting. Like the former, and quite possibly next, orange POTUS, from whom he takes much of his political strategy, Winston is an avid X’er.His message didn’t resemble an historic address this time. In fact it was more reminiscent ...
Buzz from the Beehive A significant decline in natural gas production has given Resources Minister Shane Jones an opportunity to reiterate his enthusiasm for the mining and burning of coal. For good measure, he has praised an announcement from Genesis Energy that it will resume importing coal. He and Energy ...
“Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The political parties are legally obliged to make ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Here is my subjective ranking on a “most-left” to “most-right” scale of most of our major NZ Universities, with some anecdotal (and at times amusing) evidence to back up the claim.Extreme Left Auckland University of TechnologyEvidenceThe ...
Eric Crampton writes – I hadn’t thought about this one until a helpful email showed up in my inbox.It’s pretty obvious that income tax thresholds should automatically index with inflation – whether to anchor the thresholds in percentiles of the income distribution, or to anchor against a real ...
Jacqui Van Der Kaay writes – Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National ...
Gary Judd writes – The Dean of the law school at the Auckland University of Technology is someone called Khylee Quince. I have been sent her social media posting in which she has, over the LawNews headline “Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Maori studies for ...
Cleo Paskal writes – WASHINGTON, D.C.: ‘Many of us have received phone calls from [the opposing camp] telling them if they join the camp they will be given projects for their wards and $300,000 [around US$35,000] each’, says former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani. The elections in Solomon Islands aren’t ...
With hindsight, it was inevitable that (a) Hamas would agree to the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar and that ( b) Israel would then immediately launch attacks on Rafah, regardless. We might have hoped the concessions made by Hamas would cause Israel to desist from slaughtering thousands more ...
Placards and mourners outside the Kilbirnie Mosque following the Christchurch terror attack: MSD has terminated the Kaiwhakaoranga service, which has been used by 415 families since the attacks. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The Government’s pledge to only cut ‘back office’ staff rather than ‘frontline’ services is on increasingly shaky ground, with ...
There’s been a few smaller public transport announcements over the last week or so that I thought I’d cover in a single post. Fareshare I’ve long called for Auckland Transport to offer a way to enable employer-subsidised public transport options. The need for this took on even more importance ...
Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National Minister Matt Doocey, reflects poorly on Genter and ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
Chris Trotter writes – Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…Gary Judd KC writes – I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
Is the economy in another long stagnation? If so, why?This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be ...
The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
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Devonport key road upgrades at risk by loss of regional fuel tax
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/509811/devonport-key-road-upgrades-at-risk-by-loss-of-regional-fuel-tax
Let's look at the old scoreboard for the North Shore…
Yes that local board chair is going to meet with their local MP.
The last government got us used to a very high level of funding keeping our boats afloat. It was the Robertson underpinning of our entire economy.
But National are pulling the tide out so fast that everyone can see none of their political boats can float anymore.
As someone who has lived in the region for 35 plus years, be assured it will be the 50.92% (Nat) and 10.98% (ACT) who will be doing 90% of the screaming and hollering.
TBH, I doubt it.
My understanding is that the majority of the work was emplacement of bus and cycle lanes on Lake Rd. I'd expect these to be more highly valued by the GP voters.
We have no bus lanes except a side lane at Belmont one way. If we had them we would have no car lanes. Don't know what they're planning to do. Remove the cycle lanes perhaps which are not used by many cyclists because it is too dangerous on that particular road.
Well, yes, the point of the Lake Road improvements was to introduce bus and high-occupancy vehicle lanes, as well as cycle lanes.
https://at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/lake-road-improvements
The downside of this is, as we've seen everywhere else in Auckland, this increases travel time for single-occupancy vehicles (in the medium term) as well as making every commuter's life a misery with roadworks (in the short term).
I seriously doubt that the majority of Natioal-voting Devonport residents either use, or would plan to use a bus. And that the majority of them are single-occupancy vehicle users.
"be assured it will be the Nat and ACT who will be doing 90% of the screaming and hollering." Wait until the banning cells from school kids gets implemented later this year, they'll be "yes ban phones from schools, but don't dare my kids phone!".
That's quite funny. Speaks truth to 'you get the government you deserve'.
I don't know what got into Ginny Anderson yesterday on NewsTalk ZB with Mark Mitchell and Hosking. I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing. On Newstalk ZB Week on Demand at 8.15 yesterday for the discussion.
She accused Mitchell, in his previous role as a security contractor, of having been paid to kill people, and asked him if he had kept a tally. Hipkins also disagreed with the comments and, as a result she has apologised. Personally I think the apology should be public rather than a text as it has at the moment, given the comment was public.
It isn't the first time Anderson has apologised for her (alleged) behaviour. So, perhaps it might be good for her to put her brain into gear before she opens her mouth.
As Hipkins said in her defence, he is often provocative. And of course there is an element of truth in what she said.
"Truth in what she said"?
Very little according ti former Labour Leader David Shearer who actually does know a great deal about the topic.
He says "It was during that work he interacted with many companies akin to Mitchell’s and said Andersen’s recent claim that the current Police Minister was “paid to kill people” is not a fair description of the work those companies do.
“I think that’s over the top and pretty divorced from reality, it would be better if she had sat down and had a chat with Mark and understood exactly how it works."
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/former-labour-leader-david-shearer-says-ginny-andersens-claims-about-mark-mitchell-divorced-from-reality/B6DPEPL555F6LDIXJGTZXJRG7Y/
meanwhile, the public would be better served with more honesty and less PR bullshit from Mitchell.
Of course they do useful work. That doesn’t preclude them being private military.
David Shearer would seem to be saying that the term "private military" would be a little misleading. He is proposing, at least as I read it, that they don't really behave like a military force but rather closer to the armed police that we see at New Zealand airports.
Shearer (your link above),
Let's assume for a minute that TMG does both police like security and grey area military work. Do you really think they're going to be upfront and honest about the grey area military work?
Shearer is obviously grateful for the security work that was done when he was in those countries. Equally obvious is that the security is needed. Neither of those preclude those companies also being involved in morally ambiguous work or outright unethical work. It seems unlikely that Shearer would have been exposed to that.
Shearer telling Andersen to talk with Mitchell is a nonsense. Let’s be generous and say it’s naive. If Mitchell started and ran a company that also does private military work, and he’s already been running PR lines on that, do you really think he’s going to tell Andersen?
"Let's assume for a minute that TMG does both police like security and grey area military work"
But, in the light of what Shearer says why should we assume that at all. There doesn't seem to be any evidence that they were involved in the "grey area" work you are talking about. Certainly Shearer, who was there doesn't seem to think they were. He says
“Given what I think Mark’s company was doing, it was pretty much what I would call a run-of-the-mill security company.
“It would have been doing passive security operations that basically entailed securing goods, compounds, embassies from attack and the only time they would have used their weapons would have been if they came under attack themselves.”
What evidence do we have that they were doing what people here are accusing them of? What evidence is there that that was the case?
Shearer wasn't talking about TMG, he was talking about private security companies generally.
I've already explained the rationales for using that hypothetical.
Shearer is talking rubbish..
Just because he has had security from these goons..doesn't mean he knows anything of what else they do/did…in those dirty wars…
He is blowing it out of his lowest orifice..
@smithfield..
Can I suggest the looking up of the definition of mercenary soldier..?
That may help in clarifying your view of what mitchell is/was…
And back in the mists of time there is an interview of mitchell by wallace chapman…where the subject of killing while a mercenary was raised..(sorry..no idea of link..)
My memory there is that mitchell gave a nude/nudge/wink/wink non-answer..
One that left me forever viewing him as mark 'the mercenary' mitchell.
With all the complications that label carries…
And certainly not deserving of any whitewash…
Niccolò had their number.
― Niccolò Machiavell
And the Roman Empire itself ultimately degenerated and dissolved because of (among other things) an increasingly mercenary attitude on the part of the Emperor's Praetorian Guard – they supported whoever was going to reward them the most.
"We're not something wriggling with too many legs that you found in your sleeping bag. The proper tone of voice is Mercenaries! – with a glad cry."
Genius!
Mr Mitchell was a sell sword in a dirty war, as a mercenary he deserves no quarter. The arms industry and associated corporations made billions on the back of unjustified misery. Money that should have been spent on the US and other nations taxpayers that funded the shit show.
Mitchell hounded Andersen in Parliament and he deserves a good slap down. Mark Mitchell scammed his way into electorate selection originally if you read Nicky Hager’s “Dirty Politics”. He talks tough like a lot of politicians but I’d like to see him try and take patches off gang members–that will be a fight (possibly a war) they won’t easily win.
I guess you could claim an "element of truth'' in the same way it could be claimed that the police or armed forces may end up killing people in the performance of their duties, and hence are "paid to kill''. That is not the same as being paid specifically to do that though. Nor is it something they generally seek to do, if it can be otherwise avoided.
Tiger and Phillip, I think you need to provide evidence to support your replies, otherwise you are just as bad as Anderson:
According to Wikipedia
So, the only mention of active conflict he was involved in was self-defence in a siege scenario. What was he supposed to do in that situation? Just stand back and let the attackers come in and kill everyone?
The 'only mention' does not mean that was the only conflict he was involved in…
That may or may not be true. But the onus is on you to produce the evidence. Otherwise you are just speculating.
No..I am not 'speculating'..I am respecting the accepted meaning of the word mercenary..in this context..and I am repeating what I heard when mitchell was interviewed by wallace chapman…it is mitchell's own words I am using…
Whereas you are giving us a bunch of your 'reckons'..and the sparse wikipedia profile of mitchell..
Meh..!
No. You're actually giving us your synopsis of your recollection of what Mitchell may have said.
That's why quotes and linked evidence is asked for – so people can evaluate what was actually said.
If wanting to disprove my recollections..you could email wallace chapman and ask him his recollections of that interview..and also if it is still able to be heard..?
I tried google..it let me down..again..
Not how the Standard works. You made the claim, it's up to you to provide evidence for it – if called for.
Or withdraw your claim that "it's Mitchell's own words I'm repeating"
when, approximately, did Chapman interview Mitchell?
It was early on in mitchell's career here..and it wasn't on the panel..
It was a show where he could go quite deep in interviews..
Maybe he was sitting in for someone..?..and it must have been rnz..
Did John Keys ever apologist for this, by text or any other means? I can't remember.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/john-key-accuses-labour-of-backing-rapists/H5LX5UMIFCAVKWAZF5X3BCFWU4/
Still, 12 months later he was gone.
I was thinking about this in relation to my post about the upset residents of Devonport not getting their Lake road upgrades. In all the conversations on RNZ, the head of the local business association was not once asked a simple question – "The North Shore voted heavily for National at the election. Getting rid of the RFT was a National party policy. Do you think people are just getting what they voted for?" A provocative but necessary question IMHO. Same with Mark Mitchell. They guy was a hired gun. Did he not think his decisions might lead to some people to question him?
We seem to have a political class where questions about the negative consequences of their personal decisions are akin to asking the vicar about God at afternoon tea. One simply doesn’t do it in polite society. These people believe they are never accountable – accountability is for the lesser sorts. It is a class based arrogance that is riddled through our elite political discourse.
They moaned like hell when the cycle lanes were put in on Lake Road, but they are not wide enough for an extra lane. To widen much of Lake Road you have to bulldoze a lot of very valuable real estate. There are certainly places where you can tinker, but that just moves the problem up a bit to the next area of congestion around the motorway approaches.
I note that Mitchell doesn't deny what she alleges. I don't know why he can't just be honest that his work included killing people.
I just wish Anderson been more prepared to explain what mercenaries do in language that sounded credible. And to explain clearly what Mitchell's company was and did. Then it wouldn't have sounded like a personal attack.
according to your link, she apologised for going to too far, she didn't apologise for what she said.
Weka, as I pointed out above, the only Wiki mention of him being in actual conflict that could have incurred deaths was a self-defence situation. I expect that if you, I, or any of our politicians, including Anderson, were in that compound, we would be very greatful of having people such as that there to defend us.
According to Mitchell, in his interview with HDPA, later in the day. He admits being invovled that self-defence scenario, but has no idea if the bullets he fired actually resulted in deaths on the otherside. I guess when there are lots of bullets flying around, it would be very hard to determine the outcome of specific bullets fired.
As a self declared mercenary he was there to kill.No questions asked.He was paid to execute that service.Whether he killed or not makes no difference.He was a hit man waiting for a job .
In fact he owned and ran the company that employed contracted soldiers, so it's not only about his own actions, but those of his staff.
Andersen was woefully underprepared.
He fired bullets at people and was paid to do so?
Hmmmm….
Francesca, I think that statement is bordering on defamatory. You need to back that statement up with evidence. I agree that a possible consequence of him being there was that he might be required to exert lethal force, the same as with the police or armed forces. But, to claim that was his specific purpose goes far beyond that.
Again, a possible outcome of him being there. But as far as I can see, not the express purpose. If he was in the army in the same circumstances, would you have a problem with the actions in those specific circumstances? If not, then I don't see any grounds for complaint.
Did Mitchell operate in wars that New Zealand was officially involved in, or was he up for any conflict that might be an earner for him?
If he had the blessings and support of the New Zealand Government and the people of New Zealand, then, perhaps, but if he was just freewheeling' across the globe, as a gun for hire, nah.
I agree about the self-declared mercenary bit, that needs a back up, because Mitchell is on record as saying he doesn't like the term 😉
But he founded a company that provides private sercurity services in war zones. Mercenary might not be technically the right term, but I think it's stretching credibility to suggest that a company like Threat Management Group is doing 'security' only and is not using private military contractors to do other kinds of work.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/etudes/join/2011/433829/EXPO-SEDE_ET%282011%29433829_EN.pdf
Much of that relies on the definition of security. I see no reason to trust Mitchell on this, as outlined in my earlier comment about his PR skills and approach.
That may have been hasty of me Smithfield .
But in my book anyone who sets up a private company , and trains people to kill , has at the least , questionable morals.And where was he?
In Iraq!! An illegal war that Helen Clark kept us out of, despite National and Act screaming across the floor
I have a revulsion to killing anyway, whether state endorsed or not .
Here's a take from the Spinoff
https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/21-02-2018/why-aspiring-national-leader-mark-mitchells-war-for-profit-past-matters
That's getting to the crux of it.
It's one thing to be a mercenary.
It's totally another, vulgar, base and reprehensible to seek to profit from others mercenary actions.
As far as I'm concerned a cigarette paper could be slid between a private military security contractor and a mercenary
https://www.trtworld.com/americas/are-private-military-contractors-any-different-from-mercenaries-20680
there's also the paper thin difference between PMC and PSC.
Thanks Weka .I get my dander up and should be more careful and accurate
it was fine. Teasing it out worked in this case.
I don't find private military companies particularly tasteful either tbh.
But I think the blame for their existence needs to be laid equally at the feet of Western governments who don't want to be seen to be directly involved in various scenarios around the world.
But there is a difference between that and accusing someone of essentially running around enjoying killing people as Anderson seemed to be implying when she asserted that Mitchell was a killer and enquired if he kept a tally of his kills, implying that it was something he was proud of doing.
He was just earning a crust – not everyone gets to choose how they put bread on the table.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/21-02-2018/why-aspiring-national-leader-mark-mitchells-war-for-profit-past-matters
sure. But the issue here isn't that some dude ran a PSC, it's that he then entered parliament bringing those values with him, and held a number of Ministerial positions including Defence and Police. It's entirely reasonable to look at his background, ask questions and hold him to account.
Andersen didn't imply he liked killing people, she said he made money from it.
“But the issue here isn’t that some dude ran a PSC, it’s that he then entered parliament bringing those values with him, and held a number of Ministerial positions including Defence and Police.”
I guess that would depend on the motivations for running such an organisation. If the motivation was to help with humanitarian assistance (as Mitchell claims) in areas where civilian workers are at risk of attack from various warlords etc, that is one thing. A lot of those sorts of organisations likely would not be able to function in that sort of environment otherwise.
If it’s objective was to hire itself out to any organisaiton or government for any purpose regardless of how henious or repressive, then that is something else entirely.
“Andersen didn’t imply he liked killing people,”
I think the question about keeping a tally implied that. As why would you do such a thing unless your goal was to keep increasing the tally?
I don’t find it credible that TMG were there for the fluffy bunnies. You seem to be putting up a false dichotomy. Either they’re there for humanitarian reasons, or they’re evil murderers. Whereas I think they’re a business that is there it make a profit and their niche is providing private security/military services in war zones. And that, by consent of the companies and governments, involves sometimes killing people.
There’s plenty of critique about such companies and why the profit motive is a problem. There’s further critique about putting someone with Mitchell’s values into Ministerial roles. Did you real the links I gave you?
TMG do work for the US government /shrug.
Apparently shop lifting is on the rise amongst the middle class, since the advent of self service kiosks.
Ok, it makes it easier, but does that absolve anyone of dishonesty?
No smithfield…he was there to make money…from war…
He was a mercenary…by any definition..
Make of that what you will..
No moral ambiguities there for you..?…smithfield..?
That really is a profoundly …. limited … understanding of why armed guards (whether paid by a government, or by private companies) might be needed in a conflict zone.
One of the standard reasons for armed guards, is to protect aid convoys.
Because, if you don't, they get stopped at the first insurgent roadblock and looted. Nothing gets through to the people who need it.
Even the UN Security Service employs private military and security companies in high-risk areas.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Department_for_Safety_and_Security#Criticism_and_Controversy
Mitchell's problem here is that private companies that use mercenraries aren't known for being upfront about this. So when he talks about self-defence, we don't know if that is all he ever did, or if that's PR speak.
He founded a private military company, that makes profit from war. It's incredibly naive to think there was no killing involved by his company.
Anderson should have been better prepared. This from the Spinoff when Mitchell announced he was standing for parliament in 2018,
https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/21-02-2018/why-aspiring-national-leader-mark-mitchells-war-for-profit-past-matters
At the end of that piece, the journo asked Mitchell three questions. Mitchell didn't answer them.
That raises the issue of honesty and whether Mitchell is inclined to be open and transparent, or manipulate comms to create an impression. Certainly in the Hosking piece yesterday it was clear he is skilled in PR.
I think the 'did you shoot people and how many?' is in fact pertinent, because the fact that Mitchell's PR speak is about avoidance and obfuscation rather than telling the truth in a circumspect way, suggests a level of political dishonesty that doesn't serve NZ or democracy.
Like I said, why doesn't he just be honest? I guess one answer to that is will people believe him given he has a history of avoidance and obfuscation.
Weka, I guess there are two answers to that. Firstly, in my experience, people who have been involved in conflict such as this often don't want to talk about their experiences because it very traumatising to them to know they might have ended someone elses life, even though it may have been justifiable in the circumstances. Horrors of war and all that.
Secondly, there may well be confidentiality agreements in place that limit what he is able to disclose.
If you listen to the interview, Anderson wasn't really asking the question. She was aserting that he was their to kill people, and wanted to know if he kept a tally.That is quite different IMO to asking the question you have proposed.
tsmithfield I think you are widening the net with this statement
We need to draw a distinction between soldiers etc fighting for their country ie in declared world wars and those fighting for their pockets, mercenaries.
I know the former do not generally like to talk about these aspects, even if it is at a distance like shelling. People are trying to lump mercenaries in with the soldiers etc who went to answer the call in world wars who in no way resemble mercenaries. In fact some soldiers had distinct drops in pay after volunteering in comparison with their pre war pays. Something that would be untenable to a mercenary as their raison d'etre is to make money while 'fighting'
Weka has already linked to the Spinoff article
This part is important
https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/21-02-2018/why-aspiring-national-leader-mark-mitchells-war-for-profit-past-matters
For what it is worth I personally equate mercenaries with slum landlords, mining companies exploiting people & resources in 3rd world countries, fashion companies selling high priced fashion goods made by, mainly women in unregulated, hazardous 3rd world workplaces, slavers of old and people who through greed place animals on ships so they can get big bucks.
The way you make your money says volumes about you personally I believe.
The blurring of lines between combat regularised by colour of right eg UN and mercenaries is regrettable in this latest instance.
I agree also that Ginny Anderson could have been better prepared. She definitely had the ethical/moral high ground but blew it a little.
Mods this is not going to be regular. I enjoy looking. May I post this just once please?
If you had listened carefully tsmithfield @ 2, you would have picked up Mitchell's attempt to run down the previous government with bald faced lies and the now tedious claims of 'death and destruction' (my phrasing) around everything the former government did and said.
We have had to listen to the crap for a long time and Mitchell has also been dumping on the former police minster for a long time. Ginny Anderson finally lost her temper and I don't blame her one bit. Mitchell is a nasty little creep.
You seem to be surprised by a government minister attempting to run down a previous government?
That's what every government, since the beginning of time, in every democracy in the world has done. It what makes politics both infuriating, while at the same time being a funny kind of spectator sport.
Losing her temper live on air in front of the largest listening audience in the country wasn't a great thing to do to win support. Which is why Chippy made the comments he did to fix the damage.
Mitchell must have clout through Judith Collins, and she has come up smelling of roses/ or should that be lillies after her prayer. i.e. Her active work through her relative Whale Oil to recruit "suitable" National candidates . Nicky Hager "The Hollow Men."
I think Andersen botched the attack on Mitchell. Because there is a legitimate critique of his time in Iraq. The question to ask him is this: does he think the Iraq war was justified?
If he says "no", the onus is on him to pass the money he made there back to the Iraqi people via some reputable charitable or humanitarian organisation.
If he says "yes", then that puts him offside with all civilised opinion and suggests he's unfit for public office.
My issue with Mitchell is this: how the hell could he not plainly see at the time that the whole invasion was a war crime cooked up on the back of a pack of lies and so decide to stay well clear of the place? Terrible judgment due to an authoritarian mindset would be my pick for why he could not see it.
As crass as this whole mercenary thing is, it's another ineffectual effort from Labour.
Very close to their 'curriculum petition', a very weak response to a meh issue. Just a bit of Middle class virtue signalling.
Sure, a few here are in a tizz, but it's a slow news day
I'd suggest that it would very probably not put him offside with the opinion of the people who vote for National.
Could well be. But I was talking about civilised opinion.
No doubt they'd be equally scathing about the people you consider 'civilised'.
Funny coz RW usually like politicians who "tell it like it is" & say "what we are all thinking", except from women lefties of course.
Also, Metiria Turei, hounded out of parliament for what she did before politics.
I have a suspicion that what she did "before politics" is pretty much a political career killer.
We are all the sum of our decisions as adults. Politicians especially should be held accountable for them.
Especially NZ Police Ministers that have prior involvement in for profit operations in an international armed conflict i.e.war.
This is relevant because of the overlaps of the arms industry and mercenary firms in nation states police forces. Militarisation of Police is a thing, some cops have even trained with the IDF!
https://www.amnestyusa.org/updates/with-whom-are-many-u-s-police-departments-training-with-a-chronic-human-rights-violator-israel/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militarization_of_police#:~:text=Criminal%20justice%20professor%20Peter%20Kraska,militarism%20and%20the%20military%20model%22.
The backdrop to Mitchell’s murky world is more important than some petulant response to Ms Andersen. He is now in a position to enable NZ Police to move righter regarding carrying arms, surveillance and more US technology. Vigilance is needed more than ever when cops initiate face recognition tech without approval,
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/416483/police-trialled-facial-recognition-tech-without-clearance#:~:text=New%20Zealand%20Police%20first%20contacted,necessary%20clearance%20before%20using%20it.
and routinely stop and photograph young people for “driving while Māori”.
I get it. Mitchell is accused of being a mercernary – alleged to have been involved in the business of killing people. He prevaricates in one explanation I saw from him.
So, politics being what they are, the baddie is Ginny Anderson. Her woeful lack of preparedness is around her appreciating the environment she operates in. The way we operate is that many would have her awarded the most grave of punishments whilst Mitchell would line up for a Victoria Cross.
What's worse is here 'we' are 6.00pm and 50 + comments and still thrashing about with our views on Mitchell and what we think his proclivities are.
This is a total own goal from Labour. If the centre left, is keen on re-election, this ain't a winning way.
They wanna appease the greed of some of our agricultural cousins by restarting live animal exports.
Nicotine Willis, as astute a financial mind parliament has know, needs fag tax to fund
six properties Luxonthe landlord tax.They've scrapped the much needed ferries from being built which was not the major cost of Kiwirail's prudent investment.
(I bet the ship building outfit is laughing all the way to the bank, they will get paid a default plus have made progress on items that will be 40% more valuable to them.)
We've gotta get organised and energised by the right things.
So the NZ government subsidy comes off electric cars and sales crash …
… and o wait mek minnit Volkswagen and Tesla and BYD slash their prices to way below what the subsidy offered – not only here but across all the key markets.
"Debuting a new marketing campaign for the discount overnight, the deal sees the entry-level ID.4 Pro and ID.5 Pro prices get slashed from $79,990 and $86,490 to $59,990 and $67,490 — a significant drop of $20,000 and $19,000, respectively.
The flagship ID.5 Pro+ has also been given a discount; its price dropping from $95,490 to $88,490."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/350188423/volkswagen-slashes-its-electric-vehicle-prices-nz-again
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/17/tesla-slashes-prices-on-germany-cars-after-similar-cuts-in-china.html
The big winners in this game will be the one(s) who offer a model t of electric cars…
Basic/efficient sub 20 grand…
And that winner will come from most likely china..with india with an outside chance…
And maybe with a brand name(s) we have not yet seen ..
Musk acknowledges that with the announcement of a sub-thirty grand tesla…
The top-end of electric cars is well over-crowded..
Early adopters often get stung as markets adjust, some of the initial rise in NZ EV sales was due to fleets for Govt. Dept.s. and companies.
Battery technology and charging networks are improving and for personal vehicles ICE will be taken over by EV eventually.
I’ve an EV Ioniq 5, mainly charged at home by solar panels–which have also got way cheaper–the feeling of driving past gas stations unless you need a cold drink–priceless.
Also have a mint XR BA Falcon which mainly sits in the garage…
The Chinese plan to tank the western automotive industry with a flood of cheap electric vehicles, The Germans are crapping themselves, having complacently done not very much about electric vehicles (everyone wants a 3 litre BMW for the Autobahn!) and the Japanese have also dropped the EV ball, with Toyota in particular on a Canute like campaign to convince us all hydrogen is the way to go.
My understanding is that toyota is also working on a universal conversion kit…able to turn ice vehicles into ev's..
Another exciting conversion possiblity was reported by rnz a little while ago..
An engineering student in oz has developed small electric motors that can be clamped onto each wheel…and can thus turn ice vehicles into ev's..
Cheap ev's and universal conversions of existing stock will do the trick…
It's gonna happen…!..and it can't come soon enough…
⁵Do you really think EVs are that much of a panacea?
It means business as usual as we still go shopping at the unsustainable supermarkets, carry on driving through the drive throughs and get dropped off at the airport in our relatively low emission waka.
 
100% gsays!
I don't want to sour a lovely moment…
I must observe that this (removal of subsidy that had TS wringing it's hands when contemplated), can be viewed as a win for
7 house Luxonthe Prime Minister.EV ownership was not within short term reality of this household, now that we have helped fund a bunch of more affluent folk into their Teslas, it has become a shade more possible for us.
Edit, as you were, newsense makes a good point that may alter my comment.
No gsays..@ 4.3.1.1. it won't solve every problem..but it will solve one important one..
Namely the crap ice vehicles pump into the atmosphere..
No small thing..?..surely..?
Agree Phillip. I’m an old “V8 boy” from way back–Galaxies, Fairlanes and many others in my time, but am a fan now of EVs. They have great torque and way less moving parts to replace and pay for. Some of my mates have said the same but sub culture peer pressure and machoism is strong and they can’t quite go there yet.
EVs are no supreme answer but they help cut down on fossil fuel use.
A long, narrow, sparsely populated country like ours makes it difficult to have public transport everywhere, and neo liberalism makes it even more difficult.
My first ev experience was a long time ago…
For a time I drove auckland trolley buses…powered by electricity..
They had fantastic acceleration…and were such fun to drive…and that was when I fell in love with electric vehicles…
Ahem, I got pantsed by some hippy dude in a trolley bus across the lights on a bike that was rather quick for mid 70's Like I was halfway down the bus…
That could have been me…I was the first long-haired person hired by the bus company..
I fought that battle through the levels up to the head of the then a.r.a….
It was an early lesson for me that a well-crafted/logical argument..and not giving up/in..can get you quite a long way…
Bus drivers then we're the straightest looking of all..even cops were sprouting hair in all sorts of places…
And I told them when first hired for training school..that I wasn't going to cut my hair…which was halfway down my back at the time..
I flew thru the training..having learnt to drive trucks at about age 12..I aced it..
Then the day before being released onto the public..I was told I had to cut my hair..which was the start of my climb thru the levels..
And eventually I faced the man himself…behind his huge desk..
I pointed the hairy policemen out to him and asked..'what's the problem?'
He babbled out some anecdotal about a fringe falling over eyes..and a bus crashing into a lampost..
I had like a super mullet..kinda tidy around the face..so I said to him: 'if I can stand in front of you and shake my head vigorously and no hair goes over my eyes..my hair can't be a danger..eh..?'
And victory was mine to savour…
And just as a heads-up the next windmill I will tilt at is the hypocrisies/irrationalities around elder drug use..
I am building a suite of arguments in support of elders (70 +) being able to access cocaine.. should they so desire..
The arguments are hanging together quite well…
Ha!
Let's hear 'em!
Ok robert..as a teaser..
1)why not..?
2) quality of life..
2. It's what we all desire!
Indeed ! to yr 2..
During those decades I used it..when younger…I thought 'this drug will be brilliant when I get old'…and I bookmarked it for then…fully expecting rational drug laws to be in place by then..
But..no..
Labour should of course have offered the subsidy only to manufacturers who would slash pre-subsidy prices below stipulated price points. And they should have selected only one or two manufacturers to receive the subsidy based on how much they slashed prices, the reliability record of their cars and the quality of their service network.
In any case, these are still extraordinarily expensive cars and even at these prices, EVs are no solution to anything. Not until something like a BYD Seagull turns up and is priced under $20k. But that's unlikely, because the local dealer network won't want to sabotage the rest of of their product range.
This is dumping stock that was brought in under a friendlier regime surely?
Mmmm. Don't think so. Or at least not stock brought into NZ.
I suspect that the stock levels were kept low by importers, in anticipation of a drop in sales in early 2024. I also suspect that they saw their sales being impacted by the lower-priced Chinese EVs – and that's another factor in the discounting.
Or stock being re-routed from the US as Biden walks back EV plans?
If the same was done in removing all subsidies (hidden such as income being not income for income tax purposes and obvious ones such as tax on mortgage interest) to landlords and land owners then maybe house prices would come down?
Wellington City Council proposal to remove 2 disabled parking spots from the centre of a suburban shopping area to replace with EV charging spots so "EV owners can do their shopping while charging up." Disabled/mobility impaired booted to the end of the road and around the corner. EV charging is quite feasible there, and the drivers are far more likely to manage the (not much further) distance by foot.
Or is it a cynical ploy to force mobility card holders into purchasing EVs?
do you have something I can read about that Kay?
Weka, adding the link to this very specific plan would extremely narrow down my location, which I don't feel very easy about, despite using a pseudonym here. I'm aware of the providing a link rule, I hope that's not a problem. I can give the link to all the current traffic resolutions going on though
https://www.letstalk.wellington.govt.nz/traffic-resolutions-april-2024
thanks Kay. The only rule is to link when quoting. People are free to talk about things without linking. In this case I couldn't find anything myself online and was interested to see what they were doing and why. I'm also fine with you not putting your pseudonym at risk.
"The only rule is to link when quoting"
Wahoo!
Yes..!..very good..that defining/refining of the link rules..
I'm of a mind to think that the most useful use of a link..is as a tool to refute ill thought-out arguments/ideas..
It's good that ideas/concepts can be raised/discussed.. without having to footnote them with links…
I feel that the peak of the need for 'link' was back in those bad old days of squealing internet. .
Then it was a courtesy to readers..to help them navigate a torturously slow internet..
That was then..now everyone has access to blindingly fast internet..and if interested in topic being discussed..can access reams of information in seconds..
So no longer that much need for that link- courtesy ..
From the site policy
If you're asked to provide proof for something you assert as a 'fact' then you should be prepared to do so.
Well, yes, Phil, well said, only when "bald assertions" are made, links are required, imo.
Otoh, opinions, vague and waffly, needn't be, imo.
Tricky for the mods, but irksome to the free-wheelers, like you and I 🙂
And Cancer sticks Casey Costello reveals more of her true self and it is a black soul indeed…
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/509863/tobacco-tax-document-leaker-no-longer-working-at-ministry-of-health
The important thing at the ministry of tobacco and other cashed up industries is not to get in the minister’s way…
The Fascist Cancer Stick killer who also dislikes Maori and history: Casey Costello
Is she the worst MP of this government?
Whenever I read about that lady and the rest of her cohort, I call vividly to mind a Tom Scott cartoon from a previous time NZF returned to the House after a spell outside it. Winston was portrayed as a hayseed mid-west US farmer, driving a cartload of straw-chewing hicks and warning them: "Now just keep quiet and say you're with me!".
For someone who rails against waka jumpers, when you look back at the crew of MPs NZ First has had, there’s been a diverse bunch of occasionally diametrically opposed folk. Winston is fairly much the only constant. From Neil Kirton to the Maori seats of Tuku and Tau to Richard Prosser to Tracey Martin to this most recent crop…
A minister of the Crown who dishonourably lies to parliament and someone who can provide evidence of this loses their job for doing so.
The government’s lack of standards are now obvious.
This is a government that intends to get away with lies.
Someone needs to set up a system for receiving "public service" leaks, because when whistleblowers are compromised representative and accountable government is compromised.
Oh yes.
The UK uses Air Jordan to drop some aid in north Gaza.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68360902
After this, they had to do something.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2024/02/israeli-forces-opened-fire-on-food-aid-truck-un-documents-and-satellite-analysis-reveals.html
Auckland trains have "total signal failure" right now.
Total signal failure pretty much describes the relationship between Auckland Transport and Kiwirail.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland-train-disruption-total-signal-failure-causing-ongoing-delays-across-network/TDFAFDIAOJHNRNVAN4S3IYSILQ/
why are they not saying what today's "technical issue" was?
Auckland is a joke,
Auckland's train system is a not-very-funny, but very expensive joke.
The case for a rent freeze or at the very least the Greens rent increase cap of 3% pa from 2021 – to reduce inflation and prevent poverty – explained. .
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2024/02/new-statistics-nz-child-poverty-figures-show-increase-in-material-hardship.html