Open mike 22/07/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, July 22nd, 2015 - 165 comments
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165 comments on “Open mike 22/07/2015 ”

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  1. Paul 1
    22 July 2015 at 6:49 am

    The Herald is a dreadful rag, filling its pages with pap they garnered from social media about D grade ‘celebrities.’
    http://m.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11484464

    • The lost sheep 1.1
      22 July 2015 at 7:42 am

      They publish Pap because many people enjoy it Paul.
      If it ain’t for you, just don’t read it?
      And stop bothering us with it. I don’t think many here are interested in it.

      • Facetious 1.1.1
        22 July 2015 at 7:49 am

        +100

      • half crown 1.1.2
        22 July 2015 at 8:31 am

        “And stop bothering us with it. I don’t think many here are interested in it.”

        I am interested in his comments the same as I am interested in yours.

        I am glad he bothers us with it as it reinforces something we are aware of already and that is, the continuation of the dumbing down shit the right wing media wants us all to see. Nothing controversial, nothing that can rock the cosy right wing fucking boat, unless it is about the opposition to the right..

        Don’t read that pathetic excuse for shit house paper, but there are several international things on the go at the moment that can and will affect NZ. Have not seen one item mentioned on our Television. The likes of Christy and that simpering blond he has as a side kick are more interesting showing some guy (suppose to be funny ha ha ) taking to another’s throat with a chainsaw, minus chain of course. Very funny and mind stretching ha ha not.

        • The lost sheep 1.1.2.1
          22 July 2015 at 9:10 am

          So tell me, how do the media force people to read the pap?

          • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1.2.1.1
            22 July 2015 at 9:19 am

            By conflating it with several gross and disrespectful acts.

            • The lost sheep 1.1.2.1.1.1
              22 July 2015 at 10:02 am

              How would that force anyone to read it if they weren’t interested in it?

              • One Anonymous Bloke …
                22 July 2015 at 10:14 am

                Why is force your benchmark? The subeditor will attack me unless I at least glance at the headline?

                What if I’m interested in the blatant monetisation of deliberate offence – let’s call it ‘bullying for money’ – and The Herald’s role in that?

                Can I read it then? Perhaps I should only read things I already agree with, eh Sheep.

                • The lost sheep …
                  22 July 2015 at 10:41 am

                  You’ve run way off track there OAB.
                  Force is my ‘benchmark’, because of course the media can’t force you to read or watch material you don’t freely choose to take in.
                  And even if you do freely choose to take it in, neither the media or anyone else can force you to think about it in any specific manner.

                  So when HC makes yet another variation on the theme you can read here everyday, i.e. ‘The media are brainwashing people for RW purposes’, I can tell you that is bullshit because it there is no possibility of successful brainwashing occurring.

                  Many people freely choose to watch and read pap, because they enjoy doing so, and as a believer in personal freedoms, I’m all for it.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    22 July 2015 at 10:46 am

                    there is no possibility of successful brainwashing occurring.

                    HC didn’t say “brainwashing”, they said “dumbing down” – and that of the media content, not the audience.

                    As for what you think is a possibility and what isn’t, the notion that public opinion cannot be influenced by the media will be of great relief to anyone concerned by the cost of advertising.

                    • The lost sheep …
                      22 July 2015 at 11:33 am

                      As Orwell said “Propaganda only works when it coincides with what the people were inclined towards anyway”.

                      So, no, you do not have to worry that a brilliant ad might influence you to purchase anything against your free will.
                      Nor do you have to shake with fear as you read a RW Political columnist, because you cannot be influenced by them unless you find their argument convincing and so choose to be.
                      And you don’t have to be concerned that watching the Kardashians will force you to be dumber than you have already chosen to be of your own free will.

                      So called ‘RW Media’ influence is a nonsense.
                      It is merely a bullshit mechanism by which some particularly deluded Lefties rationalise away the unacceptable reality that a great number of intelligent and rational people simply not agree with many LW theories.

                    • McFlock …
                      22 July 2015 at 12:29 pm

                      That assumes that individuals aren’t a milieu of conflicting impulses, ls.

                      Hey, part of me wants to be a selfish prick and keep my money rather than helping others with it. A tory ad appeals to that side. Part of me wants to be mellow and just drift along rather than doing something. Pap clickbait of do-nothing “celebrities” appeals to that side of me.

                      When other parts of me want to help folk, create something, write something, or thoroughly consider a subject like the nature of our society, there is little to no encouragement of that in the MSM.

                      This is “force” in the sense of a current, constantly pushing a boat in a right-wing direction. It takes energy to fight that power, simply to remain on a centre line.

                    • The lost sheep …
                      22 July 2015 at 12:44 pm

                      When other parts of me want to help folk, create something, write something, or thoroughly consider a subject like the nature of our society, there is little to no encouragement of that in the MSM.

                      Citation needed?
                      In among all the other areas the MSM covers, I see plenty of such material?

                      This is “force” in the sense of a current, constantly pushing a boat in a right-wing direction. It takes energy to fight that power, simply to remain on a centre line.

                      Citation needed?
                      What evidence is there that such a force in RW direction exists?
                      This topic has been discussed many times here, and I have never seen any solid conclusion to that effect reached.

                    • McFlock …
                      22 July 2015 at 1:29 pm

                      re: your first citation request: lol. Do you want me to cite something that I just said has “little to no” existence?

                      Tell you what: for every article that you can cite from the last week of NZ media (free to air channels, radio, the major broadsheets or their websites) that encourages creativity or complex thought, I can provide ten celebrity pap or conflict-driven drivel items.

                      As for the second request: description here, in Kicking the tyres : the New Zealand general election and electoral referendum of 2011
                      Jon Johansson 1961-; Stephen I. Levine; Corin Higgs
                      Wellington, N.Z. : Victoria University Press 2012

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      22 July 2015 at 1:50 pm

                      So, no, you do not have to worry that a brilliant ad might influence you to purchase anything against your free will.

                      Except that it does:

                      The Influence of Advertising
                      How Advertising Manipulates Your Choices and Spending Habits (and What to Do About It)

                      You see ads every day, whether it’s on a web page, before a movie, or in the middle of a TV show, and it’s easy to say “they’re just ads” because, at worst, they feel like a nuisance or interruption. A lot of people have difficulty accepting the idea that ads are manipulative because we want to believe we’re in complete control of our choices. While the concept of advertising isn’t inherently problematic, we’ve moved on from the “Eat at Joe’s” sign to far more complex and sometimes even moving, cinematic messages that are designed to create significant memories of a product. These memories are created because an ad succeeds at making us feel something—whether it’s good or bad—and that emotional response can have a profound effect on how we think and the choices we make.

                      Businesses wouldn’t spend billions every year if advertising didn’t manipulate people.

                      Nor do you have to shake with fear as you read a RW Political columnist, because you cannot be influenced by them unless you find their argument convincing and so choose to be.

                      Bollocks. RWNJ columnists do exactly the same as the advertisers – us overly emotion laden language to hide the facts and get a positive or negative response.

                      You’re obviously of the group of people who have difficulty accepting the idea that ads are manipulative because we want to believe we’re in complete control of our choices. Because of that you’re probably more manipulated than those of us who realise that the purpose of the MSM is to manipulate people.

                    • Ergo Robertina …
                      23 July 2015 at 1:27 pm

                      ”Tell you what: for every article that you can cite from the last week of NZ media (free to air channels, radio, the major broadsheets or their websites) that encourages creativity or complex thought, I can provide ten celebrity pap or conflict-driven drivel items.”

                      Wow that sounds like a somewhat Reithian appeal for the values underpinning decent public broadcasting, McFlock. Good to see you’ve come around.

                    • McFlock …
                      23 July 2015 at 1:35 pm

                      Nope, it was an unashamedly subjective opinion of all media, not just public broadcasting.

                      And I still think that the critically-acclaimed Top of the Lake was shit.

                    • Ergo Robertina …
                      23 July 2015 at 1:44 pm

                      Well, we have very little public broadcasting (the vandals are even in RadioNZ now) in this country – that’s the point.
                      I don’t know why you insist on conflating a presumably commercially viable drama (which screened on Sky) you disliked with the entire concept of public broadcasting.

                  • half crown …
                    22 July 2015 at 4:07 pm

                    “So when HC makes yet another variation on the theme you can read here everyday, i.e. ‘The media are brainwashing people for RW purposes’, I can tell you that is bullshit because it there is no possibility of successful brainwashing occurring.”

                    Hey mate what you have just written is fucking bullshit I have just seen this crap by you I never said the media is “brainwashing” for right wing purposes see my reply to you earlier response .

          • half crown 1.1.2.1.2
            22 July 2015 at 3:44 pm

            “So tell me, how do the media force people to read the pap? ”

            Nowhere did I imply that they were forced to read it.

            I make the point that all the media sing from the same right wing vested interest song sheet. Apart from the papers we have Hoskins, Henry, Christy, Garner, Alfred E Neuman (Gower) just to name a few giving the same right wing shit. There is no opposing views (apart from John Campbell and we all know what happened to his programme when the right started to feel “uncomfortable” with his subject matter) to create a robust debate so the general public can form a well informed opinion.

    • Facetious 1.2
      22 July 2015 at 8:08 am

      Stop whining and get on with life.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 1.2.1
        22 July 2015 at 8:09 am

        In other words, Paul, feeble trash ‘Facetious’ (Fatuous is a far better description) doesn’t like what you’re saying and would like you to stop saying it.

      • Gangnam Style 1.2.2
        22 July 2015 at 8:25 am

        “Stop whining and get on with life.” Pot meet kettle.

      • Charles 1.2.3
        22 July 2015 at 9:05 am

        Stop whining about other people whining and not getting on with their lives and get on your life without whining.

    • Puckish Rogue 1.3
      22 July 2015 at 9:02 am

      Must be the first thing you’ve said I agree with

    • ankerawshark 1.4
      22 July 2015 at 9:24 am

      I think Paul’s comments are really great. IMO he is one of a number of commenters that I value highly.

      And Open Mike is open mike………….we are free on this thread to post what we like as long as it isn’t offensive.

      Just one thing though. I am not sure this is completely mindless pap that doesn’t deserve some attention. Dom from the Edge social media comment was offensive and degrading of Crystal (I think that is her name, I don’t watch pap like Dw t S).

      I think he and his show embodies a lot of what is wrong on the airwaves. Offensive and exploitative. And remember the tee-shirt picture with “I am not sorry to be a man” taken with John Key…………….So I think it is worth reporting that many people objected to his comment and found it wasnt
      funny, but sickening really. His wife says he’s concerned when he hurts people? Then what is he going to do about his sexualizing of this woman???? The show might be pap, but its not porn.

      • Paul 1.4.1
        22 July 2015 at 5:13 pm

        The Edge.
        How the right wing turn young citizens into dumbed down mindless consumers.
        Key realises the value of this propaganda outlet.
        As for the hosts, it would appear their values are in total sync with the me me me world Thatcher, Reagan and Douglas ushered in.

        Best doco ever ‘the Century of Self’ by Adam Curtis.
        Highly recommended for pr and other Rand cult believers.

        • ankerawshark 1.4.1.1
          22 July 2015 at 5:34 pm

          Hi Paul,

          Agree entirely about the Edge…………….So I do think it is good if people are challenging the host Dom and saying what he posted wasn’t acceptable. Scum Dj imo.

          I do really appreciate all you posts and even though on this occasion I saw it differently, I have no problem with that. I wil try and watch the Curtis doco…..

          Cheers and keep posting.

          ps most of the Herald is pap or spin or both.

        • Realblue 1.4.1.2
          22 July 2015 at 7:27 pm

          You don’t like The Edge? Don’t listen to it.

    • marty mars 1.5
      22 July 2015 at 9:30 am

      paul this story is about sexual harassment and objectification of women and the response to it. Learn to read the bigger story and then comment please – the minigun approach doesn’t work imo.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 1.5.1
        22 July 2015 at 9:37 am

        True, and so The Herald put it in the “entertainment” pages…

        • marty mars 1.5.1.1
          22 July 2015 at 9:41 am

          Front page is what I saw – this has been top for a couple of days and the responses from each party have been very interesting imo – a microscope showing some germs indeed.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 1.5.1.1.1
            22 July 2015 at 9:49 am

            I’m going from the url – Paul’s link.

            I was pleased to see the Clayton’s apology called out for what it was, as well as the ‘shock jock’ modus operandi on display. I hadn’t seen the front page. I note they’re calling it the “DWTS feud”, as opposed to “Idiot makes a mess, refuses to clean up.”

    • Morrissey 1.6
      22 July 2015 at 10:58 am

      Maybe the tone and quality will improve when they hire that racist Taupo WINZ manager as a columnist?

    • Draco T Bastard 1.7
      22 July 2015 at 1:32 pm

      In Defence of Chrystal Chenery

      What this torrent of hostility has proved is that women’s bodies are still being treated differently. This difference is the reason Simon Barnett can wheel out his nips on ’80s night a mesh vest, yet when I go to recreate his iconic costume I make myself wear a singlet underneath for modesty. It’s the reason Dom Harvey himself can pointedly rip off his pants and shake his jockeys down the camera lens, and yet Chrystal is hounded on Facebook for being a “slut”, after exposing her underpants for a fraction of a second as a consequence of jaw-droppingly difficult routine. It’s like how Si’s shirtless ‘Dad bod’ has probably got a gold shrine in Hagley Park by now, and yet Chrystal is the one coming under fire for wearing a short sparkly dress in a dancing competition.

  2. Realblue 2
    22 July 2015 at 8:03 am

    So don’t read it. Every day you complain about the bloody Herald, be a grown up and make a grown up decision. Don’t read it.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 2.1
      22 July 2015 at 8:15 am

      😆

      What’s with the trashy wingnut tag-team attention Paul’s getting this morning. Paul must be doing something right.

      • Ben 2.1.1
        22 July 2015 at 9:07 am

        OAB to the rescue (again). Paul’s post simply reinforces the fact that he is intolerant of other people’s opinions and viewing habits.

        Whether he likes it or not, the JJ saga is one of the 5 most viewed pages on The Hearld – why would they stop pushing the story when it is so popular? Guess what Paul..? There are other people out there that are younger, less bitter and more outgoing than you, and they actually enjoy that stuff. Not me, but I certainly don’t complain about it, and don’t click on it.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 2.1.1.1
          22 July 2015 at 9:14 am

          Paul makes no such comments. His alleged intolerance is your inference. To me it looks like he’s castigating The Herald, and several wingnuts want him to shut up.

          Intolerance of other people’s views is on display alright. Just not from Paul.

      • infused 2.1.2
        22 July 2015 at 9:24 am

        All Paul does is whinge. Much like yourself. I guess that’s why you come to his aid all the time.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 2.1.2.1
          22 July 2015 at 9:31 am

          😆

          You are a nasty hostile lot this morning, aren’t you. What’s the matter, did floods go under your bridges or something?

          • maui 2.1.2.1.1
            22 July 2015 at 10:29 am

            The wringers like the bad boys, and Dom is just one of the so called brat pack, along with Hoskings and Henry. As well as bad boys it seems they just like bad newspapers to go along side.

            • McFlock 2.1.2.1.1.1
              22 July 2015 at 12:35 pm

              “brat pack”?
              Makes them sound like endearing wee scamps.

              More like fuck-ruck.

      • Paul 2.1.3
        22 July 2015 at 4:13 pm

        Clearly critiquing the news is not acceptable for some. I certainly hit a nerve by commenting on their propaganda machine.

        If the Herald were only outlet out of many and it was foisting this celebrity sensationalism on us, then I’d probably defer from commenting so regularly on it. But the Herald is the only newspaper in the Auckland region.

        And Fairfax’s garbage is probably worse. Their stable of papers pump out pretty much the same level of trivia posing as news.

        TV news has degenerated into the pap led by Hosking, Henry, Christie and others. Unbiased high level news it certainly isn’t.

        If you turn on the radio airwaves, there are the odd oases, but here they are still dominated by the shrill voices on ZB and Radio Live.

        So you see in NZ there are only a small minority of voices now that don’t subscribe to the neo-liberal propaganda machine. And this has seen a gradual and deliberate dumbing down of the population, so that many citizens are able to dicsuss the All Blacks, Reality TV shows and celebrity gossip in great detail, yet are ignorant about the issues that really affect their lives, like the TPP, Climate Change, the neoliberal experiment and foreign affairs, to name but a few.

        I think that this is the reason the shills for the elite who attend this site don’t like my critique of the Herald.

        Can I encourage everyone, including those attacking me with their usual ad hominems, to watch this film. It’s about the Amercian media and in many ways our own media is more owned and controlled than theirs?

    • RedLogix 2.2
      22 July 2015 at 8:40 am

      Actually you are right RB. Scoop, Guardian, RadioNZ, RT, Aljazeera are all a LOT more interesting. The local rags really are just a bad habit.

    • DH 2.3
      22 July 2015 at 10:16 am

      “Every day you complain about the bloody Herald, be a grown up and make a grown up decision. Don’t read it.”

      The irony is thick here…… could also tell the lurking media types to stop reading The Standard if they don’t like what they read.

  3. Skinny 3
    22 July 2015 at 8:30 am

    Not surprisingly ‘the good ole boys network’ running Auckland Super City. Asian and Pacific Islander’s well under represented.

    http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11484680&ref=NZH

  4. Brendan 4
    22 July 2015 at 8:38 am

    House price rise increases inequality – English. No shit Bill! What have you been doing about that?

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/279353/house-price-rise-increases-inequality-english

    • tc 4.1
      22 July 2015 at 8:56 am

      Making sure it continues as that what their backers want.

      Blinglish is good at faking concern which comes from a lifetime in the beltway never working outside the bubble of treasury/national party MP.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 4.1.1
        22 July 2015 at 9:27 am

        “We’re keen to get the cost of housing down”.

        That’s the plan: aspirational.

        One way house prices can come down is when the bubble goes pop and people are left with negative equity. I wonder if Double Dipton has heard of that.

        • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1.1
          22 July 2015 at 2:15 pm

          Probably counting on it as it makes it easier to shift more people into private rentals so that the rentiers can become bigger bludgers.

  5. vto 5
    22 July 2015 at 9:24 am

    it is that time of the year when the absence of the rich in our neighbourhoods is noticed.

    they are all in the islands or northern hemisphere, hiding from the cold and dark winter…. they do it every year …….

    and do you know what? It highlights their lack of use in society. We all carry on, doing the necessary work to keep our communities going, smiling with the gods of life..

    .. while they are absent. The rich are unnecessary and this time of life when they all abandon our lands proves it.

    The rich are of no use. Proved.

    • Clean_power 5.1
      22 July 2015 at 9:27 am

      How do you know they are not saying exactly the same about you while wherever they are enjoying their holidays? The poor are of no use. Proved.

      It cuts both ways.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1.1
        22 July 2015 at 9:34 am

        That must be why general strikes are illegal. No, wait…

      • adam 5.1.2
        22 July 2015 at 9:39 am

        So you hate the poor Clean_power?

        Well that explains a lot about why you come across as having no empathy – and very little in the way of ethics.

      • vto 5.1.3
        22 July 2015 at 9:53 am

        Clean-power that is a useless statement / knee jerk response. But nonetheless…… how is such proved? How is it that the rich being out of the country and the poor being in the country prove that the poor are of no use?

        It doesn’t.

        And unless you can come up with something quickly then you are an idiot. And a waste of space – you wouldn’t happen to be rich per chance would you?

        • Clean_power 5.1.3.1
          22 July 2015 at 10:03 am

          No, I do not hate the poor (but you seem to hate the rich).
          I was using the analogy to ridicule your absurd and nonsensical statement “The rich are of no use. Proved.”

          • vto 5.1.3.1.1
            22 July 2015 at 10:27 am

            I didn’t ask if you hate the poor.

            And there is nothing absurd or nonsensical about my statement that the rich are of no use. I made the statement and then provided some evidence to prove it, namely that the country carries on regardless when the rich are out of the country, therefore the rich are useless.

            What evidence have you got for your baseless statement that the poor are useless? Anything? You have nothing so far – nothing. You’ve got nothing clean-power. You are useless too. Put up or shut up.

          • Charles 5.1.3.1.2
            22 July 2015 at 10:31 am

            I notice you use words I would not have used, in ways I would not consider. Possibly you are not me, which would explain a lot. I say this to expose the nonsensical absurdity of you not being me.

      • McFlock 5.1.4
        22 July 2015 at 12:44 pm

        Oh, I’m sure they have interchangable poor people where they holiday. To make the cocktails and clean the shower.

      • Draco T Bastard 5.1.5
        22 July 2015 at 2:20 pm

        http://www.angryflower.com/atlass.gif

        So, no, it doesn’t cut both ways. We can do without the rich. In fact, we can’t afford them and we should stop paying for them.

      • Paul 5.1.6
        22 July 2015 at 4:17 pm

        A very telling statement.

  6. The Chairman 6
    22 July 2015 at 9:32 am

    The ultimate Claytons dairy farm sale

    Shanghai Pengxin spokeswoman confirmed that there was no intention on the part of the company to sell the farms but it was going through the procedure because it had to follow the law.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/70429467/shanghai-pengxin-puts-all-its-farms-up-for-sale

    • The Chairman 6.1
      22 July 2015 at 9:49 am

      Ponder this:

      If one can openly tout they are merely going through the process, what’s the point of such toothless legislation?

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/70429467/shanghai-pengxin-puts-all-its-farms-up-for-sale

    • vto 6.2
      22 July 2015 at 9:57 am

      If there is an obligation to put the farms up for sale then there is clearly an obligation to sell….

      will be interesting to see an offer come in
      will be interesting to see them turn down the offer
      will be interesting to see a high court judge consider their refusal to accept offer and make them sell

      this should be most definitely be played out through the courts, especially in light of the fact that the company has stated it has no intention of genuinely offering for sale, contrary to the legislation ………

  7. Molly 7
    22 July 2015 at 9:33 am

    One for philure if he is still visiting….

    The Yes Men: Skip Showers for Beef campaign.

  8. Molly 8
    22 July 2015 at 9:44 am

    Nick Smith will be heading to Aussie in October to talk to some of their social housing non-profits. So the intent to offload state housing at all costs will continue.

    Would have had more credibility if this kind of investigation had taken place before the decision to offload had been made. But even then – it has nothing to do with outcomes, just ideology.

  9. Morrissey 9
    22 July 2015 at 10:55 am

    “We’re white. That’s the problem. We’re white.”
    The spirit of Sir Paul Holmes raises its ugly head in Taupo

    A Māori woman and a Pākehā male are refused entry into a Taupo bar because of inebriation issues. The Pākehā male glares in outraged faux-wonderment at the bouncer, who is Māori, and rants at the bouncer in a wheedling tone….

    (I’ve edited out the drunken contributions by his female companion, and also the good-natured, professional restraint of the bouncer.)

    “That’s why your bar’s shit. You don’t let the right people in. We wanna come in here and pay money. … [some indistinct mumbling]…. We’re WHITE. That’s the problem. We’re white, that’s the problem. Intoxicated? You don’t even know what intoxicated means. That’s CRAZY! I can’t believe you would say that. I’ve just WATCHED who you’ve let in. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Racist, that’s what it is. Racist shit. F***ing n***ers! No that’s what it is, racist shit. That’s what it is.”

    If this fool is fired, as he should be, no doubt he would fit in perfectly to a job at NewstalkZB.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11484044

    • Puckish Rogue 9.1
      22 July 2015 at 11:09 am

      His sense of entitlement and playing of the race card suggests he should stand for Labour at the next election

      • Morrissey 9.1.1
        22 July 2015 at 11:24 am

        No, it’s National that’s the racist party. Certainly, Labour has come out of the Chinese names fiasco looking incredibly inept, and many people were disturbed by the Clark government’s brutal persecution of Ahmed Zaoui, which involved a considerable element of racism.

        So Labour is by no means perfect, as we have seen recently. But it is National that still bears the shame of the overtly racist 1975 campaign—they were targeting Pacific Islanders back then—and, more recently, the shame of Don Brash’s anti-Māori campaign, and employed the maliciously racist John Ansell to design the infamous “Iwi/Kiwi” billboards.

        • Puckish Rogue 9.1.1.1
          22 July 2015 at 11:39 am

          Of course the dawn raids were started by Labour in 1973 but yes National did continue them with gusto

          • Morrissey 9.1.1.1.1
            22 July 2015 at 11:53 am

            “With gusto”? That’s a very diplomatic way of portraying a campaign of overwhelming force against people who National voters at that time sneeringly called “the Coconuts”. People like Sam Lotu-Liga seem to be unaware of that, but most Pasifika people are not.

            • Puckish Rogue 9.1.1.1.1.1
              22 July 2015 at 11:57 am

              I’m sure there more than a few union memebers that were anti “the Coconuts” taking “their” jobs at the time as well

              • Morrissey …
                22 July 2015 at 5:13 pm

                I’m sure there more than a few union memebers that were anti “the Coconuts” taking “their” jobs at the time as well

                There were racist workers, of course. They voted for Muldoon.

    • weka 9.2
      22 July 2015 at 1:42 pm

      Still don’t know why who they’re employed by was an issue.

      • Morrissey 9.2.1
        22 July 2015 at 5:12 pm

        Still don’t know why who they’re employed by was an issue.

        Actually, it’s crucial. That Mike Hosking/Paul Holmes soundalike ranting about “f***ing ni**ers” is a senior manager at Work and Income New Zealand. Surely that is one organisation that demands a minimal standard of decency and decorum. Well, at least since Christine Spankin’ Rankin left.

        • weka 9.2.1.1
          22 July 2015 at 6:21 pm

          Yes, the dept should look at that. But it’s not part of the news story unless they were on work time.

          • Morrissey 9.2.1.1.1
            22 July 2015 at 6:42 pm

            That’s true, but they hold positions of public responsibility in a small town, and to behave with such a flagrant disregard of public decency—unleashing that obscenity-larded racist tirade—surely disqualifies him from holding that position from now on.

            His female companion’s behaviour was foolish, and she was drunk in a public place—but the really offensive behaviour was all on the part of the male.

            • weka 9.2.1.1.1.1
              22 July 2015 at 7:35 pm

              That might all be true, and given he got himself filmed in public I hope his employers do look at the incident and consider how this might impact on his ability to do his job. But it still is not a matter for the media or public unless he was on work time.

  11. travellerev 11
    22 July 2015 at 11:20 am

    My two cents on Max and Instagram and why I think we should be discussing children. Everybody’s children. period!

    Politician’s Children Should Be Left Alone…. Should They?

  12. cricklewood 12
    22 July 2015 at 11:48 am

    Sean Plunkett has just ripped corrections minister to shreds on radio live. He managed to get confirmation the victim was injured at Mount Eden prior to the transfer…

    • McFlock 12.1
      22 July 2015 at 12:51 pm

      This really is fucking disgusting.

      I really hope some prisoners manage to sue the crap out of Serco and corrections.

    • greywarshark 12.2
      22 July 2015 at 8:19 pm

      Gosh all day it has been like the immaculate conception just like a bolt out of the blue sometime after arrival at Ngawha.

      And my racist feelings are getting the better of me. If I’m going to hear some johnny talking down the grim Serco reality why can’t it be a Kiwi, nawt a Scotsman.

  13. Clemgeopin 13
    22 July 2015 at 12:12 pm

    Sam Lotu Iinga, Corrections Minister answers (?) Sean Plunket’s simple questions on Radio Live:

    Listen and get enlightened.

    http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Corrections-Minister-fronts-over-prison-death/tabid/506/articleID/91909/Default.aspx

    • crashcart 13.1
      22 July 2015 at 1:16 pm

      Wow it was really nice of Plunket to install that new asshole for the minister. He may have been able to be a bit more gentle but it sounds like it is really big.

      • mac1 13.1.1
        22 July 2015 at 1:41 pm

        The Corrections Minister will be sacked after that interview with Sean Plunket for his inability to lie and obfuscate with ease, and for his not bailing out of the interview once he started getting the rough handling.

        “Can I suggest to you Minister that you get better prepared because it’s very hard to interview you when you are not prepared.” (paraphrased)

        This however was the same minister who had no problem with accusing Labour’s first speaker, Kelvin Davis, in the urgent debate on Serco and Mt Eden of bringing a dead man into the argument.

        In essence what the Minister was saying was that he won’t speak until he has all the facts, and hopefully that won’t be until the media has moved onto the next important issue such as crotch-displays and drunken drummers.

        The Minister has not answered why reports many months old were not acted upon by persons responsible in Serco and the Department which spoke of staged fights, harm including broken jaws, broken legs and ruptured lungs.

        Also not answered is why Serco did not know about what inmates were up to without supervision when congregated together. No staff member around? No body to hear the sounds of fighting? No officer to check the damage done to bodies?

        The Speaker was right in his introduction to allow the urgent debate. This is an important matter. Kelvin Davis was also right to point out that the State has the right to incarcerate and also the obligation to care for those it incarcerates.

        Not only are prisoners poorly supervised and being harmed by other inmates but prisoners are not getting the help which inmates need to help address their problems.

        A society is judged on its treatment of its most vulnerable and powerless. Inmates, especially on remand and awaiting trial, are at the mercy of the quality and amount of protection offered by their jailers, acting on the government’s, and our, behalf.

        • Colonial Rawshark 13.1.1.1
          22 July 2015 at 3:03 pm

          +100

          the ability to take away a persons freedom is amongst the most coercive powers of the Crown – therefore it must not be contracted out and the Crown must fully discharge all responsibilities associated with the exercise of that coercive power.

        • greywarshark 13.1.1.2
          22 July 2015 at 8:33 pm

          The Nacts would be inclined to allocate this unpleasant Corrections portfolio to one of their brown group, or one of the women, but more likely to be a man. It would not be high on the pecking order I should think.

          Social Welf is an interesting one, suitable for a woman but also with a very large budget so having managed that successfully, if that is a suitable word, Poorer Benefit has proved herself.

          Corrections, should be a doddle according to the theory of Private Enterprise Proficiency or PEP – just made that up – but theory and reality being long divorced poor Corrections guy better take his suits in, as he’s going to lose weight.

  14. Les 14
    22 July 2015 at 12:23 pm

    from ‘The Big Short’-Michael Lewis-‘we have a simple thesis…said Eisman.There is going to be a calamity,and whenever there is a calamity,Merrill is there.Merrill Lynch was the little fat kid assigned the least pleasant roles,just happy to be part of things’.Interesting read in light of Wall St bankers comments that ‘no one saw it coming(GFC)’.The complicity and duplicity of the ratings agencies and financial institutions and the amorality and incompetence is mind blowing.And what has changed?Aren’t we lucky to have an ex Merrill manager as P.M….THE ‘BEST’ IS YET TO COME.:(

  15. weka 15
    22 July 2015 at 1:40 pm

    Sharon Murdoch nails Key again as Hawaiian Joy Germ Hits New Zealand,

    https://twitter.com/domesticanimal/status/623579412869419008

  16. Clemgeopin 16
    22 July 2015 at 1:55 pm

    QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS

    1. Dr JIAN YANG to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he received on the performance of the New Zealand economy and the Government’s management of its finances?

    2. ANDREW LITTLE to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his justification for the $26 million process to consider changing the flag that “It’s just sheer confusion with Australia. Even at APEC they tried to take me to Abbott’s seat”?

    3. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?

    4. Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Minister for Building and Housing: What are the costs and benefits of the recently announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 that will require homes to be insulated and to have smoke alarms?

    5. GRANT ROBERTSON to the Minister of Finance: When did he first become aware that there was an international glut of dairy products and does he stand by his reported comments that he has no plans to take active steps to diversify the economy in response to falling dairy prices?

    6. JAMES SHAW to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his answers to Oral Question No. 4 yesterday?

    7. RICHARD PROSSER to the Minister of Finance: Is he still sceptical about how effective a register of foreign property buyers would be; if so, why?

    8. Dr SHANE RETI to the Minister of Health: What recent reports has he received on the effectiveness of the child immunisation programme?

    9. PHIL TWYFORD to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by his statement about whether inequality was a problem in the Auckland housing market, “We’ve been concerned about that for some time, that there’s part of Auckland where there’s been really no new supply of lower value houses that low and middle-income families can afford”?

    10. JONO NAYLOR to the Minister of Justice: What announcements has she made about improving the oversight and supervision for offenders deported to New Zealand?

    11. METIRIA TUREI to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that “You certainly wouldn’t want to say to a low-income family they can never own a home, because I believe that they can own a home.”?

    12. KELVIN DAVIS to the Minister of Corrections: Does he stand by his statement in regards to the July 2014 report on fight clubs in Mt Eden Corrections Facility, that he “became aware of the report’s existence only late last week”?

    QUESTIONS TO MEMBERS

    1. MAHESH BINDRA to the Member in charge of the New Zealand International Convention Centre Act 2013 Repeal Bill: What is the intention of the New Zealand International Convention Centre Act 2013 Repeal Bill?

    2. CLAYTON MITCHELL to the Member in charge of the Fighting Foreign Corporate Control Bill: What is the intention of the Fighting Foreign Corporate Control Bill?

    ENDS

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1507/S00346.htm

    • greywarshark 16.1
      22 July 2015 at 2:41 pm

      Heard Kelvin Davis on radionz this morning and he fronted up to media confidently, clearly and with thoughtful approach so he wasn’t caught out in any traps.

      • Puckish Rogue 16.1.1
        22 July 2015 at 4:26 pm

        To think Labour (and more than a few people on here as well) wanted him to throw in the towel and let Hone win

      • Chooky 16.1.2
        22 July 2015 at 5:38 pm

        greywarshark +100…Kelvin Davis seems to be doing quite well…he would make a good Labour list MP….thereby leaving TTT to Mana/Int and Hone ( Mana/Int had some great prospective MPs….)

        …thereby creating a valuable flaxroots/grassroots Left Maori Party coalition partner for Labour ( similar to the supportive role Act plays for Nactional)…

      • Morrissey 16.1.3
        22 July 2015 at 5:50 pm

        Heard Kelvin Davis on radionz this morning and he fronted up to media confidently, clearly and with thoughtful approach so he wasn’t caught out in any traps.

        I presume by your positive comment that he did better than he did when attacked by Paul Henry on TV3 just after 7 o’clock. Davis was clearly rattled by Henry’s aggressive, disrespectful tone, and became practically incoherent. I’m going to put up a transcript of the débâcle on Open Mike tomorrow morning.

        • greywarshark 16.1.3.1
          22 July 2015 at 7:37 pm

          Yes Radio this a.m. I don’t watch tv at present. I feel disinclined to watch anything put on by sleaze running television now except for Maori which I hope is managing to not get sucked into the vortex. Trying to hold onto thoughts while being needled by death heads like Henry sounds would rattle anyone. Perhaps all pollies should go to boot camps conducted by trained Army, police personnel or callous courtroom lawyers trained in intensive questioning.

  17. joe90 17
    22 July 2015 at 2:04 pm

    Tory wrecking ball set to wreck everything that’s good about informing, educating and entertaining.

    http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/bbc/36237/the-bbc-funding-and-why-its-worth-fighting-for

  18. Rosemary McDonald 18
    22 July 2015 at 2:18 pm

    And in the “Government employee actually does his job” category…

    Paul Gibson addresses the Health Select Committee…

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/279402/call-for-inquiry-into-family-caregiver-pay

    Paul Gibson has been so consistently staunch in his government paid role as the advocate for disabled people that I constantly fear for his continued employment.

  19. greywarshark 19
    22 July 2015 at 2:22 pm

    A book that all Labour fans may not have read.

    1890
    by Warwick Johnston
    DESCRIPTION:
    It is election night, 5 December 1890. Willis Street in Wellington is a sea of people all jostling for a vantage point in front of the massive illuminated results board. This night is the culmination of an extraordinary year in our brief history. It heralds the dawn of socialism, unionism, and inevitably, the New Zealand Labour Party. In 1890 we see the events leading up to the election through the eyes of two fledgling union activists, Marty and Tui, in a fresh and insightful perspective of one of our most turbulent and significant eras.

    Available Trademe $22 Buy Now Free shipping

    • greywarshark 19.1
      22 July 2015 at 2:37 pm

      Book – WW1
      Trme $23 post $3 (comes from Oz)

      Good-bye to all that by Robert Graves
      Description:
      There was no patriotism in the trenches. It was too remote a sentiment, and rejected as fit only for civilians. A new arrival who talked patriotism would soon be told to cut it out. As Blighty, Great Britain was a quiet, easy place to get back to out of the present foreign misery, but as a nation it was nothing. This is the original version of Robert Graves’ intense memoir of the First World War, restoring this raw, emotionally truthful, darkly comic work to the way it was first written, by a young man still reeling from the trenches.

      We see the dark heart of the book even more clearly, and hear it beating even more loudly, in this original edition than we do in the comparatively careful and considered terms of the later one’ Andrew Motion ‘One of the most candid self-portraits, warts and all, ever painted. (TLS). Robert Graves was born in 1895 in Wimbledon. He went from school to the First World War, where he became a captain in the Royal Welch Fusiliers and was seriously wounded at the Battle of the Somme. He wrote his autobiography, Goodbye to All That, in 1929, and it was soon established as a modern classic. He died on 7 December 1985 in Majorca, his home since 1929.

      Andrew Motion’s most recent collection of poetry is The Cinder Path. He was poet laureate from 1999 to 2009 and is now Professor of Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, University of London. Fran Brearton is Professor of Modern Poetry at Queen’s University Belfast and author of The Great War in Irish Poetry.

      • Chooky 19.1.1
        22 July 2015 at 6:04 pm

        +100..great book!

      • half crown 19.1.2
        22 July 2015 at 7:36 pm

        Thanks for that greywarshark, I am always on the outlook for good new reading material especially when someone can give a good appraisal.
        I have just finished Thomas Pakenham’s Boar War. If you have not read it I can highly recommend it.
        A large book but extremely comprehensive Without giving too much detail about it all I can say is that History has a nasty habit of repeating itself and fucking politicians of all colours never learn.
        For Blair and Bush with the weapons of mass destruction to get at the oil in Iraq, read Rhodes and Milner and the poor Uitlanders to get at the Rand gold.
        The British generals would have been the biggest bunch of incompetents the world has seen with some of them going on to create mayhem in the first world war like Butcher Haig, Hamilton, and the biggest prat of them all who set up the concentration camps in South Africa, Kitchener.

        I will try and get 1890 on my e reader.

        Another good book, once again if you have not read it is “It’s Not Rocket Science” by Ben Miller
        Never heard of him but he’s a comedian in the uk
        This is what the preamble says about the book.
        Black holes. DNA. The Large Hadron Collider. Ever had that sneaking feeling that you are missing out on some truly spectacular science?
        You do? Well, fear not, for help is at hand.
        Ben Miller was working on his Physics PhD at Cambridge when he accidentally became a comedian. But first love runs deep, and he has returned to his roots to share with you all his favourite bits of science. This is the stuff you really need to know, not only because it matters but because it will quite simply amaze and delight you.
        ‘Let me show you another, perhaps less familiar side of Science; her beauty, her seductiveness and her passion. And let’s do it quickly, while Maths isn’t looking’

        • greywarshark 19.1.2.1
          22 July 2015 at 8:00 pm

          Great half crown. Thanks for heads up.
          Talking about science I was trying an aphorism out in my head so will try it out on you. Don’t worry telling me if you don’t like it!

          On spending $100 mill (or pounds) looking for signs of intelligent life in space,
          I think this goes from blue sky research to black hole. And if it’s good science then we might find pi in the sky.

          And I consider comparing the venture to James Cook setting out into unknown waters, is like the simplistic comparing of the nation’s economic transactions with a citizen’s household budget.

          If they wanted to do some blue sky research on earth, they could scan the brains of all politicians and armed forces heads and advisors? Probably nearly all aliens if we only knew.

          • half crown 19.1.2.1.1
            23 July 2015 at 9:43 am

            Ha I like it.
            I have thought for ages that a lot of politicians are Aliens. There is a lot of Si Fi fiction about Aliens amongst us I am not sure that it is fiction, it is for real.
            Apart from the politicians The likes of Gower and Hoskins are definitely not from this world.
            It has been said the only thing that has made Prof Hawkins survive all these years with that terrible Motor Neuron disease is his determination of solving his theories on black Holes.
            Is the singularity a potential big bang into another dimension?
            Apart from doing some blue sky research, he can resolve and prove his theorem by coming to NZ, as I suspect our John Key and his government are definitely from another dimension.
            Think of all the money they will save, as it will only cost them the air fare and accommodation and I don’t think they will need to stay longer than half hour.

            On a more serious note , many on here have suggested good books to read.
            So please keep us informed of any good books you have read. I do look at Good Reads but I find books suggested by other people are always good as the y tend to give a unbiased opinion.
            That Boar War was suggested to me by a South African, he also suggested Pakenham’s “Scramble for Africa” The little bits I have read, it appears to be another good book.

    • Chooky 19.2
      22 July 2015 at 6:06 pm

      thanks..is this a new book ie can I get it at Whitcoulls?

      • greywarshark 19.2.1
        22 July 2015 at 7:19 pm

        Hi Chooky
        Can try. Here is the guff about it. Perhaps you can phone or email and ask – quote number etc.

        This is from online Southern Skies that has it for about $13.60 approx. There are numerous copies from different suppliers on line, and each seems to have a different number. I guess this is for different editions. Prices differ and not all of them mention other poets and writers like Motion.
        Product Details:
        ISBN: 9781909621053
        Format: Hardback
        Pages: 480
        Dims (mm): 93 x 150
        Pub Date: 01-09-13
        Pub Country: United Kingdom
        Condition: NEW

  20. McFlock 20
    22 July 2015 at 2:24 pm

    I read somewhere but lost the link that the SNP have nicked the opposition front benches from Labour after the UKLabs abstained on the tory welfare cuts. SNP decided that the Opposition needs to actually oppose in order to deserve the title 🙂

  21. G C 21
    22 July 2015 at 2:26 pm

    John Key is killing it in The House today. Andrew Little leading with questions about the ‘flag’! John Key totally made Mr Little look like an out-of-touch fool!

    National are now asking themselves the ‘big topic’ questions. Labour have yet again missed an opportunity – opportunities are just hanging on the vine for Labour, yet they wont pick them.

    Labour seems like a hopeless case. #ShiftingCamps

    Hold Up… …Here comes Grant Robertson on Dairy…

    2:25pm

  22. Macro 22
    22 July 2015 at 4:38 pm

    El Nino brings hottest 6th month global temperatures in 136 years of records – and still developing. So much for an “hiatus”! Look for a hum dinger of a drought here this summer folks. Thank goodness I’m not a dairy farmer.
    http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/el-nino-fuels-hottest-june-and-hottest-six-months-on-record-us-agency-noaa-20150721-gigqju

    • Chooky 22.1
      22 July 2015 at 6:26 pm

      pretty sobering!…last summer was unbearable at times….and some farmers still have not received rain…desperate alright…especially if you are a dairy farmer

      I am puzzled however about the talk of a new small ‘ice age’ coming in the next 15 years…personally i hope so…although it may not do much to stop global warming

      http://www.sciencealert.com/a-mini-ice-age-is-coming-in-the-next-15-years

      http://www.livescience.com/51597-maunder-minimum-mini-ice-age.html

      http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s4277443.htm

      • Chooky 22.1.1
        22 July 2015 at 6:36 pm

        Looks like the ‘ice age’ will only buy time from the relentless global warming:

        http://www.iflscience.com/environment/mini-ice-age-not-reason-ignore-global-warming

        ‘There Probably Won’t Be A “Mini Ice Age” In 15 Years’

        Zharkova ” commented on how the changes in the Sun are likely to affect the Earth’s environment. “During the minimum, the intensity of solar radiation will be reduced dramatically. So we will have less heat coming into the atmosphere, which will reduce the temperature.”

        However, Zharkova ends with a word of warning: not about the cold but about humanity’s attitude toward the environment during the minimum. We must not ignore the effects of global warming and assume that it isn’t happening. “The Sun buys us time to stop these carbon emissions,” Zharkova says. The next minimum might give the Earth a chance to reduce adverse effects from global warming.

      • Macro 22.1.2
        22 July 2015 at 6:42 pm

        I wouldn’t hold out much hope for that Chooky. The physics regarding the solar minimum is fine – yes that is likely to happen around then, but the drop in solar energy received will be about equivalent to the current energy imbalance of the Earth now (approx 3 w /sq m) that drop would only last for a few years at most and would only lead to a slowdown in global warming – not an “ice age”. That is never going to happen in the short to medium term – there is already too much carbon in the atmosphere. The mathematics/physic prof should have consulted a climate scientist before shooting her mouth off about a “mini-ice-age”. Valentina Zharkova would have been quickly informed that such was not the case.
        http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2015/jul/16/no-the-sun-isnt-going-to-save-us-from-global-warming

        • Chooky 22.1.2.1
          22 July 2015 at 6:53 pm

          yes I see belatedly that you are probably right…sigh….I am going to load up with baked beans , matches and head for the nearest ravine when it gets too hot…will take cats and have invited friends …family thinks it is funny …but I say you have to have a plan and be prepared ….but even being prepared will probably only delay the inevitable…death by frying

          …in the meantime plant more trees!

          • Macro 22.1.2.1.1
            22 July 2015 at 7:20 pm

            🙂 I will not see it or least ways I’ll be a very old man by then. But I fear for my children and grandchildren. They will bear the brunt of it.
            Was out planting trees today. We have a very active group here lead by Ken (90! ) replanting wetlands by the new Kopu Bridge. You can see the Ngaio raising their heads above the old man mangroves as you pass over the bridge now. The pohutakawa are doing well – some flowered last summer – and the ariel roots are making an appearance. Just 400 meters from our home is the oldest arboretum in the country and I spend some time in there as well tending tracks and weeding etc.

            • Chooky 22.1.2.1.1.1
              22 July 2015 at 7:23 pm

              great!..there is great satisfaction in planting trees

            • BM 22.1.2.1.1.2
              22 July 2015 at 7:25 pm

              Being a baby boomer do you carry guilt for the state that the world is.

              Do you believe that you are some how responsible and need to make amends before you pass on?

              • Macro …
                22 July 2015 at 7:42 pm

                Being a baby boomer do you carry guilt for the state the the world is.

                Yes I do. In my younger days I was quite a petrol head. Owned my first car at age 15. I still have my motorcycle (1957 R50 BMW), a classic car, and 2 others. There is no public transport here. But my petrol usage has dropped substantially having moved from the country into town. 5 mins gets me almost everywhere I need to go these days.
                In the 1950’s and 60’s the concept of Global warming was little known – and indeed wasn’t really fully understood until the 80’s. I had the fortune to travel to Welliington each day in the late 70’s early 80’s with one of NZ’s foremost Climate Scientists who was at that time just completing his Doctorate on the NZ temperature record. As I was an educator in mathematics and science he and I had long and interesting discussions as to the nature of Global warming – so I became interested in climate science then and have followed it closely ever since. I have also been actively involved for a number of years working to bring awareness to as many as I can.

                • Chooky …
                  22 July 2015 at 8:12 pm

                  @Macro…….many brownie points for educating on climate change….I have found it hard to understand …or havent been bothered to try…however I recognise it is THE major problem facing humanity and the planet and ecosystems and animals…

                  recently I have been reading a book given to me by a friend ‘This Changes Everything’ by Naomi Klein on the issues around climate change….am finding it surprisingly compelling and easy to read….

                  • Macro …
                    22 July 2015 at 10:19 pm

                    Yes that is a very good book. She is a great communicator – I bought it for my daughter who is also very active in this area. Her “Shock Doctrine” is also a must read as is “War without end” – to which she is a contributing author.

              • Chooky …
                22 July 2015 at 7:51 pm

                @ BM…moi?…well I still have a wood fire…a luxury I guess ( but we grow trees too)…I have only had two children and admire those who don’t have any( the rest of my immediate family and my partner’s have not replaced themselves)…i do drive a car approx.twice a week ( dont speed)…i dont use planes often …in fact rarely ( but that is only because I cant afford airfares)…i like to travel by train and tram and bus…we cook most of our meals…( rarely eat out)…have a vege garden( not a good one)…try to eat locally…like op shops for clothes best!…. visit the hair dresser infrequently….when I die I want to be buried in a sheet and dug in ….and have tree planted on top ( so no cremation smoke /funeral/ embalming burial costs or ghastly speeches…they can pass the whiskey bottle around )..support Green Peace and environmental groups

                …most of all I am proud that I live in an environmentally aware culture and dont live in an overpopulated culture…to me overpopulation is the biggest curse …and humankind’s biggest irresponsibility…those countries which have cultural overpopulation ( generally coexist with patriarchal sexism) and environmental problems should sort them out…and not spread their overpopulation and problems to other countries

                so no i dont feel overburdened with guilt about global warming

            • Macro 22.1.2.1.1.3
              22 July 2015 at 7:25 pm

              ps – I’m a fan of the furry friends too 🙂 our HRH the princess shinky-paws lollabout, is now cat napping after 3 helpings of dinner on the sofa.

            • maui 22.1.2.1.1.4
              22 July 2015 at 10:40 pm

              Good man! I do a bit of that too, tree planting that is.

  23. Paul 23
    22 July 2015 at 5:52 pm

    The ACT Party propose the continued fire sale of our country to speculators from Beijing, Berlin, Birmingham and Boston.

    http://m.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11485101

    • Clemgeopin 23.1
      22 July 2015 at 11:41 pm

      It is both astonishing and sad that the philosopher has focused on a very narrow view and hasn’t really thought things through properly. Most of the readers commenting on the article seem to have understood the matter much better.

  24. Chooky 24
    22 July 2015 at 6:08 pm

    ACT is a mad dog …and mad dogs should be ….

  25. Chooky 25
    22 July 2015 at 6:54 pm

    …transmogrification? …whatever the nature of the beast ….it is still keeping jonkey nact alive

  26. Mike the Savage One 26
    22 July 2015 at 11:29 pm

    With all good will and desire for democracy and liberty, how can we fight these forces, well equipped by endless numbers of volunteers and mercenaries, from poverty, readily radicalised, to take up arms?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7BEAKrb-bI

    I despair about the future and lack of answers.

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    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
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    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
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    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
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    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
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    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
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    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
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    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
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    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
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    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
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    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
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    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
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    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
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    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
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    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
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    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
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    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
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    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
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    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
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    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
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    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
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    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
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    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
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    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
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    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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