Yep righties always try to upset the applecart – yawn. Must be scary seeing all the pervert ponytailpuller created falling away. Bill fluffing as usual – gnats heading to their worse election ever. panic abounding from horrible hooton on down. The red election is here and the bodies piled up along the route prove it.
You might think with such a big change in policy around charging and exclusive rights, the owner of the market and National Party voter, Paul de Jonge might have announced the changes to all political parties at the time rather than when they came to book.
I suspect he did let the National Party know, just no-one else.
Anyway, a nothing story now promoted by DP Farrar which illustrates how desperate National are becoming.
I have filed for my personal information request through the Privacy commission x2 to the justice department.And 1 to MPI when they send my information I will sue for breaches to my Human rights and privacy rights here hopping
And the beginnings of a rudimentary sketch for a technocratic nightmare.
There is no reason whatsoever as to why NZ Labour cannot lay out its values or goals with regards tax before us in the same way Jacinda Ardern stated they intend to do for the unelected and unaccountable “group of experts” whose advice they will be acting on.
Alternatively, she’s pacing a roll back from Little/Labour’s avowed position that there will be no tax increases.
I don’t understand what’s wrong with them doing the tax review they’ve been talking about for a couple of years, and not committing to things before then. And why having people from various areas be involved in that would be a bad thing. I also seem to remember that when they invited NZers generally to help develop direction and policy last year they got a lot of ridicule and bashing.
By values and goals do you mean things like ‘we believe that tax is a good for society and we will use it to distribute wealth fairly including via govt services to all the people’ kind of thing?
She pulled that piece of the tax regime behind the wizard’s curtain.
There was nothing about what parameters and/or goals would be set out for the “group of experts” and no reason for those things not to be made available to us now.
So a group of hand-picked “experts” will go away and come back with policy that NZ Labour can then claim to be implementing from “arms length” on the grounds that it’s “good for New Zealand” and “what the experts” say.
That’s technocracy – the removal of public policy from public scrutiny. And that, under a liberal regime, tends to come back to the public as “unfortunate but necessary” legislation.
“So a group of hand-picked “experts” will go away and come back with policy that NZ Labour can then claim to be implementing from “arms length” on the grounds that it’s “good for New Zealand” and “what the experts” say.”
It’s a risk, but she didn’t actually say that’s how they would do it (on Morning Report at least). And as I said, Labour asked NZ to get involved last year and the response here was to bash them.
“There was nothing about what parameters and/or goals would be set out for the “group of experts” and no reason for those things not to be made available to us now.”
Have you looked to see what they said when they announced the tax review?
I listened to the radio interview that was being sign-posted by the original comment and commented on the content of the interview.
If you’re suggesting that NZ Labour are actually being more forth-coming than what was evinced by that interview, then by all means throw the evidence out here.
edit – In answer to your other comment at 5.1.1.1.2 above. First up, there’s no way on earth that any politician would front up with an intention to cynically foist something on society. And second up, I used the word “can” not “will” – ie, I signalled a possibility or probability, not a definite fact.
So a group of hand-picked “experts” will go away and come back with policy that NZ Labour can then claim to be implementing from “arms length” on the grounds that it’s “good for New Zealand” and “what the experts” say.
*
If you’re suggesting that NZ Labour are actually being more forth-coming than what was evinced by that interview, then by all means throw the evidence out here.
What I heard in the interview was JA saying, we’re having a tax review, we want to get some expert advice, apart from a couple of things I’m not going to commit anything until we’ve seen the books and gotten some advice. I actually prefer that to Labour going Oh, we’re going to do this x, y, z. Especially if they open up again to engaging with the public like they did last year.
Is it not obvious the possibility/probability refers to that part of my comment concerned with future NZ Labour actions around the area of CGT? (I think it’s really obvious) ie – how they will play out the recommendations around CGT (that may not be a CGT) that will come back from their hand picked panel of experts who will have received guidelines (that NZ Labour are being coy to the NZ public about) as stated by Ardern in that interview?
The personal tax rate is something else again and I consciously didn’t include anything about that in my comments until now. As said in the interview, the books are open tomorrow and some statements will be made afterwards. So there’s nothing to say atm.
tbh, I read your original comment 3 times to understand it and still wasn’t sure so went with what I though. It’s a conversation 🙂
I guess I don’t understand some things. One would be what the problem is with using experts. The other would be what is the problem with using experts that can work within Labour’s values and framework?
I don’t think Labour are being that coy, unless Ardern is moving significantly away from what Labour have been saying in the past 2 years. I think they’re being cautious about imposing something without the books open to them and without taking time to think it through and seeing what can be done.
Nothing is wrong with using “experts”
Nothing is wrong with providing them with guidelines.
Everything is wrong with pulling that away from the public domain to the extent we aren’t even being told what those guidelines will be.
That’s the mark of a technocracy. And that’s not a good space for a society to occupy.
The books you refer to only have a possible impact on personal tax rates (given proposed expenditures and undertakings around so-called “fiscal responsibility”) but have next to nothing to do with the formulation of a tax framework around property.
They are formulating their ideas to release to the public – why would they go early before they have sorted them. A new leader gets the ability to do that surely. And with all the naysayers going off at her I think it is a sound strategy. You are a green voter arent you – why do you even care what labour does.
No marty. Listen to the interview. On property tax, they are not “formulating ideas to release to the public”. When Andrew Little was leader, that was the plan. But Jacinda is quite explicit that the ideas will be formulated out of sight by a panel of “experts” and then implemented – not presented.
You think I shouldn’t “care” what any party other than the Green Party does? You implying that any comment or opinion I have on anything political other than Green Party related stuff is illegitimate on the basis that I’ll probably throw a vote at the Greens?
You think I should apply that same arbitrary nonsense to any comment or opinion you throw up here (Mana, wasn’t it?) and – oh, I dunno – maybe remove any comments you make that I can’t connect back to Mana?
Maybe – but the media plague rats would like nothing better than to beat up a tax story right now. Espiner’s choice of emphasis or Labour’s – of the two I’m leaning away from Espiner.
Alternatively, she’s pacing a roll back from Little/Labour’s avowed position that there will be no tax increases.
From what I recall, Little’s position was that they weren’t planning on any tax increases because their sums added up, contingent on the budget and the pre-election fiscal thingee.
I wonder if Guyon Espiner has considered the fact that many of RNZ listeners might be interested in hearing the answers to questions rather than his constant interruptions.
Ditto Lisa Owen.
I just watched the video. I wasn’t bothered with Espiner’s questions. He was trying to get some definite answers on some points. I am OK with that if Espiner is equally tough with leaders from all parties.
In the end, it did result in clarifying some points: eg. that Ardern is not going to be taking exactly the same line as Little on some aspects as taxation. though, I’d have thought if Ardern had been involved in developing such policies over a few years, she’d be ready to make her own decision on it, and not put it up for further investigation.
It was interesting seeing the video, because Espiner was clearly listening very attentively to everything Ardern said.
Ardern answered very assuredly. I was getting irritated by her repeating that she wanted to be “very clear”…
I’m sure that was the intention. But signalling multiple times with the words I want to be “very clear”, starts to get counter-productive.
On a visual presentation note, after watching the vid: Ardern with her hair up gives her more of the appearance of gravitas, than when her hair is down – maybe aided by the camera at side angles to her.
Media appearances with her hair flowing free all the time may give the impression of being carefree, and hence the incorrect assumption she is light weight. Although, it can be a good thing to break the stereotype of dark suited masculine-style politicians – at least some of the time.
I am old enough to clearly remember Richard Nixon.
He was just about the only politician I can think of who used the word “clear” as much as does Arden.
“During the Vietnam War, and leading up to his resignation, President Richard Nixon preceded many public comments with the line, “Let me make one thing perfectly clear.”
Eventually, Americans learned that whatever followed would be filled with deception, obfuscation, fabrication, and lies.”
People on twitter are saying he asked tough questions. I didn’t think they were tough, they sounded normal to me, and she answered them well. Like you, I learned some useful stuff about where Labour are at (sounded promising).
The way he asked the questions was a bit annoying though. I agree with Tim, and if you ask a question why not let the person actually answer it. I know they’ve got limited time, but he was literally talking over the top of her before she even finished her first sentence.
wasn’t aware there was a video of Morning Report.
Point being, if one were to run a stop watch over the time Guyon asked questions and interrupted compared with the time Jacinder was given to actually answer, the times would almost go against her.
I hope to Christ he actually goes back and listens to himself at times.
Next up was Suzy and Mr Choice. Compare the two interviews timewise and re interruptions.
Actually I don’t like Suzy’s chances with a used car salesman, but Guyon wouldn’t let him get a word in edgwise.
I was amused Espinor brushed off talking about Gareth Morgan in his “serious” questioning of Jacinda around taxation, saying something to the effect of “let’s not go there, or talk about GM”…..(and I thought “great”: a substantive interview)….but less than a minute later, at the close of interview, Espinor couldn’t stop himself asking her about Gareth Morgan, as a cheap parting shot. So much for getting away from sensationalism.
Morgan said on RNZ that he made the lipstick on the pig comment to get attention – he knew it would upset people. He says he did that to get attention so people would look at TOP policies. What a loser.
He was being manipulative. That’s hardly straight talking. Just another shock jock out to get attention. And quite willing to be sexist to get that attention. Shows his values.
Commenting on Jacinda Ardern’s delivery, how refreshing to hear a politician with a free-flowing expression of ideas, clearly enunciated and virtually free of ‘ums’, ‘aahs’, ‘so’s’, ‘going forwards’, ‘like’s’and ‘ekshully’s’.
I can forgive her the odd extra call for clarity. God help us, we need more of that in our political discourse.
Her insisting on “let’s be clear about this” might also be a verbal ploy to arrest Espiner’s interruptions, as such a request is calling for more than an incomplete first sentence before the interviewer’s repeated badgering begins.
Maybe with experience these interviewers might just realise that Ardern will give them fulsome answers which are not always fudged, deflective and obfuscatory, and allow her more room to elaborate.
Key was an expert in not answering questions and interviewers have to be pretty persistent in getting politicians to actually stick to the question. If the politician is one of “ours” we say he/she did well. If one of “theirs” we say he/she is Dodgy Dodger.
I agree. Key got away with not answering policy questions in any detail. He was a master at that. I think the country is ready for change, and Ardern as contender for PM, needs to have a clear and simple message about what that change will look like. I think a combined Labour and Green government would take NZ to a better future. I am liking their combined policies, and think there is substance underneath their policies. However, not every one reads policy, and it is Ardern’s job to have clear and simple sound bites ready, that support a change of government.
“He’s not in Siberia”.
He is if he is campaigning in his electorate.
It might be sunny in Wellington today but there is a bloody cold Southerly.
I felt really sorry for the people going through the formal dissolution of Parliament out on the steps this morning. The spectators could be well wrapped up but the officials were all in their formal outfits.
Claim…”We don’t have anything to hide … and we’re quite happy to take observers out from MPI to show them this.”
Reality…. Fishermen go out of their way to get the observers seasick, as it keeps them in their cabins and out of the way.
Claim… ”It’s just an invasion of privacy. We don’t think it’s acceptable that we should be videoed for 24 hours a day and then MPI tell us it’s going to cost you $20,000 to roll all of this stuff onto your boat.”
Reality… Wouldn’t they just film when the net was shot and hauled, as well as in the factory? Did you know that many factories onboard have cameras in them already, so those in the wheelhouse can check on the progress before hauling in more fish. It’s not like they will be filming in the cabins or the ships mess, engine room maybe not even in the wheel house. For reals $20k a boat, MPI should be part funding the cost of equipment, especially for those with smaller inshore vessels.
Claim… “Mr Black said he was worried this would threaten his livelihood because of the risk MPI might accidentally reveal his secret fishing spots.”
Reality… this is a real LMFAO because with the current carbon copy system of recording fish, one has to write down the latitude and longitude of any hauls for MPI anyway, so they already know where the so called secret fishing spots are. Unless the fishers are already illegally misreporting/recording their fishing locations.
Gareth Morgan triples down, but I think it’s pretty clear now that while yes Labour were the pig, Jacinda Ardern is meant to be merely the lipstick. They made a handy chart about it,
If it is a digital billboard, then hopefully it gets hacked. Transposing the words; “policy” and “pig”, would fix it.
Seriously though, TOP’s policy is not their strong suit. They have some interesting notions (13 so far with a few more blank spaces to be filled “soon”), but otherwise just a lot of gaps with no overarching framework. Admittedly, they are a minor party whose influence would be limited to what they can negotiate with a coalition partner (in the increasingly unlikely situation that they get any MPs in the next parliament), so it good that their ideas are easily extractable. But even MANA is doing a better job at presenting a cohesive policy platform, and that is very much a work in progress (not having Dotcom money, or even an MPs salary to support them, it is a bit of a shoestring operation these days).
Gareth’s obsession reminds me of Organ Morgan in Dylan Thomas’s “Under Milk Wood.”
“Organ Morgan goes to chapel to play the organ. He plays alone at night to anyone who will listen; lovers, revellers, the silent dead, tramps and sheep.”
So, Morgan wants a focus on policy not personalities, while putting photos of himself looking down on everyone in his billboards (those that I’ve seen in Auckland), like some big brother.
I know, weird right? Like his ability to self-reflect is impaired.
I did kind of feel sorry for him at the start of the press conference. Yeah, I know, but I would say this about him, his need to improve things seems pretty genuine. Unlike say National who just don’t give a shit. It’s a shame he chose politics because he could have set up something outside and used that to push policy.
My compassion waned as the interview went on though, esp the bit about how TOP have consulted the policy experts in NZ and thus have not just the best policy but the right policy, so everyone else should be listening to him now. How he expects to work with others is beyond me.
Don’t be surprised if rents rise before the rates increase get officially announced – and here I though Aucklander’s elected Goff to reduce inequality!
I based that thinking of the natural behavior of people – if you know you costs are going to rise, you need to think about where you will get the money from to pay for those increased costs. Landlords pay rates, funded by the rent they charge. If their rates increase, then naturally they raise their rent to cover it – fact of life.
If the mayor has any consideration for reducing inequality, they would think very carefully about where they increase costs to rate payers.
So would that be more based on your contempt for humanity, or merely the tory habit of applying supply and demand theory only when convenient to your ideology?
My rent goes up each year by more than the amount the rates on the property rise. Basically, my landlord, who doesn’t increase the rent by as much as the rampant price gougers, is profiting from the escalation of the housing bubble.
The rises in my rent is pretty modest compared to what is happening elsewhere with rental properties in Auckland.
You are ignoring the greed of some, who will look for every way to enrich themselves, if the system allows it, even though their behaviour results in a negative impact on the lives of others.
I’ve seen systems where they work. In Korea, though there are taxation rules that make multiple apartment ownership expensive, there is some kind of carve out that lets folk build small apartment buildings and let them – typically they live on the top floor. These provide one of the main forms of student housing – because they’re cheap. Where private rentals go wrong is when governments fail to regulate – as NZ’s have for the last thirty years.
Al Jazeera reports on NZ Election.. Article is about the rise of Jacinda, worried Bill, Gareths lipstick stunt, Dunne exiting and a brief mention about Meti
I’m not a fan of the new pound coin either! They don’t work in the parking meters – or any other coin machine for that matter! Gezz you would have thought they would have don’t some research on that one! Was at Lindesfarne one Sunday afternoon and in the parking lot – there were about 5 of us looking for someone who had some old coins so we could legally park.
Only problem for Audrey is that Jacinda is a whole smarter than she is, she shut her down very quickly on the TAX issues and gently reminded her how the Nats had introduced GST increases by stealth.
Great interview, we haven’t seen a politico with this level of skill, enthusiasm and knowledge for some time, I felt that she dominated, roll on September
Nats begin the attack Ads. See latest Ads attacking Labour. Odd when they dont do this cos they focus on their plans for NZ!!!!. I guess they have to do more of their own attacking with their attack dogs silence after 2014 election
Federated Farmers policy on global warming is that it is only the second biggest contributor (after CO2) that we should ignore it.
“Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions should understand that not all greenhouse gases are created equal. Carbon dioxide is the dominant greenhouse gas from human activity, and is persistent in the atmosphere. Efforts to reduce emissions should continue to focus on reducing carbon dioxide over methane and nitrous oxide.”
However, “Methane contributes to ozone depletion, plus acts as a greenhouse gas. It lasts about 10 years in the atmosphere before being converted mainly to carbon dioxide and water. The global warming potential of methane is rated at 72 over a 20 year time frame. It does not last as long as carbon dioxide, but has a greater impact while its active. The methane cycle is not completely understood, but the concentration of methane in the atmosphere appears to have increased 150% since 1750.”
I wonder if they will start running attack adverts which are now allowed in New Zealand. While there are limits to how much political parties can spend on election campaigns, their supporters can spend as much as they like.
Yes thats a start electric rail we need to go hard on renewable energy projects those Muppets that have been in power for 9 years had there heads stuck up there own ass they could not see reality
Resubmitting here, working on the assumption Weka will censor my earlier comment [if you don’t, Weka, I apologise!]
This is from the Lefties only post:
And who decides who the “lefties” are?? Weka, weka, weka dear! As if your censoring of this site isn’t strong enough! [All those you’ve removed over the past year…and why is the pre-election debate so anemic?? Surely a coincidence??] Oh great arbiter of all that is, how do we approach you? Having been on the left for over 30 years, I’m not intimidated by you, nor do I care what what you’ll say…
I know , you all think, I’m a troll, but I’m not… I want to change the government! Absolutely! Oops, but sorry, Weka, the party you’ll need is NZ First. NZ First is the only party that says absolutely no more NeoLiberal policy! Oh, but I must be right wing and racist for supporting NZ First…No I am not! Please others write in and support me!
[lprent: Stop whining, you pathetic gutless and stupid excuse for a idiotic wimp.
The trick is that you have to be able to argue, and that appears to be something that you are completely incompetent or just incapable of doing with any kind of intelligence. I can see about 9 comments from you. None have carried any kind of argument apart from ones whining about the way we choose to run our site or whining that other disagree with you. The remainder look like advertisements for media, without either a link to the media or an rational editorial comment about why others should go and look at them.
I can’t see any contribution are you bringing to this site. Perhaps you should learn to project any good attributes you have rather than displaying your worst ones.
I had a look at it last week. I actually ban more people for longer than weka does. Just like I will right now. So you can fuck off for 2 months on the basis that you are trying to tell us what to do – read the policy. ]
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Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Wilmot, Senior Lecturer, Film, Deakin University Among the many Australian who served during the second world war, there is a small group of people whose stories remain largely untold. These are the Muslim men and women who, while small in number, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
A leaked document shows the Canterbury/Waitaha arm of health agency Te Whatu Ora is scurrying to save $13.3 million by July. The “financial sustainability target”, which was “allocated” to Waitaha, is consistent with what’s happening in other districts, says Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. ...
A look at the state of the previous government’s affordable housing scheme, and what could come next.Remind me: What’s KiwiBuild again?First announced in 2012, KiwiBuild was a flagship policy of the Labour Party heading into both its 2014 and 2017 election campaigns. With Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, ...
Labour in opposition will be shocked to learn which party had six years in power but squandered any chance to make real change. Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech was a predictably entertaining trip down memory lane. The acid-tongued incoming Otago University chancellor administered a sick burn to the coalition government. He ...
Opinion: It has been announced that nine percent of roles at Oranga Tamariki will be disestablished, presumably to help fund the tax cuts promised by the coalition Government. I am reminded of the graphics used to illustrate pandemic events, where five thousand people are standing in a field and then ...
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 24 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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“You have a higher chance of being crushed to death by a vending machine.”
Speaking of terrorism, Simon Black points out that we don’t demand governments spend millions protecting us from vending machines
https://www.sovereignman.com/debt/you-stand-a-higher-chance-of-being-crushed-by-a-vending-machine-22312/?inf_contact_key=be8836cbb094a7c5ff27867c340c7100b1d1ca94927b091f4ecc1cccc172b389
Bill English is DRONING away on Morning Report.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11908305
Some things never change
Yep righties always try to upset the applecart – yawn. Must be scary seeing all the pervert ponytailpuller created falling away. Bill fluffing as usual – gnats heading to their worse election ever. panic abounding from horrible hooton on down. The red election is here and the bodies piled up along the route prove it.
You might think with such a big change in policy around charging and exclusive rights, the owner of the market and National Party voter, Paul de Jonge might have announced the changes to all political parties at the time rather than when they came to book.
I suspect he did let the National Party know, just no-one else.
Anyway, a nothing story now promoted by DP Farrar which illustrates how desperate National are becoming.
I have filed for my personal information request through the Privacy commission x2 to the justice department.And 1 to MPI when they send my information I will sue for breaches to my Human rights and privacy rights here hopping
And then there was Jacinda on the AM Show…
And the beginnings of a rudimentary sketch for a technocratic nightmare.
There is no reason whatsoever as to why NZ Labour cannot lay out its values or goals with regards tax before us in the same way Jacinda Ardern stated they intend to do for the unelected and unaccountable “group of experts” whose advice they will be acting on.
Alternatively, she’s pacing a roll back from Little/Labour’s avowed position that there will be no tax increases.
I don’t understand what’s wrong with them doing the tax review they’ve been talking about for a couple of years, and not committing to things before then. And why having people from various areas be involved in that would be a bad thing. I also seem to remember that when they invited NZers generally to help develop direction and policy last year they got a lot of ridicule and bashing.
By values and goals do you mean things like ‘we believe that tax is a good for society and we will use it to distribute wealth fairly including via govt services to all the people’ kind of thing?
She pulled that piece of the tax regime behind the wizard’s curtain.
There was nothing about what parameters and/or goals would be set out for the “group of experts” and no reason for those things not to be made available to us now.
So a group of hand-picked “experts” will go away and come back with policy that NZ Labour can then claim to be implementing from “arms length” on the grounds that it’s “good for New Zealand” and “what the experts” say.
That’s technocracy – the removal of public policy from public scrutiny. And that, under a liberal regime, tends to come back to the public as “unfortunate but necessary” legislation.
And we all know we seen TINA before.
“So a group of hand-picked “experts” will go away and come back with policy that NZ Labour can then claim to be implementing from “arms length” on the grounds that it’s “good for New Zealand” and “what the experts” say.”
It’s a risk, but she didn’t actually say that’s how they would do it (on Morning Report at least). And as I said, Labour asked NZ to get involved last year and the response here was to bash them.
“There was nothing about what parameters and/or goals would be set out for the “group of experts” and no reason for those things not to be made available to us now.”
Have you looked to see what they said when they announced the tax review?
I listened to the radio interview that was being sign-posted by the original comment and commented on the content of the interview.
If you’re suggesting that NZ Labour are actually being more forth-coming than what was evinced by that interview, then by all means throw the evidence out here.
edit – In answer to your other comment at 5.1.1.1.2 above. First up, there’s no way on earth that any politician would front up with an intention to cynically foist something on society. And second up, I used the word “can” not “will” – ie, I signalled a possibility or probability, not a definite fact.
Actually you used the word ‘will’,
So a group of hand-picked “experts” will go away and come back with policy that NZ Labour can then claim to be implementing from “arms length” on the grounds that it’s “good for New Zealand” and “what the experts” say.
*
If you’re suggesting that NZ Labour are actually being more forth-coming than what was evinced by that interview, then by all means throw the evidence out here.
What I heard in the interview was JA saying, we’re having a tax review, we want to get some expert advice, apart from a couple of things I’m not going to commit anything until we’ve seen the books and gotten some advice. I actually prefer that to Labour going Oh, we’re going to do this x, y, z. Especially if they open up again to engaging with the public like they did last year.
jeesus wept Weka.
Is it not obvious the possibility/probability refers to that part of my comment concerned with future NZ Labour actions around the area of CGT? (I think it’s really obvious) ie – how they will play out the recommendations around CGT (that may not be a CGT) that will come back from their hand picked panel of experts who will have received guidelines (that NZ Labour are being coy to the NZ public about) as stated by Ardern in that interview?
The personal tax rate is something else again and I consciously didn’t include anything about that in my comments until now. As said in the interview, the books are open tomorrow and some statements will be made afterwards. So there’s nothing to say atm.
tbh, I read your original comment 3 times to understand it and still wasn’t sure so went with what I though. It’s a conversation 🙂
I guess I don’t understand some things. One would be what the problem is with using experts. The other would be what is the problem with using experts that can work within Labour’s values and framework?
I don’t think Labour are being that coy, unless Ardern is moving significantly away from what Labour have been saying in the past 2 years. I think they’re being cautious about imposing something without the books open to them and without taking time to think it through and seeing what can be done.
Nothing is wrong with using “experts”
Nothing is wrong with providing them with guidelines.
Everything is wrong with pulling that away from the public domain to the extent we aren’t even being told what those guidelines will be.
That’s the mark of a technocracy. And that’s not a good space for a society to occupy.
The books you refer to only have a possible impact on personal tax rates (given proposed expenditures and undertakings around so-called “fiscal responsibility”) but have next to nothing to do with the formulation of a tax framework around property.
They are formulating their ideas to release to the public – why would they go early before they have sorted them. A new leader gets the ability to do that surely. And with all the naysayers going off at her I think it is a sound strategy. You are a green voter arent you – why do you even care what labour does.
No marty. Listen to the interview. On property tax, they are not “formulating ideas to release to the public”. When Andrew Little was leader, that was the plan. But Jacinda is quite explicit that the ideas will be formulated out of sight by a panel of “experts” and then implemented – not presented.
You think I shouldn’t “care” what any party other than the Green Party does? You implying that any comment or opinion I have on anything political other than Green Party related stuff is illegitimate on the basis that I’ll probably throw a vote at the Greens?
You think I should apply that same arbitrary nonsense to any comment or opinion you throw up here (Mana, wasn’t it?) and – oh, I dunno – maybe remove any comments you make that I can’t connect back to Mana?
Sorry angry bill I’ll not bother you again sheesh ffs some of the agro is well unwarranted imo.
Well marty, keep your passive aggressive ‘shut people down’ nonsense to yourself in future, aye? 😉
edit – I take it you think it would be a bad idea to follow your suggestion? I’ll take it that you think that.
How about you get (delete abuse cos you aren’t worth it ya git) eh bill
Maybe – but the media plague rats would like nothing better than to beat up a tax story right now. Espiner’s choice of emphasis or Labour’s – of the two I’m leaning away from Espiner.
From what I recall, Little’s position was that they weren’t planning on any tax increases because their sums added up, contingent on the budget and the pre-election fiscal thingee.
A promise of no tax increases was all media spin.
interesting. In which case I guess she could be doing a paced roll back of the MSM’s spin 😉
Weka – there was not an obvious opening to post to..this response is not aimed at you..
Until the conversation about money and debt is spoken about freely and openly…
Obfuscation and outright lies are what will continue to lead the ‘official narratives’..
Talking about tax policy is the quentessential definition of ‘trite’…
Without the core subject of money/debt ‘what is it’ being a pre-requisite dependency of any discussion..
How much longer will the lie continue to destroy all in its path..people, the environment etc…for what…
Control!
I wonder if Guyon Espiner has considered the fact that many of RNZ listeners might be interested in hearing the answers to questions rather than his constant interruptions.
Ditto Lisa Owen.
Yep rude but JA easily dealt with it.
I just watched the video. I wasn’t bothered with Espiner’s questions. He was trying to get some definite answers on some points. I am OK with that if Espiner is equally tough with leaders from all parties.
In the end, it did result in clarifying some points: eg. that Ardern is not going to be taking exactly the same line as Little on some aspects as taxation. though, I’d have thought if Ardern had been involved in developing such policies over a few years, she’d be ready to make her own decision on it, and not put it up for further investigation.
It was interesting seeing the video, because Espiner was clearly listening very attentively to everything Ardern said.
Ardern answered very assuredly. I was getting irritated by her repeating that she wanted to be “very clear”…
I think Jacinda wants to be certain her statements are not twisted or subverted.
Hence the “very clear” openers.
I’m sure that was the intention. But signalling multiple times with the words I want to be “very clear”, starts to get counter-productive.
On a visual presentation note, after watching the vid: Ardern with her hair up gives her more of the appearance of gravitas, than when her hair is down – maybe aided by the camera at side angles to her.
Media appearances with her hair flowing free all the time may give the impression of being carefree, and hence the incorrect assumption she is light weight. Although, it can be a good thing to break the stereotype of dark suited masculine-style politicians – at least some of the time.
I am old enough to clearly remember Richard Nixon.
He was just about the only politician I can think of who used the word “clear” as much as does Arden.
“During the Vietnam War, and leading up to his resignation, President Richard Nixon preceded many public comments with the line, “Let me make one thing perfectly clear.”
Eventually, Americans learned that whatever followed would be filled with deception, obfuscation, fabrication, and lies.”
http://www.wordrake.com/writing-tips/one-thing-perfectly-clear/
Beware.
actually i can recall someone closer to home who had a catchphrase preceeding bullshit…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B811XSGf–A
kia ora!
Yep, RWNJ leaders generally seem to be very practised at lying.
Labour are getting weaker and less clear on tax every time I hear from them.
National will mince them on this in the debates unless they can do better than “we’re going to form a committee.”
People on twitter are saying he asked tough questions. I didn’t think they were tough, they sounded normal to me, and she answered them well. Like you, I learned some useful stuff about where Labour are at (sounded promising).
The way he asked the questions was a bit annoying though. I agree with Tim, and if you ask a question why not let the person actually answer it. I know they’ve got limited time, but he was literally talking over the top of her before she even finished her first sentence.
wasn’t aware there was a video of Morning Report.
Point being, if one were to run a stop watch over the time Guyon asked questions and interrupted compared with the time Jacinder was given to actually answer, the times would almost go against her.
I hope to Christ he actually goes back and listens to himself at times.
Next up was Suzy and Mr Choice. Compare the two interviews timewise and re interruptions.
Actually I don’t like Suzy’s chances with a used car salesman, but Guyon wouldn’t let him get a word in edgwise.
I’ll say this for Suzie, nobody’s in any doubt about what answer she wants.
Espiner certainly likes the sound of his own voice. His questions at times sound like a party political broadcast on behalf of the National Party.
I was amused Espinor brushed off talking about Gareth Morgan in his “serious” questioning of Jacinda around taxation, saying something to the effect of “let’s not go there, or talk about GM”…..(and I thought “great”: a substantive interview)….but less than a minute later, at the close of interview, Espinor couldn’t stop himself asking her about Gareth Morgan, as a cheap parting shot. So much for getting away from sensationalism.
The guy has no ears and an empty space between them ?
The Rock is a down to earth Kiwi radio station just like Gareth Morgan is a down to earth straight shooting KIWI
Morgan said on RNZ that he made the lipstick on the pig comment to get attention – he knew it would upset people. He says he did that to get attention so people would look at TOP policies. What a loser.
He was being manipulative. That’s hardly straight talking. Just another shock jock out to get attention. And quite willing to be sexist to get that attention. Shows his values.
Wow he admitted it? Goes from bad to worse. Abandon shit…
There’s a good item by Wayne Hope over on TDB for anyone interested in Metiria.
It is worth reading, but then so is the Tiso post here:
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2017/08/22/special-investigation-fraud-class-and-the-media-the-metiria-turei-controversy/
Carolyn I was laughing so hard last night because Morgan desperate to find relevance and headlines was upstaged by Dunne stepping down.
Laughing because Morgan admitted he did it for attention, then come lunch time all the attention went to Dunne.
The Nats have just lost the election-listen to the RNZ discussion here:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201855608/election-2017-three-leaders-in-three-weeks-analysis
Thank you Peter Dunne-you left your greatest impact till the end.
Lol.
(but christ, Mike “I agree with you Matthew” Williams, and Matthew Hooton’s apprentice).
Best decision Dunne has ever made he has done us all a favour.
I think Jacinda wants to be certain her statements are not twisted or subverted.
Hence the “very clear” openers.
She does say it a bit too much…
Commenting on Jacinda Ardern’s delivery, how refreshing to hear a politician with a free-flowing expression of ideas, clearly enunciated and virtually free of ‘ums’, ‘aahs’, ‘so’s’, ‘going forwards’, ‘like’s’and ‘ekshully’s’.
I can forgive her the odd extra call for clarity. God help us, we need more of that in our political discourse.
Her insisting on “let’s be clear about this” might also be a verbal ploy to arrest Espiner’s interruptions, as such a request is calling for more than an incomplete first sentence before the interviewer’s repeated badgering begins.
Maybe with experience these interviewers might just realise that Ardern will give them fulsome answers which are not always fudged, deflective and obfuscatory, and allow her more room to elaborate.
Key was an expert in not answering questions and interviewers have to be pretty persistent in getting politicians to actually stick to the question. If the politician is one of “ours” we say he/she did well. If one of “theirs” we say he/she is Dodgy Dodger.
I agree. Key got away with not answering policy questions in any detail. He was a master at that. I think the country is ready for change, and Ardern as contender for PM, needs to have a clear and simple message about what that change will look like. I think a combined Labour and Green government would take NZ to a better future. I am liking their combined policies, and think there is substance underneath their policies. However, not every one reads policy, and it is Ardern’s job to have clear and simple sound bites ready, that support a change of government.
If the Australian Federal courts decide that the current Australian government must fall, will this rehabilitate Hipkins?
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-21/citizenship-chaos-threatens-rudderless-australian-government
“rehabilitate”?
He’s not in Siberia…
“He’s not in Siberia”.
He is if he is campaigning in his electorate.
It might be sunny in Wellington today but there is a bloody cold Southerly.
I felt really sorry for the people going through the formal dissolution of Parliament out on the steps this morning. The spectators could be well wrapped up but the officials were all in their formal outfits.
Re Camera’s on fishing boats and the following article on RNZ
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/337721/cameras-on-boats-an-invasion-of-privacy
Claim…”We don’t have anything to hide … and we’re quite happy to take observers out from MPI to show them this.”
Reality…. Fishermen go out of their way to get the observers seasick, as it keeps them in their cabins and out of the way.
Claim… ”It’s just an invasion of privacy. We don’t think it’s acceptable that we should be videoed for 24 hours a day and then MPI tell us it’s going to cost you $20,000 to roll all of this stuff onto your boat.”
Reality… Wouldn’t they just film when the net was shot and hauled, as well as in the factory? Did you know that many factories onboard have cameras in them already, so those in the wheelhouse can check on the progress before hauling in more fish. It’s not like they will be filming in the cabins or the ships mess, engine room maybe not even in the wheel house. For reals $20k a boat, MPI should be part funding the cost of equipment, especially for those with smaller inshore vessels.
Claim… “Mr Black said he was worried this would threaten his livelihood because of the risk MPI might accidentally reveal his secret fishing spots.”
Reality… this is a real LMFAO because with the current carbon copy system of recording fish, one has to write down the latitude and longitude of any hauls for MPI anyway, so they already know where the so called secret fishing spots are. Unless the fishers are already illegally misreporting/recording their fishing locations.
Makes you wonder what else is going on on deck.
Gareth Morgan triples down, but I think it’s pretty clear now that while yes Labour were the pig, Jacinda Ardern is meant to be merely the lipstick. They made a handy chart about it,
https://twitter.com/NewshubPolitics/status/899773456782209025
I don’t know how long it takes to print billboards, but these went up yesterday so it’s reasonable to assume the tweet on Sunday was deliberate.
Lol shows what a self absorbed knob he is. Back to your other vanity projects Gareth politics is over for you now.
It’s an odd billboard. For people that didn’t follow the news yesterday it won’t make much sense.
True – but a nice big photo of Gareth to look at whilst reading the words lol
He reminds me of dim trump looking up at the eclipse – the rules don’t apply cos I’ve got money type.
He should stick to killing cats ?
I think it’s a digital billboard. With a knob on it 🙂
lol. So the ticks and crosses flash on and off or something? Or is there another screen that explains things?
edit, oh right, the printing thing, heh. /oldschool.
If it is a digital billboard, then hopefully it gets hacked. Transposing the words; “policy” and “pig”, would fix it.
Seriously though, TOP’s policy is not their strong suit. They have some interesting notions (13 so far with a few more blank spaces to be filled “soon”), but otherwise just a lot of gaps with no overarching framework. Admittedly, they are a minor party whose influence would be limited to what they can negotiate with a coalition partner (in the increasingly unlikely situation that they get any MPs in the next parliament), so it good that their ideas are easily extractable. But even MANA is doing a better job at presenting a cohesive policy platform, and that is very much a work in progress (not having Dotcom money, or even an MPs salary to support them, it is a bit of a shoestring operation these days).
Gareth’s obsession reminds me of Organ Morgan in Dylan Thomas’s “Under Milk Wood.”
“Organ Morgan goes to chapel to play the organ. He plays alone at night to anyone who will listen; lovers, revellers, the silent dead, tramps and sheep.”
Baaa!
Does Gareth appreciate Palestrina sufficiently.
So, Morgan wants a focus on policy not personalities, while putting photos of himself looking down on everyone in his billboards (those that I’ve seen in Auckland), like some big brother.
They have a very Minority Report feel to me.
I know, weird right? Like his ability to self-reflect is impaired.
I did kind of feel sorry for him at the start of the press conference. Yeah, I know, but I would say this about him, his need to improve things seems pretty genuine. Unlike say National who just don’t give a shit. It’s a shame he chose politics because he could have set up something outside and used that to push policy.
My compassion waned as the interview went on though, esp the bit about how TOP have consulted the policy experts in NZ and thus have not just the best policy but the right policy, so everyone else should be listening to him now. How he expects to work with others is beyond me.
Has he had his mid-life crisis yet?
Maybe this is it
TOP mostly use digital billboards so they just have to be updated.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11908367
Don’t be surprised if rents rise before the rates increase get officially announced – and here I though Aucklander’s elected Goff to reduce inequality!
What did you base that think on?
Does the mayor of Auckland have the power to compel collective bargaining?
I based that thinking of the natural behavior of people – if you know you costs are going to rise, you need to think about where you will get the money from to pay for those increased costs. Landlords pay rates, funded by the rent they charge. If their rates increase, then naturally they raise their rent to cover it – fact of life.
If the mayor has any consideration for reducing inequality, they would think very carefully about where they increase costs to rate payers.
So would that be more based on your contempt for humanity, or merely the tory habit of applying supply and demand theory only when convenient to your ideology?
My rent goes up each year by more than the amount the rates on the property rise. Basically, my landlord, who doesn’t increase the rent by as much as the rampant price gougers, is profiting from the escalation of the housing bubble.
The rises in my rent is pretty modest compared to what is happening elsewhere with rental properties in Auckland.
You are ignoring the greed of some, who will look for every way to enrich themselves, if the system allows it, even though their behaviour results in a negative impact on the lives of others.
I though [sic] Aucklander’s [sic] elected Goff to reduce inequality!
That was the reckon I was referring to.
McFlock and Carolyn_nth covered the other one, so we’re done here.
If it becomes uneconomic to be a fucken housing speculating bastard or rent seeking parasite,
then sell the damn place!
Thank you for your clear explanation as to why private rentals are bad and need to be legislated out of existence.
The people who own them are just ripping other people off.
I’ve seen systems where they work. In Korea, though there are taxation rules that make multiple apartment ownership expensive, there is some kind of carve out that lets folk build small apartment buildings and let them – typically they live on the top floor. These provide one of the main forms of student housing – because they’re cheap. Where private rentals go wrong is when governments fail to regulate – as NZ’s have for the last thirty years.
Al Jazeera reports on NZ Election.. Article is about the rise of Jacinda, worried Bill, Gareths lipstick stunt, Dunne exiting and a brief mention about Meti
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/08/jacinda-ardern-embroiled-sexism-row-170821065637886.html
Awesomesauce
From The Guardian: Dave’s top 15 funniest jokes of the fringe 2017
“I’m not a fan of the new pound coin, but then again, I hate all change.” Ken Cheng
“Trump’s nothing like Hitler. There’s no way he could write a book.” Frankie Boyle
“I’ve given up asking rhetorical questions. What’s the point?” Alexei Sayle
“I’m looking for the girl-next-door type. I’m just gonna keep moving house till I find her.” Lew Fitz
“I like to imagine the guy who invented the umbrella was going to call it the ‘brella’. But he hesitated.” Andy Field
“Combine Harvesters. And you’ll have a really big restaurant.” Mark Simmons
“I’m rubbish with names. It’s not my fault, it’s a condition. There’s a name for it …” Jimeoin
“I have two boys, five and six. We’re no good at naming things in our house.” Ed Byrne
“I wasn’t particularly close to my dad before he died … which was lucky, because he trod on a landmine.” Olaf Falafel
“Whenever someone says, ‘I don’t believe in coincidences’, I say, ‘Oh my God, me neither!’” Alasdair Beckett-King
“A friend tricked me into going to Wimbledon by telling me it was a men’s singles event.” Angela Barnes
“As a vegan, I think people who sell meat are disgusting, but apparently people who sell fruit and veg are grocer.” Adele Cliff
“For me, dying is a lot like going camping. I don’t want G!to do it.” Phil Wang
“I wonder how many chameleons snuck on to the Ark.” Adam Hess
“I went to a Pretenders gig. It was a tribute act.” Tim Vine
Ba-dup CHING!
Laughing @ trump couldnt write a book
I’m not a fan of the new pound coin either! They don’t work in the parking meters – or any other coin machine for that matter! Gezz you would have thought they would have don’t some research on that one! Was at Lindesfarne one Sunday afternoon and in the parking lot – there were about 5 of us looking for someone who had some old coins so we could legally park.
Nice long-form article on the UBI and the concept of social investment:
https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/20-08-2017/communism-by-stealth-notes-on-conservatism-neoliberalism-social-investment-and-a-ubi/
Bombing the eclipse.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/36672924626/
On now Jacinda interview.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11908499
Audrey Young looks sour at Jacinda’s enthusiasm and fluency. She wants to bring Jacinda down for her friends in the National team.
cynical old MSM shills looking for the next payday from their corp. masters
Only problem for Audrey is that Jacinda is a whole smarter than she is, she shut her down very quickly on the TAX issues and gently reminded her how the Nats had introduced GST increases by stealth.
ianmac, thanks for the link.
Great interview, we haven’t seen a politico with this level of skill, enthusiasm and knowledge for some time, I felt that she dominated, roll on September
Nats begin the attack Ads. See latest Ads attacking Labour. Odd when they dont do this cos they focus on their plans for NZ!!!!. I guess they have to do more of their own attacking with their attack dogs silence after 2014 election
An event for political tragics + comic book geeks 🙂
4:15 pm Thurs 24 August
Room 201, Arts 1 building
University of Auckland
Federated Farmers policy on global warming is that it is only the second biggest contributor (after CO2) that we should ignore it.
“Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions should understand that not all greenhouse gases are created equal. Carbon dioxide is the dominant greenhouse gas from human activity, and is persistent in the atmosphere. Efforts to reduce emissions should continue to focus on reducing carbon dioxide over methane and nitrous oxide.”
http://www.fedfarm.org.nz/FFPublic/Policy/National/Climate_Change.aspx?WebsiteKey=00ff782d-8ff5-4a81-ae69-785972132c32
However, “Methane contributes to ozone depletion, plus acts as a greenhouse gas. It lasts about 10 years in the atmosphere before being converted mainly to carbon dioxide and water. The global warming potential of methane is rated at 72 over a 20 year time frame. It does not last as long as carbon dioxide, but has a greater impact while its active. The methane cycle is not completely understood, but the concentration of methane in the atmosphere appears to have increased 150% since 1750.”
https://www.thoughtco.com/worst-greenhouse-gases-606789
Federated Farmers asking for financial contributions to fight the “water tax.”
http://www.fedfarm.org.nz/FFPublic/Fundraising/WaterTax.aspx
I wonder if they will start running attack adverts which are now allowed in New Zealand. While there are limits to how much political parties can spend on election campaigns, their supporters can spend as much as they like.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/89849345/andrew-geddis-open-slather-for-electionyear-attack-ads-by-individuals-and-wellfunded-pressure-groups
Labour is promising to reverse the Kiwirail decision, and make them buy electric trains again:
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/labour-warns-kiwirail-halt-move-switch-electric-trains-diesel-if-wins-election
Yes thats a start electric rail we need to go hard on renewable energy projects those Muppets that have been in power for 9 years had there heads stuck up there own ass they could not see reality
If my wife heard we talking like this she would kick my ass
Tell her she will have to go to the end of the queue, Eco…
Well there could be more to your comments than what meets thee EYES!!!!!!
Resubmitting here, working on the assumption Weka will censor my earlier comment [if you don’t, Weka, I apologise!]
This is from the Lefties only post:
And who decides who the “lefties” are?? Weka, weka, weka dear! As if your censoring of this site isn’t strong enough! [All those you’ve removed over the past year…and why is the pre-election debate so anemic?? Surely a coincidence??] Oh great arbiter of all that is, how do we approach you? Having been on the left for over 30 years, I’m not intimidated by you, nor do I care what what you’ll say…
I know , you all think, I’m a troll, but I’m not… I want to change the government! Absolutely! Oops, but sorry, Weka, the party you’ll need is NZ First. NZ First is the only party that says absolutely no more NeoLiberal policy! Oh, but I must be right wing and racist for supporting NZ First…No I am not! Please others write in and support me!
[lprent: Stop whining, you pathetic gutless and stupid excuse for a idiotic wimp.
The trick is that you have to be able to argue, and that appears to be something that you are completely incompetent or just incapable of doing with any kind of intelligence. I can see about 9 comments from you. None have carried any kind of argument apart from ones whining about the way we choose to run our site or whining that other disagree with you. The remainder look like advertisements for media, without either a link to the media or an rational editorial comment about why others should go and look at them.
I can’t see any contribution are you bringing to this site. Perhaps you should learn to project any good attributes you have rather than displaying your worst ones.
I had a look at it last week. I actually ban more people for longer than weka does. Just like I will right now. So you can fuck off for 2 months on the basis that you are trying to tell us what to do – read the policy. ]