Full of hope patriotism and propaganda, very little connection to what's actually happening on the ground. Without going into detail I will cut to the chase and offer a $100 bet that Russia is and will decisively win this Special Military Operation which is to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, all bets to be held by a neutral party, so come on all you armchair experts put some money where your mouths are ..
@ Tony….Good on you…let's see who will put their money where their mouth is…in my experience of these Liberal Imperialists, I think you will find most of them are just so much all hot air and very little else.
btw, a joint statement from Russian and Ukrainian socialists points the finger
Although the majority of the left has condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the left camp’s unity is still lacking. We would like to address those on the left who still stick to “a plague on both houses” position that views the war as an inter-imperialist war.
It is high time the left woke up and carried out a “concrete analysis of the concrete situation” instead of reproducing worn-out frameworks from the Cold War. Overlooking Russian imperialism is a terrible mistake for the left. It is Putin, not NATO, who is waging war on Ukraine. That is why it is essential to shift our focus from Western imperialism to Putin’s aggressive imperialism, which has an ideological and political basis in addition to an economic one.
That is why it is essential to shift our focus from Western imperialism to Putin’s aggressive imperialism, which has an ideological and political basis in addition to an economic one.
I think many countries would be quite surprised to find western imperialism is not aggressive and is devoid of politics and ideology.
Modern Imperialism not only involves the expansion of multinational corporations but the spreading of the dominant nation’s political ideology. America has made no secret of the latter.
Adrian, regardless of the background history between the Ukraine and Russia, the facts remain that the Ukraine is a (however imperfect) democracy, while Russia is a dictatorship where opposition to the government line can be quite detrimental to your health, and Putin/Russia needlessly invaded another country and has, apparently, committed some quite horrendous and, it seems, unnecessary crimes in doing so.
My backing is for David against Goliath!
But I'm not crass enough to put money on human suffering, Tony.
TV, I am betting on the outcome of a situation that has been the subject of the most intense propaganda programme I have ever witnessed and the truth must be searched for, I am willing to put my money where my mouth is, most on here are as Adrian said full of hot air and have only MSM as their source of information, when you say "Putin needlessly invaded another Country" that shows me you have done no research into the whole story, I am happy to share independent intelligent well researched journalists ex Military strategists and academics informed views if you want to educate yourself ..
Cheers Adrian T, no takers so far from here, however I have already collected 2 x $100 wagers that President Putin would be assassinated by his own staff by the 6th April and one of the punters is still so convinced it's going to happen I have given him until May the 6th and we have another $100 on it .. I have enjoyed reading your comments and laugh at the pile on when the tribe doesn't like something you say, they rush to shoot the messenger and ignore the story.
Discussing with another commentator the lack of adequate mental health provision in NZ, and the damage done by the failure of recognising the distinct and particular needs of the transgender community, I'm reposting some links I put in a couple of days ago on Open Mike (if that's OK by the moderators).
The update since this comment is that Norway has now also indicated that it will join the following countries in recommending quality therapy for the transgender community as their reviews of present methods of medication and surgery show net harm, instead of the expected benefits.
We have multiple examples historically and recently of iatrogenic harm done to people from unqualified or non-scrutinised medical treatments.
People asking for good clinical evidence for medical interventions – are often dismissed as transphobic – but really should be everyone.
Links below are particularly pertaining to the medical response for children and young people.
But here in NZ, we were late to the party, and it was only 2020 when the curriculum guidelines for Relationships and Sex Education were created and slapped on as an addition to the TKI – from the Ministry of Education.
For those unaware, the TKI guidelines set out the curriculum for all primary and secondary students in NZ. They specify what learning outcomes are needed, to meet curriculum requirements. Curriculum resources can therefore be created by teachers, schools or purchased from third-party organisations.
Guidelines can be found here on this page for both primary and secondary students as a pdf download.
There is a lot to unpick – and justifiably critique in these documents – but the one relevant to this point can be found in both documents (Pg 30 of Yrs 1-8 guide):
In science, ākonga can:
• consider variations in puberty, including the role of hormone blockers
This means that every child within the NZ education system is introduced to the idea – (and due to the diversity of curriculum that can be taught we have no idea how) – that puberty is something that can reasonably be avoided, and puberty blockers are the method to do so.
Our Ministry of Health follows "gender affirming health care" for transgender NZers, including children. (Without getting into details, note that "gender affirming healthcare" is a pre-determined diagnosis and treatment, not equal to quality healthcare).
For young people where these feelings continue into puberty or emerge during puberty, particularly if associated with distress, it is important to see a health professional. Puberty blockers are a medication that can be used to halt the physical changes of an unwanted puberty.
Blockers are a safe and fully reversible medicine that may be used from early puberty through to later adolescence to help ease distress and allow time to fully explore gender health options.
Service providers that can help access blockers include:
paediatric services
youth health services
endocrinologists
primary health care teams.
Late to the party, and staying for the hangover. NZ education normalises the idea of delayed puberty, while offering – without reserve – off-label medications that have no robust clinical evidence of benefit.
In fact, the countries above, that have reviewed evidence have found that the net result is harm.
If any of this bothers you, write to both the Ministry of Educaation and the Ministry of Health, asking them what evidential base did they use as reference for these TKI outcomes, and current medical response.
If your concern is for high-quality appropriate care for transgender youth, then you should be bothered. The likelihood of iatrogenic harm from the current approach is high, and the evidence of that occurring is starting to accumulate and be collected.
Forgot to add, Florida state, in contradiction of Federal guidelines, has also concluded after review that therapy is the best response in terms of outcomes.
Link to Independent article below, in which the first link is the pdf issued by Florida state, that outlines their reasoning.
As you may know, Florida has also regulated for appropriate age teaching regarding sex and education in public schools. Misnomered as "Don't Say Gay" bill.
They had the same issue, as we have here, where schools were instructing young students that puberty blockers were a reasonable and perfectly safe option for them without clinical evidence that this is true.
In the interest of being pedantic, replace "good" with 'informed' and I then fully agree with you.
There are good people who are uninformed, but you have provided information that may get them to widen their knowledge and give them another perspective.
Late to the party, and staying for the hangover. Very good…okay if I borrow that?
I see the trans thing as a (very significant) part of a wider crisis we are going through where it is demanded of us that we accept without question the pronouncements of the Establishment. However bizarre, nonsensical and downright unscientific they may be.
We are being told by Government and the media that 'This' Is So…and anyone who doesn't 100% believe 'This', is clearly transphobic, anti-vax, scientifically illiterate etc.etc. (Insert whichever slur fits.)
I am trying to figure out who the mentally distressed are. Are they those who go along with the bullshit (that people can change sex and the Covid vaccines are 'effective' etc. ) and the rational part of their brains are rebelling, or are they those of us who call out the bullshit when we see it… and the distress is caused by the Establishment's derision.?
I fear this batshit crazy is going to persist for some time here in Godzone.
(Thanks for those links btw. Many other nations are accepting that some policies and protocols might have have been in error and are making definite attempts to rectify and move forward.)
Iatrogenic harm is something I have personal experience with, as I know you do.
So I have a learned response to question what evidence is provided regarding outcomes and the expected harms. Providing quality information in that regard is necessary for true informed consent. Otherwise, it is a tickbox exercise only, which renders the process harmful rather than neutral, because it pretends to provide a standard of care that it doesn't.
That doesn't mean that I expect all information to be 100% conclusive, I actually believe that to be impossible.
I do expect it to withstand scrutiny, and be able to say "The long-term effects of this are unknown…" or "Data is unavailable in regards…".
As soon as certainty is paired with a new medication, treatment or device my interest is piqued.
“Late to the party, and staying for the hangover. Very good…okay if I borrow that?”
Feel free to use whatever you want.
(The alcoholic theme may or may not be a reflection of my younger days. )
I am bothered about what this "Relationships" stuff is teaching Gay and Lesbian kids also. Tells us that we are "same gender" attracted – not "same sex" attracted. As a Lesbian – attracted to women (as in "adult human females" – rather than "anybody who says they are") I find this offensively homophobic. I don't see any definition of "Homosexual" in the Glossary.
This language appropriation has consequences in regards to discussion and public discourse. If "Transwomen are Women", then the word women has been appropriated to included men. Discussion of women right's and the impact of being a woman in terms of both biological sex and the impact of that on societal expectations becomes a minefield.
I noticed that those trying to maintain those discussions, then moved on to using female, but that also is being considered by many advocates of gender ideology to be transphobic. So, I returned to using women to describe women.
Lesbians were at the forefront of noticing that gay support organisations were shifting language and definitions to obscure original meanings, and eradicate the understood same-sex attraction definition.
The consequence of teaching children that attraction is gender based, and anything other is discriminatory, is that we are essentially saying that a healthy sexual orientation is bisexual – and only bisexual.
The organisations that the Ministry of Education refers the teaching profession to for classroom resources and curriculum, if they do refer to lesbian or homosexual, define it as "same gender attracted" rather than "same sex attracted".
There's a number of links you have to get through to get to this. But you end up with a pdf link.
Rainbow Youth – the most visible of the support organisations for young NZers, and also referred to as a resource by the Ministry of Health – does not use the word ‘lesbian’ at all on its website, and ‘homosexual’ only appears in their submissions to select committee. (Note: I haven’t checked this for a few weeks, so may have changed).
"A resource, focused on pornography within the broader context of Relationships and Sexuality Education, is for all educators, including teachers. The activities, reflective questions, and additional materials are designed to ensure flexibility for educators. Parents and whanau: You can 'browse as guest' and find the public version using the search tools…"
Haven't had a good look around yet. The resource keeps taking a while to load.
Regarding Relationships and Sexuality, I think the provision of guidance that allows external organisations and individuals to provide varying and ideological perspectives on sexuality, is the wrong approach.
I would much prefer the Ministry of Education compiled and published their own curriculum to be used, so that teaching staff provided the same information to all students, and transparency was given to parents and caregivers on what that information is.
Also, coming to the view that not only should biological development of childhood and puberty be covered, but the full timeline of biological sex from birth to death should be included in secondary school teaching.
This will result in a universal understanding of some of the basic common health concerns relating to sex, as children grow into adults. Eg. issues regarding infertility, endimetriosis, breast cancer, prostate cancer, menopause etc. Parents/caregivers of the same sex can be invited to attend sessions to fill in some of the knowledge that the occasional public campaigns endeavour to fill. In particular, this may be of worth to English as a second language NZers. A colloborative effort between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health.
Continuing the talk about language appropriation, the self-named Human Rights Campaign organisation, has put out a wonderful resource for those who are finding it hard to keep up with language, The Safer Sex Guide for Trans Bodies:
I saw a clip of someone wearing a full body suit/mask in Sidney walking the streets. Creepiest shit i have ever seen. But as in Germany and Australia , coming soon to a non gendered pissoir soon enough, thanks current government. This could not have happened without them. s/
All of us who knew that this was the latest iteration of the "men's rights" movement and that it was all about the removal of boundaries. They draped it in a rainbow flag, but it was all about men's access to women's spaces and women's bodies. Anything that women had fought for or utilised has been fetishised for their enjoyment. This includes even mass murder. After years of demanding to have access to the memorial to these women murdered because they were women, Trans Rights Activists have succeeded in invading the annual commemoration to talk about themselves. https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/tributes-to-victims-on-32nd-anniversary-of-montreal-s-polytechnique-mass-shooting-1.5694861
Well. there were those of us bwho were aware that removing boundaries without discussion, may invite those for whom those boundaries were intended too keep out in, alongside the welcoming rainbow flags.
We need to talk about Chesterton's Fence, and become as familiar with it as we did with the Overton Window.
"There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.” To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: “If you don’t see the use of it, I certainly won’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.”
Thanks for that Poission. I'm not religious myself, but follow and agree with some of the points made.
Interestingly, this sentence "Now it is not unnatural that this unnatural separation, between sex and fruitfulness, which even the Pagans would have thought a perversion, has been accompanied with a similar separation and perversion about the nature of the love of the land." seems to relate to a theme that's come up several times lately, regarding the removal of the material body from discussions about sex, and replacing it with more of a focus on the hedonistic and pleasurable aspects of it. As this becomes more common, further exploration of the diversity of sexual acts are introduced. Not necessarily a problem, unless it makes it's way into standard education for children and young people.
(Which appears to have happened in the UK, which resulted in my first experience of watching a Benjamin Boyce video, where he lightly touches on this topic after a Family Sex Show was cancelled at several venues after complaints were made about safeguarding.)
None of us have consented. This is Alex Drummond – identifies as a woman and a lesbian, No surgery, no hormones, does not even have to shave off the beard. Stonewall sends Alex around schools to talk about diversity and inclusion and Alex tells kids that this is what a lesbian looks like.
This continual pushing against boundaries, brings to mind the open letter sent to Madison Metropolitan School District in 2020 about their transphobic bathroom policy written by a teacher of 23 years:
I don't want to discourage anyone from reading the full(some) complaint (that makes no mention of the risk assessments part of safeguarding) but here is the introduction – in their own words:
"The leadership of Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is currently enacting a transphobic policy. And yes, it’s about bathrooms. It’s ALWAYS about bathrooms.
Here are the facts:
The policy our leadership is enacting is to require that staff and students use different bathrooms. I know, that doesn’t seem transphobic on the face of it. Our leadership wants to push the idea that it’s just a clarification of existing expectations. They want us to believe that it’s not transphobic, it’s just about safety and about “listening to all stakeholders”. And if that were true, this would not be a problem."
Now, in someone else's words, who understands the place risk assessment has in quality safeguarding policies:
US — Madison, Wisconsin. In January 2020, a male teacher penned an open letter in Our Lives, an LGBT Madison newsletter, accusing the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) of transphobia because the district encouraged adult staff to use staff washrooms, not those designated for children. Vica Steel who was previously named Mark Busenbark and currently identifies as a woman, wants to continue using the girls’ washroom directly across from the science teacher’s second-floor classroom, rather than an “all-gender” bathroom further away on the first floor.
…An Allis parent, (whose) child reported feeling uncomfortable using a children’s bathroom while an adult staff member was also using that same bathroom, contacted MMSD central office to inquire about what district practice was regarding adults using children’s bathrooms …
While staff members are able to use adult washrooms in the school “based on the gender with which they identify”, LeMonds indicated it is a best practice for adults to use a different bathroom than students “for safety purposes”.
Kim Hill interviewed Bill Browder this morning. He's living in seclusion for the same reason as Salman Rushdie (perpetual threat of assassination and/or kidnapping) but has to protect his wife & family simultaneously too.
Surprisingly, I managed the 48 mins without a moment of boredom. Most unusual. I liked his verbal style: fast, precise, low-key – yet always clear and direct.
They deployed useful-idiot theory for the Trump/Putin negotiations (in respect to the 2016 campaign meeting & offer of dirt on Hillary). Putin wanted Trump to ditch the Magnitsky Act. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnitsky_Act]
Most interesting bit was his explanation for why the goons who beat Magnitsky to death in prison put on the official form that they had used rubber truncheons on him: same as for Nazi goons under Himmler (to protect themselves against higher goons) – they had to create a bureaucratic record that they'd followed their orders properly.
For instance he said "Putin got 50%" of the Russian oligarchs billions for protecting them. How does he know this?
He also came across as money hungry to a point where, by the end, I was thinking he was getting his just deserts having to live his life as though he and his family were under threat of Russian violence at all times. When you dance with the devil…..
A Mount Maunganui museum dedicated to the military history of white minority-ruled Rhodesia that’s been likened to “celebrating the holocaust” is being used as a venue for Anzac commemorations this weekend…
A spokesperson for the government’s Department of Internal Affairs said the department had not received any complaints relating to the Rhodesian Services Association’s eligibility for registration under the Charities Act 2005.
However a letter sighted by Stuff dated 2010 from the Charities Commission refers to a complaint lodged with the commission regarding the charitable status of the Rhodesian Services Association, leading the commission to investigate “whether the Association was engaging in some form of public advocacy, advocating racial discrimination, or extolling the past racially based Rhodesian regime.”.
Hugh Bomford, spokesperson for the Lion and Tusk museum, run by the Rhodesian Services Association… said the museum is funded through membership, trading, donation and fundraising.
There have been recent concerns about white supremacy activity in Tauranga following the distribution of leaflets throughout the city.
Police said that they are aware of this and while they understand it may be offensive, it does not constitute a criminal offence.
It seems likely that the DIA will soon be getting a few complaints about the Rhodesian Services Association (including their cooption of the RSA TLA on ANZAC Day). From myself and my whanau if no one else.
I am put in mind of this NRT piece from yesterday:
The BORA's affirmation of the right to freedom of expression means that it is phenomenally difficult to prosecute for inciting racial disharmony, and this is only the second-ever case. But the penalty for that is only three months, so the bulk of his sentence (12 months' home detention and 300 hours of community work) was due to knowingly making an objectionable publication. Which I guess shows the opponents of a specific hate speech law the existing alternative: rather than risking three months in jail, they can risk 14 years, and be tainted by an offence normally reserved for child pornographers.
Thanks for the links Joe90. I don't spend much time on Twitter so wouldn't have thought of looking there myself. Though admittedly I do glance at Te Taipo and the disinformation project every so often since the Wellington occupation(/ inept coup attempt).
The second link didn't take me to a specific article, more a Google search in which the most relevant piece was about Don Brash in 2017. I didn't read it in full. Was that what you intended to link to?
Seem's like the Charities Commission should have a more robust system of dealing with complaints, and publishing decisions. In this era of technology, it should be a fundamental automatic process.
Scott Hamilton, always seems to be ahead of the ball in these situations.
I hope that those that do complain, are responded to in detail and that the Charities Commission not only publishes the complaints but the decision making process that leads to their response.
I waver between the balance between knowing where such possibilities for racial extremism are, against sending them underground or onto the dark net where they are fully hidden.
I don't support the use of the venue for Anzac though, seems a bad judgement call on the part of the Ministry of Defence.
It's been great fun seeing Keir Starmer do the slow roast of Boris Johnson.
Even if her survives the Parliamentary inquiry he will have holed the Conservatives below the waterline. Great to see Starmer finally harvesting the results of all those carefully set Parliamentary questions.
President Xi Jinping speaks wise words at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022, a thread outlining 10 major observations & messages from the speech. Actions mean more, but I live in hope.
He requests the international community to cooperate to keep global peace & warns against unilateralism, Cold War mentality & hegemonic tendencies & ambitions of the old order:
“We need to work together to maintain peace and stability in the world….The Cold War mentality
would only wreck the global peace framework, hegemonism and power politics would only endanger world peace, and bloc confrontation would only exacerbate security challenges in the 21st century.
“Keep walking and one will not be daunted by a thousand miles; make constant efforts and one will not be intimidated by a thousand tasks.”
Al-Aqsa is Islam's third-holiest site, and the most sacred site in Judaism where it is known as the Temple Mount. Police fired tear gas and rubber-tipped bullets at stone-throwing Palestinian youths, and later used drones to spray tear gas from the air, an AFP photographer said.
After midday prayers, some worshippers chanted "incitement" and tried to damage a security post, police said. More than 200 people, mostly Palestinians, have been hurt in clashes in and around Al-Aqsa in the past week. Palestinians have been outraged by massive Israeli police deployment and repeated visits by Jews to the holy site.
By long-standing convention, Jews are allowed to visit under certain conditions but are not allowed to pray there. Palestinian worshipper Alaa al-Haddad said Israel was restricting access to Al-Aqsa, and that this had created "tensions that lead to clashes", with hundreds of people arrested in recent days."It's all because the occupation forces are regularly storming the holy Al-Aqsa mosque," Haddad said.
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Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
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, ...
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. ...
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 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Until this month, Auckland swimmer Hazel Ouwehand had never met a qualifying time in an Olympic event for a New Zealand team, even as a junior. Now she’s very likely off to the Paris Olympics after swimming well under the qualifying standard in the 100m butterfly twice – both in ...
While Anzac Day has experienced a resurgence in recent years, our other day of remembrance has slowly faded from view.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Hope McConnell.First published in 2022.The high school’s head girl and ...
Australian and New Zealand volunteers fought together in the Waikato War, yet still its place in the Anzac tradition is unacknowledged by our defence forces or Returned Services Association.First published in 2018.When I was a boy cub I attended Anzac Day services in the South Auckland suburb of ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
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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 ...
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Here's a video (24 mins) for Tsmithfield – Ukraine has already won the war!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDf6Zf0JrPE
Full of hope and patriotism – but perhaps not too far off the mark.
Good stuff
Full of hope patriotism and propaganda, very little connection to what's actually happening on the ground. Without going into detail I will cut to the chase and offer a $100 bet that Russia is and will decisively win this Special Military Operation which is to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, all bets to be held by a neutral party, so come on all you armchair experts put some money where your mouths are ..
@ Tony….Good on you…let's see who will put their money where their mouth is…in my experience of these Liberal Imperialists, I think you will find most of them are just so much all hot air and very little else.
"these liberal imperialists" – wow what a try-hard. Do you have a beret and a Che t-shirt?
And can't see me pants, too?
btw, a joint statement from Russian and Ukrainian socialists points the finger
Although the majority of the left has condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the left camp’s unity is still lacking. We would like to address those on the left who still stick to “a plague on both houses” position that views the war as an inter-imperialist war.
It is high time the left woke up and carried out a “concrete analysis of the concrete situation” instead of reproducing worn-out frameworks from the Cold War. Overlooking Russian imperialism is a terrible mistake for the left. It is Putin, not NATO, who is waging war on Ukraine. That is why it is essential to shift our focus from Western imperialism to Putin’s aggressive imperialism, which has an ideological and political basis in addition to an economic one.
https://lefteast.org/against-russian-imperialism/
I think many countries would be quite surprised to find western imperialism is not aggressive and is devoid of politics and ideology.
Modern Imperialism not only involves the expansion of multinational corporations but the spreading of the dominant nation’s political ideology. America has made no secret of the latter.
Adrian, regardless of the background history between the Ukraine and Russia, the facts remain that the Ukraine is a (however imperfect) democracy, while Russia is a dictatorship where opposition to the government line can be quite detrimental to your health, and Putin/Russia needlessly invaded another country and has, apparently, committed some quite horrendous and, it seems, unnecessary crimes in doing so.
My backing is for David against Goliath!
But I'm not crass enough to put money on human suffering, Tony.
TV, I am betting on the outcome of a situation that has been the subject of the most intense propaganda programme I have ever witnessed and the truth must be searched for, I am willing to put my money where my mouth is, most on here are as Adrian said full of hot air and have only MSM as their source of information, when you say "Putin needlessly invaded another Country" that shows me you have done no research into the whole story, I am happy to share independent intelligent well researched journalists ex Military strategists and academics informed views if you want to educate yourself ..
Cheers Adrian T, no takers so far from here, however I have already collected 2 x $100 wagers that President Putin would be assassinated by his own staff by the 6th April and one of the punters is still so convinced it's going to happen I have given him until May the 6th and we have another $100 on it .. I have enjoyed reading your comments and laugh at the pile on when the tribe doesn't like something you say, they rush to shoot the messenger and ignore the story.
It's just a game, a money-making opportunity, that's all! Such a callous disregard for human suffering because it's 'over there,' far away from NZ.
I find your attitude appalling!
Discussing with another commentator the lack of adequate mental health provision in NZ, and the damage done by the failure of recognising the distinct and particular needs of the transgender community, I'm reposting some links I put in a couple of days ago on Open Mike (if that's OK by the moderators).
The update since this comment is that Norway has now also indicated that it will join the following countries in recommending quality therapy for the transgender community as their reviews of present methods of medication and surgery show net harm, instead of the expected benefits.
We have multiple examples historically and recently of iatrogenic harm done to people from unqualified or non-scrutinised medical treatments.
People asking for good clinical evidence for medical interventions – are often dismissed as transphobic – but really should be everyone.
Links below are particularly pertaining to the medical response for children and young people.
Netherlands; https://www.voorzij.nl/more-research-is-urgently-needed-into-transgender-care-for-young-people-where-does-the-large-increase-of-children-come-from/
Finland; https://segm.org/Finland_deviates_from_WPATH_prioritizing_psychotherapy_no_surgery_for_minors
Sweden; https://segm.org/segm-summary-sweden-prioritizes-therapy-curbs-hormones-for-gender-dysphoric-youth
France; https://segm.org/France-cautions-regarding-puberty-blockers-and-cross-sex-hormones-for-youth
the UK in the form of the Interim Cass Review; https://cass.independent-review.uk/publications/interim-report/
But here in NZ, we were late to the party, and it was only 2020 when the curriculum guidelines for Relationships and Sex Education were created and slapped on as an addition to the TKI – from the Ministry of Education.
For those unaware, the TKI guidelines set out the curriculum for all primary and secondary students in NZ. They specify what learning outcomes are needed, to meet curriculum requirements. Curriculum resources can therefore be created by teachers, schools or purchased from third-party organisations.
https://hpe.tki.org.nz/guidelines-and-policies/relationships-and-sexuality-education/
Guidelines can be found here on this page for both primary and secondary students as a pdf download.
There is a lot to unpick – and justifiably critique in these documents – but the one relevant to this point can be found in both documents (Pg 30 of Yrs 1-8 guide):
This means that every child within the NZ education system is introduced to the idea – (and due to the diversity of curriculum that can be taught we have no idea how) – that puberty is something that can reasonably be avoided, and puberty blockers are the method to do so.
Our Ministry of Health follows "gender affirming health care" for transgender NZers, including children. (Without getting into details, note that "gender affirming healthcare" is a pre-determined diagnosis and treatment, not equal to quality healthcare).
https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/transgender-new-zealanders/transgender-new-zealanders-children-and-young-people
Late to the party, and staying for the hangover. NZ education normalises the idea of delayed puberty, while offering – without reserve – off-label medications that have no robust clinical evidence of benefit.
In fact, the countries above, that have reviewed evidence have found that the net result is harm.
If any of this bothers you, write to both the Ministry of Educaation and the Ministry of Health, asking them what evidential base did they use as reference for these TKI outcomes, and current medical response.
If your concern is for high-quality appropriate care for transgender youth, then you should be bothered. The likelihood of iatrogenic harm from the current approach is high, and the evidence of that occurring is starting to accumulate and be collected.
Forgot to add, Florida state, in contradiction of Federal guidelines, has also concluded after review that therapy is the best response in terms of outcomes.
Link to Independent article below, in which the first link is the pdf issued by Florida state, that outlines their reasoning.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/florida-transgender-healthcare-desantis-b2061804.html
As you may know, Florida has also regulated for appropriate age teaching regarding sex and education in public schools. Misnomered as "Don't Say Gay" bill.
They had the same issue, as we have here, where schools were instructing young students that puberty blockers were a reasonable and perfectly safe option for them without clinical evidence that this is true.
Even in America – with its for profit health system and its proliferation of "gender clinics" – good people are fighting back. https://lgbausa.org/2022/03/the-medicalization-of-gender-nonconforming-youth-a-statement-on-where-we-stand/?fbclid=IwAR2H76_xwbhkexcI_qxd_nIpqRdEC1U5tys82IWRkSsUd7GG2o8NwjZ8BmQ
In the interest of being pedantic, replace "good" with 'informed' and I then fully agree with you.
There are good people who are uninformed, but you have provided information that may get them to widen their knowledge and give them another perspective.
Late to the party, and staying for the hangover. Very good…okay if I borrow that?
I see the trans thing as a (very significant) part of a wider crisis we are going through where it is demanded of us that we accept without question the pronouncements of the Establishment. However bizarre, nonsensical and downright unscientific they may be.
We are being told by Government and the media that 'This' Is So…and anyone who doesn't 100% believe 'This', is clearly transphobic, anti-vax, scientifically illiterate etc.etc. (Insert whichever slur fits.)
I am trying to figure out who the mentally distressed are. Are they those who go along with the bullshit (that people can change sex and the Covid vaccines are 'effective' etc. ) and the rational part of their brains are rebelling, or are they those of us who call out the bullshit when we see it… and the distress is caused by the Establishment's derision.?
I fear this batshit crazy is going to persist for some time here in Godzone.
(Thanks for those links btw. Many other nations are accepting that some policies and protocols might have have been in error and are making definite attempts to rectify and move forward.)
Iatrogenic harm is something I have personal experience with, as I know you do.
So I have a learned response to question what evidence is provided regarding outcomes and the expected harms. Providing quality information in that regard is necessary for true informed consent. Otherwise, it is a tickbox exercise only, which renders the process harmful rather than neutral, because it pretends to provide a standard of care that it doesn't.
That doesn't mean that I expect all information to be 100% conclusive, I actually believe that to be impossible.
I do expect it to withstand scrutiny, and be able to say "The long-term effects of this are unknown…" or "Data is unavailable in regards…".
As soon as certainty is paired with a new medication, treatment or device my interest is piqued.
“Late to the party, and staying for the hangover. Very good…okay if I borrow that?”
Feel free to use whatever you want.
(The alcoholic theme may or may not be a reflection of my younger days. )
I am bothered about what this "Relationships" stuff is teaching Gay and Lesbian kids also. Tells us that we are "same gender" attracted – not "same sex" attracted. As a Lesbian – attracted to women (as in "adult human females" – rather than "anybody who says they are") I find this offensively homophobic. I don't see any definition of "Homosexual" in the Glossary.
This language appropriation has consequences in regards to discussion and public discourse. If "Transwomen are Women", then the word women has been appropriated to included men. Discussion of women right's and the impact of being a woman in terms of both biological sex and the impact of that on societal expectations becomes a minefield.
I noticed that those trying to maintain those discussions, then moved on to using female, but that also is being considered by many advocates of gender ideology to be transphobic. So, I returned to using women to describe women.
Lesbians were at the forefront of noticing that gay support organisations were shifting language and definitions to obscure original meanings, and eradicate the understood same-sex attraction definition.
The consequence of teaching children that attraction is gender based, and anything other is discriminatory, is that we are essentially saying that a healthy sexual orientation is bisexual – and only bisexual.
The organisations that the Ministry of Education refers the teaching profession to for classroom resources and curriculum, if they do refer to lesbian or homosexual, define it as "same gender attracted" rather than "same sex attracted".
There's a number of links you have to get through to get to this. But you end up with a pdf link.
https://healtheducation.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/m-nzhea-seg-teaching-and-learning-resources-for-sexuality-education.pdf
Rainbow Youth – the most visible of the support organisations for young NZers, and also referred to as a resource by the Ministry of Health – does not use the word ‘lesbian’ at all on its website, and ‘homosexual’ only appears in their submissions to select committee. (Note: I haven’t checked this for a few weeks, so may have changed).
Planned Parenthood has moved on from issues to do with reproduction and their method of providing easy and unscrutinised access to hormones is widely shared on transitioner forums.
It takes a while to go through all links, and some are only available to registered users.
As is the information regarding this which seems to have been added on 13 April 2022:
Haven't had a good look around yet. The resource keeps taking a while to load.
Regarding Relationships and Sexuality, I think the provision of guidance that allows external organisations and individuals to provide varying and ideological perspectives on sexuality, is the wrong approach.
I would much prefer the Ministry of Education compiled and published their own curriculum to be used, so that teaching staff provided the same information to all students, and transparency was given to parents and caregivers on what that information is.
Also, coming to the view that not only should biological development of childhood and puberty be covered, but the full timeline of biological sex from birth to death should be included in secondary school teaching.
This will result in a universal understanding of some of the basic common health concerns relating to sex, as children grow into adults. Eg. issues regarding infertility, endimetriosis, breast cancer, prostate cancer, menopause etc. Parents/caregivers of the same sex can be invited to attend sessions to fill in some of the knowledge that the occasional public campaigns endeavour to fill. In particular, this may be of worth to English as a second language NZers. A colloborative effort between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health.
Continuing the talk about language appropriation, the self-named Human Rights Campaign organisation, has put out a wonderful resource for those who are finding it hard to keep up with language, The Safer Sex Guide for Trans Bodies:
https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/Trans_Safer_Sex_Guide_FINAL.pdf
Do you remember (baby) last September… when women were foolishly complaining about the cover of the Lancet with "bodies with vaginas" quote?
Well, we've moved on from there.
Bodies with vaginas, are not the bodies with vaginas of yesterday.
However, the dicks of today are the same as the dicks of yesterday.
Just keeps getting better and better,
https://twitter.com/hatpinwoman/status/1517515059945222144?s=21
https://twitter.com/hatpinwoman/status/1517517624195883010?s=21
if it’s a sexual fetish, doing it publicly involves other people who haven’t consented.
I saw a clip of someone wearing a full body suit/mask in Sidney walking the streets. Creepiest shit i have ever seen. But as in Germany and Australia , coming soon to a non gendered pissoir soon enough, thanks current government. This could not have happened without them. s/
These new woman are something. Aren't they?
Who would have thought #NoDebate would lead to this kind of boundary pushing?
All of us who knew that this was the latest iteration of the "men's rights" movement and that it was all about the removal of boundaries. They draped it in a rainbow flag, but it was all about men's access to women's spaces and women's bodies. Anything that women had fought for or utilised has been fetishised for their enjoyment. This includes even mass murder. After years of demanding to have access to the memorial to these women murdered because they were women, Trans Rights Activists have succeeded in invading the annual commemoration to talk about themselves. https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/tributes-to-victims-on-32nd-anniversary-of-montreal-s-polytechnique-mass-shooting-1.5694861
Well. there were those of us bwho were aware that removing boundaries without discussion, may invite those for whom those boundaries were intended too keep out in, alongside the welcoming rainbow flags.
We need to talk about Chesterton's Fence, and become as familiar with it as we did with the Overton Window.
Chesterton was a thinker well ahead of his time.
https://twitter.com/GKCdaily/status/1412944776861818880
Thanks, Poission. That seems very appropriate.
Do you know what context this quote was made in?
Its from an essay [ sex and property] that also has analogous arguments,that relate to the forthcoming dystopian regimes that were appearing.
https://www.chesterton.org/sex-and-property/
Thanks for that Poission. I'm not religious myself, but follow and agree with some of the points made.
Interestingly, this sentence "Now it is not unnatural that this unnatural separation, between sex and fruitfulness, which even the Pagans would have thought a perversion, has been accompanied with a similar separation and perversion about the nature of the love of the land." seems to relate to a theme that's come up several times lately, regarding the removal of the material body from discussions about sex, and replacing it with more of a focus on the hedonistic and pleasurable aspects of it. As this becomes more common, further exploration of the diversity of sexual acts are introduced. Not necessarily a problem, unless it makes it's way into standard education for children and young people.
(Which appears to have happened in the UK, which resulted in my first experience of watching a Benjamin Boyce video, where he lightly touches on this topic after a Family Sex Show was cancelled at several venues after complaints were made about safeguarding.)
https://youtu.be/q9mF8DHwU8U
lol, all of us? 🙂
Now that I think of it… I'm pretty sure I was on the Us bus with you.
But people kept wanting to send us to Coventry because of the loud team sing-a-long.
People do as people see fit. We were/are in good company on that bus to Coventry. Maybe we should meet for lunch one day?
I'll get the t-shirts…
https://twitter.com/TheFamousArtBR/status/1517244619905548291
I want us all in a restaurant with phones on the table and lots of laughter.
name the place and a date…….
Sounds like a plan!
I'm not up to getting together, but what about something like this?
https://twitter.com/JKRsBarmyBooks/status/1518123802093359108
(and totally support others getting together!)
First book is Joyce's Trans.
To both. Book club to start.
https://twitter.com/jkrsbarmybooks/status/1518634962647457793?s=21
None of us have consented. This is Alex Drummond – identifies as a woman and a lesbian, No surgery, no hormones, does not even have to shave off the beard. Stonewall sends Alex around schools to talk about diversity and inclusion and Alex tells kids that this is what a lesbian looks like.
do you think he's AGP?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkK7zisjoDk
The most splendid Magdalene Berns.
But yes, yes he is. And he clearly enjoys the power to make women feel uncomfortable around him, and imo that is why he does it.
Absolutely.
ah yes, I'd forgotten about that.
I miss the fabulous Magdalen Burns. She's so on form there.
This continual pushing against boundaries, brings to mind the open letter sent to Madison Metropolitan School District in 2020 about their transphobic bathroom policy written by a teacher of 23 years:
https://ourlivesmadison.com/article/open-letter-from-vica-steel-madison-metropolitan-school-district-is-currently-enacting-a-transphobic-policy/
I don't want to discourage anyone from reading the full(some) complaint (that makes no mention of the risk assessments part of safeguarding) but here is the introduction – in their own words:
Now, in someone else's words, who understands the place risk assessment has in quality safeguarding policies:
https://www.womenarehuman.com/male-teacher-now-transgender-demands-access-to-washroom-for-elementary-school-girls/
Comments?
Who would possibly not want this person in the same bathroom as their 13yo daughter? This is Vica Steel.
Elementary school ages in the US are approx five to eleven years old.
Kim Hill interviewed Bill Browder this morning. He's living in seclusion for the same reason as Salman Rushdie (perpetual threat of assassination and/or kidnapping) but has to protect his wife & family simultaneously too.
Surprisingly, I managed the 48 mins without a moment of boredom. Most unusual. I liked his verbal style: fast, precise, low-key – yet always clear and direct.
They deployed useful-idiot theory for the Trump/Putin negotiations (in respect to the 2016 campaign meeting & offer of dirt on Hillary). Putin wanted Trump to ditch the Magnitsky Act. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnitsky_Act]
Most interesting bit was his explanation for why the goons who beat Magnitsky to death in prison put on the official form that they had used rubber truncheons on him: same as for Nazi goons under Himmler (to protect themselves against higher goons) – they had to create a bureaucratic record that they'd followed their orders properly.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018839233/bill-browder-the-man-high-on-putin-s-hit-list
I found him interesting but too glib Dennis.
For instance he said "Putin got 50%" of the Russian oligarchs billions for protecting them. How does he know this?
He also came across as money hungry to a point where, by the end, I was thinking he was getting his just deserts having to live his life as though he and his family were under threat of Russian violence at all times. When you dance with the devil…..
This is simply despicable:
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/300570733/kiwi-seaside-town-hosts-rhodesian-museum-where-a-racist-regimes-war-is-honoured
It seems likely that the DIA will soon be getting a few complaints about the Rhodesian Services Association (including their cooption of the RSA TLA on ANZAC Day). From myself and my whanau if no one else.
I am put in mind of this NRT piece from yesterday:
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2022/04/a-conviction-for-hate-speech.html?m=1
Historian Scott Hamilton has had an eye on these fuckers.
https://twitter.com/search?q=from%3A%40SikotiHamiltonR%20rhodesia&src=typed_query
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=rhodesia+site%3Areadingthemaps.blogspot.com
Thanks for the links Joe90. I don't spend much time on Twitter so wouldn't have thought of looking there myself. Though admittedly I do glance at Te Taipo and the disinformation project every so often since the Wellington occupation(/ inept coup attempt).
The second link didn't take me to a specific article, more a Google search in which the most relevant piece was about Don Brash in 2017. I didn't read it in full. Was that what you intended to link to?
Just noting that Scott's been writing about Rhodesians in NZ and their connections since 2009.
That's an informative Stuff article.
Seem's like the Charities Commission should have a more robust system of dealing with complaints, and publishing decisions. In this era of technology, it should be a fundamental automatic process.
Scott Hamilton, always seems to be ahead of the ball in these situations.
I hope that those that do complain, are responded to in detail and that the Charities Commission not only publishes the complaints but the decision making process that leads to their response.
I waver between the balance between knowing where such possibilities for racial extremism are, against sending them underground or onto the dark net where they are fully hidden.
I don't support the use of the venue for Anzac though, seems a bad judgement call on the part of the Ministry of Defence.
It's been great fun seeing Keir Starmer do the slow roast of Boris Johnson.
Even if her survives the Parliamentary inquiry he will have holed the Conservatives below the waterline. Great to see Starmer finally harvesting the results of all those carefully set Parliamentary questions.
(14) Labour Produced Strategic Masterstroke in Trapping Boris Johnson – YouTube
President Xi Jinping speaks wise words at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022, a thread outlining 10 major observations & messages from the speech. Actions mean more, but I live in hope.
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1517095829147996165.html
What Government services are currently underfunded?
IDF gotta IDF.
https://twitter.com/nirhasson/status/1515602981722501124
Al-Aqsa is Islam's third-holiest site, and the most sacred site in Judaism where it is known as the Temple Mount. Police fired tear gas and rubber-tipped bullets at stone-throwing Palestinian youths, and later used drones to spray tear gas from the air, an AFP photographer said.
After midday prayers, some worshippers chanted "incitement" and tried to damage a security post, police said. More than 200 people, mostly Palestinians, have been hurt in clashes in and around Al-Aqsa in the past week. Palestinians have been outraged by massive Israeli police deployment and repeated visits by Jews to the holy site.
By long-standing convention, Jews are allowed to visit under certain conditions but are not allowed to pray there. Palestinian worshipper Alaa al-Haddad said Israel was restricting access to Al-Aqsa, and that this had created "tensions that lead to clashes", with hundreds of people arrested in recent days."It's all because the occupation forces are regularly storming the holy Al-Aqsa mosque," Haddad said.
https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20220422-scores-of-palestinians-wounded-in-clashes-with-israeli-police-at-jerusalem-s-al-aqsa-mosque-compound