Open Mike 23/12/2018

Written By: - Date published: 7:43 am, December 23rd, 2018 - 156 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

156 comments on “Open Mike 23/12/2018 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Ed 1
    23 December 2018 at 7:50 am

    Looks like it was a suburban couple who caused all the drone mayhem in the UK….

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/22/gatwick-drone-identities-arrested-couple-revealed/

    • James 1.1
      23 December 2018 at 8:18 am

      iF it was them – then I doubt it they did it because they lived in ‘the burbs’

      I’m sure it will come out they were climate change fanatics or just pissed off with the noise of planes despite them living in a flight path.

      • cleangreen 1.1.1
        23 December 2018 at 8:39 am

        James = another straw man.

        • james 1.1.1.1
          23 December 2018 at 9:12 am

          cleangreen = another hufflepuff.

          See how stupid your comment is?

          Try to discus the post as opposed to a single one line insult that has nothing to do with anything.

          • greywarshark 1.1.1.1.1
            23 December 2018 at 10:28 am

            Boring children. Will you stop squabbling and learn how to use self-control when making sharp criticisms or points on the blog?? You have been coming here long enough – you have served your apprenticeship, now show your skills and stop being foolish, or go to where you would fit in just great.

    • Matiri 1.2
      23 December 2018 at 8:22 am

      That’s the town where I grew up …. with my English mother and Kiwi father.

      • James 1.2.1
        23 December 2018 at 8:26 am

        Oh no – for goodness sake don’t let people know you were in the UK.

        Soon muttonbird will be demanding you show your residency application and the every outraged reason will be all upset.

        • reason 1.2.1.1
          23 December 2018 at 10:20 am

          Your Still being a Dick pick troll James … ugly little englishman

          I’ve explained when you deeply offended me ….

          It was when I was ” Feeling strong emotions and knowing the reality behind two suicides in my wider circle ”

          During that time, here at The Standard you posted ” a particularly shit stained troll post …. with you pretending to care about suicide … while painting the national party as off-bounds for criticism … according to you their dirty hands were clean …”

          Your response to what I wrote was ,,,, “oh here we go – poor easily offended (lack of) reason – who indeed is a snowflake” . … which you tried to back away from despite obviously responding to what i had written.

          Now your saying I’m easily outraged …. I wasn’t even outraged when you nominated the rape threatening Jair Bolsonaro as your pick for the most “charismatic” politician in the world.

          James ” I would happy bet you a months ban if you can find anything saying I admire Jair Bolsonaro.”

          Muttonbird …. “Well you did say he is more charismatic than Jacinda Ardern who you didn’t rate as charismatic at all despite her forming a government within a month of becoming leader of her party. That’s as big an endorsement of Jair Bolsonaro as you can get really.”

          Who other than James, thinks that picking rape happy right wing Jair Bolsonare for most charismatic world leader ,,, is anything other a sign of endorsment / admiration.

          • James 1.2.1.1.1
            23 December 2018 at 11:06 am

            I think I said always offended and easily outraged- your point tend to point this out as fact.

            You need to relax a little.

            • marty mars 1.2.1.1.1.1
              23 December 2018 at 12:23 pm

              You’ve now had multiple chances to back off but you refuse to do that. Instead you ridicule a person for their pain. You’re a sad, ugly sack of shit jamesy.

              • veutoviper …
                23 December 2018 at 12:44 pm

                On this occasion I am going to disagree with you, marty. Muttonbird and reason have been doing a pile on of James for months now – making claims about James where their only backup of their statements has been selective claims and quotes that each have made about what the other or James has said – but with no links to the actual original statements/comments made by James or themselves in earlier comments. They also have had multiple chances to back off when challenged but have also refused to do so. James has the same right as anyone else to challenge such claims and to defend himself IMHO and this is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

                • Bewildered …
                  23 December 2018 at 1:36 pm

                  Agree a lot of projecting by commenters on this site about jsnes and then they all get prissy and oh so offended when cracks back, especially Marty who is as tough teak on his key board Ed in contrast is just fun

                • reason …
                  23 December 2018 at 1:44 pm

                  Vetroviper …..I was disgusted when James made his troll suicide post …. he may as well have have pissed on the graves of the young teenage girl and the father of young children who were victims of our society…. and causing such sorrow to people I know and love.

                  I did not have the emotional energy to give him the serve he deserved at the time …… but I marked his troll card for future attention.

                  As for the fact James is an englishman …. he himself wrote it and I took note.

                  Ignoring the fact trolls are bad faith posters whose purpose is to waste time ….

                  …. to derail

                  … and to perform the tasks that sending a dick pick achieves … to Lower the tone … to offend …. and make site users experience unpleasant.

                  Ignoring all that ….. Tell or show me how to do a search of james post on this site and i actually will waste my time on him .. even though he could easily go yes or no ……a simple yes or no ….to the fact i have brought up about him.

                  James response to not denying ( the no option ) is as follows ….

                  James …. “Well – ive been insuiating that you are a fuckwit and you’ve never said anything about it … so that must be a valid citation you are a fuckwit.”

                  To which I reply
                  a) this is the first time he’s openly called me a fuckwit
                  b) this is an opinion …. not a fact …. different in that being english is a fact.
                  c) it’s an opinion from a troll / dickpick … and worth nothing.

                  If he were to call me something that was not opinion Russian or Chinese ….. I’d point out what a stupid clown he is.

                  I wonder why he hasn’t to me???? ….

                  A while ago I wrote a post on trolls and how they operate ….. it’s obviously time for another

                  James will feature ….. with him demonstrating the only consistent thing with a political troll is support for their ‘team’ …. which makes them morally inconsistent.

                  James will demonstrate this with his conflicting stances and attitudes to sexual assault …..

                  Featuring Waikato rugby players ….. a bullying hair fetish prime minister …. Oxfam …. and the Labour Party youth camp….. All of which evoked very different attitudes and posts from James.

                  Personally I’m trolls ……….. they are dishonest dick picks … and I try to spoil their fun ….

                  rip n8v child

                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8uQOCW05Vo

                  • reason …
                    23 December 2018 at 1:58 pm

                    Personally I dislike trolls ……….. they are dishonest dick picks … and I try to spoil their fun ….

                    rip n8v child …. a talented kiwi james spat on

                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGFFAIz5FHs

                  • James …
                    23 December 2018 at 4:15 pm

                    You’re sounding like you are losing it there Reason.

                    Quick question- why do you think being English is a bad thing? You seem to think it’s an insult or something?

                    It’s not cool to use casual racism like that.

                    And what is it that makes you so fascinated with doc pics? You’ve mentioned them like three times today.

                    • Grafton Gully …
                      23 December 2018 at 6:55 pm

                      You love to celebrate royal occasions, are obsessed with the class system, do everything by the book, love to queue and drink tea all day ?

                    • James []
                      23 December 2018 at 7:30 pm

                      I do love a good cuppa.

                    • reason …
                      23 December 2018 at 7:27 pm

                      Losing it ? …. this is what losing it looks like ….. “Well – ive been insuiating that you are a fuckwit and you’ve never said anything about it … so that must be a valid citation you are a fuckwit.”

                      Being an English man is not a bad thing … unless you are a bad Englishman …. Being an immigrant is relevant when commenting on Maori rights & racism,….which you have not held back from …. Or absolving right wing political choices and racism for NZ’s high suicide rates, particularly severe for Maori ….. Or when you bash NZ people on benefits ,,,,, or telling us there has always been NZers living in cars …. etc etc

                      Trolls may be mainly a threat to billy goats …. but Troll is a poor description of what your sort do on the internet.

                      You share the most in common with dick picks …. unsolicited Sending your ugly self.

                      To Lower the tone … to offend …. make site users experience unpleasant…. and your unpleasantness have more of a negative impact on women.

                      If it appears I troll the trolls …… then technically I could be called a dick whacker ……

                      and your one of the dicks ….. james

                    • James []
                      23 December 2018 at 7:34 pm

                      Dear snowflake – By god your grammar is terrible.

                      Did you not study English ?

    • Ed 1.3
      23 December 2018 at 8:46 am

      It may be more complicated…
      Sounds like a good alibi.

      “Forensic squads are now said to be searching a van outside their home but the probe was thrown into confusion as Mr Gait’s boss John Allard said he was at work.

      Mr Allard, who runs a double glazing firm in Crowborough, said he could ‘account for Paul’s movements between the hours of 7am and 5pm last Monday to Friday’.”

      https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6522089/Two-people-arrested-criminal-use-drones-Gatwick-Airport.html

      • greywarshark 1.3.1
        23 December 2018 at 10:31 am

        I was wondering when these drone hazards become regarded as terrorist attacks. Because they are just as bad and done for a malign reason, actually without any real brain reason being applied at all.

        ‘Duh, I’m really keen on these drones and thought it was a good thing to do. And it tests the defences of the airport too, so I’m being helpful really.’ /sarc

  2. Ed 2
    23 December 2018 at 8:14 am

    Chris Hedges nails it.

    “We Can’t Fight Climate Change if We Keep Lying to Ourselves

    The inability to see what is in front of our eyes replicates the blindness of all past civilizations that celebrated their eternal glory at moments of precipitous decline. The difference is that life across the whole planet will go down this time. It is comforting to pretend this is not happening, to foster false hopes and fool ourselves with the myth of human progress, but these illusions only tranquilize us at a moment when we should be rising in collective fury against those who are orchestrating our doom.”

    https://t.co/HmUnQC4Hez?amp=1

    [Ed, you’ve been told repeatedly not to spam the site. Put up your own opinions, please. TRP]

    • Tuppence Shrewsbury 2.1
      23 December 2018 at 8:20 am

      It’s too early for this bull shit practise of using quotes as comments. Intellectual dishonesty on a Sunday morning

      • cleangreen 2.1.1
        23 December 2018 at 8:38 am

        Tuppence Shrewsbury = “straw man extreme”

        • greywarshark 2.1.1.1
          23 December 2018 at 10:41 am

          cleangreen
          You present my own thoughts. It is a cunning plan the RWNJs have – to take on the role of irritated superior committed supporters of this blog about anyone who gathers ire from the moderators. Like the sneak at school sucking up to the teacher to get a jibe at another student.

          and maui
          I agree with you. I really want to know what is being said in other outlets and by people of note, and videos, but not a line of them opened up all the way down the screen from the same person. Even when they are from different people, it is possible to have a video battle between 2 or 3 people. Restraint, think of what others would want Standadistas.

          I don’t mind a paragraph that lays down an opinion with context. Joe90 does this quite often and it is very enlightening. So Ed is at fault when he takes over the site publishing other’s opinions and spreading his statements and thoughts to excess.

          I have suggested that it would be good if we limited our comments; to say 5 an hour, then we would either get a bunch or more spaced, but not dominating the flow. We need to keep up the flow, I do miss so many of those from even the past year, and of course further back.

      • mauī 2.1.2
        23 December 2018 at 8:59 am

        We could just ban anyone who posts a quote or video… that would be the end of about half the commentariat.

    • cleangreen 2.2
      23 December 2018 at 8:43 am

      es Ed these ‘straw men’ – James and Tuppence Shrewsbury need to learn the term “in the real world” reality that climate change is now upon jus and nothing they try to believe will change the fact that we are locked into a catastrophe of a climate now spinnng out of control.

      They will reap what they sow eventually.

    • Ed 2.3
      23 December 2018 at 8:47 am

      I agree with Chris Hedges. I said he nails it.

      By the way, many other people put up links with even less comment. Save NZ at 3 for example.

      I am confused.
      What have I done that other don’t do.

      [This has been explained to you many times, by multiple moderators. Banned till Jan 1, 2019. TRP]

      • Drowsy M. Kram 2.3.1
        23 December 2018 at 3:02 pm

        Ed, thanks for your comments and links this year – admire your perseverance.

        Wishing you well for the Xmas-New Year ‘break’.

    • SPC 2.4
      23 December 2018 at 4:13 pm

      Maybe there should be a links to commentary page set up each week.

    • SaveNZ 3.1
      23 December 2018 at 8:38 am

      What I despise the most about the rise of the ‘woke left’ is that they have lost sight of actually changing the fundamentals of equality aka valuing and accounting for at a government and economic and social level all the work that (mostly women) do that is unpaid and their part in ignoring the environmental impacts of unlimited growth.

      We expect ignorance and lack of action from the right wingers but the sad news is that now the woke left is more likely to spit the dummy at Rachel Stewart, attack the centre left while giving their questions to the Natz, support Karel Sroubek’s residency while not much peep about NZ prisoners not even being able to vote, give water rights to Chinese overseas interests while apparently being oblivious to the human rights abuses over there or the environmental impacts, not a peep out of all the immigration scams from people paying for their job https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/107073384/the-big-scam-the-tip-of-an-immigration-scam-iceberg to dowry scams and the marriage of a special needs teen with mental ages of 7…. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12123831

      • OnceWasTim 3.1.1
        23 December 2018 at 8:57 am

        Would you say that the ‘woke left’ have a lot in common with what we used to call the Chardonnay Socialist, and that it’s a phenomenon that’s directly proportional to their level of comfort within the particular bubble they inhabit?

        Sorry to be so deep and meaningful (or unmeaningful) so early on a Sunday morning.

        By the way, It’s good to see Fonseka and Kilgallon calling out the bullshit. They join others who’ve been trying for quite some time – at RNZ and even one at Granny as well as some in unions, Alistair McClymont and the guy in Chch, Migrant Worker’s Association.
        My ‘impression’ is that I L-G and Faafoi are listening but its taken a while for them to get a handle on things but its going to take a bit more time for INZ and the Labour Inspectorate to effect a huge cultural and structural change and so far it’s all a bit depressing to watch.

      • marty mars 3.1.2
        23 December 2018 at 10:46 am

        Your continued use of woke left shows me you’re part of the problem.
        You co opt words you don’t understand to build arguments against groups you aren’t part of.
        You may as well be a rwnj imo.

      • patricia bremner 3.1.3
        23 December 2018 at 12:42 pm

        Not totally correct here SaveNZ. Extra inspectors have been reporting rorts involving migrants causing those employers to repay them, lose the right to hire them. Several scams have been prosecuted. Work is being done on forced marriages.
        The water rights were established under the previous Government. Later ones have been turned down.
        I see OncewasTim has outlined cases, so I’ll leave it there.

    • KJT 3.2
      23 December 2018 at 10:48 am

      One of our few politicians, with a heart.

    • SPC 3.3
      23 December 2018 at 4:22 pm

      And ironically the most obvious solution to the problem of unpaid work is one feminists have not advocated.

      Payment of income support (at dole level) to the non working partner.

      1. For those with children under 5 no work test.
      2. For those doing voluntary work (including those doing unpaid caring work) no work test.
      3. For those without children or children over 5 with a work test.

      • KJT 3.3.1
        23 December 2018 at 4:30 pm

        UBI. Used to be family benefit.
        Green party working on it now, but unconditional child support, paid to all mothers, kept the majority of children free from poverty in the sixties and seventies.

  4. James 4
    23 December 2018 at 8:33 am

    Not content with just having teachers strike now this government is going to have school principals marching on Wellington.

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/education/109533618/its-not-the-end-of-school-boards-just-a-tweak

    • millsy 4.1
      23 December 2018 at 8:38 am

      Principals upset that their schools will lose the privileged position they have in the current education environment.

      • Ed 4.1.1
        23 December 2018 at 8:42 am

        Maclean’s and Auckland Grammar are the schools mentioned.

      • stunned mullet 4.1.2
        23 December 2018 at 9:36 am

        What is this privileged position they have in the current education environment ?

        • JanM 4.1.2.1
          23 December 2018 at 10:14 am

          Schools were set up in competition to each other under Tomorrows Schools rather than the co-operative model which previously existed. Certain schools worked to gain advantage, less for their students, more for the ‘reputations’ of their fiefdoms. All sorts of shenanigans have been operating from excluding local children, taking selected children from out of zone, and preventing children who may fail from sitting NCEA exams. While this may make the schools look good to the great unwashed, it flies in the face of the intention of public education to be offered fairly to all children. If you want to play silly beggars like that, open a private school, don’t rort the state system.
          To the best of my knowledge, only one school principal (at Cambridge High) has actually been caught and dealt with operating in this way

        • millsy 4.1.2.2
          23 December 2018 at 11:30 am

          Winner and loser schools have been created thanks to the TS reforms.

        • millsy 4.1.2.3
          23 December 2018 at 11:32 am

          TS have created winner and loser schools.

      • Ed1 4.1.3
        23 December 2018 at 2:41 pm

        It is not clear why some principals are objecting to the proposals – from the article :
        “Taking power away from boards would create “bland, one-size-fits-all” institutions and destroy the role of communities in schools, Hargreaves said.

        He called on parents to oppose the recommendations and said parents had already been quick to voice their backing for him.

        Parents wanted to know they could have an impact on their children’s education through the board of trustees’ parent representatives, he said. “To think that that’s going to be passed over to another faceless bureaucracy is what really worries them,” he said. ”

        Some of that is refuted later in the article, but it is not clear at all what the specific concerns are, or whether they have correctly interpreted the proposals.

        Pooling resources in a local area does make sense for maintenance, property development, contracting, HR advice and services, and clearly there needs to be some consistency about zoning to ensure that is consistently applied (where needed) so that we have a reasonable level of fairness to both schools and potential pupils – as seen by the community not necessarily by individual schools.

        There has been an unseemly rush to jump to conclusions. I applaud the openness of the report to discussion, and I suspect the time given will not be long enough for some areas of concern. Articles looking for conflict are not helpful at this stage – it would have been interesting to have heard how the concerned principals believe the proposals would have the results they predict – I suspect they are imputing a detailed reasoning of their own to broad proposals where the details is currently absent.

    • KJT 4.2
      23 December 2018 at 10:42 am

      Principal’s that have been gaming the current system to maximize their own pay and power, at the expense of students and their communities are upset.

      My heart bleeds for them.

      • Herodotus 4.2.1
        23 December 2018 at 10:57 am

        citation to this rant ???
        Also nice to see that some here have so little regard to Principals thinking that their motivation is solely to max their pay – nothing to do with the students ??
        And I note that the McLeans principal was previously Principal of Wesley, so has the experience from 2 differing perspectives.
        https://rotaryremuera.club/Stories/steven-hargreaves-principal-of-wesley-college

        • KJT 4.2.1.1
          23 December 2018 at 11:11 am

          I taught at both a high decile and low decile school.

          The low decile had a much higher standard of teaching, and children with family support, had better results than the high decile. In other words, if the low decile school had excluded students likely to get lower marks, as the higher decile one did, in many subtle ways, they would have way “out performed” the high decile.

          Those principal’s are from colleges that are able to pretend they are better schools by cherry picking students, simply perpetuating a class system. To the detriment of education for most children.

          • Herodotus 4.2.1.1.1
            23 December 2018 at 11:58 am

            I am sure then that only these 2 marching will gain little coverage, and would be a poor reflection on both. Yet I gather the march will number more than 2 and will cover a wider range of communities than just Epson and Bucklands Beach. And the Principals that march, will be doing as a display for their concern for current and future students, not selfish self interest to get paid more 🤑

            • KJT 4.2.1.1.1.1
              23 December 2018 at 12:09 pm

              If they were really concerned for the future education of NZ children, they would not be trying to continue the, failed, competitive model exemplified by “Tomorrows Schools”.

              • Herodotus …
                23 December 2018 at 12:20 pm

                How do we know that the proposed changes would be an improvement of Labour’s “Tomorrow Schools” ?
                Looks to me like a power grab by a few bureaucrats/idealists. Similar perhaps to The 84 Labour Govt and how they introduced “Neoliberalism” – and look how that has turned out, and we have been dealing with that Labour govt decision since 😤

                • millsy …
                  23 December 2018 at 12:47 pm

                  So what would you do then? Carry on with the competitive model? All TS has done is introduce the concept of ‘white flight’ to this country.

                  And there was still things like school choice and parental involvement before 1989. I remember my auntie and Uncle sending my cousin to a school the next suburb over even though they lived 600m from their local school. And this was in 85/86.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  23 December 2018 at 1:14 pm

                  How do we know that the proposed changes would be an improvement of Labour’s “Tomorrow Schools” ?

                  Wrong question.

                  We have a failing system. We know the previous system worked better even if not perfect.

                  Why would we not change the existing system to something that previously worked better while also changing the parts of it that weren’t the best?

                  Looks to me like a power grab by a few bureaucrats/idealists.

                  Looks to me like you’re talking out your arse and scaremongering.

            • millsy 4.2.1.1.1.2
              23 December 2018 at 12:24 pm

              Schools will have the option to retain a lot of their powers under the proposals.

              Parents input into the running of schools will probably be strengthened, as they will have a layer of support to turn to if they are having problems with their school.

              As well, the TS setup is such that parents are largely passive consumers. Also, central government can shut down schools by Fiat.

        • Foreign waka 4.2.1.2
          23 December 2018 at 11:41 am

          Herodotus, the proposed changes are to put the financial, HR and H&S measures into professional hands. Principals should focus on the delivery of curriculum and the training of teachers to deliver an ever more skilled based job. This would be the convincing part of the choice of school if you really want to make such distinction. Nothing is holding anybody back to make donations, but it would be more transparent. Oh! is that the problem?

  5. cleangreen 5
    23 December 2018 at 8:36 am

    Protecting our environment & health.
    In association with other Community Groups, NHTCF and all Government Agencies since 2001.
    • Health and wellbeing.
    • East Coast Transport Project.
    • Save our Gisborne/Napier/Wellington rail project.
    • “No sale of Napier Port campaign”

    23rd December 2018.

    Subject; “So far it has been a nerve racking slow way back to a rail rebuilding industry we had all over NZ once.”

    ‘No thanks to the – “National Party rail wrecking machine that we witnessed over the last 30 yrs.”

    “It is now time to restore our ‘whole essential regional rail services in earnest”

    Dear rail stakeholders,

    Merry Xmas all,

    ‘This is hopefully just the beginning of our desperately needed rail renaissance.’

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/more-jobs-pipeline-revived-hillside
    Otago Daily Times
    Dunedin 16 | 10
    Sunday, 23 December 2018
    Send us news & photos
    More jobs in pipeline for revived Hillside.
    By Tim Miller

    South Dunedin’s Hillside workshops. Photo: ODT
    Six years after they were shuttered, the South Dunedin Hillside workshops are slowly coming back to life.
    KiwiRail is advertising for tradespeople to work on wagon conversions at the workshops in Hillside Rd.
    The advertisement says the work is varied and will cover all aspects of locomotive and wagon maintenance and repair.
    People having experience working with heavy plant and machinery, heavy automobiles, locomotives, and ships are encouraged to apply.
    KiwiRail rolling stock asset services general manager Adam Williams said about six new jobs were expected to be added to the 12 staff already working at the workshops.
    There had been significant growth in forestry logs being transported by rail, and KiwiRail had been preparing for some time for the ”Wall of Wood” to come on stream, Mr Williams said.
    Part of KiwiRail’s strategy involved converting existing container wagons to transport logs.

  6. Herodotus 6
    23 December 2018 at 9:02 am

    Good wishes to all those helping out at food banks cooking and serving lunches over this week and helping in some small way those less fortunate,
    Hopefully next year the need will be severely reduced

  7. gsays 7
    23 December 2018 at 9:49 am

    There is a comedy piece on stuff at the moment.

    Amongst other bits there is this gem about the national party: “In the hope it will keep the party’s rep as a slick operating unit – looking leaderly and switched on “…..

    For more giggles- https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/109528733/stacey-kirk-political-slates-wiped-clean-wont-stay-that-way-for-long-in-2019

  8. halfcrown 8
    23 December 2018 at 9:52 am

    There appear to be crisis talks by our government AGAIN with by another parasitical corporate called Amazon over the filming a TV version of Bored With The Rings in NZ
    We do have the money to pay out further corporate welfare when there are so many other issues that are more urgent to fix, and wage rates lowered for the benefit of another pack of parasites and being conned by the so-called benefits (yet to be seen ) to NZ
    Amazon needs to be told pay your fucking tax, no handouts from the NZ taxpayers, and no subsidised low wage rates for any people employed, that the NZ taxpayer has to subsidise with something similar to welfare stamps given to Amazon employees in the US.
    We don’t need more tourists, the countries infrastructure can barely cope with the massive inflows we are experiencing at the moment, and we certainly do not need further cheap unskilled immigration.
    Frankly, before any decision was made I would like to see an enquiry into the so-called benefits the last great fiddle the fucking spiv did with Warners and Jackson and how much NZ really benefited, as I cannot see any when we still have a high rate of child poverty. Also, and if no benefit to NZ, Amazon to be told to fuck off and pay the tax you have avoided on your way out.

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/109543455/plans-to-film-1-billion-lord-of-the-rings-television-series-in-nz-under-threat

    • KJT 8.1
      23 December 2018 at 10:46 am

      Subsidies to local productions, as the Ozzies do, has resulted in much greater benefits than, giving up labour laws, and huge amounts of money, to overseas corporate’s.

    • Draco T Bastard 8.2
      23 December 2018 at 11:38 am

      The only thing that private business seems efficient at is demanding ever higher subsidies from governments.

      Unfortunately, modern neo-liberal governments seem efficient in giving them.

      • Ad 8.2.1
        23 December 2018 at 12:06 pm

        Everyone relies on the state.

        • KJT 8.2.1.1
          23 December 2018 at 12:10 pm

          Neo-liberal business, relies on the State even more, but they refuse to fund it.

        • Draco T Bastard 8.2.1.2
          23 December 2018 at 1:02 pm

          A society is a complex series of cross subsidies. That’s how societies, communities, work.

          Businesses, though, have been telling us for decades that subsidies are bad and that there is no society.

          Given this the best thing to do when a business demands subsidies is to say no.

          • shadrach 8.2.1.2.1
            23 December 2018 at 6:47 pm

            I don’t know of a single business that has been “telling us for decades that…there is no society”. Can you name one? Business relies on societies to sell their goods and services. These societies are their markets, and businesses soon learn that they ignore them at their peril.

            • Draco T Bastard 8.2.1.2.1.1
              24 December 2018 at 1:23 am

              I don’t know of a single business that has been “telling us for decades that…there is no society”. Can you name one?

              It’s all part of the delusional ideology introduced by Thatcher, Reagan, Douglass.

              https://www.ft.com/content/d1387b70-a5d5-11e2-9b77-00144feabdc0

              and businesses soon learn that they ignore them at their peril.

              They ignore society all the time. That’s what all those business confidence polls are about.

              • shadrach …
                24 December 2018 at 9:34 pm

                You didn’t say they ‘ignore society’ (which is in itself a nonsense claim), you said businesses have been telling us for decades that “there is no society”.

                This is a nonsense statement that you must have plucked straight from your fundamental orafice.

                Businesses can neither ignore or deny society, for the simple reason society comprises their customers! But there us much more. Societies and businesses are co-dependent. Business supplies goods and services, pays tax, employs people, supports charitable causes, the list goes on and on. If you seriously believe what you have written, you are so far out of touch of not just reality but history you are bordering on delusional.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  25 December 2018 at 12:37 am

                  You didn’t say they ‘ignore society’ (which is in itself a nonsense claim), you said businesses have been telling us for decades that “there is no society”.

                  They do both.

                  It’s a fundamental part of the business psyche to put themselves above others. To invent excuses as to why they don’t have to work for the good of society. Why we suddenly Corporate Social Responsibility is a thing.

                  The Only Corporate Responsibility Is to Increase Profits

                  In 1970, just as the idea of corporate social responsibility was gaining traction and influential advocates in the United States, the economist Milton Friedman published a short essay titled “The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits.” Possibly the most provocative single contribution to the history of business ethics, Friedman set out to show that large, publicly owned corporations ought to be about making money, and the ethical obligations imposed by advocates of CSR should be dismissed. His arguments convinced some and not others, but the eloquent and accessible way he made them, combined with the fact that his ideas were published in a mainstream publication—the New York Times Magazine—ensured their impact.Milton Friedman, “The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profits,” New York Times Magazine, September 13, 1970, accessed June 7, 2011, http://www.colorado.edu/studentgroups/libertarians/issues/friedman-soc-resp-business.html.

                  I’m pretty sure that there are a number of business people out there who still agree with Friedman and Thatcher. Hell, I know business people personally who say so.

                  Societies and businesses are co-dependent.

                  Yes they are. The problem is that most business people think that everyone else, who is not in a society, are totally dependent upon them. Considering that the laws have been drawn up to make that true I suppose that they’ve got a good case for it. As soon as government starts making it not true they start going on about communism and reds under the bed.

                  BTW, I note that I’m providing links.

                  You’re talking out your arse.

                  • shadrach …
                    27 December 2018 at 10:22 am

                    “It’s a fundamental part of the business psyche to put themselves above others.”
                    Rubbish. Again. Business relies on it’s customers, and it’s customers are society. But I’m still waiting for you to post links supporting your claim “businesses have been telling us for decades that “there is no society”. Still waiting.

                    “The problem is that most business people think that everyone else, who is not in a society, are totally dependent upon them. ”
                    Where do you get this crap? Who are these ‘most business people’? Smart business people recognise that their business is dependent on society, not the other way around. If they don’t they fail, because they continue to produce goods and services no-one wants.

                    “The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits.”
                    And here’s an excellent response. https://journals.aom.org/doi/10.5465/amp.24.3.11

                    You clearly have no idea of how business works or what it contributes, so I’ll back up the article above wiht something simple for your New Years reading:

                    https://www.forbes.com/sites/marissaperetz/2017/12/19/these-companies-prove-you-can-be-socially-conscious-and-profitable/#6860db363b10

                    https://www.classy.org/blog/6-socially-responsible-companies-applaud/

                    https://www.shopkeep.com/blog/10-ways-small-businesses-benefit-the-local-community

                    • Pat …
                      27 December 2018 at 10:47 am

                      “Rubbish. Again. Business relies on it’s customers, and it’s customers are society”

                      You conflate a target market with society….an industry that markets say housing to high wealth individuals thinks not of the impact of its actions on any segment that is outside its target market…and nor can it as if it does it will lose market share to a competitor who does not.

                      The weighing of overall benefit to society of market actions was the role of government…a role abandoned some decades ago.

                      Now the real political power exercised in a democracy is relative to the ability to consume/invest.

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      27 December 2018 at 1:03 pm

                      Rubbish. Again. Business relies on it’s customers, and it’s customers are society.

                      And that would be why businesses are always screwing down wages right?
                      Why they don’t like unions?

                      Yes, over the last few years there’s been a big build-up in socially conscious businesses. I note that the first thing that Forbes article does is blame the actions of the employees. See, this is called blame shifting and, when you get right down to it, whitewashing.

                      Is it possible for a business to be part of society? Yes. Are they? No. They’re just there to make a profit and unearned income for their owners.

                    • shadrach …
                      27 December 2018 at 2:16 pm

                      “You conflate a target market with society…”
                      No, I don’t. A target market is not necessarily static. A target market can change, as a business expands, contracts or diversifies. But a target market is a subset of society.

                      “….an industry that markets say housing to high wealth individuals thinks not of the impact of its actions on any segment that is outside its target market…and nor can it as if it does it will lose market share to a competitor who does not.”
                      Rubbish. You assume that the pursuit of profit can always be achieved by ignoring everything outside a firms target market. You simply have no idea what your talking about.

                    • shadrach …
                      27 December 2018 at 2:21 pm

                      “And that would be why businesses are always screwing down wages right?”
                      They aren’t always screwing down wages. In some cases business will pay more to get a higher quality workforce. It is the market that ultimately determines what a job is worth, with moderation from outside elements such as the minimum wage.

                      “Why they don’t like unions?”
                      Who? Are you seriously suggesting all businesses ‘don’t like unions’?

                      “Is it possible for a business to be part of society? Yes. Are they? No.”
                      Of course they are. They employ people. They pay tax that is used to pay for stuff you use.

                      “They’re just there to make a profit and unearned income for their owners.”
                      You really don’t have a clue do you? Where dd you develop this hatred for business? Is it jealousy that without business society as we know it could not function?

                      And I’m still waiting for you to post links supporting your claim “businesses have been telling us for decades that “there is no society”. Still waiting.

                    • Pat …
                      27 December 2018 at 4:34 pm

                      lol…already you walk away from and qualify your original statement.

                      “Rubbish. Again. Business relies on it’s customers, and it’s customers are society. But I’m still waiting for you to post links supporting your claim “businesses have been telling us for decades that “there is no society”. Still waiting.”

                      Go ahead and name one company or product that demonstrates that “Businesses can neither ignore or deny society, for the simple reason society comprises their customers!”

                    • shadrach …
                      28 December 2018 at 12:21 pm

                      “lol…already you walk away from and qualify your original statement.”
                      I haven’t walked away from anything.

                      “Go ahead and name one company or product that demonstrates that “Businesses can neither ignore or deny society, for the simple reason society comprises their customers!””
                      Kodak. Kodak ignored the shift to digital photography (among other trends). They filed for bankruptcy in 2012. The demise of Kodak, and it’s subsequent regeneration, is well documented.

                      Then there’s…
                      Blockbuster
                      Polaroid
                      Pan Am
                      Borders
                      Compaq
                      GM

                      And there are many, many more. I can give you the reasons each failed if you like; all relate to a failure to relate to the changing needs of their customers.

                • Pat …
                  28 December 2018 at 12:35 pm

                  Thank you for providing examples of companies that did indeed ignore their target markets (and competitors) and consequently failed…..society continued.

                  Pity you remain unable to distinguish between the two

                  • shadrach …
                    28 December 2018 at 2:26 pm

                    Oh so you were looking for an example of a single business failure that brought down the whole of society? Why didn’t you just ask that? Or are you actually sidestepping?

                    What you fail to understand is that business and society have a type of co-dependency. Not a single business and society. The failure of a single business can harm society, but it won’t destroy it. But the success of a society is largely dependent on the success of business generally, because of employment, tax revenues etc.

                    I can help you to understand by asking you this…in a world without business, who would employ all of the people currently employed? Provide the tax revenue that pays for your hospital visits and the roads you drive on? Who would provide the goods and services you use? Provide the independent blogs, such as the one we are having this discussion on?

                    • Pat …
                      28 December 2018 at 3:32 pm

                      “Oh so you were looking for an example of a single business failure that brought down the whole of society? Why didn’t you just ask that? Or are you actually sidestepping?”

                      Deliberate misinterpretation and absurdity appear to be a theme with you….I sought a single example of a business/product that considered society as opposed to target market …I wont hold my breath waiting as it is obviously beyond your ken.

                    • shadrach …
                      28 December 2018 at 11:09 pm

                      “I sought a single example of a business/product that considered society as opposed to target market ”
                      What? That is gibberish. And it isn’t what you wrote. Here’s what you wrote:

                      “Go ahead and name one company or product that demonstrates that “Businesses can neither ignore or deny society, for the simple reason society comprises their customers!””

                      I named several. Then you changed the question to:
                      “…companies that did indeed ignore their target markets (and competitors) and consequently failed…..society continued.”

                      You are simply being dishonest. And you’re squirming. So I’ll give you another chance:

                      “I can help you to understand by asking you this…in a world without business, who would employ all of the people currently employed? Provide the tax revenue that pays for your hospital visits and the roads you drive on? Who would provide the goods and services you use? Provide the independent blogs, such as the one we are having this discussion on?”

                    • Pat …
                      29 December 2018 at 6:25 pm

                      as i gift you zyzzyva I ask how many opportunities should be presented to the wilfully obtuse?
                      (clue, the answer isnt ’42’)

                    • shadrach …
                      30 December 2018 at 4:00 pm

                      “as i gift you zyzzyva I ask how many opportunities should be presented to the wilfully obtuse?”
                      You mean how many opportunities should you be given to answer my simple question? Go on. You’re the one criticizing businesses. Tell us who’ll employ people and generate tax revenue for welfare, for housing, for health, for education….

    • halfcrown 8.3
      23 December 2018 at 12:15 pm

      Oops a typo It should read ‘We do NOT have the money etc

  9. Cinny 9
    23 December 2018 at 10:15 am

    Holiday info for any driving through or coming to Motueka.

    Our main st (High St) is bumper to bumper this time of year, if you see anyone struggling to cross the road, or exit a driveway, please stop and let them cross/through.

    It only takes a couple of seconds. THANKS 🙂

    FYI

    The best sneaky car parking in town is behind Whitwells in the main street.

    The cheapest fuel is at the self serve NPD at the beginning of town, just after the one and only roundabout.

    Enjoy your visit 🙂

  10. Morrissey 10
    23 December 2018 at 11:12 am

    Paddy Ashdown R.I.P.

    A memory from someone who met him:

    Never liked his politics, and didn’t like his public image; and this was duly reinforced when I once had the misfortune, with a handful of other people, including a French couple, to spend an evening with him & his wife Jane; he spent the entire evening chatting up the French woman, in French, rudely ignoring the rest of us, and embarrassing his wife.

    http://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/thread/1545512682.html

  11. Ad 11
    23 December 2018 at 11:31 am

    Lord of the Rings tv series is coming!
    Excitement!
    Subsidies!
    Aragorn!!!!!

    • Morrissey 11.1
      23 December 2018 at 11:33 am

      Will they pay the technicians and actors a decent wage this time?

      • greywarshark 11.1.1
        23 December 2018 at 1:10 pm

        Jobs, interest by government, the minimum wage has just gone up, and perhaps people here can think up some jobs-rich projects that might become permanent, and put these to government while it is receptive to financing start-ups.

        (Tip: Do a business plan, study your projected market, think about the angle you are going to appeal to.)

    • millsy 11.2
      23 December 2018 at 11:41 am

      The movie industry will be dead in 10 years. Online steaming services and suscriber TV will take it’s place.

      • James 11.2.1
        23 December 2018 at 11:59 am

        You do know that this is being produced by amazon right ?

        And the movie industry won’t be dead – movie theatres may be – but not the movie making industry- they just change how their product is delivered.

        • millsy 11.2.1.1
          23 December 2018 at 12:32 pm

          As I said before. Stories being told in this format will overtake the standard 2hr movie. Marvel’s works are the only thing holding up theatres at the moment.

          Even Star Wars has failed to ignite audiences, though that is probably down the storyline of the new trilogy more than anything else

          • James 11.2.1.1.1
            23 December 2018 at 1:23 pm

            You need to get out more:

            Incredibles 2, bohemian rhapsody, mission impossible fallen, fantastic beast, the meg. All huge box office success and not marvel.

          • KJT 11.2.1.1.2
            23 December 2018 at 3:10 pm

            Original movies still hit the mark, at times.

            Star wars was a fresh and original take on the Sci-fi movie, in it’s day.

            Moviemakers failing to inspire audiences, with endless sequels and re hashes of old movies, is not surprising.

        • I feel love 11.2.1.2
          23 December 2018 at 12:38 pm

          “Movie theatres are on the way out” like guitar bands and vinyl. Cinema is still a big deal.

      • Ad 11.2.2
        23 December 2018 at 12:00 pm

        Tv series Mill. Tv series.

        Remember when tv was going to die?

        • millsy 11.2.2.1
          23 December 2018 at 12:29 pm

          That is what I mean. The fact that they are making a TV series and not a movie speaks volumes. Game of Thrones would never have worked as a standard 2 hour film trilogy.

          • I feel love 11.2.2.1.1
            23 December 2018 at 12:49 pm

            You don’t think GOT done it’s dash? I know the books are never ending and ongoing (possibly to never be complete) but like the Walking Dead there doesn’t seem to be an end, it’s like soap opera, there’s no complete story arc, it’s just on and on. Movies are forced to start and finish, they tend to be disciplined and tight, t.v. can meander, which is good for a little while but if things don’t end they get boring. Breaking Bad was excellent because you knew it had a climax, though I hear there’s a sequel/prequel? Some series are too short, some are too long, but there’s something about a good ending.

      • greywarshark 11.2.3
        23 December 2018 at 12:46 pm

        ‘Online steaming services’? Not everybody watches pron in any of its shades of grey.

    • halfcrown 11.3
      23 December 2018 at 12:19 pm

      I would sooner see a Bugs Bunny cartoon

    • KJT 11.4
      23 December 2018 at 12:24 pm

      Not many movies that I wait impatiently for the finish. LOTR was one of them!

      Cost more than ten good local productions also.

      • I feel love 11.4.1
        23 December 2018 at 12:43 pm

        Hopefully Jackson isn’t part of the t.v. series, Mortal Engines totally bombed, maybe he should try a new, original (heck, a local story) idea? & not rehash someone else’s book. He’s a technical genius but a terrible story teller. (I actually thought the Ring and Hobbit movies would be better t.v., they are tediously long).

      • veutoviper 11.4.2
        23 December 2018 at 1:32 pm

        I did not even make it to the end of the first of the trilogy – had to leave the movie theatre due to the volume of the sound and ended up with a three day migraine as a result. Still shudder with the memory. Tried to watch the sequels on video and again gave up.

        • KJT 11.4.2.1
          23 December 2018 at 3:04 pm

          To be fair, I found the Hobbit, books, tedious as well.

          Jackson is not a storyteller. I think he should have stuck to splatter movies, where he was a Master.

          • In Vino 11.4.2.1.1
            23 December 2018 at 4:26 pm

            If you are going to be fair, KJT, The Hobbit (book) was a single, fairly short children’s book. Eminently approachable for all.
            The Lord of the Rings (book) was the long trilogy. I was mildly annoyed by the way Jackson fooled with the books in the first trilogy of films (Lord of the Rings) but could tolerate it. To me, The Hobbit (films – a bloody long overblown trilogy from a single child’s book) is a load of bollocks, which really does throw Jackson’s failings into sharp relief.

            • KJT 11.4.2.1.1.1
              23 December 2018 at 6:39 pm

              Correct. Should have said LOTR.

            • Robert Guyton 11.4.2.1.1.2
              23 December 2018 at 7:44 pm

              Dammit! Missed this interplay – as mentioned before, I have (now) 20 copies of The hobbit and plan to use them in a tutorial manner with youngish students. While the story isn’t entirely perfect for the modern child, it provides great opportunities for all sorts of learnings and discussions – for which I thank JR Tolkien very much. I found Jackson’s movies impossible to enjoy, because of the focus on battle and gore. Tolkien too, did war heavily, understandably. I’m someone who finds the Tom Bombadil material intriguing, and btw, who is Radagast the Brown 🙂

              • The Fairy Godmother …
                23 December 2018 at 10:41 pm

                Ragadast the brown was one of the Istari or wizards ( Gandalf and Saruman were also in the order) He doesn’t come into the story much except in fellowship where he unwittingly relayed Saruman’s message to gandalf leading to Gandalf’s imprisonment in his tower. Ragadast lived somewhere out west and loved birds and animals.

        • Kay 11.4.2.2
          23 December 2018 at 3:16 pm

          @vv- I’d been hearing horror stories about the sound volume in the theatres from day one, so even had I the slightest interest in fantasy movies and hadn’t been so put off by the media reporting Peter Jackson on the front page every time he sneezed and trying their utmost to get him a sainthood, they lost themselves many patrons due to the volume button.
          Proud to say I still haven’t seen any of the movies via any platform and no intention to 🙂

  12. Exkiwiforces 12
    23 December 2018 at 1:03 pm

    Following on from comment last night on the reason why old “Mad Dog” pop smoke over the Trump administration.

    https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-21-12-2018/#comment-1564822

    Another one has pop smoke over Syria as well.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-23/us-envoy-brett-mcgurk-quits-over-trumps-syria-withdrawal/10664412

  13. bwaghorn 13
    23 December 2018 at 1:21 pm

    Is that tax working group looking at taxing robots a tax equivalent to the income tax that every worker would have paid that the robot puts out of work . ??

  15. joe90 15
    23 December 2018 at 1:50 pm

    Hows sad. Jules is going to have to clean up after himself.

    An Ecuadorian court has dismissed the appeal of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s defense, which requested lifting the home rules imposed on the whistleblower in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, the South American country’s Foreign Ministry said.

    “A court in the Pichincha province today [December 21] confirmed the legal force of the special protocol published by the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry in October in order to regulate [Assange’s] living in Ecuador’s embassy in London,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

    The court decision was related to the fact that the home rules “do not violate any constitutional rights” which was claimed by Assange’s lawyers, the statement pointed out.

    https://nation.com.pk/22-Dec-2018/ecuadorian-court-dismisses-assanges-appeal-on-embassy-living-restrictions

    • James 15.1
      23 December 2018 at 2:01 pm

      If he dosnt like it – he could always leave.

    • Drowsy M. Kram 15.2
      23 December 2018 at 2:36 pm

      Assange’s whistleblowing and award-winning journalism proved a thorn in the side of many; he will pay the price for the rest of his life, which is only to be expected.

      As ‘John Doe’ (“My life is in danger.“) showed, some whistleblowers must protect themselves.

      Doe said growing global income inequality and corruption allegedly enabled by Mossack Fonseca motivated his actions. Doe also said the papers demonstrated the injustices perpetrated by the industry that creates offshore companies and blamed governments for allowing offshore havens to proliferate, saying he leaked the documents “simply because I understood enough about their contents to realise the scale of the injustices they described.”

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Doe_(whistleblower)

    • francesca 15.3
      23 December 2018 at 4:07 pm

      I’m in agreement with the UN Working group on
      Arbitrary Detention as far as Assange goes.
      There’s a ghoulish delight some people have in seeing him go down

      https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/un-tells-uk—allow-assange-to-leave-ecuador-embassy-freely-11055010

      • SPC 15.3.1
        23 December 2018 at 5:11 pm

        The UK deserves Brexit, and the USA deserves Trump for what it has done to Assange (Snowden deserves the medal of freedom)

        Empires that persecute whistleblowers deserve to fall. They prove themselves worthy of nothing less.

      • McFlock 15.3.2
        24 December 2018 at 8:13 pm

        Never really understood ther angle on that. Cops aren’t supposed to act like it’s a game of Bull Rush and stop chasing a fugitive just because he made it to “Safe”.

        They’re supposed to sit outside until he comes out to face justice.

  16. Dennis Frank 16
    23 December 2018 at 2:48 pm

    Trump was looking good as a result of the US economy doing well. No longer. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46637680

    “”The Stock Market just reached an All-Time High during my Administration for the 102nd Time, a presidential record, by far, for less than two years,” he tweeted in early October.. Since Mr Trump wrote that tweet, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has fallen more than 4,300 points – a 16% decline.”

    “Due to a combination of rising interest rates, the president’s trade wars, the impending government shutdown and indications of slower economic growth, the now long-in-the-tooth bull market may be coming to an end. December has seen the biggest market decline since the Great Depression and the largest drop in any month since 2009.”

  18. James 18
    23 December 2018 at 4:20 pm

    Here is a recommendation for al if you have time over the Xmas period – podcast called serial.

    I’m part way thru season one and absolutely hooked.

    True story told amazing well.

    It’s not politics – and it would be interesting to hear different views on “who did it” – I have no idea. And it’s possible a terrible miscarriage may have happened.

    Anyway – available everywhere that streams podcast and it’s freeeeeee.

    • aj 18.1
      23 December 2018 at 7:53 pm

      When you finish that, watch American Vandal on Netflix, a very clever and funny parody of true crime documentaries such as Making a Murderer and Serial.

  19. Morrissey 19
    23 December 2018 at 4:43 pm

    No one in Britain with an IQ of 3 figures takes Michael Gove seriously.
    Here is one of the reasons for that…..

    https://twitter.com/_jimfield/status/748846746030186496

    • DJ Ward 19.1
      24 December 2018 at 3:16 pm

      Nobody with an IQ of 3 figures takes funny pictures of a person as information to judge a person as credible. The Farage picture is a pretty good match. Sometimes if a persons IQ is larger than nearly everybody else all that’s left is pointless personal attacks as you can’t debate them and win.

      • Morrissey 19.1.1
        24 December 2018 at 3:30 pm

        Nobody with an IQ of 3 figures takes funny pictures of a person as information to judge a person as credible.

        Gove’s almost complete lack of credibility and respect has nothing to do with his looks.

        The Farage picture is a pretty good match.

        True. I think you’d agree with this writer, i.e., moi, that the Gove/Pob match is a bit of a stretch.

        Sometimes if a persons IQ is larger than nearly everybody else all that’s left is pointless personal attacks as you can’t debate them [sic] and win.

        Michael Gove’s IQ is larger than nearly everybody else’s, is it? You’re possibly the first person in the world with an I.Q. of more than 100 to note that. Please enlighten the rest of us, who’ve been under the impression that Gove was nothing more than an embarrassment to himself and indeed to the Conservative Party.

  20. Ad 20
    23 December 2018 at 5:51 pm

    I just played soccer on Brighton Beach Dunedin with 7 15 year olds.

    Ate sand, tackled dog, saved some goals.

    Dunedin is my best city in New Zealand.

  21. Ad 21
    23 December 2018 at 9:54 pm

    Corbyn finally shows his colours and backs full Brexit even if the government falls.

    No second vote, no soft Brexit, no Scandi Brexit.

    His party is going to cream him.

    • Exkiwiforces 21.1
      23 December 2018 at 11:35 pm

      Well I’m not surprised that “young” Corbyn has finally come out supporting a full Brexit, as he has form for being a Anti EU over the years. Any true Labour MP would know the true impact of EU membership over the years has had on the British working class and the under Class, which has force down wages. enter level jobs have dried up as they have taken by EU nations and number of minor and large companies have moved over the EU countries over the years before Brexit.

      The middle class Toffs that infect the British Labour Party support remaining in the EU as it’s in their own self importance along with middle/ upper class Toffs of Lib Dems and some of the Tories as it forces the working/ under class in their place and know their place in society.

  22. Pat 22
    23 December 2018 at 11:46 pm

    where will you and yours be in 2022?

    “Kevin Anderson of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, has consistently criticised IPCC reports for magical thinking, for assuming that at some point in the near future technology will be both invented and rolled out on a mass scale that will suck carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (so-called negative emission technologies). At the moment, there are none that are close to being ready to be mass produced. Take these out of the most recent IPCC report and instead of 12 years to stop dangerous climate change we have just three.”

    https://theconversation.com/amp/climate-action-must-now-focus-on-the-global-rich-and-their-corporations-108943?__twitter_impression=true

  23. sumsuch 23
    24 December 2018 at 12:19 am

    Parliament is as full of procedure as this place I suppose. There seems to be more substance in other blogs. 12 years, which we all agree about, yet this terrible surround sight media trivia continues.

  24. Eco Maori 24
    24 December 2018 at 9:48 am

    Some Eco Maori Music for the minute
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT_nvWreIhg

  25. Eco Maori 25
    24 December 2018 at 1:47 pm

    Eco Maori totally agrees with JK Rowlings views on the Cameleon Corbyn his true colours and loyaltys lie with the weathy he is in the wrong party.
    JK Rowling, a longtime critic of Jeremy Corbyn, has mocked the Labour leader’s position on Brexit in sixteen biblical-style tweets.
    In a series of tweets entitled “The visitation of the Corbynites: a festive thread”, the Harry Potter author claimed the possibility of “Saint Jeremy” bringing a jobs-first Brexit was “bollocks” and described Corbyn as “in third place after Pontus May”.
    JK Rowling and the Angry Corbynites – truly a Twitter row for our times
    Ellie Mae O’Hagan

    Read more

    Rowling wrote: “And she did answer, ‘How shall the poor fare under Brexit, which thy saint hath always in his secret heart desired, yet he hath not admitted what was in his heart, lest fewer attend his next sermon on the Glastonbury B stage.’
    “And they did answer, ‘Saint Jeremy will achieve a miracle, and he shall bring forth a jobs-first Brexit and all the land shall rejoice.’ And she did answer, ‘Bollocks.’”
    Ka kite ano

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/dec/23/jk-rowling-mocks-jeremy-corbyn-brexit-stance-twitter-thread

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioblgpA5eTo

  26. Eco Maori 26
    24 December 2018 at 4:13 pm

    The sandflys think there intimadation is working but not against Eco Maori Im just looking after my mokopunas and having a little break well desreved I say ka kite ano

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKprXO-f2pM

  27. Eco Maori 27
    24 December 2018 at 4:22 pm

    Some Eco Maori Music for the minute
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My2FRPA3Gf8

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    Skeptical Science
    36 mins ago

  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    2 hours ago

  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    3 hours ago

  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 hours ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 hours ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 hours ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    9 hours ago

  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    10 hours ago

  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    11 hours ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    11 hours ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    12 hours ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    12 hours ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    13 hours ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    15 hours ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    16 hours ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    18 hours ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 day ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 day ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, 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?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    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 - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    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, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-19T09:03:26+00:00