Open mike 23/06/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 23rd, 2016 - 153 comments
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153 comments on “Open mike 23/06/2016 ”

  1. Paul 1

    Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
    We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.

    Uncaring.
    New Zealand’s housing.

    Complaints of ‘despicable’ mould and leaking prompt Housing NZ to act
    Step inside, make yourself at home. Breathe in the mouldy air.
    You even get a free shower when you go to the toilet, Craig Ryan says, pointing to the dripping, sagging bathroom ceiling in the Porirua state house he calls home.
    Ryan lives there with father Ross and brother Aaron, and they say mould grows relentlessly in the badly ventilated, east-facing house.
    The Ryans said they did spend time and money on cleaning, and trying to warm the house, which was sorely lacking in ventilation. Even frequent scrubbing, cleaning and bleaching was no match for the cold and damp.
    When lawyer Paul Surridge learned of the home’s condition, he was appalled.
    “This is just despicable,” he said. “It’s not the New Zealand way.”
    There was a limit to what tenants could do to the house without Housing NZ’s approval, he said. “The decent New Zealander would say ‘Look, this is horrific.’ ”

    By contrast, Austrian and Singapore’s public housing systems…….
    http://www.shareable.net/blog/public-housing-works-lessons-from-vienna-and-singapore

  2. Paul 2

    Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
    We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.

    Selfish.
    Paul Henry and Mike Hosking

    Every morning they pronounce New Zealand a paradise.
    For them it is because they are wealthy and they choose to ignore the plight of others in the country.
    Maybe they should read this article by a Bay of Plenty journalist…..

    ‘Mismanaged NZ is no paradise
    ‘After moving to New Zealand 12 years ago I heard a lot from locals about what a great place it was to raise kids.
    But, as I took my children to school, I saw huge numbers of kids heading to class without shoes – in the middle of winter.
    That was a shock. Couldn’t their parents afford shoes, I wondered?
    To add to the picture many of the children didn’t have raincoats, others didn’t even have jumpers.
    I didn’t think about it then, but now I would expect many of the kids didn’t have lunches and hadn’t had food for breakfast.
    Nowadays when people say to me that New Zealand is the best country in the world to raise children I ask them why they think that?
    They cannot say exactly why, I guess most just parrot the myth of this paradise for children.
    Then I ask them if this is the best place to raise kids – why are there more than 270,000 children living in poverty right now?
    Ummm.
    Why do so many children go to school without being fed?
    Ummm.
    Why does a Kiwi kid die about every five weeks at the hands of parents or caregivers?
    Ummm.
    Is it true police are called to domestic violence incidents every seven minutes?
    Ummm.
    And can a United Nations’ report possibly be true when it states that one in four NZ girls are sexually assaulted before they are 15?
    Ummm.
    That doesn’t sound like a child paradise to me…..”

    Another excellent excerpt….

    ‘In Auckland’s central suburbs rent is, on average, just under $600 a week.
    On the North Shore you are looking at just under $570 per week.
    Even in South Auckland the average rent is $450.
    A TV3 investigation the other month found families in Auckland were hiring out garages for $400 a week.
    Read more: Tauranga woman works fulltime but sleeps in car
    Tauranga’s homeless: 4-year-old lived in car for six weeks
    When the minimum wage is $620 a week, before paying $120 tax, even Blind Pew can see there is a crisis.’

    Read more at ….
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503346&objectid=11660630

  3. Paul 3

    Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
    We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.

    Cruel.
    The government.

    ‘Government fights workers seeking minimum wage.

    A Court of Appeal hearing begins today for a case that could lead to a big payout for thousands of respite carers.
    Kapiti worker Jan Lowe was paid a “subsidy” of just $75 for a 24-hour shift for the Capital Coast DHB. Her work involved supporting people with disabilities, such as dementia, and caring for them while family caregivers were away.
    Last year, the Employment Court found under the “home worker” definition in the Employment Relations Act, she was an employee and entitled to the minimum wage of $15.25 an hour, holidays and other minimum employment entitlements.
    But her employer, Capital Coast DHB, and the Ministry of Health appealed the decision, arguing she was not an employee, and if she was, they were not the employer.
    A hearing for the Court of Appeal case begins this morning.
    The Ministry of Health says the case has implications for 30,000 respite carers.
    E tu assistant national secretary John Ryall said respite carers did an important job in supporting some of the most vulnerable New Zealanders and deserved to be paid the minimum wage.’

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11661691

  4. Paul 4

    Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
    We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.

    Greedy.
    Google, Facebook, Apple….

    ‘Is it right these companies collectively extract hundreds of millions of dollars of profit each year from the New Zealand economy, yet contribute little or nothing to the funding of a civil society?
    And not only that, cause New Zealanders to pay more tax to make up the difference required to fund our schools, hospitals and welfare.’

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11661266

  5. North 5

    Key…….”cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish”. All that need be said. Except that “love to have a beer with you……..” is a complete wank created by some amoral ad-man. To hoodwink us. Good work Paul !

  6. weka 6

    For those that missed it here’s the Get Rid of Mike Hosking petition, going strong at over 18,000 signatures,

    https://www.change.org/p/tvnz-get-rid-of-hosking-1347aa6d-8044-4a33-ba59-7fe0a5dba42b

    • vto 6.1

      And here’s the Keep Mike Hosking petition, flying along on 39 signatures.

      https://www.change.org/p/keep-mike-hosking-at-tvnz

      lol

      • weka 6.1.1

        Not sure giving that exposure is a good thing 😉

        • North 6.1.1.1

          Actually I suspect that this “Keep Mikey……” thing is tongue in cheek. Which is a nice change from Mikey’s imperative……tongue in Key’s botty. What a magnificent chain gang ! Richie at the top, somewhat bemused, Jonno Key’s tongue lashing lizard like at number 2, and “Crikey Mikey that’s good !” at number 3. Slurping away hard out !

      • b waghorn 6.1.2

        That is very interesting , when I first heard of the get rid of hoskings poll, I thought that a keep hoskings poll would be the obvious way to retaliate and that he’d get a legion of viewers supporting him, that its not happening is a little ray of sunshine in my day.

      • Richardrawshark 6.1.3

        I wonder how many votes it will get.

        this should be interesting sort of like a election,

        • Puckish Rogue 6.1.3.1

          Or you could go off the ratings his show gets I suppose

          • Robert Guyton 6.1.3.1.1

            Bit like deciding the health value of Coke by looking at the sales data.

          • Richardrawshark 6.1.3.1.2

            ratings lol

            are they like the music industries top 10 bestsellers? or books? or Farrars? or any vested interest poll.

            • Puckish Rogue 6.1.3.1.2.1

              Well it worked for Campbell Live 🙂

              • McFlock

                yeah, funny that.

                Wasn’t Campbell Live doing better at 6pm news audience retention than the tv1 crowd?

                It fascinates me how people argue that Hosking’s views are popular because people watch him. They could have a trained monkey in that job and it’d still get audience pickup – fucksake, wasn’t that the timeslot that stopped NZ when they sheared a fucking sheep?

                People watch Hosking because of the timeslot and genre (inoffensive chat with pretensions of current event interest), and this makes the views he spews more popular. He’s a propagandist, pure and simple.

                • Rodel

                  I don’t (I mean can’t) watch Hoskings on TV (don’t want to waste grey matter)- but occasionally can’t avoid his sudden appearance on TV1 promos.
                  Why oh why does he wear what appears to be paint splattered old jeans?
                  At least I hope it’s paint.

                  • North

                    Hosking’s gear is all about the mutton as lamb of bewildered narcissism. Never comes off. Just embarrassing. Like Key’s DPS dyed hair.

                  • Rosie

                    We’ve been wondering about the painters pants when we’ve had the misfortune of catching him in the ads. Probably designer kit worth $1K

          • Draco T Bastard 6.1.3.1.3

            Why would we do that when it’s obviously a failed system?

            This pitting of two petitions will be far more accurate.

            • Puckish Rogue 6.1.3.1.3.1

              Well no it won’t be because you have one side that irrationally want his removal but theres no need for a counter petition because he’s not being removed

              This isn’t Campbell Live we’re talking about, its a show people actually watch

              *Disclaimer, I don’t watch Mike Hosking on TV or listen to his radio show either

      • Draco T Bastard 6.1.4

        Up to 100 now after a day.

        IIRC, the petition to get rid of him reached 5000+ in the first day.

        • Richardrawshark 6.1.4.1

          It’ll taper off, far more people working in TV and ZB than I thought, and I wonder how many times Katie signed it.

          Hey Hoskings, they sell 5 dollar reviews over sea’s on the interweb, maybe you could pay people to sign or crowdfund it if your a bit tight.

      • b waghorn 6.1.5

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/81322479/opposition-renew-calls-for-media-charter-after-mike-hosking-petition-gains-traction
        Surprise surprise national dismantled the rules in place that would of stopped hoskings from getting away with his shit.
        On a brighter note it was public pressure that got henry moved along in 2010

        • Colonial Viper 6.1.5.1

          Labour should have returned TVNZ to a true public broadcasting basis instead of trying to keep gaming $$$ off it.

    • Rosie 6.2

      There were 90,000 signatures to save Campbell live, but we didn’t manage to do it.

      http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/save-campbell-live-petition-marched-to-mediaworks-2015042413#axzz4CN2XZtis

      I think if that number was doubled TVNZ might consider it. (Classic line coming up) – “I read somewhere” the other day that TVNZ was happy with 7 Blunt’s ratings. I don’t see that creepy mike hoskings getting shown the door any time soon but we can live in hope and I signed petition in that spirit.

      • weka 6.2.1

        I see value in the petition even if Hosking remains. A little bit of water wears away the rock. A big petition is humiliating for Hosking and TVNZ and at the same time buoys up the people who know how fucked the situation is. That alone is worth the petition.

        • Rosie 6.2.1.1

          You’re right. Each action contributes to the growing snowball. Such actions might provoke viewers to ask themselves why there would be a petition. As long as it gets people thinking, that’s the best start, and a part of the whole slow but growing movement of dissent.

          It would be far worse if there were no action at all.

        • Tom 6.2.1.2

          Not as humiliating as poor ratings.

      • Richardrawshark 6.2.2

        That’s because it had been in the plan since John key pushed his mate wheldon to work there.

        and that ain’t no wack conspiracy either.

  7. Rosemary McDonald 7

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/307064/disabled-boy-had-'diabolical'-post-op-aftercare

    This is what National means when they talk about “building resilience”.

    People are left on their own……

    • North 7.1

      From the rotting fish head John Key down, those with power over us know the cost of everything and the value of nothing……..until it comes to their vanities and dodgy imperatives……..26 mill’ for a flag wank ?

      “Go right ahead, this is for my legacy, money no object !”

    • Draco T Bastard 7.2

      It was then that the family were told their order for a hospital bed, wheelchair and a hip spica chair – which allows someone in a hip cast to sit up unaided – had all been cancelled by the Whanganui DHB. They were also told the occupational therapist assigned to them would not be visiting.

      Cancelled?

      WTF were the DHB thinking?

      And as for National continuously cutting the health budget I suspect that this is actually their desired result. Individuals having to go out and buy stuff for short term use will result in more sales and higher profits for the bludging shareholders.

      • Rosemary McDonald 7.2.1

        WTF were the DHB thinking?

        Indeed. See what a spica cast looks like here…http://www.webmd.com/children/spica-cast-667

        1. While I’m am not suggesting for a single itty bitty second that the Whanganui DHB has such a policy…is it pure coincidence that this is the DHB that the world famous in New Zealand eugenicist Michael ‘if you choose to give birth to a disabled kid don’t expect the State to care for it’ Laws was once an elected member of?

        2. Fact….. Non ACC disabled are entitled to NOTHING in the way of support.

        3. It has always been the case that applications for funding for equipment are delayed/declined….often forcing disabled people to seek out other funding sources.
        It’s just getting worse.

  8. Sabine 8

    and then there was this

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/house-democrats-gun-bills-sit-in_us_576ab443e4b0c0252e77ecb8

    the cynic in me says ohhhhh….. kabuki theater, the romantic in me says…..ohhhhhh a sit in, and the pessimist in me says…….ohhhh, grandstanding for nothing.

    But then a good sit in is a good sit in. 🙂

    Maybe our Opposition could do the same in regards to our homeless. T’would be fun to see the speaker spit bricks.

  9. North 9

    Haven’t read The Ombudsman’s report on the Rebstock findings re the leak about minister’s bashing of MFAT. However, going by what’s been said on Nine to Noon this morning (interview with one of Rebstock’s MFAT scapegoats/victims) The Ombudsman has roundly concluded that Dame Rebstock’s findings are Dame Rebstock’s Rubbish Findings.

    Key and his lackeys had better be careful if they set out to rubbish Ombudsman Boshier in favour of ‘Their Loyal Servant’ Dame Rebstock.

    • Muttonbird 10.1

      It is welcome analysis from Eaqub, but I get the feeling that he is constantly a little surprised at the sometimes slow, sometimes fast degradation of the socially conscious New Zealand we once enjoyed.

      And talk about ‘New Politics’. The deliberate policy of pitting peoples against each other has developed the world over by various right of centre governments. See Brexit, see the US election, and see John Key’s government of divisiveness.

      • whateva next? 10.1.1

        “The deliberate policy of pitting peoples against each other has developed the world over by various right of centre governments….”

        Absolutely, it feels like one big game of “the Block”, the axing of TV7 and the endless, mindless TV contest shows, cooking, singing, house decorating and finding a mate…….and distracting us.

        Police regularly blaming “Mental Health Services”, and CYPFS blamed for the appalling lack of societal infrastructure and the tragic, yet inevitable consequences.

  10. weka 11

    A question about MMP from yesterday. Do party votes from parties that don’t reach 5% or get an electorate MP get reallocated?

    First link says yes they do, second apparently says no they don’t. The context is whether if Harawira doesn’t win TTT, are the Mana votes ‘lost’, or do those lost votes give an advantage to other parties? e.g. in 2014 IM got something like 1.4% of the vote.

    Since 1996 these “wasted” votes have averaged 4.96%. After each election the St Laguë formula has reallocated between two and nine list seats to qualifying parties (see table below). This disproportionately benefits the parties with the largest share of the primary vote. Of the total of 38 seats reallocated this way, Labour has won nine and National 14; the other 15 went to smaller parties. In addition, between 2005 and 2011 the Maori Party had a total of four overhang seats.

    http://www.listener.co.nz/current-affairs/politics/state-your-preference/

    http://www.elections.org.nz/voting-system/mmp-voting-system/sainte-lague-allocation-formula

    • Draco T Bastard 11.1

      The overhang seats were a known issue when we voted MMP in. That said, I don’t think that the people who recommended MMP thought that we’d be getting so many of them and so often.

      As for the ‘wasted votes’ being effectively reallocated the only option for that is to decrease the threshold from 5% to 0.8%. If a party gets enough votes for a seat then they should have a seat.

  11. Draco T Bastard 12

    P test finds NZ banknotes may be the most meth-contaminated currency ever found

    All four note bundles tested positive for methamphetamine but not for precursors used to manufacture it, so the drug traces had likely come from contact with users rather than from a P lab.
    Nonetheless, three of the bundles tested above the health guideline for remediation if those samples had been taken from a P lab site.
    That guideline limit is 0.5 microgrammes per 100cm2 of wall or other surface. The note bundles showed levels from 0.4 to 0.8 microgrammes per 100cm2.

    One point I made in my Cashless was the effect it would have on criminal undertakings – essentially criminals wouldn’t be able to use money at all. Now it appears that it would be good for everyone’s health as well.

    • weka 12.1

      Handling eftpost receipts is looking like being a problem as a source of endocrine disruptor toxicity,

      https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141022143628.htm

      I’m guessing that most people handle eftpost and other thermal receipts far more than they do banknotes.

      • Draco T Bastard 12.1.1

        I keep wondering why they hand them out. I just refuse them myself so I’m not handling them anyway. Would much prefer it if I could get online and check my purchases through my bank. Of course, I happen think that the bank should be a state bank and not a private one. I don’t trust private banks with my data.

        • weka 12.1.1.1

          I think the machines in shops have to print out. Lots of places ask if you want the receipt, so heaps just go straight in the bin. ATMs give an option of no receipt. Till receipts are trickier if you need proof of purchase.

          Years ago I used to keep them all but then realised I never used them. Utter waste and health/ environment damaging.

    • Sabine 12.2

      and its still not a good enough reason to only have electronic money.

      i rather have a bit of meth on my hand, then a government like our current one just cut of access to our cash for the sake of it, or to teach the plebs a lesson in obedience.

    • Colonial Viper 12.3

      One point I made in my Cashless was the effect it would have on criminal undertakings – essentially criminals wouldn’t be able to use money at all. Now it appears that it would be good for everyone’s health as well.

      Sorry mate, you’re not thinking ahead. What happens when you or your political movement are criminalised for taking a set against the establishment.

      Tracking, suspending, banning, revealing, reversing all your financial transactions and the financial transactions of associated parties would be just the start.

      The cashless society, having tracking modules on all vehicles, we’re stupid for thinking that these things will not be used to crush future dissent.

      Look at how they fucked over Julian Assange and wikileaks by banning their access to paypal and the credit card system. Or how they threaten to ban entire countries from SWIFT.

      People need to learn for fucks sake.

      • Draco T Bastard 12.3.1

        That’s why you put in place rules and processes about it that cannot be broken by the parliament of the day. If they try it becomes an automatic act of treason and they a) lose everything and b) go to jail for the rest of their lives.

        • Colonial Viper 12.3.1.1

          Fuck your magical thinking mate.

          • Draco T Bastard 12.3.1.1.1

            So, I take it that you’re in favour of getting rid of laws against murder, Laws for health and safety at work sites and Minimum wage laws?

            You know, to get rid of all this “magical thinking”.

            • Colonial Viper 12.3.1.1.1.1

              ???

              no idea what you’re talking about, also no idea why you’re promoting systems which will make it easier for the power elite to make political activists lives miserable.

              • Draco T Bastard

                We make laws against bad behaviour all the time but you’re here saying that that is magical thinking.

                • Colonial Viper

                  yeah those laws have effectively stopped violent crimes and other bad behaviour in NZ haven’t they

                  • Draco T Bastard

                    So you must be in favour of getting rid of all those laws then, to get rid of all that “magical thinking”.

                    Or do you think that we should keep the laws and hold people accountable for their bad behaviour? To let them know that there are consequences and that those consequences will be grave?

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Dude, I don’t give a fuck about your laws, I give a fuck about you wanting to empower people with the technology to do shitty things to us, even knowing full well that your precious laws have never stopped that happening in the past.

                    • North

                      DTB 1 : CV Nil. And a very naughty and graceless Nil too !

      • b waghorn 12.3.2

        Might be a good reason to not take banking back into complete control of the government a Draco

    • reason 12.4

      “Dr Nick Kim, a senior lecturer in environmental chemistry at Massey University, tested the residue left on walls by meth smokers and found the potential health effects of past P smoking was no worse than those of tobacco, or handling meth-contaminated bank notes.”

      So you are now pushing a Paula Bennett myth that is being used to demonize state tenants and evict them from state houses Draco ? .

      Classy.

      Dr Nick Kim: “What seems wrong is the idea of kicking people out of houses where residues are not too dissimilar to [tobacco] smoking residues on walls.”

      Draco & Paula ….”We are not going to risk houses suspected of being drug dens today, becoming potentially toxic playgrounds for innocent children in the future.”

      As many as 600 state homes will need P decontamination this year, amid claims retirees are now smoking the toxic drug.

      Each home needing decontamination cost between $8000 and $16,000, with the work costing the agency $2.3 million last year.

      Dr Nick Kim: “Tenants who found that their houses had been smoked in could wash down walls and curtains but Kim said he personally would not worry. There was no need to tear down gib or replace carpets and insulation unless there was strong suspicion that there was a lab and the chances were lower than people feared.”

      • save nz 12.4.1

        +1 Reason – now P is the new scare device with everyone running about and plenty of money to be made out of the P scare scam by some (especially the government to explain why nobody lives in state houses anymore and why State houses are the new ‘ghost’ houses!).

      • Draco T Bastard 12.4.2

        Draco & Paula ….”We are not going to risk houses suspected of being drug dens today, becoming potentially toxic playgrounds for innocent children in the future.”

        Don’t attribute to me that which I never said nor have ever indicated that we should be doing.

        • reason 12.4.2.1

          Sorry Draco …. I thought you were using Paulas cult science for your own agenda.

          I may have overestimated your intelligence ,,,,,,,,,, sorry.

          You may be sincere about wanting to protecting our health from meth on bank notes …….

          In which case you are A fool with good intentions ,,,,,,, helping to spread Paulas witch trial drug hysteria ……… and the rip-off industry and eviction program that it enables …..

          p.s using Paulas lies to back up your argument massively undermined your points ……….

          What other lies and myths do you support?

          • Draco T Bastard 12.4.2.1.1

            I don’t support any and I certainly do not support the ones that you’re making up about me and that’s all you’ve done so far in this thread.

            Which makes you the fool.

            • reason 12.4.2.1.1.1

              really? ………….. then you didn’t type this on the basis of Paula’s contamination cult? …..”Now it appears that it would be good for everyone’s health as well”

              vrs Dr Nick Kim …..”Even that level was 24 times lower than “the lowest level that could you could plausibly have a health risk”.

              You need to Explain yourself and your use of the same ugly false fear mongering which Paula is using to evict the poor and their children onto the street…..

              Keep your explanation simple for a fool like me 😉

              I get confused nowadays in New Zealand, when rivers that WILL make you sick,with their soup of fecal matter, pathogens and nitrates are not called polluted and toxic…… these are instead to be known as ‘up to national standards & Wade-able’.

              Yet at the same time we have hundreds of perfectly safe state houses which pose no health risk labeled ‘contaminated’ and ‘toxic’ sitting empty, awaiting millions to be spent on them, after needless evictions … in the middle of a housing crisis.

              Now you and your contaminated notes may know something which supports Paulas and your science ….

              She certainly needs help to continue her war on the poor.

      • Gangnam Style 12.4.3

        “amid claims retirees are now smoking the toxic drug.” – Really? Where was that claim made? I always see retirees wasting their money at the pokeys now they are smoking P? End times cannot be too far away, oh my poor children!

  12. Richardrawshark 13

    FLASH ALERT IMPORTANT

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11661851

    hmm what does this mean, can we get rid of this Failed UK Rebstock Person, mums got nothing good to say about her, apparently she was crap there and bought her poison over here, mums words good enough for me, always trust a granny.

    • Colonial Viper 13.1

      Yes Rebstock, we need more women in leadership positions like her.

      • Richardrawshark 13.1.1

        Did you forget the /sarc tag?

        • I Feel Love 13.1.1.1

          Nah CV doing his anti feminist thing, going hard for the mens.

          • Richardrawshark 13.1.1.1.1

            Oh did Helen tell him off? Or does he have gender issues with women I’m happy to toast his nuts over?

            If Rebstock was a bloke i’d say the same.

            • Colonial Viper 13.1.1.1.1.1

              If Rebstock was a bloke i’d say the same.

              That’s my point. Rebstock is at least the equal of any man that National could put in that role, if not even superior.

              • weka

                Why do we need more women leaders like her then?

                • Colonial Viper

                  Same rationale that Hillary Clinton should be US President. Women in top leadership roles can do at least a good a job as men, if not better.

                  • weka

                    Interesting to know that you now think that Clinton should be US president. Bit of a turn around though.

                    • Gangnam Style

                      He is been sarcy I think, like saying ‘see, women can be as big as horrible leaders as men’, am I right CV? Thatcher & Imelda already proved that years ago.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Interesting to know that you now think that Clinton should be US president. Bit of a turn around though.

                      I didn’t say that Clinton should be US President. I said that she could do the job as well as most other men could, if not better.

                      Whether or not I think her politics are any good is another matter entirely.

                    • weka

                      @Gangnam Style, he’s being an arse to people about so called identity politics, he just can’t do it honestly.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      He is been sarcy I think, like saying ‘see, women can be as big as horrible leaders as men’, am I right CV? Thatcher & Imelda already proved that years ago.

                      What’s sarcy about women being able to equal or exceed men in every respect?

                    • Rodel

                      Heard a rumour (No I started it) that Hillary is going to nominate bill as the vice president..so she can keep an eye on him.
                      Hey. Anything’s possible.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      @Gangnam Style, he’s being an arse to people about so called identity politics, he just can’t do it honestly.

                      You know how to read between the lines right weka?

                    • weka

                      Actually I’m finding the numbers of not very well explained ideas and thoughts on ts at the moment tedious. It’s like people value their own cleverness over communicating well, which is problematic given the context.

              • Richardrawshark

                Ouch, that’s down right harsh CV, but I like it.

              • North

                It seems inoffensive to say that Dame Rebstock is at least the equal of any man that National could put in (what role ?). But how might she be even superior in (what role ?) as you suggest CV ? Are you talking the role of bought and paid for report ‘signer’ or the role of independent report ‘writer’.

                Certainly an Ombudsman thinks she’s a pretty shit independent report ‘writer’. If on the other hand she’s merely a report ‘signer’, she is corrupt. Dame Ratshit whichever way.

                Who appointed her to (what role?) CV ? Who made her a dame ? Oh yes…….it’s like dogs’ balls.

      • miravox 13.1.2

        The opportunity to prove oneself an arse shouldn’t depend on gender.

        That arsery is not dependent on gender shouldn’t be a reason for commenting on gender instead of abilities, imo.

      • srylands 13.1.3

        Yes we do. Whatever the errors of this inquiry, Paula has contributed much to New Zealand. She worked in Treasury in the late 80s and made an important contribution to the machinery of government reforms advocated by Treasury in 1987.

        I think you should be ashamed of your childish disparaging of her

        • One Anonymous Bloke 13.1.3.1

          So she’s been sucking on the public teat all this time. The problem with delusional trash like Paula is they’ve never worked in the real world.

        • Pat 13.1.3.2

          1987 was the first year of her employment at treasury shortly after graduating ….dont think she would have had much input to those recommendations somehow.

          • Gangnam Style 13.1.3.2.1

            Ha, nice one Pat, Srylands caught in a lie, though must be hard defending the indefensible gotta admit.

      • Muttonbird 13.1.4

        National Party apologists, you mean?

    • Richardrawshark 13.2

      http://www.newshub.co.nz/politics/commission-acted-unreasonably-in-mfat-leak-report-2016062309#axzz4CITeYEnU

      on NewsHub now to, stuffs bit slow too pick it up.

      Personally this is one the left should pick up and get vocal on for the reasons it was Keys appointment and Rebstock did an attack job it cements into the voters minds this governments inquiries are all cover ups, we can then get the DP inquiry pressure going again and any other BS inquiries Keys had.

      I’ve been waiting for a powerful body like the ombudsman to make decision man that office is slow to respond. But finally a proper report Key can’t rebuttal as plainl;y wrong. I dare him to say the Ombudsmans wrong.

      Get that pressure on my Beauties, fly fly…

      • ianmac 13.2.1

        “a proper report Key can’t rebuttal”
        Wanna bet Richard?
        “That is just one opinion and I could find another report that would vindicate the wonderful Paula Rebstock. Mr Farrar would be one of course.”

        • Richardrawshark 13.2.1.1

          What?, I don’t think an ombudsmans report is just an opinion.

          If Key wishes to use a Farrar’s opinion against the Ombudman’s fire away, can’t wait.

          What I should have said, is any rebuttal would looks silly and just fake to the public, as there are not many bodies as respected as the Ombudsmans office.

          To critique the office of the Ombudsman is bad form.

          Mum must be senile, she’s from the states, my bad, must be getting confused then with someone else, it was a passing comment she made.

          • ianmac 13.2.1.1.1

            Tis Okay Richard. I was just mocking the way that Key denies uncomfortable facts by quoting a different source. He knows that by the time we try to undo his dissemblage the story has moved on.
            Wonder if the release of this report just happens to be while Parliament is in recess for four weeks?

            • North 13.2.1.1.1.1

              Well the bastard doesn’t even ‘quote’ a different source. Just says there would be one. That’s it. Discussion over.

          • ianmac 13.2.1.1.2

            Funny how quickly the Herald moved the story down to about 15th online?

    • ianmac 13.3

      We might wonder about other “enquiries undertaken by Rebstock. Education? Social Welfare?
      When a Government has a pet Enquirer would we expect an independent unbiased report? Doubt it. Or unbiased means you will not get another job from John Key.

      • Gangnam Style 13.3.1

        “We might wonder about other “enquiries undertaken by Rebstock. Education? Social Welfare?” Yes ianmac!

    • integralenz 13.4

      I don’t think you can hold the UK accountable for this lamentable stooge. Believe she’s all the way from the USA.

    • Rodel 13.5

      Rennie said that he:
      “accepted that the way the inquiry dealt with Mr Leask “could have been better”.

      Mr Goff said, “It was not simply unfair. The treatment of those two men was disgraceful.”

      The Prime Minister mumbled ..” There’s um clearly been some…some…errors that have been made.” …Did he also say..’It was all Labours fault?’

      Mike Hoskings said. ..#@^@$##&^#x.. Hey-Who cares what he said..

    • srylands 13.6

      Paula is from America. She has a distinguished career in New Zealand spanning 30 years. You must be thinking of someone else.

  13. save nz 14

    About time we had a Scandinavian approach to prisons and criminal activity. Even if you don’t care about society as a rampant neoliberal – think of how much money the state could save if they bothered to look at what is successful in prisons around the world!

    Intentional homicides:
    Norway: 0.6 per 100,000 people
    United States: 6 per 100,000 people
    Incarceration rates:
    Norway: 71 for every 100,000 people
    United States: 743 for every 100,000 (in 2009)
    Recidivism rate:
    Norway: 20%
    United States: 50%-60%
    Hard to believe, isn’t it?

    Perhaps Norway’s way of doing things isn’t as bizarre as we think.

    http://www.upworthy.com/how-a-tour-of-a-norwegian-jail-might-make-you-reconsider-how-effective-the-us-justice-system-is?c=ufb4

  14. save nz 15

    This is an interesting site, and check out

    He found a way to build mini homes at no cost, and he’s donating them all to the homeless. (via NationSwell)

    https://www.facebook.com/nationswell/

  15. When Susan Devoy became Race Relations Commissioner I was skeptical – however I think she has done well to date.

    This month when I opened a copy of the Wairarapa Times-Age, a New Zealander wearing a Neo Nazi uniform stared back at me…

    …These are a few of the reasons why I will never think that it is okay for New Zealanders to wear Nazi-styled uniforms.

    Why? Because people wearing Nazi uniforms murdered 1.5 million children.

    They did it on purpose and they would have kept murdering children if they had not been stopped…

    …I’ve written this article to help ensure that those children aren’t forgotten and to make it clear that Neo Nazi fascism and racism does not belong in Aotearoa New Zealand…

    …Some say we should ignore these kinds of extremists but sometimes we need to stand up publicly and say that their philosophy is ‘Not Okay’.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/north-island/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503932&objectid=11661907

    Those children, their relatives alive and dead will never be forgotten – the horror of what happened will not be pretended-away.

    No it is not okay marae-burner-kyle and your mate just-another-sad-tocker. You parade around in your dress up neo-nazi uniforms – such sad losers yet they are here with us and in our faces – in the paper!

    Saying their philosophy is not okay is the least we can do – we need to make this place the way we want it and stepping out bullies, racists and their enablers (and those who use these dims for their own political ends) is a crucial step – for our self esteem, our values and so we can sleep at night.

    • Gangnam Style 16.1

      Yeah she’s all right, def takes the job seriously. Tough job to do well, so thank you Ms Devoy.

      • Colonial Viper 16.1.1

        A lot of commentators on TS hated on Devoy when she first got the job. I may have been one of them. However, she sharply picked up the pace after her first few months and is filling the role quite nicely now I think.

    • Colonial Viper 16.2

      Why? Because people wearing Nazi uniforms murdered 1.5 million children.

      I rather suspect that is an under estimate, too.

  16. Olwyn 17

    The comments under this article have the look of counteroffensive action against last week’s reckless show of compassion for the homeless. It is about a couple who have been given notice in a Huntly state house they have lived in for 23 years because they are now deemed able to pay market rent, although there is a shortage of rental houses in Huntly anyway. Comments that mercilessly bag the family are getting about 200 up-ticks. Comments that say “show some compassion” or “in other countries people are able to rent permanently” or similar are getting equivalent numbers of thumbs-down. http://i.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/81162744/huntly-mums-plea-to-stay-in-her-state-home.adaptive.html

    • indiana 17.1

      Do you think it is acceptable that this family occupied a state house for 23 years? In that 23 years, what did other people do who met the criteria for state housing? The Greens have a policy to build more state houses – in my view this is oppression by stealth as there is no incentive for state house occupants to better themselves and not remain life long welfare dependants. State housing should always be for those who need it most and those that get a state home should never expect to build a lifestyle from it – especially starting a new family or occupying it for 23 years!. Its the steeping stone they need at a relevant point in their situation, improve their situation and then move on.

      • Gangnam Style 17.1.1

        “Do you think it is acceptable that this family occupied a state house for 23 years?” Yes, I do, couldn’t care less if they live in for 50 years, whats it to ya? Build more!

      • Richardrawshark 17.1.2

        I see Indiana, the state should follow people around prodding them with a cattle prodder to better themselves. What’s your measure of better? At what point does your nanny state say your own your own now, ?

        Secondly council housing is housing for life in the UK, well it was, they did the same over there, big sell off, but you know a caring state, worked with these long term tenants and worked a good deal with them to pay the houses off, or assist them into a loan, they had a plan.

        AFAIK State housing was introduced because the working poor could never expect to own a house, there was over crowding poor conditions, a progressive labour government backed by the unions as at that time you greedy mine, shipyard owners etc had to be forced into compliance, so damn greedy, Labour state housing bettered the lives of millions of people. Something you lot have been rabidly trying to reverse ever since?

        whether you know it or not that’s what high Tories are doing. But you’re not one of them you actually think they care for all, and the left are loonies.

        IMHO

      • Anne 17.1.3

        @indiana

        Did you grow up in a family home that at some point was owned by the state? Thousands upon thousands of us did. And when we finally fled the nest, many of our parents were given the opportunity to purchase the properties for their retirement years. That my dear was the aim of the exercise. To give a whole generation, young and old, security and stability. And it worked.

        People like you sicken me. It’s NOT welfare dependency to have a warm, dry home provided by the state. It’s a necessity especially in this neo liberal dog eat dog society we live in. And the security of knowing it is there for as long as you need it is a prerequisite for a generation of balanced, healthy citizens.

        You remind me of Paula Bennett. Grab all the benefits yourself and use them to climb the ladder of success, then drag the ladder away so nobody can follow in your footsteps.

      • Olwyn 17.1.4

        Yes I do think it is acceptable for them to live in that house for those years. In a society where are large percentage of the population do not earn enough to buy their own homes, I think that secure long term rental, both state and private, should be the norm. That is the case in many other countries, and it has not made the population of Germany, for instance, feckless and lazy. The couple in the article are working and contributing to their community – in fact they want to buy their house now but have not been able to raise the necessary loan. It is just not good enough to price people out of home ownership, sell off state houses and force a huge percentage of the population to rely on amateur landlords with high rents and minimal rights as tenants.

        • indiana 17.1.4.1

          ” in fact they want to buy their house now but have not been able to raise the necessary loan.”

          But they had plenty of money to raise 7 children instead of saving for a deposit on a house. Was there a housing crisis in Hamilton 20 years ago? I’m presuming that in the first 3 years of them being a state home, they would have thought about this because if I put myself in their situation, this would be one of my first considerations – start a family or get out of the welfare trap.

          Its a pity that default position to take is that I’m a heartless bastard and that I have no concept of living life on the edge, but feel free to make assumptions.

          • Olwyn 17.1.4.1.1

            At the time when they moved into their state house, it was considered to be theirs for as long as they wanted and needed it, so it was not unreasonable for them to live their lives accordingly. There is such a thing as a decent humble person who is happy to contribute to a community but is not driven by material ambition – being a good or bad person is not contingent on owning or not owning a house. And I myself did not comment on your character, I simply disagreed with you. You, however, seem to feel quite free to comment negatively on the character of the people in the article.

      • North 17.1.5

        “Indiana wants me…..on the streets he wants me !”

        What a dog ! And supremely stupid – to say that need for housing is reflected in availability of housing. To say that need for housing beyond numbers of available houses is not actually need. It is welfare bludging. What a dumb, extremist fuckwit ! Maybe Indiana should experience the unavailability of a supply of oxygen. No problem. No availability. No need.

        The couple have lived in this house throughout the onslaught of neo-liberalism. During this period, by design, only a relative few were ever supposed to advance their fortunes, viz. those already at the top. That is the true ethos of neo-liberalism. Masked by cynical promises of trickle-down. The days when we might have regarded neo-liberals as fantasists truly believing in trickledown are well gone. They know it’s shit but they insist. They are amoral crooks.

        Indiana invokes failure to triumph over the conditions created by Indiana and ilk. That’s a bit much like the rapist blaming the rape victim for the debilitating STD the rapist inflicted.

        Ordinary people don’t advance under neo-liberalism. They were never meant to. You weren’t meant to be a dog Indiana but I see you’re trying your hardest. Dumb Fuckwit !

    • Richardrawshark 17.2

      Hootens banked on the fact 80% of the voting people are too young and dumb to remember why state housing was a house for life at one time, why and what it was set up for, what it was like before labour saved them, and probably all of them owe there current lifestyle to that fact.

    • Johan 17.3

      To Olwyn:
      Tory Trolls have been placing a team effort to falsify comments on Stuff, ie. up-ticking the bagging comments and down-ticking the supportive comments. Many of these trolls appear to have vacated Newshub NZ (TV3)comments section and moved to Stuff to do their dirty work.

      • Olwyn 17.3.1

        OK – I did wonder if it was something like that. They have relied for eight years now on generating contempt and division between social groups, so the humane response to homelessness last week must have given them a bit of a jolt. Now they are no doubt keen to regain their grip on the agenda.

  17. Ad 18

    An interesting if controversial comparison between women in power on Game of Thrones, and how women change in real life when they ascend power:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11661912

    And yes, they compare Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump at the same time as they compare Danys in Game of Thrones.

    • marty mars 18.1

      Bit silly really as the show is reflecting current modes of thinking not new ones or for that matter old ones – to find the truth about power and some of the women who have held it – go back – indigenous women leaders are plentiful and their stories, memories and abilities are well known within their communities.

  18. Richardrawshark 19

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/81380931/john-key-admits-confidential-cafe-slipup-while-defending-protection-officer

    This guy key, you know the CEO of NZ inc, doesn’t know the difference between running a business and running a country and protecting it’s secrets. I would love to know the security level of the docs he just left about, some are not to be removed and eyes only.

  19. Kay 20

    All is not well in the State of Denmark:
    http://www.humanityinaction.org/knowledgebase/59-the-danish-illusion-the-gap-between-principle-and-practice-in-the-danish-welfare-system

    It reads all to familiar. How long do you reckon they have?

    • Colonial Viper 20.1

      The right wingers have been screwing Denmark for a bit over 10 years now so I figure another 10 years or so.

      • Gangnam Style 20.1.1

        Denmark only shut down their dog brothels a few years ago, I like their bonfire culture though.

        • Colonial Viper 20.1.1.1

          I thought you were kidding and then I googled it.

          • Gangnam Style 20.1.1.1.1

            I know right!!! Sweden & Finland had them too, though I think they were underground, but Denmark it wasn’t actually illegal to run dog brothels til the mid 2000s? sometime in the last 10-15 years anyway. Was a worldwide petition helped get them banned too.

  20. North 21

    Nothing to see here…….except the PM’s security boys do a shocking job of dying the PM’s hair…….and even dogs don’t trust Mark Mitchell…….

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/81380931/john-key-admits-confidential-cafe-slipup-while-defending-protection-officer

  21. Chooky 22

    Some in power in the USA don’t want peace in Syria …which is what many around the world thought all along…a dangerous situation…especially if Hillary becomes President

    ‘Dissent memo’

    https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/347703-syria-russia-pentagon-cia/

    “A Syrian showdown is looming. Rebellion has broken out in the ranks of the State Department against Obama’s handling of the conflict. The Pentagon and the CIA are at odds. And Russia has demonstrated it has lost patience with Washington’s so-called moderates. The status quo cannot hold. CrossTalking with Richard Weitz, Mark Sleboda, and Lawrence Wilkerson.”

    ( and who is running the State Department?…what is their long term agenda for the Middle East?…whose interests are they representing?…surely not the American public’s)

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    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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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 ...
    1 day 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
    2 days 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
    2 days ago
  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep 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 thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats 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. Heres 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. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen 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 ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    2 days 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 ...
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  • 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 ...
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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, ...
    2 days 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, ...
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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 ...
    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
    3 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 ...
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    6 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
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