It is appalling that the members of the RWC choirs have not been given the seats they were promised. At one ground at least they were offered a TV set in a changing room!! Some have travelled many miles for rehearsals. No pay but the understanding they would see the games they sang for. The choirs have been one of the real success stories of the RWC. How mean spirited can you get.
RWC can spin this however they like, its disgusting behaviour! Mr Sneddon do you think NZ will not care? You and your friends can make the story travel and watch the RWC ‘discover’ some tickets for the final four matches. Maybe a few of the hundreds of free VIP troughers will donate their tickets. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10753746
Yes there are bigger problems out there, but this is NZ. This is not how we do things here. Remember NZ is a Nation that cares, supposedly, about more than the mighty dollar. The Herald has comments turned off and Stuff has not even posted the article. It is up to Kiwis to show this sucks. Hassle everybody you know with this story until the Choirs get tickets
I would like to help organise an event to express outrage: a ‘flag-burning’ or ‘logo’ burning event at a city centre, with many others in attendance, preferably preceded by a march.
Can someone suggest what should be burnt? Can there be others holding similar events at the same time, eg tomorrow or Sunday lunchtime, in other city centres around the country?
Can someone suggest the social or community groups that would join in?
Media should be invited to cover the event and also we should organise our own videotaping to be Youtubed. There would be lots of international media around at the moment and some should be encouraged to cover the event.
RWC bunting seems the obvious choice. There is enough of it around.
May i offer a word of caution:
NOT NZ FLAGS ! NOT AB’s FLAGS !
this is a RWC decision NOT an All Blacks decision.
You will notice there are no comments from any players, that said, there are also no comments from Sneddon and the other the chief troughers either. Care to comment Mr Key ??? Care to stick your hand into your very deep pockets and pay for the tickets yourself. ???
Your donation would be a sure winner 😉
The choir has been a huge success and the NZRFU has again shown itself to be totally incompetent from a PR viewpoint.
Certainly justifies a protest but flag burning goes too far. There must be something appropriate – a good bit or sarcastic humour would go a long way here. NZRFU have less sense of humour than the Labour Party (and that’s saying something)
@Jim Nald
Saturday Sept 24th is set aside as Moving Planet Day so let the IRB protest go, they have turned rugby into a gladiatorial game, spectacle, money-maker, business cash cow ( they want – I read that they aren’t happy with the dosh they’ve got from us) so suck it up.
Moving Planet events are all around the country such as Nelson where advert says there will be a mini festival at the Cathedral Steps 11am – 2pm.
I clicked the map on below link and found that red and black circles would bloom and fade, so can’t say just how and where all events are but sounds a good start. And a good follow up to the Polly Higgins thinking. http://www.moving-planet.org/
I still think that the fact that the lions share of the games are on pay TV, with us plebs having to put up with ad ridden delayed coverage for the most of the games, is a scandal in itself. The sgmes should have been live on free-to-air TV.
Sad day for music and those that like a tipple.
REM calling it a day, faded commercially but still put out great work over 30 years with no dip in quality.
SAB Millers final capture of Fosters will be interesting and much like Lion Nathan a national Icon goes to foreign ownership and the quality of the product IMO will decline further as the brands are made everywhere……taste imported Stella/Becks alongside the local brewed stuff.
Friday and the weather is good for the week end….the thought occurs to de mothball the bicycle as the weather warms. The joyous dream of meandering through the back blocks away from the noise and life threatening rush of trucks and cars, to hear the bird song as leisurely progress is made. Time passing slowly enough to behold in passing the ripple of grass on the breeze, to hear the rush of the stream as you float by on the bike.
Hey Jokey, where the f*** is the promised cycleway????????????????
Bloody hell, with Jokeys level and speed of investment that means the median line will fade out of existence …wont even be able to relabel that as cycleway.
Good to see the Hamilton City Council has its piroites right. Slashing and burning funding for community services, talking about selling assets (behind closed doors too!), and proabably cutting funding for community assets like libraries and parks, etc. All while sparing elderly homeowners rate increases (who benefited from councils who built up services, not tore them down).
The Tea Party wannabes who infest our councils need to be reined in before there are no parks, no libaries, no nothing.
Aye Millsy. Unfortunately at Local Government level you get tories who are just as doctrinaire and their central equivalents but lack the ability to even understand at a base level what damage these sorts of cuts cause.
The People’s republic of Auckland stands out as a beacon of hope and sanity in the wilderness that it Local Government! Now if only we could get the Government to agree to the inner city loop …
Yet they have no problem saddling their ratepayers with the cost of the new velodrome. A building that come hell-or-higth-water SPARC was going to build as close to Auckland as possible, even though areas like Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu had fully funded options on the table. Its a bloody disgrace.
Cycling is the future, roaring petrol racers are not. People who argue against
the vello should be fined if they don’t add to the list the V8 and the rugby
stadium to their ire.
personally, the problem isn’t the infrastructure spend, its the perplexing
lack of connecting up the facilities. why have we never had a
train bringing supporters from Auckland to the conference
center, or students to the the university, or any of the other
big build up.
The best thing that could happen to Hamilton is for the V8 to end.
A velodrome being built on the grounds of a very expensive private school no less. I too am a cyclist and was involved in the early discussions around the centre of excellence – making this a Waikato BOP initiative was and still is a joke!
BTW it was Waikato REGIONAL council who voted this through.
The fact that Rotorua had everything that was on the criteria (Mountian Biking, BMX track, experience of hosting international events, an academy of sport, extensive road network) – the only thing it didn’t have was a covered velodrome – seems to be have been lost in the fact that it isn’t Tauranga (God’s waiting room) or Hamilton (Bogun central).
Money talks, RDC don’t have any, but Waikato does – game over.
If only they DID have the money though, Ian. How the fuck do you bid for, and win a contract like that where evidence of funding in place was a requirement, and then go bleating to the councils for funding later?
This whole velodrome decision by WRC has been a complete farce and is a sad day for democracy. The decision to proceed was made despite the fact that it is not core business and 60% of 7000 submitters were against and 40% for. (Incidentally, children were also submitters even although they are not ratepayers nor have voting rights). There were also three independent reports commissioned by WRC from professionals which had red flags all over them. They advised this facility should not be expected to make a profit. This has been touted as a NATIONAL facility and is no place for ratepayer funds. The question still remains as to who is going to pay the ongoing costs of maintenance and upgrading in the future. Guess who – the bottomless pit called the ratepayer!
I have to say that Brownlee came across well last night when questioned on Red Zoning. He put the case clearly and firmly together with points here and there in support.
But what he didn’t offer, and what wasn’t questioned, was the issue not of whether any land is rightly zoned red, but why the people have been turfed out with nowhere to go. Why they have been thrown to the lion’s den of the “marketplace”. Why a land swap or similar was not put up. Why the govt doesn’t care about the elderly and the pensioners and the incapacitated being thrown onto the street.
“Why the govt doesn’t care about the elderly and the pensioners and the incapacitated being thrown onto the street.”
You just have to look at the new HNZ policy effective since 1 July to be alarmed at how serious housing in NZ has become. Incapacitated people and pensioners are not even qualifying for HNZ assistance in spite of Heatley claiming that vulnerable people will be looked after. I consider this to be the biggest lie from the current government.
Council housing lists are growing longer as people on NZ super or the invalid benefit do not quailfy for housing due to the formula HNZ use. Basically the main benefit rate is taken into consideration and the accommodation supplement which a person would be entitled to, then the bottom end of the scale of housing in your area is calculated. If there is a shortfall between total applicant outgoings and applicant total income you are given a 3 or 4.
An example of a single person on the invalids benefit who lives in a provincial city.
Main invalid benefit $251.00 (cents not included).
One bedroom flat $150.00
Accommodation supplement entitlement $61.00. (Max AS is $65.00 for the area).
Other ongoing costs are included, basically a person has to have a shortfall and I am not sure by how much. I think the main benefit for a person on NZ super is $309.00. Someone on the unemployment or on sickness gets a little over $200.00 on a main benefit and their chance of scoring a 3 or 4 is higher than a person on NZ super or the invalid benefit. (I will repost with the correct main benefit figures).
There is a health section like the income section. A person on NZ super or the invalid benefit has a greater chance of scoring a 3 or 4 compared to a person on the unemployment benefit or the sickness benefit.
I am not sure how many 3s or 4s a person has to have, it would not surprise me if the minimum was at least two because I just scrape in with two 3s (income and health).
Being homeless or having to vacate in 60 days or less is also taken into consideration and a person also has to look at alternative accommodation e.g. private rental.
Millsy is bang on when she says that ghettos are being created in NZ.
To remedy the housing problem there needs to be a MASSIVE government building programme and/or the accommodation supplement to be increased so that no one pays more than 25% of their income on housing each week.
Weekly main benefit rates for a single person:
Unemployment or sickness age over 25 $201.40
Invalid age 18+ $251.73
NZ super single living alone $339.92
I am not sure how many 3s or 4s a person has to have, it would not surprise me if the minimum was at least two because I just scrape in with two 3s (income and health).
I am therefore incredibly lucky to have got this dump 15 years or so back, when I was on DPB with a 6 year old, and were in the having to vacate in 60 days category. By the looks, with DPB + 1, we would not qualify now. This is making me wonder actually, because apparently, having applied for a transfer means I am considered a new applicant… or am I wrong?
They’ll probably turf you out soon Vicky, being a single woman with no dependants and all.
I’d watch out for that eviction notice due when National win the election. I have it from good sources that a whole bunch are being printed up and will be served the Monday after the election..
They’ll probably turf you out soon Vicky, being a single woman with no dependants and all.
Wow, I really find your joyous tone about that a bit unseemly… I am on an unemployment benefit, so they might give me a pass, but even if they do kick me out, I find it difficult to care! Why are you so certain that NACT will win the election? I suppose you think that because of my being a “god-botherer”, that I voted or will vote for them… but that’s simply you jumping to an unwarranted conclusion. I would rather die than vote for the Right. Noto bene – I have not always been a single woman (either by the previous definiton of single = not married) or the current one (not currently shagging anyone. Given your bitchy remarks on the other post, I feel the need to point that out.)
My tone is most certainly not joyous. Please dont accuse me of such. In fact, if I had my way, you would be in your house for the rest of your days. Along with every other state house tenant. In fact, I would quadruple the number of state housing and push the slumlords out of the market.
And I don’t assume that you would vote for NACT. I am aware of your left credentials.
I just know what NACT are capable of, thats all. And from what I see, they are going to carry out some serious carnage. No one is going to be safe. And I am convinced, that after the election, they will begin the biggest state house eviction program in this country’s history.
Vicky in 5.2 I gave an example of the formula HNZ use. A person on the unemployment or sickness benefit is better off than a person on the invalids benefit when it comes to scoring at least a 3 because of the level of main benefit. Please do not draw conclusions from what I have said about the minimum of two 3s even though this applies to me.
Please also note that I state that a massive housing programme is required and/or that the accommodation supplement needs to be topped up so that no one pays more than 25% of their income in rent.
The new HNZ rental criteria is brutal and the community housing will also shrink the stock. Their needs to be an independent advocate available for current HNZ tenants and a appeal process other than the tenancy tribunal. A friend of mine is faced with being turfed out of a HNZ home even though market rental is paid for the home they live in. HNZ are hypocrits as they also must look at a person requiring housing in 60 days.
The government is heartless when it comes to housing the most vulnerable. The government cannot even address rheumatic fever in this country (a third world disease) brought on by over crowding and no doubt the lack of a nutrious diet.
Maybe all the people on NZ super not making the HNZ criteria need to be wheeled up to parliament as the numbers will grow by the week as single not sharing NZ super main benefit rate is $339.92 and single NZ super sharing is $313.00 (cents not included). Heatley is a non visionary as far as I am concerned because it is homes that people need and not the competitive divisive situation which he has thrust apon the most vulnerable.
The new HNZ rental criteria is brutal and the community housing will also shrink the stock. Their needs to be an independent advocate available for current HNZ tenants and a appeal process other than the tenancy tribunal. A friend of mine is faced with being turfed out of a HNZ home even though market rental is paid for the home they live in. HNZ are hypocrits as they also must look at a person requiring housing in 60 days.
Maybe all the people on NZ super not making the HNZ criteria need to be wheeled up to parliament as the numbers will grow by the week as single not sharing NZ super main benefit rate is $339.92 and single NZ super sharing is $313.00 (cents not included). Heatley is a non visionary as far as I am concerned because it is homes that people need and not the competitive divisive situation which he has thrust apon the most vulnerable.
He doesn’t seem to like any political party though, which isn’t very helpful to those who still hope that voting will make a difference, or simply believe that we must try to engage with the political system even as we work on other solutions such as permaculture and sustainable communities.
Perhaps AFKTT should start his own party, or maybe he has already – I certainly feel that there would be a place for his views on our political spectrum.
Where is the astonishing personal attack? Mallard’s post seemed pretty reasonable to me and it comes as a hell of a surprise that it turns out that Edwards is on David Farrar’s payroll. No wonder Edwards is constantly sniping at Labour, eh.
HS you, and the supposedly ‘outraged’ others have consistently chosen to ignore the point I was raising – the inappropriateness of of the butchers electioneering on taxpayer funded tv ‘news’ Now he is joined by Richardhead of the year contender Matthew Ridge who I hope drowns in his carwash for breaching election rules – LOL –
There – now you have something new to be ‘outraged’ about.
Notice: to all celebraties planning to use their ‘fame’ in an underhand manner to promote the corruption that is the National government – you will not be spared my disdain.
Personally I am a great believer in the value of the Darwin awards where people remove themselves from the gene pool. I am usually not hesitant in suggesting it as a career enhancing objective to worthy recipients when I comment.
Of course the countervailing viewpoint is that eventually people like jcw (whom the comment was made in response to) will eventually examine the actual process of civil court rather than simply relying on theoretical codswallop. Unfortunately I suspect from their writing that they gather their opinions by examining their navel from the inside (by shoving their head up their arse) and will do almost anything to avoid examining the real world. My comment was not about their opinion. My comment was about their experience and their apparent inability to understand that reality and theory are frequently different.
You have a similar problem because you are comparing a robust comment with an actual argument attached compared to the outright denigration without any argument that characterizes the sewer. In other words you don’t see actual discussion at the sewer from what I have seen. When an opposing opinion is voiced there, the usual response is to have a straight personal attacks without bothering to argue about the topic – basically what you see is schoolyard bullying. That is the reason that people outside the in-group there from the left tend not to waste time there.
Here you tend to get responses that are argument served with sarcasm. There are a few over the top comments without arguments. But as a moderator I tend to only get irritated when there is a pattern of behavior that I have to exert effort to correct.
And my suggestion is that you try a similar solution to that suggested for jcw. It appears to me that you lack the observational skills required to learn. Of course I could be wrong?
AAAwww whats wrong you spinning and spitting tacks because you got the arse from Red Alert??? Give them a real E-Mail address and they will let you in, if only just to laugh at your pathetic attempts to make mountains out of molehills.
The NZ Herald ran an article about Fonterra today that was particularly interesting. In conjunction with other recent media releases, it showed the dairy industry is getting a free ride at the taxpayer and environments expense…
When the Government can pull out all stops to ensure the success of a waterfront party you would think that they could do the same to save our most significant and internationally recognized wetland. $11.5 million is being spent to resuscitate the already dead Lake Ellesmere, why can’t they concentrate on the Waituna Lagoon while it is still living, though only just. http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.com/2011/09/emergency-team-argue-while-waituna-dies.html
Dave, could not agree more. The whole thing is criminal and tragic. The mental dislocation between our personal desires and our environment is exactly as you highlight, we head for a Darwin Award as a species.
New owners of the Phoenix football team to be announced shortly!!
A few more tears at the Pike River hearings, the police and now Peter Whittel. And we have no doubt cried at some of the crap we have been hearing – report assessed unsatisfactory because of a spelling mistake etc. It seems like the police want to operate like USA drone operators – sitting behind a desk in Wellington or away from the scene of the tragedy directing the action or non-action whichever seems the safest to the distant generals directing the war.
I was getting very pissed off with people praising Sereipesos for spending on the Phoenix, saving their commercial bacon, being the dude whilst all the while the tax he owed was not paid. Then I thought perhaps I should say fuck it to my fellow taxpayer, you losers pay taxes whilst I buy a soccer team and live the dream. Terry, with revelatory poser, me too me too…..
For some reason it wouldn’t let me delete those two test posts above. I was trying to test Strikethrough, which doesn’t seem to work.
Anyway, looks like Key is spilling the beans on his private talk with Obama?
”But if you think about the global financial crisis that has taken place, that has been a very significant event and remains a very significant event in Europe and the United States. Just to give you a bit of perspective of what that means in the US – their numbers are just dire. Their unemployment rate is 9.2 per cent officially but even the president told me their unofficial unemployment rate is about 14 or 15 per cent. http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/5674399/New-Zealand-will-survive-with-Asias-help
[lprent: Removed. I’ll have a look at the trasher. Strikethrough is meant to be useable – could be an wordpress update has broken my patch. ]
Kiwis First! (except if your industry is the arts, film or tv)
“Immigration changes support screen and entertainment industries” (bahahahahaha)
Press Release by New Zealand Government at 2:50 pm, 22 Sep 2011
Changes announced today to visa processes for screen, entertainment and music industry workers will support the sector’s growth, says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.
The changes provide a simpler, more streamlined system for the entry of temporary entertainment industry workers into New Zealand.
”The existing policy is out-dated. It’s been in place for 20 years and the entertainment industry has grown hugely over that time,” says Dr Coleman.
Today’s changes mean workers here for 14 days or less, or workers on an international co-production, face a greatly simplified process. For longer periods of employment, such as during the making of feature films, the policy places more trust in employers who have proven their bona fides and have a track record of bringing in workers for legitimate purposes.
”The screen industry employs around 6,700 people and is worth over $2.8 billion dollars a year, with great potential for further growth. To realise that growth, we need immigration policies that ensure key workers can get here with minimal fuss so that New Zealand remains an attractive destination for productions,” says Dr Coleman.
Under current rules for screen, entertainment and music workers, all work visa applications are referred to the industry guilds and unions under a ‘silent approval’ process. This means that the guilds or unions have the right to object to an application.
”In some cases, issues with existing processes were putting offshore investment in the New Zealand screen industry at risk,” says Dr Coleman.
”Another feature of the changes is that performers here for significant music, arts or cultural festivals can come into the country on a visitor visa.
”In the past two and a half years there have been 14 applications disputed by unions or guilds out of 4800 applications for screen industry work, and the Government has ultimately granted visas in all those cases.
”In short, we are removing a redundant, bureaucratic process which only served to make New Zealand a less attractive place for the screen and entertainment industry to do business.”
The new policy will be operational from March 2012.
About two months ago I posted saying that work and income did not consider home contents as being a cost which they included in an application for a food grant. When you go to HNZ for housing assistance a green form called “Finding a private rental property” and a form called the Department of Building and Housing is given to you. The Department of Building and Housing form states “Before you move in: Purchase contents insurance that includes tenant liability.”
Interesting when it comes to one government department saying that contents insurance is essential and another government department saing the cost is not essential. I expect there are repercussions for people in Christchurch when it comes to contents and liability insurance.
SPADA used to make a mint from this process…wonder what deal their CE Borland (good friends with Arts Minister Finlayson) did to ensure they wouldn’t be hit in the pocket…
The latest edition of the Listener has an article entitled Cold Comfort, which is all about New Zealand’s high electricity prices and how they contribute to ill health. It makes for sober reading, especially when considering that the continuing trend of high electricity prices and low incomes is going to make things a lot worse…
Is it any wonder with profit taking built in at all 4 deconstructed layers of the old NZEC and local power boards, with NZEC and local power boards at least that was only 2 levels and the NZEC could take a holistic view of generation and distribution up to where local distribution boards took over.
If ever there was an industry screaming to be nationalized it’s this essential service and give business certainty over supply.
The god-bothers have been let out of their cave yet again and are bursting blood vessels with the thought of dirty grubby SEX being taught in our schools.
The debate over sex education has pretty much proved that there are still a lot of Victorian-era prudes who think sex is unclean and disgusting and should only be had to make babies. Not something exciting and enjoyable that can take place in so many different forms.
And yes, it is OK as long as its consensual, those who take part are over 16, and a condom is used.
The god-bothers have been let out of their cave yet again and are bursting blood vessels with the thought of dirty grubby SEX being taught in our schools.
All I will say (all I dare say) is that if you’re referring to recent stories in the Herald, you’ve very badly missed the point! I have nothing against sex ed if it’s about teaching kids what they need to know to be safe. But from what I have read, what the “god-botherers” (us? 🙂 ) are against, is teaching 6 year olds the mechanics. They don’t need to know – the squick factor will be enough at that age anyway.
So, Millsy, get a grip – or rather loosen your grip! You’re throttling something…
I’m not advocating teaching sex to to 6 year olds, Vicky32, but I am feeling rather uneasy at the neo-Victorian prudish backlash being conducted right now, who, as I said before want to drill it into our kids heads that sex is dirty and grubby (but not when its being paid for by a middle aged white businessman of course).
The same people want abortion and homosexuality recriminalised and divorce laws tightened. Effectively rolling back the social freedoms that people fought very hard to win against an older generation riddled with double standards – the generation of the 40’s, and 50’s were at it like rabbits.
And the NZH puts enough spin and beat up into the article to make it look like an issue when it isn’t. These days I wouldn’t read the NZH if you paid me.
I’m not advocating teaching sex to to 6 year olds, Vicky32, but I am feeling rather uneasy at the neo-Victorian prudish backlash being conducted right now, who, as I said before want to drill it into our kids heads that sex is dirty and grubby (but not when its being paid for by a middle aged white businessman of course).
No, not that I have read! (I am going by the stories in the Herald that I read the other day.) Apparently there’s been some spewing on talkback, but I avoid talkback.
Effectively rolling back the social freedoms that people fought very hard to win against an older generation riddled with double standards – the generation of the 40′s, and 50′s were at it like rabbits.
That people in the 40s and 50s were at it like wabbits is a myth… That was my parents’ generation, and no, they weren’t – at least not anywhere near what people do now! Your “social freedoms” are simply licence.
What’s the bloody big deal about young people having sex? Christ, as long as they are enjoying it who cares?
Social freedoms being a licence? WTF? I dont know about you, but I really dont think that we should be putting regulations on people having sex, just because a bunch of party poopers who read some 2000 year old translation (from Aramaic to Greek to Latin to Middle English to English) of some cruddy old scrolls written by some scribe in the scorching desert dont like people enjoying intamite relations with each other.
BTW, I used to be an anti sex prude. Then I started getting some and changed my position 100%.
What’s the bloody big deal about young people having sex? Christ, as long as they are enjoying it who cares?
You’re having a laugh, right? I’ll ignore your offensive language, simply because you said it in hopes of upsetting me… and simply point out some of the consequences… Teen pregnancy, STDs, broken hearts, sterility caused by abortion or the previously mentioned STDs – sterility which then leads to $$$$$ invested in (usually futile) IVF, and oh, did I mention the broken hearts? I suspect that you’re an old man (45-59), as older men often love the thought of teens banging like bunnies, and spend all their time obsessing about the “right” to f*** like rattlesnakes. Young men and women just get on with it – but crucially, they are looking for love and commitment – it takes the middle-aged and cynical to want sex without commitment for its own sake!
I know about all of these consequences – I have witnessed them in my own life and the lives of family members.
This is my last word on the subject – and you can blaspheme and get as offensive as you like, I am not getting sucked in – or it won’t be long before I get called “f***ing retard”, “notjob” and all the rest all over again – and it’s always about sex! Men do get very het up and abusive about sex, and I can never understand why.
Men do get very het up and abusive about sex, and I can never understand why.
Possibly because you assume that people didn’t shag in the 40s and 50s just because nobody in your social group did, so therefore anyone with a different perspective is just acting out of depraved wishful thinking. That gets really irritating really quickly.
Possibly because you assume that people didn’t shag in the 40s and 50s just because nobody in your social group did, so therefore anyone with a different perspective is just acting out of depraved wishful thinking. That gets really irritating really quickly.
I never said people didn’t shag in the 40s and 50s, I know they did – I said that what people did then wasn’t 1/10th as much shagging as people, even teens, do now! It’s not nothing to do with my social group – which BTW was not middle or upper class… but a teensy bit of logic will tell you that people back then couldn’t shag their brains out with 10-20 ‘partners’ a year back then. There was no reliable method of contraception, and even if there had been, everyone knew everyone else’s business…
Anyone who thinks I am puritanical has a very strange definition of the word! It just seriously makes me very off-piste to see kids encouraged by older people to exploit themselves and each other.
I dont encourage kids to have sex. I just think that we need to cut them a little bit of slack and stop trying to convince them that sex is dirty and grubby, that’s all.
Not really correct Vicky. I remember reading research that said. The rate of sexual activity by young people, and the rate of teenage pregnancies, was higher in the 40’s than now.
It is us who were teenagers in the 60’s and 70’s who should really be blushing. We were like rabbits compared with today’s youth. And had higher teen pregnancy rates. Despite adults not being allowed to tell us, sex even existed, until we were 16. Probably something to do with ideas like “Coke is a contraceptive”.
I am looking for the references for you now, but no longer at Uni so no longer have free access to journals. I know some of the evidence quoted was from the NZ longitudal study.
Kids should be told that sex is best left to when they are with someone that they want to stay friends with for life, but they also need to learn how to protect themselves. And the emotional and physical pro-s and con’s.
We all make mistakes. I cringe, when I remember some of mine as a teenager.
As for sex education do you want it left to parents who believe that their 13 year old daughters should be available to the guru of their nutty religion.
Or contraceptive education to people who believe their daughters should not use it because it prevents gods punishment, of pregnancy for sexually active women.
People who were taught abstinence only have higher teen pregnancy rates, than those who have quality, age appropriate sex education.
Talking of age appropriate. I consented to my, then, 6 year old son going to religious education classes. I thought they would be pretty harmless. Only to find they were being taught about classical period methods of execution. He had night terrors about nails through his hands.
Religion has a lot to answer for!
It is us who were teenagers in the 60′s and 70′s who should really be blushing. We were like rabbits compared with today’s youth. And had higher teen pregnancy rates. Despite adults not being allowed to tell us, sex even existed, until we were 16.
I have to say ‘speak for yourself!’ 😀 I was a teenager in the 60s/70s, and had parents who very realistic, telling us (3 girls and a boy) all about sex right from the start. Other girls I know might have gone at it like rabbits (I can’t speak for any boys) but there were few of these girls. My nerd peer group was much more interested in academic pursuits! I am not at all aware of adults not being allowed to tell is about sex – I remember sex ed at school, when I was in the 4th form (circa 13 years old)
Kids should be told that sex is best left to when they are with someone that they want to stay friends with for life, but they also need to learn how to protect themselves.
Of course, I agree.
People who were taught abstinence only have higher teen pregnancy rates, than those who have quality, age appropriate sex education.
So people say, but I have yet to see any objective proof – all the ‘studies’ I have seen have have been pubbed by such ‘neutral, unbiased’ groups as Planned Parenthood USA.
Talking of age appropriate. I consented to my, then, 6 year old son going to religious education classes. I thought they would be pretty harmless. Only to find they were being taught about classical period methods of execution. He had night terrors about nails through his hands.
Religion has a lot to answer for!
Irrelevant bigotry, and most unlikely! What RE are you talking about? There’s no such thing in state schools, and in a church school, I can assure you, RE would actually be much more nuanced – therefore, I beg leave to doubt you…
Stats NZ infoshare has tables for live births by maternal age for every calendar year since1962 (sadly not the 40s and 50s, or not that I’ve found). In raw numbers, <15 and 15-19 y.o. mother age groups has been constant if not falling. The rates, if you put them against the census population tables, would be decreasing significantly.
The numbers across the different agegroups are quite interesting, from a general level – e.g. the 40-44 agegroup had a dramatic decline in the 70s and 80s (probably down to the pill), and is now quite high again (as women delay having children).
A rather interesting study came out a while back. It’s findings were that those people who were more liberal about sex had better and longer lasting relationships that those who were puritanical.
I’m 31, Vicky, and I dont “love the thought of teens banging like bunnies, and spend all their time obsessing about the “right” to f*** like rattlesnakes.”. I just think that sex is awesome, and that people should be encouraged to partake in it, without being made to feel guilty and dirty about enjoying it, and that, is what is currently happening in the Herald. People want a society where people, especially women are made to feel dirty and ashamed for enjoying sex. Plain and simple.
People go on about social engineering, but the god-botherers are the biggest social engineers out there.
The Queens’ granddaughter and the non-story in the headlines.
I suppose the whole thing could be put to rest if the blond at the centre of the story, who just happened to be an old friend, was to be seen socialising with them both in the next few days …
So over that. So what if a rugby player buried his head in a women’s chest?
This reminds of me of the frenzy over Tiger Woods because he decided to partake in the thousands of offers he got from women, which is par for the course for pro-golfers (no pun intended). Thanks to their hate, one of the greatest golfers in history has had his career destoryed.
Woods had a pattern of humiliating himself and when his wife found out about his sexual indiscretions this had consequences for her marriage. No point being married to someone who you cannot trust and who has the need to seek sexual pleasure else where or who cannot abstain when apart from you.
When it comes to sex ed class at school the class should be taped and then the parents would have a reference of what their child is being taught. I tend to ask myself what are children being sexually exposed to and what do they need to know to stay safe and who can help them when they need help?
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). 2024 has been a series of bad news for climate change. From scorching global temperatures leading to devastating ...
Ríu Ríu ChíuRíu Ríu Chíu is a Spanish Christmas song from the 16th Century. The traditional carol would likely have passed unnoticed by the English-speaking world had the made-for-television American band The Monkees not performed the song as part of their special Christmas show back in 1967. The show's ...
Dunedin’s summer thus far has been warm and humid… and it looks like we’re in for a grey Christmas. But it is now officially Christmas Day in this time zone, so never mind. This year, I’ve stumbled across an Old English version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: It has a population of just under 3.5 million inhabitants, produces nearly 550,000 tons of beef per year, and boasts a glorious soccer reputation with two World ...
Morena all,In my paywalled newsletter yesterday, I signed off for Christmas and wished readers well, but I thought I’d send everyone a quick note this morning.This hasn’t been a good year for our small country. The divisions caused by the Treaty Principles Bill, the cuts to our public sector, increased ...
This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30 am include:Kāinga Ora is quietly planning to sell over $1 billion worth of state-owned land under 300 state homes in Auckland’s wealthiest suburbs, including around Bastion Point, to give the Government more fiscal room to pay for tax cuts and reduce borrowing.A ...
Hi,It’s my birthday on Christmas Day, and I have a favour to ask.A birthday wish.I would love you to share one Webworm story you’ve liked this year.The simple fact is: apart from paying for a Webworm membership (thank you!), sharing and telling others about this place is the most important ...
The last few days have been a bit too much of a whirl for me to manage a fresh edition each day. It's been that kind of year. Hope you don't mind.I’ve been coming around to thinking that it doesn't really matter if you don't have something to say every ...
The worms will live in every hostIt's hard to pick which one they eat the mostThe horrible people, the horrible peopleIt's as anatomic as the size of your steepleCapitalism has made it this wayOld-fashioned fascism will take it awaySongwriter: Twiggy Ramirez Read more ...
Hi,It’s almost Christmas Day which means it is almost my birthday, where you will find me whimpering in the corner clutching a warm bottle of Baileys.If you’re out of ideas for presents (and truly desperate) then it is possible to gift a full Webworm subscription to a friend (or enemy) ...
This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30am include:Rachel Helyer Donaldson’s scoop via RNZ last night of cuts to maternity jobs in the health system;Maddy Croad’s scoop via The Press-$ this morning on funding cuts for Christchurch’s biggest food rescue charity;Benedict Collins’ scoop last night via 1News on a last-minute ...
A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 15, 2024 thru Sat, December 21, 2024. Based on feedback we received, this week's roundup is the first one published soleley by category. We are still interested in ...
Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...
ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Are we heading ...
So the Solstice has arrived – Summer in this part of the world, Winter for the Northern Hemisphere. And with it, the publication my new Norse dark-fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens at Eternal Haunted Summer: https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/issues/winter-solstice-2024/as-our-power-lessens/ As previously noted, this one is very ‘wyrd’, and Northern Theory of Courage. ...
The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashEvery morning I get up at 3am to go around the traps of news sites in Aotearoa and globally. I pick out the top ones from my point of view and have been putting them into my Dawn Chorus email, which goes out with a podcast. ...
Over on Kikorangi Newsroom's Marc Daalder has published his annual OIA stats. So I thought I'd do mine: 82 OIA requests sent in 2024 7 posts based on those requests 20 average working days to receive a response Ministry of Justice was my most-requested entity, ...
Welcome to the December 2024 Economic Bulletin. We have two monthly features in this edition. In the first, we discuss what the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update from Treasury and the Budget Policy Statement from the Minister of Finance tell us about the fiscal position and what to ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have submitted against the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, slamming the Bill as a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an attack on tino rangatiratanga and the collective rights of Tangata Whenua. “This Bill seeks to legislate for Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles that are ...
I don't knowHow to say what's got to be saidI don't know if it's black or whiteThere's others see it redI don't get the answers rightI'll leave that to youIs this love out of fashionOr is it the time of yearAre these words distraction?To the words you want to hearSongwriters: ...
Our economy has experienced its worst recession since 1991. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 20 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below ...
Twas the Friday before Christmas and all through the week we’ve been collecting stories for our final roundup of the year. As we start to wind down for the year we hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas and new year. If you’re travelling please be safe on ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the year’s news with: on climate. Her book of the year was Tim Winton’s cli-fi novel Juice and she also mentioned Mike Joy’s memoir The Fight for Fresh Water. ...
The Government can head off to the holidays, entitled to assure itself that it has done more or less what it said it would do. The campaign last year promised to “get New Zealand back on track.” When you look at the basic promises—to trim back Government expenditure, toughen up ...
Open access notables An intensification of surface Earth’s energy imbalance since the late 20th century, Li et al., Communications Earth & Environment:Tracking the energy balance of the Earth system is a key method for studying the contribution of human activities to climate change. However, accurately estimating the surface energy balance ...
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and , ...
“Like you said, I’m an unreconstructed socialist. Everybody deserves to get something for Christmas.”“ONE OF THOSE had better be for me!” Hannah grinned, fascinated, as Laurie made his way, gingerly, to the bar, his arms full of gift-wrapped packages.“Of course!”, beamed Laurie. Depositing his armful on the bar-top and selecting ...
Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed a significant slowdown in the economy over the past six months, with GDP falling by 1% in September, and 1.1% in June said CTU Economist Craig Renney. “The data shows that the size of the economy in GDP terms is now smaller ...
One last thing before I quitI never wanted any moreThan I could fit into my headI still remember every single word you saidAnd all the shit that somehow came along with itStill, there's one thing that comforts meSince I was always caged and now I'm freeSongwriters: David Grohl / Georg ...
Sparse offerings outside a Te Kauwhata church. Meanwhile, the Government is cutting spending in ways that make thousands of hungry children even hungrier, while also cutting funding for the charities that help them. It’s also doing that while winding back new building of affordable housing that would allow parents to ...
It is difficult to make sense of the Luxon Coalition Government’s economic management.This end-of-year review about the state of economic management – the state of the economy was last week – is not going to cover the National Party contribution. Frankly, like every other careful observer, I cannot make up ...
This morning I awoke to the lovely news that we are firmly back on track, that is if the scale was reversed.NZ ranks low in global economic comparisonsNew Zealand's economy has been ranked 33rd out of 37 in an international comparison of which have done best in 2024.Economies were ranked ...
Remember those silent movies where the heroine is tied to the railway tracks or going over the waterfall in a barrel? Finance Minister Nicola Willis seems intent on portraying herself as that damsel in distress. According to Willis, this country’s current economic problems have all been caused by the spending ...
Similar to the cuts and the austerity drive imposed by Ruth Richardson in the 1990’s, an era which to all intents and purposes we’ve largely fiddled around the edges with fixing in the time since – over, to be fair, several administrations – whilst trying our best it seems to ...
String-Pulling in the Dark: For the democratic process to be meaningful it must also be public. WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE in New Zealand’s politicians and journalists steadily declining, restoring those virtues poses a daunting challenge. Just how daunting is made clear by comparing the way politicians and journalists treated New Zealanders ...
Dear Nicola Willis, thank you for letting us know in so many words that the swingeing austerity hasn't worked.By in so many words I mean the bit where you said, Here is a sea of red ink in which we are drowning after twelve months of savage cost cutting and ...
The Open Government Partnership is a multilateral organisation committed to advancing open government. Countries which join are supposed to co-create regular action plans with civil society, committing to making verifiable improvements in transparency, accountability, participation, or technology and innovation for the above. And they're held to account through an Independent ...
Today I tuned into something strange: a press conference that didn’t make my stomach churn or the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Which was strange, because it was about the torture of children. It was the announcement by Erica Stanford — on her own, unusually ...
This is a must watch, and puts on brilliant and practical display the implications and mechanics of fast-track law corruption and weakness.CLICK HERE: LINK TO WATCH VIDEOOur news media as it is set up is simply not equipped to deal with the brazen disinformation and corruption under this right wing ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting Secretary Erin Polaczuk is welcoming the announcement from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden that she is opening consultation on engineered stone and is calling on her to listen to the evidence and implement a total ban of the product. “We need ...
The Government has announced a 1.5% increase in the minimum wage from 1 April 2025, well below forecast inflation of 2.5%. Unions have reacted strongly and denounced it as a real terms cut. PSA and the CTU are opposing a new round of staff cuts at WorkSafe, which they say ...
The decision to unilaterally repudiate the contract for new Cook Strait ferries is beginning to look like one of the stupidest decisions a New Zealand government ever made. While cancelling the ferries and their associated port infrastructure may have made this year's books look good, it means higher costs later, ...
Hi there! I’ve been overseas recently, looking after a situation with a family member. So apologies if there any less than focused posts! Vanuatu has just had a significant 7.3 earthquake. Two MFAT staff are unaccounted for with local fatalities.It’s always sad to hear of such things happening.I think of ...
Today is a special member's morning, scheduled to make up for the government's theft of member's days throughout the year. First up was the first reading of Greg Fleming's Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, which was passed unanimously. Currently the House is debating the third reading of ...
We're going backwardsIgnoring the realitiesGoing backwardsAre you counting all the casualties?We are not there yetWhere we need to beWe are still in debtTo our insanitiesSongwriter: Martin Gore Read more ...
Willis blamed Treasury for changing its productivity assumptions and Labour’s spending increases since Covid for the worsening Budget outlook. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 18 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above ...
Today the Auckland Transport board meet for the last time this year. For those interested (and with time to spare), you can follow along via this MS Teams link from 10am. I’ve taken a quick look through the agenda items to see what I think the most interesting aspects are. ...
Hi,If you’re a New Zealander — you know who Mike King is. He is the face of New Zealand’s battle against mental health problems. He can be loud and brash. He raises, and is entrusted with, a lot of cash. Last year his “I Am Hope” charity reported a revenue ...
Probably about the only consolation available from yesterday’s unveiling of the Half-Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) is that it could have been worse. Though Finance Minister Nicola Willis has tightened the screws on future government spending, she has resisted the calls from hard-line academics, fiscal purists and fiscal hawks ...
The right have a stupid saying that is only occasionally true:When is democracy not democracy? When it hasn’t been voted on.While not true in regards to branches of government such as the judiciary, it’s a philosophy that probably should apply to recently-elected local government councillors. Nevertheless, this concept seemed to ...
Long story short: the Government’s austerity policy has driven the economy into a deeper and longer recession that means it will have to borrow $20 billion more over the next four years than it expected just six months ago. Treasury’s latest forecasts show the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s fiscal strategy of ...
Come and join myself and CTU Chief Economist for a pop-up ‘Hoon’ webinar on the Government’s Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) with paying subscribers to The Kākā for 30 minutes at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream to watch our chat. Don’t worry if ...
In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...
New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...
At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...
Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob HensonIn this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...
In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...
On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...
The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...
This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...
Kiwis planning a swim or heading out on a boat this summer should remember to stop and think about water safety, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop and ACC and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “New Zealand’s beaches, lakes and rivers are some of the most beautiful in the ...
The Government is urging Kiwis to drive safely this summer and reminding motorists that Police will be out in force to enforce the road rules, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“This time of year can be stressful and result in poor decision-making on our roads. Whether you are travelling to see ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...
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It is appalling that the members of the RWC choirs have not been given the seats they were promised. At one ground at least they were offered a TV set in a changing room!! Some have travelled many miles for rehearsals. No pay but the understanding they would see the games they sang for. The choirs have been one of the real success stories of the RWC. How mean spirited can you get.
Workers used and abused, usual story under a corporatocracy like international rugby is now.
(shows the strength of big “unions”, doesn’t it?)
RWC can spin this however they like, its disgusting behaviour! Mr Sneddon do you think NZ will not care? You and your friends can make the story travel and watch the RWC ‘discover’ some tickets for the final four matches. Maybe a few of the hundreds of free VIP troughers will donate their tickets.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10753746
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/top/85915/rugby-world-cup-final-tickets-up-for-grabs
Hundreds of tickets to the Rugby World Cup final have been returned by Corporate and Hospitality groups
So give them to the Choirs seems obvious really!
Yes there are bigger problems out there, but this is NZ. This is not how we do things here. Remember NZ is a Nation that cares, supposedly, about more than the mighty dollar. The Herald has comments turned off and Stuff has not even posted the article. It is up to Kiwis to show this sucks. Hassle everybody you know with this story until the Choirs get tickets
I would like to help organise an event to express outrage: a ‘flag-burning’ or ‘logo’ burning event at a city centre, with many others in attendance, preferably preceded by a march.
Can someone suggest what should be burnt? Can there be others holding similar events at the same time, eg tomorrow or Sunday lunchtime, in other city centres around the country?
Can someone suggest the social or community groups that would join in?
Media should be invited to cover the event and also we should organise our own videotaping to be Youtubed. There would be lots of international media around at the moment and some should be encouraged to cover the event.
RWC bunting seems the obvious choice. There is enough of it around.
May i offer a word of caution:
NOT NZ FLAGS ! NOT AB’s FLAGS !
this is a RWC decision NOT an All Blacks decision.
You will notice there are no comments from any players, that said, there are also no comments from Sneddon and the other the chief troughers either. Care to comment Mr Key ??? Care to stick your hand into your very deep pockets and pay for the tickets yourself. ???
Your donation would be a sure winner 😉
The choir has been a huge success and the NZRFU has again shown itself to be totally incompetent from a PR viewpoint.
Certainly justifies a protest but flag burning goes too far. There must be something appropriate – a good bit or sarcastic humour would go a long way here. NZRFU have less sense of humour than the Labour Party (and that’s saying something)
@Jim Nald
Saturday Sept 24th is set aside as Moving Planet Day so let the IRB protest go, they have turned rugby into a gladiatorial game, spectacle, money-maker, business cash cow ( they want – I read that they aren’t happy with the dosh they’ve got from us) so suck it up.
Moving Planet events are all around the country such as Nelson where advert says there will be a mini festival at the Cathedral Steps 11am – 2pm.
I clicked the map on below link and found that red and black circles would bloom and fade, so can’t say just how and where all events are but sounds a good start. And a good follow up to the Polly Higgins thinking.
http://www.moving-planet.org/
I still think that the fact that the lions share of the games are on pay TV, with us plebs having to put up with ad ridden delayed coverage for the most of the games, is a scandal in itself. The sgmes should have been live on free-to-air TV.
Sad day for music and those that like a tipple.
REM calling it a day, faded commercially but still put out great work over 30 years with no dip in quality.
SAB Millers final capture of Fosters will be interesting and much like Lion Nathan a national Icon goes to foreign ownership and the quality of the product IMO will decline further as the brands are made everywhere……taste imported Stella/Becks alongside the local brewed stuff.
Friday and the weather is good for the week end….the thought occurs to de mothball the bicycle as the weather warms. The joyous dream of meandering through the back blocks away from the noise and life threatening rush of trucks and cars, to hear the bird song as leisurely progress is made. Time passing slowly enough to behold in passing the ripple of grass on the breeze, to hear the rush of the stream as you float by on the bike.
Hey Jokey, where the f*** is the promised cycleway????????????????
I think its that painted white line down the middle of SH1………………………
Bloody hell, with Jokeys level and speed of investment that means the median line will fade out of existence …wont even be able to relabel that as cycleway.
Good to see the Hamilton City Council has its piroites right. Slashing and burning funding for community services, talking about selling assets (behind closed doors too!), and proabably cutting funding for community assets like libraries and parks, etc. All while sparing elderly homeowners rate increases (who benefited from councils who built up services, not tore them down).
The Tea Party wannabes who infest our councils need to be reined in before there are no parks, no libaries, no nothing.
Aye Millsy. Unfortunately at Local Government level you get tories who are just as doctrinaire and their central equivalents but lack the ability to even understand at a base level what damage these sorts of cuts cause.
The People’s republic of Auckland stands out as a beacon of hope and sanity in the wilderness that it Local Government! Now if only we could get the Government to agree to the inner city loop …
I think you’ll find the Whanganui District Council has entered the light after a long period in the darkness, too.
“Auckland a beacon of hope and sanity” are you mainlining heroin ?
Auckland council/mayor/councillors are just as mendacious, self serving and troughaphilic as any other council.
Not as bad as the membership of the Executive Council, by any stretch of the imagination.
Yet they have no problem saddling their ratepayers with the cost of the new velodrome. A building that come hell-or-higth-water SPARC was going to build as close to Auckland as possible, even though areas like Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu had fully funded options on the table. Its a bloody disgrace.
Cycling is the future, roaring petrol racers are not. People who argue against
the vello should be fined if they don’t add to the list the V8 and the rugby
stadium to their ire.
personally, the problem isn’t the infrastructure spend, its the perplexing
lack of connecting up the facilities. why have we never had a
train bringing supporters from Auckland to the conference
center, or students to the the university, or any of the other
big build up.
The best thing that could happen to Hamilton is for the V8 to end.
A velodrome being built on the grounds of a very expensive private school no less. I too am a cyclist and was involved in the early discussions around the centre of excellence – making this a Waikato BOP initiative was and still is a joke!
BTW it was Waikato REGIONAL council who voted this through.
The fact that Rotorua had everything that was on the criteria (Mountian Biking, BMX track, experience of hosting international events, an academy of sport, extensive road network) – the only thing it didn’t have was a covered velodrome – seems to be have been lost in the fact that it isn’t Tauranga (God’s waiting room) or Hamilton (Bogun central).
Money talks, RDC don’t have any, but Waikato does – game over.
If only they DID have the money though, Ian. How the fuck do you bid for, and win a contract like that where evidence of funding in place was a requirement, and then go bleating to the councils for funding later?
This whole velodrome decision by WRC has been a complete farce and is a sad day for democracy. The decision to proceed was made despite the fact that it is not core business and 60% of 7000 submitters were against and 40% for. (Incidentally, children were also submitters even although they are not ratepayers nor have voting rights). There were also three independent reports commissioned by WRC from professionals which had red flags all over them. They advised this facility should not be expected to make a profit. This has been touted as a NATIONAL facility and is no place for ratepayer funds. The question still remains as to who is going to pay the ongoing costs of maintenance and upgrading in the future. Guess who – the bottomless pit called the ratepayer!
I have to say that Brownlee came across well last night when questioned on Red Zoning. He put the case clearly and firmly together with points here and there in support.
But what he didn’t offer, and what wasn’t questioned, was the issue not of whether any land is rightly zoned red, but why the people have been turfed out with nowhere to go. Why they have been thrown to the lion’s den of the “marketplace”. Why a land swap or similar was not put up. Why the govt doesn’t care about the elderly and the pensioners and the incapacitated being thrown onto the street.
Because that would cost money which they’ve got earmarked for themselves and their rich mates either as further tax cuts and/or subsidies.
“Why the govt doesn’t care about the elderly and the pensioners and the incapacitated being thrown onto the street.”
You just have to look at the new HNZ policy effective since 1 July to be alarmed at how serious housing in NZ has become. Incapacitated people and pensioners are not even qualifying for HNZ assistance in spite of Heatley claiming that vulnerable people will be looked after. I consider this to be the biggest lie from the current government.
Council housing lists are growing longer as people on NZ super or the invalid benefit do not quailfy for housing due to the formula HNZ use. Basically the main benefit rate is taken into consideration and the accommodation supplement which a person would be entitled to, then the bottom end of the scale of housing in your area is calculated. If there is a shortfall between total applicant outgoings and applicant total income you are given a 3 or 4.
An example of a single person on the invalids benefit who lives in a provincial city.
Main invalid benefit $251.00 (cents not included).
One bedroom flat $150.00
Accommodation supplement entitlement $61.00. (Max AS is $65.00 for the area).
Other ongoing costs are included, basically a person has to have a shortfall and I am not sure by how much. I think the main benefit for a person on NZ super is $309.00. Someone on the unemployment or on sickness gets a little over $200.00 on a main benefit and their chance of scoring a 3 or 4 is higher than a person on NZ super or the invalid benefit. (I will repost with the correct main benefit figures).
There is a health section like the income section. A person on NZ super or the invalid benefit has a greater chance of scoring a 3 or 4 compared to a person on the unemployment benefit or the sickness benefit.
I am not sure how many 3s or 4s a person has to have, it would not surprise me if the minimum was at least two because I just scrape in with two 3s (income and health).
Being homeless or having to vacate in 60 days or less is also taken into consideration and a person also has to look at alternative accommodation e.g. private rental.
Millsy is bang on when she says that ghettos are being created in NZ.
To remedy the housing problem there needs to be a MASSIVE government building programme and/or the accommodation supplement to be increased so that no one pays more than 25% of their income on housing each week.
Weekly main benefit rates for a single person:
Unemployment or sickness age over 25 $201.40
Invalid age 18+ $251.73
NZ super single living alone $339.92
Ummmm I’m actually a he.
But everything else, I agree with you.
I honestly belive that this policy was implement so that private landlords could raise their rents to inflation busting levels.
I am therefore incredibly lucky to have got this dump 15 years or so back, when I was on DPB with a 6 year old, and were in the having to vacate in 60 days category. By the looks, with DPB + 1, we would not qualify now. This is making me wonder actually, because apparently, having applied for a transfer means I am considered a new applicant… or am I wrong?
They’ll probably turf you out soon Vicky, being a single woman with no dependants and all.
I’d watch out for that eviction notice due when National win the election. I have it from good sources that a whole bunch are being printed up and will be served the Monday after the election..
Wow, I really find your joyous tone about that a bit unseemly… I am on an unemployment benefit, so they might give me a pass, but even if they do kick me out, I find it difficult to care! Why are you so certain that NACT will win the election? I suppose you think that because of my being a “god-botherer”, that I voted or will vote for them… but that’s simply you jumping to an unwarranted conclusion. I would rather die than vote for the Right. Noto bene – I have not always been a single woman (either by the previous definiton of single = not married) or the current one (not currently shagging anyone. Given your bitchy remarks on the other post, I feel the need to point that out.)
My tone is most certainly not joyous. Please dont accuse me of such. In fact, if I had my way, you would be in your house for the rest of your days. Along with every other state house tenant. In fact, I would quadruple the number of state housing and push the slumlords out of the market.
And I don’t assume that you would vote for NACT. I am aware of your left credentials.
I just know what NACT are capable of, thats all. And from what I see, they are going to carry out some serious carnage. No one is going to be safe. And I am convinced, that after the election, they will begin the biggest state house eviction program in this country’s history.
And BTW, I dont care about your relationship status. ’tis none of my business 🙂
I just note that HNZ dont really see themselves as catering for single people, thats all..
Vicky in 5.2 I gave an example of the formula HNZ use. A person on the unemployment or sickness benefit is better off than a person on the invalids benefit when it comes to scoring at least a 3 because of the level of main benefit. Please do not draw conclusions from what I have said about the minimum of two 3s even though this applies to me.
Please also note that I state that a massive housing programme is required and/or that the accommodation supplement needs to be topped up so that no one pays more than 25% of their income in rent.
The new HNZ rental criteria is brutal and the community housing will also shrink the stock. Their needs to be an independent advocate available for current HNZ tenants and a appeal process other than the tenancy tribunal. A friend of mine is faced with being turfed out of a HNZ home even though market rental is paid for the home they live in. HNZ are hypocrits as they also must look at a person requiring housing in 60 days.
The government is heartless when it comes to housing the most vulnerable. The government cannot even address rheumatic fever in this country (a third world disease) brought on by over crowding and no doubt the lack of a nutrious diet.
Maybe all the people on NZ super not making the HNZ criteria need to be wheeled up to parliament as the numbers will grow by the week as single not sharing NZ super main benefit rate is $339.92 and single NZ super sharing is $313.00 (cents not included). Heatley is a non visionary as far as I am concerned because it is homes that people need and not the competitive divisive situation which he has thrust apon the most vulnerable.
Agreed! Heatley is an idiot…
Just thought I should point out……
AFKTT got his timing pretty much bang.
He doesn’t seem to like any political party though, which isn’t very helpful to those who still hope that voting will make a difference, or simply believe that we must try to engage with the political system even as we work on other solutions such as permaculture and sustainable communities.
Perhaps AFKTT should start his own party, or maybe he has already – I certainly feel that there would be a place for his views on our political spectrum.
The only political party worth voting for, IMO, is the Greens and even they don’t seem to grok the necessary paradigm shift.
He said there was going to be financial meltdown in October.
1. It isn’t October yet.
2. Nothing has actually melted down yet, it just “fear”, mostly around Greece.
What an astonishing personal attack on Bryce Edwards from Trevor Mallard this morning. http://blog.labour.org.nz/index.php/2011/09/23/bill-english-funds-bryce-edwards/
Where is the astonishing personal attack? Mallard’s post seemed pretty reasonable to me and it comes as a hell of a surprise that it turns out that Edwards is on David Farrar’s payroll. No wonder Edwards is constantly sniping at Labour, eh.
You are a repeater for the slithery one. This was an amused comment. If you want to see real personal attacks go over to the sewer.
“If you want to see real personal attacks go over to the sewer.”
What like this sewer ?
Start from this comment and work down Mickeymouse
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-19092011/#comment-376448
“I wish the mad butcher would hurry up and die.
Fuck Close Up for giving this National party cheerleader a free slot in primetime.”
That comment sparked a whole day of outrage and argument here.
At the Sewer it would be unremarkable among dozens of similar comments posted every day.
HS you, and the supposedly ‘outraged’ others have consistently chosen to ignore the point I was raising – the inappropriateness of of the butchers electioneering on taxpayer funded tv ‘news’ Now he is joined by Richardhead of the year contender Matthew Ridge who I hope drowns in his carwash for breaching election rules – LOL –
There – now you have something new to be ‘outraged’ about.
Notice: to all celebraties planning to use their ‘fame’ in an underhand manner to promote the corruption that is the National government – you will not be spared my disdain.
Reading HS acting morally outraged brings to mind the image of Kenny Everetts character “Angry of Mayfair”….
http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?q=angry+of+mayfair&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=WYc&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1187&bih=580&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=uNfU_oNZJwvJeM:&imgrefurl=http://www.tammytingles.com/%3Fp%3D1851&docid=SeeMWxntCorX2M&w=684&h=566&ei=tPl7TsbgHomkmQX328zGAQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=87&vpy=135&dur=3441&hovh=204&hovw=247&tx=121&ty=132&page=1&tbnh=116&tbnw=140&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0
the sewer, where someone once made this comment to someone who had a different opinion to him:
“Why don’t you just find a weapon and kill yourself. It will markedly improve the intellect of those of us who remain.”
Blogosphere is the sewer. Stop pretending that one side is cleaner than the other.
http://thestandard.org.nz/key-is-weak/#comment-169420
Personally I am a great believer in the value of the Darwin awards where people remove themselves from the gene pool. I am usually not hesitant in suggesting it as a career enhancing objective to worthy recipients when I comment.
Of course the countervailing viewpoint is that eventually people like jcw (whom the comment was made in response to) will eventually examine the actual process of civil court rather than simply relying on theoretical codswallop. Unfortunately I suspect from their writing that they gather their opinions by examining their navel from the inside (by shoving their head up their arse) and will do almost anything to avoid examining the real world. My comment was not about their opinion. My comment was about their experience and their apparent inability to understand that reality and theory are frequently different.
You have a similar problem because you are comparing a robust comment with an actual argument attached compared to the outright denigration without any argument that characterizes the sewer. In other words you don’t see actual discussion at the sewer from what I have seen. When an opposing opinion is voiced there, the usual response is to have a straight personal attacks without bothering to argue about the topic – basically what you see is schoolyard bullying. That is the reason that people outside the in-group there from the left tend not to waste time there.
Here you tend to get responses that are argument served with sarcasm. There are a few over the top comments without arguments. But as a moderator I tend to only get irritated when there is a pattern of behavior that I have to exert effort to correct.
And my suggestion is that you try a similar solution to that suggested for jcw. It appears to me that you lack the observational skills required to learn. Of course I could be wrong?
To quote Vic Reeves
BWS has the pip because he/she/it has been banned from Red Alert until he/she/it produces a real email address.
AAAwww whats wrong you spinning and spitting tacks because you got the arse from Red Alert??? Give them a real E-Mail address and they will let you in, if only just to laugh at your pathetic attempts to make mountains out of molehills.
Peter Verschaffelt is the PR man for the Mana Party???? BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
What a bunch of idiots Mana are.
If that turn-coat son of a bit*h Verschaffelt was involved with the Jesus Party I would consider the Devil before not bothering to vote at all.
Why?
Free Ride for Farmers
The NZ Herald ran an article about Fonterra today that was particularly interesting. In conjunction with other recent media releases, it showed the dairy industry is getting a free ride at the taxpayer and environments expense…
When the Government can pull out all stops to ensure the success of a waterfront party you would think that they could do the same to save our most significant and internationally recognized wetland. $11.5 million is being spent to resuscitate the already dead Lake Ellesmere, why can’t they concentrate on the Waituna Lagoon while it is still living, though only just.
http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.com/2011/09/emergency-team-argue-while-waituna-dies.html
Dave, could not agree more. The whole thing is criminal and tragic. The mental dislocation between our personal desires and our environment is exactly as you highlight, we head for a Darwin Award as a species.
New owners of the Phoenix football team to be announced shortly!!
A few more tears at the Pike River hearings, the police and now Peter Whittel. And we have no doubt cried at some of the crap we have been hearing – report assessed unsatisfactory because of a spelling mistake etc. It seems like the police want to operate like USA drone operators – sitting behind a desk in Wellington or away from the scene of the tragedy directing the action or non-action whichever seems the safest to the distant generals directing the war.
I was getting very pissed off with people praising Sereipesos for spending on the Phoenix, saving their commercial bacon, being the dude whilst all the while the tax he owed was not paid. Then I thought perhaps I should say fuck it to my fellow taxpayer, you losers pay taxes whilst I buy a soccer team and live the dream. Terry, with revelatory poser, me too me too…..
For some reason it wouldn’t let me delete those two test posts above. I was trying to test Strikethrough, which doesn’t seem to work.
Anyway, looks like Key is spilling the beans on his private talk with Obama?
”But if you think about the global financial crisis that has taken place, that has been a very significant event and remains a very significant event in Europe and the United States. Just to give you a bit of perspective of what that means in the US – their numbers are just dire. Their unemployment rate is 9.2 per cent officially but even the president told me their unofficial unemployment rate is about 14 or 15 per cent.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/5674399/New-Zealand-will-survive-with-Asias-help
[lprent: Removed. I’ll have a look at the trasher. Strikethrough is meant to be useable – could be an wordpress update has broken my patch. ]
I’ve had the same issue and gave up on it.
“Their unemployment rate is 9.2 per cent officially but even the president told me their unofficial unemployment rate is about 14 or 15 per cent.”
If you add those two figures together
you probably have the actual number of people without work in the USA
Kiwis First! (except if your industry is the arts, film or tv)
“Immigration changes support screen and entertainment industries” (bahahahahaha)
Press Release by New Zealand Government at 2:50 pm, 22 Sep 2011
Changes announced today to visa processes for screen, entertainment and music industry workers will support the sector’s growth, says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.
The changes provide a simpler, more streamlined system for the entry of temporary entertainment industry workers into New Zealand.
”The existing policy is out-dated. It’s been in place for 20 years and the entertainment industry has grown hugely over that time,” says Dr Coleman.
Today’s changes mean workers here for 14 days or less, or workers on an international co-production, face a greatly simplified process. For longer periods of employment, such as during the making of feature films, the policy places more trust in employers who have proven their bona fides and have a track record of bringing in workers for legitimate purposes.
”The screen industry employs around 6,700 people and is worth over $2.8 billion dollars a year, with great potential for further growth. To realise that growth, we need immigration policies that ensure key workers can get here with minimal fuss so that New Zealand remains an attractive destination for productions,” says Dr Coleman.
Under current rules for screen, entertainment and music workers, all work visa applications are referred to the industry guilds and unions under a ‘silent approval’ process. This means that the guilds or unions have the right to object to an application.
”In some cases, issues with existing processes were putting offshore investment in the New Zealand screen industry at risk,” says Dr Coleman.
”Another feature of the changes is that performers here for significant music, arts or cultural festivals can come into the country on a visitor visa.
”In the past two and a half years there have been 14 applications disputed by unions or guilds out of 4800 applications for screen industry work, and the Government has ultimately granted visas in all those cases.
”In short, we are removing a redundant, bureaucratic process which only served to make New Zealand a less attractive place for the screen and entertainment industry to do business.”
The new policy will be operational from March 2012.
http://www.actorsequity.org.nz/component/content/article/44-in-the-news/140-nz-equity-condemns-changes-to-the-immigration-procedures
About two months ago I posted saying that work and income did not consider home contents as being a cost which they included in an application for a food grant. When you go to HNZ for housing assistance a green form called “Finding a private rental property” and a form called the Department of Building and Housing is given to you. The Department of Building and Housing form states “Before you move in: Purchase contents insurance that includes tenant liability.”
Interesting when it comes to one government department saying that contents insurance is essential and another government department saing the cost is not essential. I expect there are repercussions for people in Christchurch when it comes to contents and liability insurance.
I have had to let mine lapse for the time being…
Sorry to hear this. I switched to FMG from State and saved a lot.
When it comes to HNZ assessment say food is at least $10 a day and $10 extra for other.
Had the government brought the HNZ policy in a year ago it would cost them more votes. Sneaky and dishonest.
SPADA used to make a mint from this process…wonder what deal their CE Borland (good friends with Arts Minister Finlayson) did to ensure they wouldn’t be hit in the pocket…
By the way, this is punishment for Actor’s Equity and the Hobbit mess. Directors have also come out against this move.
Power Corrupts
The latest edition of the Listener has an article entitled Cold Comfort, which is all about New Zealand’s high electricity prices and how they contribute to ill health. It makes for sober reading, especially when considering that the continuing trend of high electricity prices and low incomes is going to make things a lot worse…
Is it any wonder with profit taking built in at all 4 deconstructed layers of the old NZEC and local power boards, with NZEC and local power boards at least that was only 2 levels and the NZEC could take a holistic view of generation and distribution up to where local distribution boards took over.
If ever there was an industry screaming to be nationalized it’s this essential service and give business certainty over supply.
The god-bothers have been let out of their cave yet again and are bursting blood vessels with the thought of dirty grubby SEX being taught in our schools.
The debate over sex education has pretty much proved that there are still a lot of Victorian-era prudes who think sex is unclean and disgusting and should only be had to make babies. Not something exciting and enjoyable that can take place in so many different forms.
And yes, it is OK as long as its consensual, those who take part are over 16, and a condom is used.
All I will say (all I dare say) is that if you’re referring to recent stories in the Herald, you’ve very badly missed the point! I have nothing against sex ed if it’s about teaching kids what they need to know to be safe. But from what I have read, what the “god-botherers” (us? 🙂 ) are against, is teaching 6 year olds the mechanics. They don’t need to know – the squick factor will be enough at that age anyway.
So, Millsy, get a grip – or rather loosen your grip! You’re throttling something…
I’m not advocating teaching sex to to 6 year olds, Vicky32, but I am feeling rather uneasy at the neo-Victorian prudish backlash being conducted right now, who, as I said before want to drill it into our kids heads that sex is dirty and grubby (but not when its being paid for by a middle aged white businessman of course).
The same people want abortion and homosexuality recriminalised and divorce laws tightened. Effectively rolling back the social freedoms that people fought very hard to win against an older generation riddled with double standards – the generation of the 40’s, and 50’s were at it like rabbits.
And the NZH puts enough spin and beat up into the article to make it look like an issue when it isn’t. These days I wouldn’t read the NZH if you paid me.
No, not that I have read! (I am going by the stories in the Herald that I read the other day.) Apparently there’s been some spewing on talkback, but I avoid talkback.
That people in the 40s and 50s were at it like wabbits is a myth… That was my parents’ generation, and no, they weren’t – at least not anywhere near what people do now! Your “social freedoms” are simply licence.
What’s the bloody big deal about young people having sex? Christ, as long as they are enjoying it who cares?
Social freedoms being a licence? WTF? I dont know about you, but I really dont think that we should be putting regulations on people having sex, just because a bunch of party poopers who read some 2000 year old translation (from Aramaic to Greek to Latin to Middle English to English) of some cruddy old scrolls written by some scribe in the scorching desert dont like people enjoying intamite relations with each other.
BTW, I used to be an anti sex prude. Then I started getting some and changed my position 100%.
You’re having a laugh, right? I’ll ignore your offensive language, simply because you said it in hopes of upsetting me… and simply point out some of the consequences… Teen pregnancy, STDs, broken hearts, sterility caused by abortion or the previously mentioned STDs – sterility which then leads to $$$$$ invested in (usually futile) IVF, and oh, did I mention the broken hearts? I suspect that you’re an old man (45-59), as older men often love the thought of teens banging like bunnies, and spend all their time obsessing about the “right” to f*** like rattlesnakes. Young men and women just get on with it – but crucially, they are looking for love and commitment – it takes the middle-aged and cynical to want sex without commitment for its own sake!
I know about all of these consequences – I have witnessed them in my own life and the lives of family members.
This is my last word on the subject – and you can blaspheme and get as offensive as you like, I am not getting sucked in – or it won’t be long before I get called “f***ing retard”, “notjob” and all the rest all over again – and it’s always about sex! Men do get very het up and abusive about sex, and I can never understand why.
Possibly because you assume that people didn’t shag in the 40s and 50s just because nobody in your social group did, so therefore anyone with a different perspective is just acting out of depraved wishful thinking. That gets really irritating really quickly.
I never said people didn’t shag in the 40s and 50s, I know they did – I said that what people did then wasn’t 1/10th as much shagging as people, even teens, do now! It’s not nothing to do with my social group – which BTW was not middle or upper class… but a teensy bit of logic will tell you that people back then couldn’t shag their brains out with 10-20 ‘partners’ a year back then. There was no reliable method of contraception, and even if there had been, everyone knew everyone else’s business…
Anyone who thinks I am puritanical has a very strange definition of the word! It just seriously makes me very off-piste to see kids encouraged by older people to exploit themselves and each other.
I dont encourage kids to have sex. I just think that we need to cut them a little bit of slack and stop trying to convince them that sex is dirty and grubby, that’s all.
If your assertion about sexual practices over the decades is based on something other than anecdotal assumption, feel free to share.
Not really correct Vicky. I remember reading research that said. The rate of sexual activity by young people, and the rate of teenage pregnancies, was higher in the 40’s than now.
It is us who were teenagers in the 60’s and 70’s who should really be blushing. We were like rabbits compared with today’s youth. And had higher teen pregnancy rates. Despite adults not being allowed to tell us, sex even existed, until we were 16. Probably something to do with ideas like “Coke is a contraceptive”.
I am looking for the references for you now, but no longer at Uni so no longer have free access to journals. I know some of the evidence quoted was from the NZ longitudal study.
Kids should be told that sex is best left to when they are with someone that they want to stay friends with for life, but they also need to learn how to protect themselves. And the emotional and physical pro-s and con’s.
We all make mistakes. I cringe, when I remember some of mine as a teenager.
As for sex education do you want it left to parents who believe that their 13 year old daughters should be available to the guru of their nutty religion.
Or contraceptive education to people who believe their daughters should not use it because it prevents gods punishment, of pregnancy for sexually active women.
People who were taught abstinence only have higher teen pregnancy rates, than those who have quality, age appropriate sex education.
Talking of age appropriate. I consented to my, then, 6 year old son going to religious education classes. I thought they would be pretty harmless. Only to find they were being taught about classical period methods of execution. He had night terrors about nails through his hands.
Religion has a lot to answer for!
I have to say ‘speak for yourself!’ 😀 I was a teenager in the 60s/70s, and had parents who very realistic, telling us (3 girls and a boy) all about sex right from the start. Other girls I know might have gone at it like rabbits (I can’t speak for any boys) but there were few of these girls. My nerd peer group was much more interested in academic pursuits! I am not at all aware of adults not being allowed to tell is about sex – I remember sex ed at school, when I was in the 4th form (circa 13 years old)
Of course, I agree.
So people say, but I have yet to see any objective proof – all the ‘studies’ I have seen have have been pubbed by such ‘neutral, unbiased’ groups as Planned Parenthood USA.
Irrelevant bigotry, and most unlikely! What RE are you talking about? There’s no such thing in state schools, and in a church school, I can assure you, RE would actually be much more nuanced – therefore, I beg leave to doubt you…
Stats NZ infoshare has tables for live births by maternal age for every calendar year since1962 (sadly not the 40s and 50s, or not that I’ve found). In raw numbers, <15 and 15-19 y.o. mother age groups has been constant if not falling. The rates, if you put them against the census population tables, would be decreasing significantly.
The numbers across the different agegroups are quite interesting, from a general level – e.g. the 40-44 agegroup had a dramatic decline in the 70s and 80s (probably down to the pill), and is now quite high again (as women delay having children).
A rather interesting study came out a while back. It’s findings were that those people who were more liberal about sex had better and longer lasting relationships that those who were puritanical.
I’m 31, Vicky, and I dont “love the thought of teens banging like bunnies, and spend all their time obsessing about the “right” to f*** like rattlesnakes.”. I just think that sex is awesome, and that people should be encouraged to partake in it, without being made to feel guilty and dirty about enjoying it, and that, is what is currently happening in the Herald. People want a society where people, especially women are made to feel dirty and ashamed for enjoying sex. Plain and simple.
People go on about social engineering, but the god-botherers are the biggest social engineers out there.
The Queens’ granddaughter and the non-story in the headlines.
I suppose the whole thing could be put to rest if the blond at the centre of the story, who just happened to be an old friend, was to be seen socialising with them both in the next few days …
So over that. So what if a rugby player buried his head in a women’s chest?
This reminds of me of the frenzy over Tiger Woods because he decided to partake in the thousands of offers he got from women, which is par for the course for pro-golfers (no pun intended). Thanks to their hate, one of the greatest golfers in history has had his career destoryed.
Woods had a pattern of humiliating himself and when his wife found out about his sexual indiscretions this had consequences for her marriage. No point being married to someone who you cannot trust and who has the need to seek sexual pleasure else where or who cannot abstain when apart from you.
When it comes to sex ed class at school the class should be taped and then the parents would have a reference of what their child is being taught. I tend to ask myself what are children being sexually exposed to and what do they need to know to stay safe and who can help them when they need help?