Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step right up to the mike…
13,000 parents. And as usual, the figures only tell half a story. Put it this way, you have to be pulling a long bow if you think that there are 13,000 decent landlords out there who are going to be understanding as to why their tenants are going to fall behind on rents…
Most benefits cut in the Northland and Waikato region. Unemployed expected to concoct jobs out of thin air.
I hope 2014 will be the death of you, National.
Dirty filthy Paula Bennett’s demise will certainly be ‘nice to have’ but it is going to be a long wait for the children being tortured week in week out by this ‘starve ’em out’ tory government.
Im over hearing about this now. Whether Brown can keep it in his pants (A friend told me that all she was thinking is that why would any woman want to sleep with him — a reference to his looks), is not really any of our business.
I agree, it’s not. However, he should just shut the fuck up but he keeps whingeing in the media how his privacy has been invaded and seeking some sort of protection from prying eyes but guess what Len, that’s what comes with having a public job. Ultimately, it’s his own fault although no one should lose their job just for cheating on their partner.
Have to agree with you, Chris. The more that comes out, the worse it looks for National. From your link, it appears even more likely that the threatening texts came from the Palino/Slater camp. And, if its true that Brown was tipped off by a Nat MP (there are some decent ones, I suppose), then that confirms the philosophical split in Tory ranks.
NZ Herald, Bernard Orsman says Penny Webster (former ACT MP and Brown supporting councillor for Rodney) will neither confirm nor deny she is the Nat MP that tipped off Brown.
I think the article says that Penny Webster was the Councillor whom the Nat MP passed the tip to and she then may or may not have passed the info on to Brown’s team. She’s not a National Party MP.
There are people with a conscience in every organization—including the National Party. Someone will eventually blow the whistle on the wrong-doers, often at great personal cost when their identity is disclosed.
Exactery. Often takes a while for certain ‘masters of the Universe’ to get used to the phenomenon though (aye?) !
I reckon those in the Neshnool Party you’re thinking of are on the turn about now. I can think of one in particular
Good article and the Oil Spill Map modelling is excellent.
A deep-sea oil spill could devastate some of New Zealand’s favourite beaches, with the effects stretching as far as the international dateline, new modelling from Greenpeace suggests.
Texan oil giant Anadarko begins exploratory drilling in the Taranaki and Canterbury Basins this summer.
Greenpeace New Zealand asked scientists to make detailed estimates of how far an oil slick could stretch, based on wind, tide and sea currents.
Labour’s environment spokesman, David Shearer, said his party did not rule out deep-sea drilling but expected that any companies making applications would have to be “world class” and demonstrate they had robust safeguards in place.
“Suggestions now that I, an entrepreneur, TV personality and political novice, am somehow orchestrating some grand right-wing conspiracy to unseat Len after the election are so wrong and so absurd they do not stand up to even the remotest test of common sense.”
More liars of our time….
No. 30 Alan Dershowitz: “I will give $10,000 to the PLO if you can find a historical fact in my book that you can prove to be false.”
No. 29 John Banks: “I have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. And never, ever would I ever knowingly sign a false electoral return. Never ever would I ever.”
No. 28 John Kerry: “…we are especially sensitive, Chuck and I, to never again asking any member of Congress to take a vote on faulty intelligence.”
No. 27 Lyse Doucet: “I am there for those without a voice.”
No. 26 Sam Wallace: “So here we are—Otahuhu. It’s just a great place to be, really.”
No. 25 Margaret Thatcher: “…no British government involvement of any kind…with Khmer Rouge…”
No. 24 John Key: “…at the end of the day I, like most New Zealanders, value the role of the fourth estate…”
No. 23 Jay Carney: “…expel Mr Snowden back to the U.S. to face justice…”
No. 22 Mike Bush: “Bruce Hutton had integrity beyond reproach.”
No. 21 Tim Groser: “I think the relationship is genuinely in outstanding form.”
No. 20 John Key: “But if the question is do we use the United States or one of our other partners to circumvent New Zealand law then the answer is categorically no.”
No. 19 Matthew Hooton: “It is ridiculous to say that unions deliver higher wages! They DON’T!”
No. 18 Ant Strachan: “The All Blacks won the RWC 2011 because of outstanding defence!”
No. 17 Stephen Franks: “Peter has been such a level-headed, safe pair of hands.”
No. 16 Phil Kafcaloudes: “Tony Abbott…hasn’t made any mistakes over the past eighteen months.”
No. 15 Donald Rumsfeld: “I did not lie… Colin Powell did not lie.”
No. 14 Colin Powell: “a post-9/11 nexus between Iraq and terrorist organizations…connections are now emerging…”
No. 13 Barack Obama: “Simply put, these strikes have saved lives.”
No. 12 U.K. Ministry of Defence: “Protecting the Afghan civilian population is one of ISAF and the UK’s top priorities.”
No. 11 Brendan O’Connor: “Australia’s approach to refugees is compassionate and generous.”
No. 10 Boris Johnson: “Londoners have… the best police in the world to look after us and keep us safe.”
No. 9 NewstalkZB PR dept: “News you NEED! Fast, fair, accurate!”
No. 8 Simon Bridges: “I don’t mean to duck the question….”
No. 7 Nigel Morrison: “Quite frankly, they’ve been VERY tough.”
No. 6 Herald PR dept: “Congratulations—you’re reading New Zealand’s best newspaper.”
No. 5 Rawdon Christie: “…a FORMIDABLE replacement, it seems, is Claudette Hauiti.”
No. 4 Willie and J.T.: “The X-Factor. Nah, nah, there’s some GREAT talent there!”
No. 3 John Key: “Yeah we hold MPs to a higher standard.”
No. 2 Colin Craig: “Oh, I have a GREAT sense of humour.”
No. 1 Barack Obama: “Margaret Thatcher was one of the great champions of freedom and liberty.”
This is a country where a 12 year old boy just shot his maths teacher, shot and seriously wounded at least two young class mates, then killed himself with the gun.
From the outside, it’s not looking like it’s going well.
BTW one of the USA’s largest hedge funds has just stopped investing in rental houses, and started investing in trailer parks for the poor. The reason: at that level of poverty people don’t go anywhere, property maintenance costs are next to zero and the income streams are extremely steady and predictable.
Just watched question 3 from yesterday’s QT. Good work from Cunliffe to the PM. You are starting to get the sense that there is a noticeable shift in tone in the House these days. More and more I love seeing the worried, slightly bewildered look on Louise Upston’s (she’s the Nat’s Senior Whip) face as she sits behind the PM.
Diligent head-nodders like Louise Upston and her bench companion Tim McIndoe are an essential part of National Party strategy. Don’t knock those who only sit and nod. At least when they’re sitting and nodding they are not speaking…..
Upston always looks as if she’s worried that something might be going on that is too sophisticated for her intellectual equipment to understand. I suspect she’s right.
There is much discovery about brain functioning. Scans show parts of the brain will light up when one is thinking of a particular thing in a particular way. I think they can show whether someone can think around a problem, assess pros and cons and possible outcomes.
If so perhaps citizens could demand a brain scan profile on politicians for certain areas that would show development in problem solving and judgment. We can then ensure that those we get into the House are capable of rational thinking and decision making and we are getting what we pay for.
There is much mendacious talk from pollies about being good servants of the taxpayers’ money. Taxpayers should start throwing their weight around to ensure their servants are doing a good job for good value. At present when taxpayers’ money is mentioned, there’s a feeling of a naughty schoolboy creating a feel-good alibi at school before commiting some foul play.
That’s playing the teacher for a fool. Our politicians do the same with taxpayers.
Who would know, captain hook? Perhaps we all have selective memories like Banks.
But good news(hopefully) for Graham McCready on RNZ National Midday report.
An Auckland barrister and former Crown Prosecutor, Michael Lloyd, has offered to provide his services for free to McCready if the Solicitor-General decides not to take over the prosecution.
At about 12min30secs in this link to Midday Report
I don’t know anything about Michael Lloyd, but in many ways I would prefer to see a private barrister involved rather than the S-G to avoid any whitewashes (real or perceived).
This of course presupposes that Banks’ latest attempt to get the case dropped does not succeed – ie his seeking a High Court judicial review of the District Court judge’s decision.
Morning Report also had a short discussion on this with Graeme Edgeler suggesting that the High Court review* was unlikely to affect the DC committal for trial or the timescale of the DC trial. He considered the two processes would run in parallel.
Yes Banks might think money can buy Him a Legal Eagle with which to stymie Graham McCready’s prosecution, He has a problem tho when the professionals become involved…
One of the top guys at Treasury (not sure which one) is going to be interviewed by Brian Crump on Nights at National Radio tonight (Wed) re criticism from a Sydney professor and Brian Roper of Dunedin University -it should be very interesting, especially (as Roper pointed out on Monday) Treasury has a huge amount of political power.
Treasury has requested this right of reply according to Crump last night. Am expecting the usual crappola to go largely unchallenged as Crump is not usually a combative or particularly knowledgeable presenter on political matters as he has shown when up against Israeli spin doctors for example.
It sure does. It managed to push out engineering, technical and scientific expertise from the public service in only a few short years.
Expertise we should be thanking in the light of a report last week that found that old school timber framed school buildings (the ones that the education boards and the old Education Department designed) didnt need much earthquake strengthening because they were rather resilient.
govt changed the deed of understanding regarding nz post, 3 day delivery & which will mean the loss of half the posties, 5000 plus? in 2015, but there’s talk it could be moved forward, so if you thought mail was slow now wait til 3 day delivery (3 day delivery is where a street will be delivered to every 2 days, so posties will still be working 6 days, it just means they only need half the workforce).
Are you sure it’s been agreed? I thought it was a proposal yet to be signed off (and that Post are actually happy to settle on 4 day delivery, incl Thurs and Fri when the advertising materials for weekend sales are usually delivered).
In my considered opinion, both Mayor Len Brown and Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse, have done a great job for those who REALLY run the Auckland region – the unelected Committee for Auckland and the NZ Property Council.
So – why would the Committee for Auckland and the NZ Property Council want Len Brown replaced as Mayor?
That’s why, in my considered opinion, any ‘inquiry’ organised by Auckland Council CEO Doug McKay, (a member of the Committee for Auckland) which he has delegated to Ernst and Young (a member company of the Committee for Auckland), which potentially involves Sky City (whose CEO, Nigel Morrison, is a member of the Committee for Auckland), has significant ‘conflicts of interest’.
(Don’t take my word for it – check for yourselves ….. )
In my considered opinion, ANY inquiry into Mayor Len Brown, should arguably be conducted by the ‘lead’ agency in NZ, supposedly fighting corruption – the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
Whether Len Brown paid for his alleged use of a Sky City hotel room for his illicit sexual relationship is, in my opinion, not the point.
What concerns me is Len Brown’s support at Auckland Council Governing Body level for Sky City on 27 June 2013:
Was Len Brown effectively ‘beholden’ to Sky City, some of whom must have known about his use of their premises for his illicit sexual affair?
‘Perceives’ to be so to me.
NZ needs an Independent Commission Against Corruption, and enforceable ‘Codes of Conduct’ for both local and central government elected representatives.
No idea about the in’s and out’ of this call for Clare Curran to be stood down (ie, are the motivations genuine or just political). But having come across it, thought it might be of interest to one or two people hereabouts. And maybe somebody more up to speed on such machinations could offer some informed context?
Exactery. Often takes a while for certain ‘masters of the Universe’ to get used to the phenomenon though (aye?) !
I reckon those in the Neshnool Party you’re thinking of are on the turn about now. I can think of one in particular
Oh, by the way Morrisyey (btw) …. I Hope like hell you’re not listening to the Panel atm (at the mo’) – ‘cos that regular guy JUM just wants to cover you with ‘wrap-around’ services and National Party-type leeeeerve..
It’s just SOOOO much goodness I can hardly cope. I need another lay down!
Btw (By the way) … is that deep-voiced authorative sounding femme shoving her thrupence worth against-or alongside Le Bernard – well who da fuck is she basically? A Cormandel MuthaEarth maybe?
I guess they’ve got mortgahes to pay
Buggeration – stitch one Perl one C++ one ASM one, bug fix to the left, another to the right.
My submissions don’t seem to fit with what was intended.
Better that though than a ‘risk manager’ providing advice on how such submissions might meet up with the comments for which the reply was intended. (A cast of thousands has already attempted to reinvent the wheel, and they’re still fuckin at it – while Rome burns)
Been watching a bit of CBC’s Power and Politics (I know, I should get out more). It looks like the shit has really hit the fan for Stephen Harper (Key’s bestie in Canada) as the Senate expense scandal goes nuclear.
“There’s got to be some protection here and presently there’s just nothing. And that I think provides for a conundrum, not just in our democracy, but in all.”
– Ok so Len wants “protection” (I’ll ignore the comedic elements) and I’m interested in the lefts perspective on this because I think this a very bad idea and heres why:
Len wants the media to look the other way while he does whatever it is he wants to do and I think thats the wrong attitude to have, if the media ackshully got of its collective but and did their jobs and reported politicians failings then maybe politicians (both sides of the house) might act more like we expect them to act as well as the idea of any govt controlling the media being a really bad idea
Also what does this mean for political blogs because I know theres a few (probably more) who’d like to see whaleoil censured (if not outright banned) but what would happen if the right wing politicians decided that the Standard needed to be censured…
So I think its a slippery slope Lens on and it should be a cause for worry for everyone
Also, I’d like to see some polling that indicates people really do want a UK style tabloid press to develop here. No doubt some do, but how many?
Also some polling on what ‘our expectations’ are around politician’s private lives, and whether that only applies to politicians and not private sector executives, journalists, police, doctors, teachers, etc, and so on, and so forth.
Well ok reporting on him having an affair is no big deal but him knobbing someone in work time in council offices is a big deal because someone doing the same thing but in a lesser role is likely to get the sack
Again him doing someone is not a big issue but him giving his bit on the side a reference for a job in a council affiliated role is a big deal
Doing someone in a motel is not an issue but doing someone in skycity when you’ve voted for them could be construed a certain way especially if the cost is a bit less…
I just don’t think theres middle ground here, its either all on or all hidden and I’d rather see its all on as it might then make politicians act a bit better
The evening news is on. This calculating ruthless man planned the murder of his woman friend. He hid in her ceiling and cut her throat when she was in bed. Her 15 year old son found his mother like that. He got seven years I think.
Then someone from South Africa was out on bail and killed the mother of his child. She was trying to keep him away from it. This may be one of the tragedies stirred up by WINZ insisting on uncovering every penis involved in making a baby. Sometimes it would be better fro a mother not to have any thing to do with somebody she has found is just a low-life. But you get help docked if you don’t give them information because they want their pound of flesh before they will help you maintain your pound of flesh. They want to place responsibility on the shoulders of someone who resents that burden. And these repercussions can result.
I think they said that his wife helped him to get away. He got away on a false passport. We went to a lot of trouble and expense to get him back and try him. I think that the victim’s family might have been given the option of them not doing that but of having a large sum put in a trust fund instead. The warrant to remain open in case he ever came back. Family might prefer that.
Someone’s barrister read out someone’s heartfelt sorrow blah blah . A relation said …
Somebody cried. It’s sick making. I don’t want to hear how many tears and snot was shed by the victim, the perpetrator, the witnesses. I don’t want this sorry affair paraded for ghoulish people to emote about. I do want to see good support for victims and better attitudes encouraged in both men and women and women given psychological help so they can avoid being drawn to such utter shits.
And no public victims reports. Read them out to the perpetrator or play a CD of it over to them.
If it was me I wouldn’t like to look at the slime.
Attended a brief workshop this morning unveiling the “Thriving Communities Action Plan” from Auckland Council. It was adopted by the outgoing council and the final document will be released before the end of the year.
There seems to be some good intent in terms of empowering communities, including providing local procurement opportunities, community ownership of assets, networking of social entrepreneurs etc.
What’s up with Nationals latest act of asset theft, also known as the part sale of an SOE, did it by any chance FLOP,
If Slippery was looking at a triumphant number of Ma and Pa investors willing to pay top dollar for what they already own you would think that Him and Ryall would be fronting the announcement on the 6 oclock news,
Ryall was last seen scarpering across the Parliaments forecourt as if being chased by a bailiff and someone is supposedly announcing the ‘sale’ details at 7.30 tonight…
I wish I wasn’t because that means I am being lied to and bullshitted by Amy Adams.
If anything, urban folk, especially the elderly, would rely on the post more – for formal matters and for the social contact as many of them communicate by post. They are also far less self-sufficient than rural people and need services such as these.
If Farmers didn’t get a daily delivery their letterbox would be overflowing from the cheques to bank and the high end brochures advertising audi’s boats etc etc
I did hear somewhere on the news today that NZ Post received a “robust” reaction from the rural community. I’m not sure how it’s going to work re the extra cost as urban folks can pay for a “premium service” and get their mail delivered more than 3 days per week. I guess the rate stays the same for the rural folks if their delivery remains as per usual. Kicks in mid 2015.
Not sure why their reliance on postal service differs from everybody else. Has it got something to do with poor broadband connections, therefore they may not receive comms and bills etc on time?
Speaking of ruralites, did ya see the one about the buttermilk dumping in where was it, central north Island, on Campbell Live last night? Apparently its a common practice in spring when those poor darling industrial cows are producing extra milk. What to do? Farmer logic says dump it and leave it to rot. More waste. More environmental damage. More disrespect to animals (she’s already had her baby taken from her and is mourning – they do, they’re very maternal, and now her milk is dumped too)) More couldn’t care less, she’ll be right.
“robust reaction”. I could just imagine that too – poor precious farmers. They are very important you know / sarc.
I don’t like to have a go at this sector of our country so often but ffs they pull shit all the time which bears no relation to reality and all relation to their preciousness, puffed up chests and empty logic.
The farmer should be bottling and selling it. According to all the older folks I know, buttermilk was a very popular childhood drink of choice. And kids would break their backs doing chore after chore so they would get that sweet nectar.
More Mark Blyth – a google talk. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQuHSQXxsjM
Mark Blyth: Austerity – The History of a Dangerous Idea
He’s so interesting you forget this is really serious. And he manages to tell us unbelievably terrible stuff and you’re fascinated. He finds some useful stuff that countries could do, what Brazil has done for instance. There is some hope out there. What a speaker.
And he mentions that he was brought up by his grandmother. Fairly poor and now he is an Ivy League professor at a huge salary. And what fuelled this trip of social mobility. The welfare state! And he repeats all the negative things that the neolibs say about it.
So there is a fountain of information, and it keeps coming. Very good.
This one caught my eye – I don’t know anything about the substance.
At Occupy Boston Mark Blyth Asks: ‘Should the Poor Insure the Rich … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTRjMkv92Z8
“I don’t know how John Key and Bill English can look the taxpayers of New Zealand in the face. They have they sold half of a valuable long term asset for $1.2 billion less than they told the public they would sell it for in 2011. And just 62,000 retail investors, including institutions, bought shares.
“John Key and Bill English threw everything they could at making this sale a success, even offering a Suzanne Paul-style buy now – pay later scheme. Despite offering everything but a free set of steak knives just 62,000 people wanted to buy in.
“The number of investors in Meridian is half that of Mighty River, which was half that of Contact Energy when the National Government sold it in 1999. At this rate of success they will be paying people to buy Genesis Energy shares.
Only 62,000 retail shareholders have bought shares in Meridian Energy. That compares to 113,000 who bought shares in Mighty River Power and an expected take-up of 250,000 buyers per sale when the asset sales were being planned. 62,000 equates to just 1.4% of the New Zealand population.
Buyers will reap the benefit of paying only $1 per share up front and the remaining 50 cents in 18 months’ time – the total cost to the Crown of these interest free loans will be $50 million. Overseas investors bought 28% of the shares sold (13.5% of the company), meaning the New Zealand taxpayer is paying $14 million to incentivise foreign institutions to buy our electricity company.
“The Meridian flop confirms that National’s asset sales are a failure and a huge waste money,” said Dr Norman.
“Only 1% of Kiwis bought shares in Meridian. The other 99% of us have lost the profits from a strategic asset and can now look forward to higher power prices.
“The Meridian sale cost around $90 million. We know the ‘buy now, pay later’ scheme alone will set taxpayers back $50 million while the fees for brokers, lawyers, and ad-men will add around $40 million to the bill. That’s on top of the $173 million that National’s asset sales have already cost the taxpayer.
“Mr Key has just cost the New Zealand taxpayer $14 million to subsidise overseas buyers as they swoop in to take a chunk of Meridian and its profits.
You’re correct mathematically. Lanthanide apparently has problems with comprehension. He/she/it apparently missed the “100% of” in “owned by 100% of New Zealanders via government ownership”
hmmm, perhaps….. 100% of New Zealanders used to own 100% of Meridian. Now 100% of New Zealanders own only 50% and of those New Zealanders 1.4% of them own 86%.
I think ….. my brain is bruised … time for zzzzzzzzzzzz
What we should be doing is putting Manapouri into a seperate SOE, and putting half the profits into the conservation estate and the other half into a fund for Southland when the smelter closes.
In “honor” of a stolen game, a vacuous tribute Campbell Live sinks to a new low
TV3, Wednesday 23 October 2013
Campbell Live has been for a long time now a beacon of serious and thoughtful journalism in this country. But not tonight—because it’s PARTY TIME! Remember, it’s October 23, the second anniversary of New Zealand’s hugely controversial Rugby World Cup final “victory” over a clearly superior France.
The truth is, however, that far from a stirring one-point win for the All Blacks, as it is usually portrayed by the likes of John Campbell, for anybody who cares about rugby football that match will be forever tainted by the memory of South African referee Craig Joubert‘s failure, or refusal, to penalize the All Blacks as they engaged in a systematic strategy of flagrant cheating in the second half.
But two years is obviously too soon for the clearly still awe-struck John Campbell. It would not be seemly to raise questions about the referee’s performance (or lack of performance) in that game. It would be disloyal. And lined up for later in the program was Sir Graham Henry himself. It just wouldn’t be nice to cast more doubt on the validity of that victory.
So instead of taking a look at Joubert’s behavior, Campbell announced that the program would not be looking at the match itself, only at the celebrations that followed.
The program had three parts to it: 1.) a visit to the Birkenhead “man cave” of one Johnny Townsend, who has been anointed by Campbell (or his producers) as the country’s number one All Black fan; 2.) an interview with “Sir” Graham Henry; 3.) to cap the good vibe, a performance of “Poi E” by the legendary Patea Maori Club.
But first it was off to Johnny Townsend’s place, and an excruciatingly drawn out, toe-curlingly mortifying tour of the man-cave, full of Johnny Townsend’s embarrassed and awkward friends and family….
JOHN CAMPBELL: Why do you love the All Blacks so much? JOHNNY TOWNSEND: I always have. I love the game, and I’m a Kiwi. And my wife’s father was an All Black.
…..[Now THAT was an interesting bit of information. Campbell, however, didn’t follow up. Johnny revealed later that his wife’s dad was the North Auckland legend Nau “Big Horse” Cherrington, who played in the first test against the Lions in 1950.]….
CAMPBELL: Who’s that bugger over there? JOHNNY TOWNSEND: That’s my brother in law. CAMPBELL: He looks like a good bugger!
…..[Some awkward laughter, then further silence]…..
CAMPBELL: Coming up after the break: some whimsical memories of the match with Sir Graham Henry!
……..ADVERTISING…….
CAMPBELL: Welcome back to this special commemoration of the All Blacks’ World Cup victory! Let’s go back to that night—not the game so much, but the celebrations after.
…..[Film of deliriously happy, noisy fans. Then we’re in a pleasant garden. It’s a sunny day. Campbell is standing with a relaxed “Sir” Graham Henry.]…..
CAMPBELL: The All Blacks were euphoric! World champions again after twenty-four years! SIR GRAHAM HENRY: It was marvelous! They had been the best team in the world for a long time, but they couldn’t win it. But then Richie and the boys did the job! *
…..[Cut to John Campbell interviewing Ali Williams straight after the final. The noise is cacophonous.]……
ALI WILLIAMS:[shouting] Boys just wanted it more!
[He hugs Campbell, who laughs in delight. Ironically, in the right foreground the non-referee skulks away from the camera.]
CAMPBELL: There are two things I remember—the noise, and then how for twenty minutes in the second half it just went deathly silent. SIR GRAHAM HENRY: I think they’ve kept on growing which is hugely important, and they’ve ticked that box beautifully! CAMPBELL: Champions. Truly champions! SIR GRAHAM HENRY: A huge feather in the cap for Richie and the boys.
[Back to Campbell in the Birkenhead man cave. He speaks to camera, like he’s some kind of philosopher…]
CAMPBELL: It is only a sport. Tonight we can truly say we are the world champions. I know it’s only just a game but what a game it’s been! What a game it’s been!
The program ends with a recording of the 2011 Auckland performance at the tournament by the Patea Maori Club.
* That line (“Richie and the boys did the job”) is nearly word for word the same as Sir Colin Meads’s dodgy deer-velvet ad.
…………………………………………………………………………….
Learn way more about the fraud underlying the GFC, and also about governments spending money into existence (instead of borrowing it) at the following podcast:
one insight: The Democrats and Republicans are engineering multiple debt ceiling crises as a way to put Social Security on the table and in a bipartisan move, knife it.
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Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
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Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
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Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
A leaked document shows the Canterbury/Waitaha arm of health agency Te Whatu Ora is scurrying to save $13.3 million by July. The “financial sustainability target”, which was “allocated” to Waitaha, is consistent with what’s happening in other districts, says Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. ...
A look at the state of the previous government’s affordable housing scheme, and what could come next.Remind me: What’s KiwiBuild again?First announced in 2012, KiwiBuild was a flagship policy of the Labour Party heading into both its 2014 and 2017 election campaigns. With Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, ...
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After more than two sleepless days, running through savage terrain, Greig Hamilton didn’t know if he was going to finish one of the most gruelling psychological assaults in sport. He was metres away from the finish line, a yellow gate made famous in a Netflix documentary; a race he’d dreamed ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 24 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The following interview with former Green Party MP Sue Kedgley came about because she features in the new memoir Hine Toa by activist Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku; the two knew each other at the University of Auckland in the early 70s, when they were both took on leadership roles in the ...
COMMENTARY:By Murray Horton New Zealand needs to get tough with Israel. It’s not as if we haven’t done so before. When NZ authorities busted a Mossad operation in Auckland 20 years ago, the government didn’t say: “Oh well, Israel has the right to defend itself.” No, it arrested, prosecuted, ...
NEWSMAKERS:By Vijay Narayan, news director of FijiVillage Blessed to be part of the University of Fiji (UniFiji) faculty to continue to teach and mentor those who want to join our noble profession, and to stand for truth and justice for the people of the country. I was privileged to ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
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While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
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By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
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John Key’s New Zealand…
“Benefits cut for 13,000 parents in new regime”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11144397
“Mother with newborn told to get a full-time job”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11144400
More John Key’s New Zealand
Child abuse rising…
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9314332/Child-abuse-is-rising-in-NZ
National Party – “Building a stronger NZ for families”
13,000 parents. And as usual, the figures only tell half a story. Put it this way, you have to be pulling a long bow if you think that there are 13,000 decent landlords out there who are going to be understanding as to why their tenants are going to fall behind on rents…
Most benefits cut in the Northland and Waikato region. Unemployed expected to concoct jobs out of thin air.
I hope 2014 will be the death of you, National.
Dirty filthy Paula Bennett’s demise will certainly be ‘nice to have’ but it is going to be a long wait for the children being tortured week in week out by this ‘starve ’em out’ tory government.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9315726/Brown-campaign-tipped-off-by-National-MP
– This is getting even better! More revelations the more interesting it becomes
Im over hearing about this now. Whether Brown can keep it in his pants (A friend told me that all she was thinking is that why would any woman want to sleep with him — a reference to his looks), is not really any of our business.
I agree, it’s not. However, he should just shut the fuck up but he keeps whingeing in the media how his privacy has been invaded and seeking some sort of protection from prying eyes but guess what Len, that’s what comes with having a public job. Ultimately, it’s his own fault although no one should lose their job just for cheating on their partner.
That’s looking bad for National – they’ve said they knew nothing about the affair.
Have to agree with you, Chris. The more that comes out, the worse it looks for National. From your link, it appears even more likely that the threatening texts came from the Palino/Slater camp. And, if its true that Brown was tipped off by a Nat MP (there are some decent ones, I suppose), then that confirms the philosophical split in Tory ranks.
I hope this one runs and runs!
Dunnokeyo, true to form, is not asking MPs (including himself, I guess) who knew about it.
Some of interestingly phrased sentences in the Tracy Watkins piece
Strange how Key knows whats going on around the traps with Labour and SkyCity, but not with National and dirty politics.
NZ Herald, Bernard Orsman says Penny Webster (former ACT MP and Brown supporting councillor for Rodney) will neither confirm nor deny she is the Nat MP that tipped off Brown.
I think the article says that Penny Webster was the Councillor whom the Nat MP passed the tip to and she then may or may not have passed the info on to Brown’s team. She’s not a National Party MP.
There are people with a conscience in every organization—including the National Party. Someone will eventually blow the whistle on the wrong-doers, often at great personal cost when their identity is disclosed.
Exactery. Often takes a while for certain ‘masters of the Universe’ to get used to the phenomenon though (aye?) !
I reckon those in the Neshnool Party you’re thinking of are on the turn about now. I can think of one in particular
Hah
Wonder who it was???……
None of them have any scruples…….
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9315726/Brown-campaign-tipped-off-by-National-MP
And here’s a bit more – useful background info from way back
http://www.frontpage.co.nz/news/muldoons-ghost-haunts-whaleoil/
funny tv alert..!
http://whoar.co.nz/2013/ed-media-heads-upalert/
“..ed:..need a laff..?
..peter wiliams is co-hosting the tvone breakfast show..
..and williams is the benchmark for awkward/clumsy host-smalltalk/links..
..watchers get to excruciate along with him..
..and his old-man-raving-on-talkback opinions – are also a bit of a hoot..(all punctuated by his rictus-grin..)..”
(williams is on fire today..i am doing regular updates..)
phillip ure..
Good article and the Oil Spill Map modelling is excellent.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/9314285/Oil-spill-projections-paint-big-black-stain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLiwk9rK-3E
This is a good way to get the information out there – short, sharp messages that tell the story and that can be easily shared via social media.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11144470
right thanks for that – at least (sarcasm) we know where labour stands on this.
Whats up with the masthead? Only just noticed…
thestandard.org.nz/cam-slater-politely-being-called-a-lying-arsehole/
That’s lprent for ya!
LIARS OF OUR TIME
No. 31: John Palino
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Suggestions now that I, an entrepreneur, TV personality and political novice, am somehow orchestrating some grand right-wing conspiracy to unseat Len after the election are so wrong and so absurd they do not stand up to even the remotest test of common sense.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
—-Failed Auckland mayoral candidate JOHN PALINO, 20 October 2013
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9304635/John-Palino-I-was-never-part-of-any-plot
More liars of our time….
No. 30 Alan Dershowitz: “I will give $10,000 to the PLO if you can find a historical fact in my book that you can prove to be false.”
No. 29 John Banks: “I have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. And never, ever would I ever knowingly sign a false electoral return. Never ever would I ever.”
No. 28 John Kerry: “…we are especially sensitive, Chuck and I, to never again asking any member of Congress to take a vote on faulty intelligence.”
No. 27 Lyse Doucet: “I am there for those without a voice.”
No. 26 Sam Wallace: “So here we are—Otahuhu. It’s just a great place to be, really.”
No. 25 Margaret Thatcher: “…no British government involvement of any kind…with Khmer Rouge…”
No. 24 John Key: “…at the end of the day I, like most New Zealanders, value the role of the fourth estate…”
No. 23 Jay Carney: “…expel Mr Snowden back to the U.S. to face justice…”
No. 22 Mike Bush: “Bruce Hutton had integrity beyond reproach.”
No. 21 Tim Groser: “I think the relationship is genuinely in outstanding form.”
No. 20 John Key: “But if the question is do we use the United States or one of our other partners to circumvent New Zealand law then the answer is categorically no.”
No. 19 Matthew Hooton: “It is ridiculous to say that unions deliver higher wages! They DON’T!”
No. 18 Ant Strachan: “The All Blacks won the RWC 2011 because of outstanding defence!”
No. 17 Stephen Franks: “Peter has been such a level-headed, safe pair of hands.”
No. 16 Phil Kafcaloudes: “Tony Abbott…hasn’t made any mistakes over the past eighteen months.”
No. 15 Donald Rumsfeld: “I did not lie… Colin Powell did not lie.”
No. 14 Colin Powell: “a post-9/11 nexus between Iraq and terrorist organizations…connections are now emerging…”
No. 13 Barack Obama: “Simply put, these strikes have saved lives.”
No. 12 U.K. Ministry of Defence: “Protecting the Afghan civilian population is one of ISAF and the UK’s top priorities.”
No. 11 Brendan O’Connor: “Australia’s approach to refugees is compassionate and generous.”
No. 10 Boris Johnson: “Londoners have… the best police in the world to look after us and keep us safe.”
No. 9 NewstalkZB PR dept: “News you NEED! Fast, fair, accurate!”
No. 8 Simon Bridges: “I don’t mean to duck the question….”
No. 7 Nigel Morrison: “Quite frankly, they’ve been VERY tough.”
No. 6 Herald PR dept: “Congratulations—you’re reading New Zealand’s best newspaper.”
No. 5 Rawdon Christie: “…a FORMIDABLE replacement, it seems, is Claudette Hauiti.”
No. 4 Willie and J.T.: “The X-Factor. Nah, nah, there’s some GREAT talent there!”
No. 3 John Key: “Yeah we hold MPs to a higher standard.”
No. 2 Colin Craig: “Oh, I have a GREAT sense of humour.”
No. 1 Barack Obama: “Margaret Thatcher was one of the great champions of freedom and liberty.”
Forget the drone strikes: here’s something positive
All hail the gallant U.S. president
To quote Charlie Brooker, Barack Obama often makes women melt—usually after he’s dropped a bomb on them.
Here, for a change, he’s actually doing something useful….
http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2013/oct/22/barack-obama-speech-catch-fainting-pregnant-woman-video
That’s actually horrifying. WTF didn’t everyone behind him get her help before he did. They could see that she was in trouble.
This is a country where a 12 year old boy just shot his maths teacher, shot and seriously wounded at least two young class mates, then killed himself with the gun.
From the outside, it’s not looking like it’s going well.
BTW one of the USA’s largest hedge funds has just stopped investing in rental houses, and started investing in trailer parks for the poor. The reason: at that level of poverty people don’t go anywhere, property maintenance costs are next to zero and the income streams are extremely steady and predictable.
that Hollywood trailer is trash.
Just watched question 3 from yesterday’s QT. Good work from Cunliffe to the PM. You are starting to get the sense that there is a noticeable shift in tone in the House these days. More and more I love seeing the worried, slightly bewildered look on Louise Upston’s (she’s the Nat’s Senior Whip) face as she sits behind the PM.
You are on to it ScottGN, there’s a lot to be ‘read’ from those who sit in the rows behind the front Benches in the Parliament,
Interesting also from yesterdays sitting in the House, was that Mana’s Hone Harawira seen sitting in the front row of Labour’s Bench’s,
An interesting message could be inferred from that…
Upston always does that “look”. I think she imagines that it makes her look like she’s following what’s said, but I’m not fooled.
bad12, that’s Hone’s allocated seat. It’s at the end of the Labour seats. http://www.parliament.nz/resource/0001905349
Diligent head-nodders like Louise Upston and her bench companion Tim McIndoe are an essential part of National Party strategy. Don’t knock those who only sit and nod. At least when they’re sitting and nodding they are not speaking…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ELpSI6Gido
The pair of them remind me of those nodding dogs you used to see on the parcel shelf.
Upston always looks as if she’s worried that something might be going on that is too sophisticated for her intellectual equipment to understand. I suspect she’s right.
Ha! That’s it exactly.
Help required… I cannot open QoT’s Fuck off Jones post.
When I open it the page is blank, I’ve tried opening the article in the Feeds menu the same thing happens.
There is much discovery about brain functioning. Scans show parts of the brain will light up when one is thinking of a particular thing in a particular way. I think they can show whether someone can think around a problem, assess pros and cons and possible outcomes.
If so perhaps citizens could demand a brain scan profile on politicians for certain areas that would show development in problem solving and judgment. We can then ensure that those we get into the House are capable of rational thinking and decision making and we are getting what we pay for.
There is much mendacious talk from pollies about being good servants of the taxpayers’ money. Taxpayers should start throwing their weight around to ensure their servants are doing a good job for good value. At present when taxpayers’ money is mentioned, there’s a feeling of a naughty schoolboy creating a feel-good alibi at school before commiting some foul play.
That’s playing the teacher for a fool. Our politicians do the same with taxpayers.
who heard john banks whining on telly last night that the people of NZ dont like him anymore.
I wonder why they dont like him?
Who would know, captain hook? Perhaps we all have selective memories like Banks.
But good news(hopefully) for Graham McCready on RNZ National Midday report.
An Auckland barrister and former Crown Prosecutor, Michael Lloyd, has offered to provide his services for free to McCready if the Solicitor-General decides not to take over the prosecution.
At about 12min30secs in this link to Midday Report
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/middayreport/audio/2573797/midday-news-for-23-october-2013
I don’t know anything about Michael Lloyd, but in many ways I would prefer to see a private barrister involved rather than the S-G to avoid any whitewashes (real or perceived).
This of course presupposes that Banks’ latest attempt to get the case dropped does not succeed – ie his seeking a High Court judicial review of the District Court judge’s decision.
Morning Report also had a short discussion on this with Graeme Edgeler suggesting that the High Court review* was unlikely to affect the DC committal for trial or the timescale of the DC trial. He considered the two processes would run in parallel.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2573770/banks-says-he's-filing-for-judicial-review-to-speed-up-process
* This presupposes that the High Court does in fact agree to a judicial review.
Yes Banks might think money can buy Him a Legal Eagle with which to stymie Graham McCready’s prosecution, He has a problem tho when the professionals become involved…
* This presupposes that the High Court does in fact agree to a judicial review.
The High Court doesn’t have to agree. If Banks files an application for judicial review there will be a judicial review.
One of the top guys at Treasury (not sure which one) is going to be interviewed by Brian Crump on Nights at National Radio tonight (Wed) re criticism from a Sydney professor and Brian Roper of Dunedin University -it should be very interesting, especially (as Roper pointed out on Monday) Treasury has a huge amount of political power.
Treasury has requested this right of reply according to Crump last night. Am expecting the usual crappola to go largely unchallenged as Crump is not usually a combative or particularly knowledgeable presenter on political matters as he has shown when up against Israeli spin doctors for example.
I suspect Crump is a God botherer after a recent comment he made, someone correct me please.
and?
It sure does. It managed to push out engineering, technical and scientific expertise from the public service in only a few short years.
Expertise we should be thanking in the light of a report last week that found that old school timber framed school buildings (the ones that the education boards and the old Education Department designed) didnt need much earthquake strengthening because they were rather resilient.
govt changed the deed of understanding regarding nz post, 3 day delivery & which will mean the loss of half the posties, 5000 plus? in 2015, but there’s talk it could be moved forward, so if you thought mail was slow now wait til 3 day delivery (3 day delivery is where a street will be delivered to every 2 days, so posties will still be working 6 days, it just means they only need half the workforce).
Are you sure it’s been agreed? I thought it was a proposal yet to be signed off (and that Post are actually happy to settle on 4 day delivery, incl Thurs and Fri when the advertising materials for weekend sales are usually delivered).
sorry, should have put a link. http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/9317284/NZ-Post-may-reduce-delivery-in-2015 big meeting tomorrow for us posties.
& of course it hasnt been decided yet, but the deed has been changed, so there will be changes.
Cheers, Idlegus. Good luck tomorrow!
Big Love to Posties.
3 days a week for urban, but the farmers/rural get to keep 6 day delivery…
Post might not be sexy, but you cannot beat it for reliability, and its the best way for official correspondence.
I hate to think how many people will miss important deadlines because NZ Post didnt deliver their bills /important documents in a timely manner.
In my considered opinion, both Mayor Len Brown and Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse, have done a great job for those who REALLY run the Auckland region – the unelected Committee for Auckland and the NZ Property Council.
So – why would the Committee for Auckland and the NZ Property Council want Len Brown replaced as Mayor?
That’s why, in my considered opinion, any ‘inquiry’ organised by Auckland Council CEO Doug McKay, (a member of the Committee for Auckland) which he has delegated to Ernst and Young (a member company of the Committee for Auckland), which potentially involves Sky City (whose CEO, Nigel Morrison, is a member of the Committee for Auckland), has significant ‘conflicts of interest’.
(Don’t take my word for it – check for yourselves ….. )
http://www.committeeforauckland.co.nz/membership/member-organisations
In my considered opinion, ANY inquiry into Mayor Len Brown, should arguably be conducted by the ‘lead’ agency in NZ, supposedly fighting corruption – the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
Whether Len Brown paid for his alleged use of a Sky City hotel room for his illicit sexual relationship is, in my opinion, not the point.
What concerns me is Len Brown’s support at Auckland Council Governing Body level for Sky City on 27 June 2013:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10893526
The minutes:
SkyCity.http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/SiteCollectionDocuments/aboutcouncil/governingbody/governingbodymin20130627.pdf
Was Len Brown effectively ‘beholden’ to Sky City, some of whom must have known about his use of their premises for his illicit sexual affair?
‘Perceives’ to be so to me.
NZ needs an Independent Commission Against Corruption, and enforceable ‘Codes of Conduct’ for both local and central government elected representatives.
Penny Bright
2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate
http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz (ACTION PLAN)
No idea about the in’s and out’ of this call for Clare Curran to be stood down (ie, are the motivations genuine or just political). But having come across it, thought it might be of interest to one or two people hereabouts. And maybe somebody more up to speed on such machinations could offer some informed context?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503438&objectid=11144140
Seems MP Mark Mitchell was the one who tipped off Brown re his affair was gonna be exposed
Never heard of this MP before…
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9315726/Brown-rumours-rife-within-National-camp
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/canterbury/9315917/Nitrate-warning-freaking-out-Cantabrians
Typical Federated Farmers leadership…
You want your water storage schemes, cockies?
Well guess what, you will have them, but they will be owned the NZ Goverment. And they will have strict rules on when and how they can be used.
Exactery. Often takes a while for certain ‘masters of the Universe’ to get used to the phenomenon though (aye?) !
I reckon those in the Neshnool Party you’re thinking of are on the turn about now. I can think of one in particular
Oh, by the way Morrisyey (btw) …. I Hope like hell you’re not listening to the Panel atm (at the mo’) – ‘cos that regular guy JUM just wants to cover you with ‘wrap-around’ services and National Party-type leeeeerve..
It’s just SOOOO much goodness I can hardly cope. I need another lay down!
Btw (By the way) … is that deep-voiced authorative sounding femme shoving her thrupence worth against-or alongside Le Bernard – well who da fuck is she basically? A Cormandel MuthaEarth maybe?
I guess they’ve got mortgahes to pay
Buggeration – stitch one Perl one C++ one ASM one, bug fix to the left, another to the right.
My submissions don’t seem to fit with what was intended.
Better that though than a ‘risk manager’ providing advice on how such submissions might meet up with the comments for which the reply was intended. (A cast of thousands has already attempted to reinvent the wheel, and they’re still fuckin at it – while Rome burns)
Oh, by the way Morrisyey (btw) …. I Hope like hell you’re not listening to the Panel atm (at the mo’) –
Yes, Tim, I was listening. I did not think much of it. I’ll put up my impressions—-or is it a transcript?—some time tomorrow.
Been watching a bit of CBC’s Power and Politics (I know, I should get out more). It looks like the shit has really hit the fan for Stephen Harper (Key’s bestie in Canada) as the Senate expense scandal goes nuclear.
Wonder IF any other Councils will follow suite:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9317894/No-free-lunch-for-councillors
Nah
“There’s got to be some protection here and presently there’s just nothing. And that I think provides for a conundrum, not just in our democracy, but in all.”
– Ok so Len wants “protection” (I’ll ignore the comedic elements) and I’m interested in the lefts perspective on this because I think this a very bad idea and heres why:
Len wants the media to look the other way while he does whatever it is he wants to do and I think thats the wrong attitude to have, if the media ackshully got of its collective but and did their jobs and reported politicians failings then maybe politicians (both sides of the house) might act more like we expect them to act as well as the idea of any govt controlling the media being a really bad idea
Also what does this mean for political blogs because I know theres a few (probably more) who’d like to see whaleoil censured (if not outright banned) but what would happen if the right wing politicians decided that the Standard needed to be censured…
So I think its a slippery slope Lens on and it should be a cause for worry for everyone
I’d have to hear what he actually means though.
Also, I’d like to see some polling that indicates people really do want a UK style tabloid press to develop here. No doubt some do, but how many?
Also some polling on what ‘our expectations’ are around politician’s private lives, and whether that only applies to politicians and not private sector executives, journalists, police, doctors, teachers, etc, and so on, and so forth.
Well ok reporting on him having an affair is no big deal but him knobbing someone in work time in council offices is a big deal because someone doing the same thing but in a lesser role is likely to get the sack
Again him doing someone is not a big issue but him giving his bit on the side a reference for a job in a council affiliated role is a big deal
Doing someone in a motel is not an issue but doing someone in skycity when you’ve voted for them could be construed a certain way especially if the cost is a bit less…
I just don’t think theres middle ground here, its either all on or all hidden and I’d rather see its all on as it might then make politicians act a bit better
knobbing someone in work time in council offices is a big deal”
lolwut? You mean if it were shown that Brown only got his end away after 5.30 pm Monday to Friday and after midday Saturday you’d be fine with it?
“Work time” doesn’t really apply to senior politicians. They’re always working.
Also I don’t believe you.
FO
Foreign office?
further
swears?
reluctantly
You’re not one for a cussin’
it’s in me 🙂
“but what would happen if the right wing politicians decided that the Standard needed to be censured”
Yeah, because it’s his blogging that’s got Cameron in the shit. 🙄
The evening news is on. This calculating ruthless man planned the murder of his woman friend. He hid in her ceiling and cut her throat when she was in bed. Her 15 year old son found his mother like that. He got seven years I think.
Then someone from South Africa was out on bail and killed the mother of his child. She was trying to keep him away from it. This may be one of the tragedies stirred up by WINZ insisting on uncovering every penis involved in making a baby. Sometimes it would be better fro a mother not to have any thing to do with somebody she has found is just a low-life. But you get help docked if you don’t give them information because they want their pound of flesh before they will help you maintain your pound of flesh. They want to place responsibility on the shoulders of someone who resents that burden. And these repercussions can result.
I think they said that his wife helped him to get away. He got away on a false passport. We went to a lot of trouble and expense to get him back and try him. I think that the victim’s family might have been given the option of them not doing that but of having a large sum put in a trust fund instead. The warrant to remain open in case he ever came back. Family might prefer that.
Someone’s barrister read out someone’s heartfelt sorrow blah blah . A relation said …
Somebody cried. It’s sick making. I don’t want to hear how many tears and snot was shed by the victim, the perpetrator, the witnesses. I don’t want this sorry affair paraded for ghoulish people to emote about. I do want to see good support for victims and better attitudes encouraged in both men and women and women given psychological help so they can avoid being drawn to such utter shits.
And no public victims reports. Read them out to the perpetrator or play a CD of it over to them.
If it was me I wouldn’t like to look at the slime.
17 years warbly:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/2573839
Attended a brief workshop this morning unveiling the “Thriving Communities Action Plan” from Auckland Council. It was adopted by the outgoing council and the final document will be released before the end of the year.
There seems to be some good intent in terms of empowering communities, including providing local procurement opportunities, community ownership of assets, networking of social entrepreneurs etc.
Pleasantly surprised.
What’s up with Nationals latest act of asset theft, also known as the part sale of an SOE, did it by any chance FLOP,
If Slippery was looking at a triumphant number of Ma and Pa investors willing to pay top dollar for what they already own you would think that Him and Ryall would be fronting the announcement on the 6 oclock news,
Ryall was last seen scarpering across the Parliaments forecourt as if being chased by a bailiff and someone is supposedly announcing the ‘sale’ details at 7.30 tonight…
How come rural folk rely more on the post than urban folk? How come rural will still get 5 days delivery and urban 3?
Don’t make no sense whatsoever – just another silly assumption with not an ounce of reason behind it. None.
fed farmers lobbied amy adams heavily, is my guess.
Sure of course. But nobody has given a reason why they think they are more reliant on 5 day service than urban folk.
Because there isn’t a reason.
Is there?
you are correct.
I wish I wasn’t because that means I am being lied to and bullshitted by Amy Adams.
If anything, urban folk, especially the elderly, would rely on the post more – for formal matters and for the social contact as many of them communicate by post. They are also far less self-sufficient than rural people and need services such as these.
More stinking shit from this government.
Exactly, as I said above, I hate to think how many deadlines are going to be missed by people, thanks to these new rules.
If Farmers didn’t get a daily delivery their letterbox would be overflowing from the cheques to bank and the high end brochures advertising audi’s boats etc etc
I did hear somewhere on the news today that NZ Post received a “robust” reaction from the rural community. I’m not sure how it’s going to work re the extra cost as urban folks can pay for a “premium service” and get their mail delivered more than 3 days per week. I guess the rate stays the same for the rural folks if their delivery remains as per usual. Kicks in mid 2015.
Not sure why their reliance on postal service differs from everybody else. Has it got something to do with poor broadband connections, therefore they may not receive comms and bills etc on time?
Speaking of ruralites, did ya see the one about the buttermilk dumping in where was it, central north Island, on Campbell Live last night? Apparently its a common practice in spring when those poor darling industrial cows are producing extra milk. What to do? Farmer logic says dump it and leave it to rot. More waste. More environmental damage. More disrespect to animals (she’s already had her baby taken from her and is mourning – they do, they’re very maternal, and now her milk is dumped too)) More couldn’t care less, she’ll be right.
Imagine the stench…..
“robust reaction”. I could just imagine that too – poor precious farmers. They are very important you know / sarc.
I don’t like to have a go at this sector of our country so often but ffs they pull shit all the time which bears no relation to reality and all relation to their preciousness, puffed up chests and empty logic.
You got to admit though, it works for them.
The farmer should be bottling and selling it. According to all the older folks I know, buttermilk was a very popular childhood drink of choice. And kids would break their backs doing chore after chore so they would get that sweet nectar.
Xox vto
Rural tends to vote Nashonool.
All you wanted to know about austerity and were afraid to ask, at breakneck speed. This is dazzling stuff.
Go to google – mark blyth you tube
and
http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ltSSkq0AAAAJ&hl=en
I see he’s published with Nassim Taleb before. Very nice.
More Mark Blyth – a google talk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQuHSQXxsjM
Mark Blyth: Austerity – The History of a Dangerous Idea
He’s so interesting you forget this is really serious. And he manages to tell us unbelievably terrible stuff and you’re fascinated. He finds some useful stuff that countries could do, what Brazil has done for instance. There is some hope out there. What a speaker.
And he mentions that he was brought up by his grandmother. Fairly poor and now he is an Ivy League professor at a huge salary. And what fuelled this trip of social mobility. The welfare state! And he repeats all the negative things that the neolibs say about it.
So there is a fountain of information, and it keeps coming. Very good.
This one caught my eye – I don’t know anything about the substance.
At Occupy Boston Mark Blyth Asks: ‘Should the Poor Insure the Rich …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTRjMkv92Z8
Live twitter reax to the pretty floppy Meridian float:
https://twitter.com/search?q=meridian&src=typd
$1.50 per share, bottom end of the range.
1.6B raised.
62k ‘Mum and dad’ investors (compared to 110k for MRP)
Cosgrove’s statement here:
http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/meridian-sale-failure-cosgrove/5/171716?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Greens here:
http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/meridian-another-failure-national%E2%80%99s-asset-sales-greens/5/171717?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Fucking great isn’t it.
Meridian goes from being owned by 100% of New Zealanders via government ownership…
… to only 51.4% now.
dumb
cheats
liars
?
Including the government’s stake, Meridian will be 86.5% owned by NZers.
Oh yes, silly maths brain fell outa my head…
You’re correct mathematically. Lanthanide apparently has problems with comprehension. He/she/it apparently missed the “100% of” in “owned by 100% of New Zealanders via government ownership”
hmmm, perhaps….. 100% of New Zealanders used to own 100% of Meridian. Now 100% of New Zealanders own only 50% and of those New Zealanders 1.4% of them own 86%.
I think ….. my brain is bruised … time for zzzzzzzzzzzz
the alpha, and the omega
sigh
What we should be doing is putting Manapouri into a seperate SOE, and putting half the profits into the conservation estate and the other half into a fund for Southland when the smelter closes.
In “honor” of a stolen game, a vacuous tribute
Campbell Live sinks to a new low
TV3, Wednesday 23 October 2013
Campbell Live has been for a long time now a beacon of serious and thoughtful journalism in this country. But not tonight—because it’s PARTY TIME! Remember, it’s October 23, the second anniversary of New Zealand’s hugely controversial Rugby World Cup final “victory” over a clearly superior France.
The truth is, however, that far from a stirring one-point win for the All Blacks, as it is usually portrayed by the likes of John Campbell, for anybody who cares about rugby football that match will be forever tainted by the memory of South African referee Craig Joubert‘s failure, or refusal, to penalize the All Blacks as they engaged in a systematic strategy of flagrant cheating in the second half.
But two years is obviously too soon for the clearly still awe-struck John Campbell. It would not be seemly to raise questions about the referee’s performance (or lack of performance) in that game. It would be disloyal. And lined up for later in the program was Sir Graham Henry himself. It just wouldn’t be nice to cast more doubt on the validity of that victory.
So instead of taking a look at Joubert’s behavior, Campbell announced that the program would not be looking at the match itself, only at the celebrations that followed.
The program had three parts to it: 1.) a visit to the Birkenhead “man cave” of one Johnny Townsend, who has been anointed by Campbell (or his producers) as the country’s number one All Black fan; 2.) an interview with “Sir” Graham Henry; 3.) to cap the good vibe, a performance of “Poi E” by the legendary Patea Maori Club.
But first it was off to Johnny Townsend’s place, and an excruciatingly drawn out, toe-curlingly mortifying tour of the man-cave, full of Johnny Townsend’s embarrassed and awkward friends and family….
JOHN CAMPBELL: Why do you love the All Blacks so much?
JOHNNY TOWNSEND: I always have. I love the game, and I’m a Kiwi. And my wife’s father was an All Black.
…..[Now THAT was an interesting bit of information. Campbell, however, didn’t follow up. Johnny revealed later that his wife’s dad was the North Auckland legend Nau “Big Horse” Cherrington, who played in the first test against the Lions in 1950.]….
CAMPBELL: Who’s that bugger over there?
JOHNNY TOWNSEND: That’s my brother in law.
CAMPBELL: He looks like a good bugger!
…..[Some awkward laughter, then further silence]…..
CAMPBELL: Coming up after the break: some whimsical memories of the match with Sir Graham Henry!
……..ADVERTISING…….
CAMPBELL: Welcome back to this special commemoration of the All Blacks’ World Cup victory! Let’s go back to that night—not the game so much, but the celebrations after.
…..[Film of deliriously happy, noisy fans. Then we’re in a pleasant garden. It’s a sunny day. Campbell is standing with a relaxed “Sir” Graham Henry.]…..
CAMPBELL: The All Blacks were euphoric! World champions again after twenty-four years!
SIR GRAHAM HENRY: It was marvelous! They had been the best team in the world for a long time, but they couldn’t win it. But then Richie and the boys did the job! *
…..[Cut to John Campbell interviewing Ali Williams straight after the final. The noise is cacophonous.]……
ALI WILLIAMS: [shouting] Boys just wanted it more!
[He hugs Campbell, who laughs in delight. Ironically, in the right foreground the non-referee skulks away from the camera.]
CAMPBELL: There are two things I remember—the noise, and then how for twenty minutes in the second half it just went deathly silent.
SIR GRAHAM HENRY: I think they’ve kept on growing which is hugely important, and they’ve ticked that box beautifully!
CAMPBELL: Champions. Truly champions!
SIR GRAHAM HENRY: A huge feather in the cap for Richie and the boys.
[Back to Campbell in the Birkenhead man cave. He speaks to camera, like he’s some kind of philosopher…]
CAMPBELL: It is only a sport. Tonight we can truly say we are the world champions. I know it’s only just a game but what a game it’s been! What a game it’s been!
The program ends with a recording of the 2011 Auckland performance at the tournament by the Patea Maori Club.
* That line (“Richie and the boys did the job”) is nearly word for word the same as Sir Colin Meads’s dodgy deer-velvet ad.
…………………………………………………………………………….
Judge for yourself whether it was the All Blacks who won that game, or a certain South African who refused to blow his whistle….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7C6bTHyC0U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMPYRxYBba4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p1YkXbWZg0
deeper sigh
That’s one response, I guess. I would have expected something more thoughtful from your good self, however.
nothin’ personal, gist that it’s late In The Evening . Be well under observation my friend. 😀
(now, that’s fine workmanship).
Good night, sweet prince.
as you know, I dislike the behaviour of bullying immensely
Personal Most Memorable Cinematic Moment
-Oskar introduces mercy to Amon (who later goes on to shoot the boy anyway).
Second Most Memorable Cinematic Moment
-Goeth’s miss-firing side-arm
Third…
“we are not going to take orders from these people”- Amon Goeth.
…carry on
What? Did we win a world cup or something 2 years ago? Sorry, I forgot all about it. Had better things to worry about.
What? Did we win a world cup or something 2 years ago?
No we didn’t win it. Not really. Not fair and square. We wouldn’t have won it if there had been an impartial referee on the field.
It was not for reasons of time constraint that Campbell announced he would not be talking about the actual match that night…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7C6bTHyC0U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMPYRxYBba4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p1YkXbWZg0
Learn way more about the fraud underlying the GFC, and also about governments spending money into existence (instead of borrowing it) at the following podcast:
http://stephaniekelton.com/2013/10/21/bill-black-and-randy-wray/
one insight: The Democrats and Republicans are engineering multiple debt ceiling crises as a way to put Social Security on the table and in a bipartisan move, knife it.
More Mud -rakin’ to be done.