A rather sobering article on the industrialisation of food production .While it has helped to end hunger and feed millions, it could very well end up killing us all through degradation of the environment and very poor nutritional qualities in the food thus produced.
Notable is the homogenisation of culture brought about by globalisation .Sorry , clunky writing …lack of sleep..
The idea of Ukrainian arms finding their way to the black market is a strongly-promoted Kremlin propaganda talking point, regularly found across Russian propaganda channels.
I notice your linked story contains no mention of Ukrainian arms, the Russian war in Ukraine, or even "Ukraine" whatsoever. So was the purpose of your comment to simply promote a Kremlin propaganda point?
Any war zone will likely leak arms, so would be better if Russia hadn't started this war. The war and its associated risks will end if Russia decides to return to its own borders.
The German Ministry of the Interior estimated in 2009 that the number of firearms in circulation, legally and illegally, could be up to 45 million.[3] Germany's National Gun Registry, introduced at the end of 2012, counted 5.5 million firearms in use, which are legally owned by 1.4 million people in the country.
Tory seats have been awarded significantly more money per person from the government’s £4bn levelling up fund than areas with similar levels of deprivation, a Guardian analysis has found.
The multibillion-dollar grants system used by MPs and federal ministers has become so politicised that Coalition-held seats around the country received more than $1.9 billion over three years while Labor electorates got just under $530 million.
A special analysis of more than 19,000 individual grants shows huge discrepancies among the nation’s 151 electorates, with a boundary line such as a road or a creek separating communities from potentially millions of dollars.
Sounds this has a similarity to the rotten boroughs of English history.
'rotten borough, depopulated election district that retains its original representation. The term was first applied by English parliamentary reformers of the early 19th century to such constituencies maintained by the crown or by an aristocratic patron to control seats in the House of Commons."
These ideas were good ten years ago, 7 years ago, 5 years ago and certainly 2.5 years ago. If the Labour party under Jacinda Arderns Leadership would have actually implemented just 'a' thing or 'two' of that list, like 'remove GST from Food', remove the relationship status out when people apply for unemployment or benefits, the removal of secondary tax on people who have more then one job to make ends meet etc etc etc- which has been discussed here many many times Labour might not have had a change in leadership and Labour as a Party would poll better then it seemingly does.
The problem for the new leadership now is that if they 'dump' three waters and the merger and promise to say remove GST from Food no one other then the party faithful who would/will vote for Labour no matter the leadership will support them.
Empty promises and bubbles of air feed no one, house no one, pays no ones bills. From we can do this, to lets keep moving, to where to now?
2.5 years of a full majority totally and absolutely squandered. And now back to 'please do this' and they will not because in the end they are ideologically not able to do so.
He was always at the right hand of Jacinda Ardern. He was part of her government. And he now can't really run from that Government and what they did not do. And that includes him.
So really if he wants to set himself up as his own person, he will have to start doing as promises are no longer believable.
He is in a very difficult position, a significant part of his caucus is hell bent on driving through everything on Jacinda's agenda and the rest want to stay in government, good luck managing that.
In your dreams! So far, the Labour Caucus has shown nothing but positivity and unified support for Hipkins. The divisive and fractious lot is looking at you, every morning.
Secondary tax has been removed with the tax codes now much more reflective of the current earning rates. That took effect a few years ago.
However, the downside is that people now working more than 1 job may potentially end up with a tax bill at the end of the year given that tax is based on the total annual earnings and tax is deducted accordingly. Under the old secondary system, most people often ended up with a refund at the end of the year, well that which wasnt first taken out by the tax intermediaries like Woohoo.
anyway, secondary tax is gone. Tax codes are “fairer”, but greater risk now of ending up with a tax bill rather than a refund.
Nothing changed there – I used to work for IRD in 2012-13, and secondary codes worked the same then as they do now right down to the brackets. The big "change" was that special tax codes were renamed tailored tax codes and pushed harder.
fair point. I might see if I can throw up a post with just the ideas in it. Some of them seem reasonable, some seem daft, mostly they seem unexplained. Also, 3 waters is really about the drains? Wut?
Tory scum were complicit in an attempt to silence Higgins and Bellingcat for their work in exposing Russian war crimes.
.
The UK government helped the boss of Russia’s murderous mercenary army to circumvent its own sanctions and launch a targeted legal attack on a British journalist, openDemocracy can reveal.
Yevgeny Prigozhin is the founder of Wagner, a private army that the US government last week announced it would designate a “transnational criminal organisation”, allowing it to impose even tougher sanctions on the group. For years it has been accused of human rights abuses and war crimes in Ukraine and across the world in support of Putin’s regime.
Sanctions introduced in the UK and Europe in 2020 were supposed to prevent anyone from doing business with Prigozhin. He had also been sanctioned in the US in 2018.
But a vast cache of hacked emails shows that, under the leadership of Rishi Sunak, the UK Treasury issued special licences in 2021 to let the oligarch override sanctions and launch an aggressive legal campaign against a journalist in the London courts.
So the guy running the FBI's cyber-counterintelligence in New York when Russia was allegedly trying to help Trump win was taking bribes from Trump’s campaign manager's business partner.
/
A former top FBI official in New York has been arrested over his ties to a Russian oligarch, law enforcement sources told ABC News Monday.
Charles McGonigal, who was the special agent in charge of counterintelligence in the FBI's New York Field Office, is under arrest over his ties to Oleg Deripaska, a Russian billionaire who has been sanctioned by the United States and criminally charged last year with violating those sanctions.
I started an ongoing twitter thread on how many NZ food growers are regenag. If you have any examples, please let me know along with the location (am trying to prove that every area of NZ now has regenag)
Damien O'Connor has been very pro active in promoting the rural area I live in in the SI as a regen agriculture region, known for its progressive ecological approach to farming and food production .
We have dairy farmers who have reduced stocking rates, experimenting with different pasture species..back to clover..planted up waterways, local specialist cheese making .Even a fabulous bakery growing its own grain and supplying the local market with gorgeous sourdough breads
There is a learning centre for residential permaculture courses, the local community gardens also run well attended courses on organic food production.
A few reasonable size organic market gardens., supplying local families with boxes of vegetables each week
Our local US born millionaire (every community has one) is working with scientists to develop ways of reducing methane via seaweed
One of the attendees fought back tears. “Two-thirds of these apartments are singles or studios which means bedroom commuters who are not going to be a part of this community or have any connection,” she said.
“I love this f…ing village with all my heart and I don’t want to see it change.”
[…]
A woman in the crowd said she had been used to seeing the same houses on her daily commute and didn’t want the area to change.
“Can’t they build on green land that’s 10 minutes up the motorway? I don’t understand why they’re coming to Beach Haven, we’re not an apartment community,” she said.
Crispin Robertson, who organised the meeting, was also concerned that the area wasn’t right for young singles.
“There’s no supermarket or café here for them,” he said.
Some of those "old farts" might end up in one of those singles apartments towards that later part of their lives when they can no longer maintain a 3br house on a big section, but don't want to go into a 'senior's village".
Apartments are useful to people at many stages of their lives.
Apartments in the area would lead to a ready supply of young coupled up buyers wanting the bigger house,after a few years I'd expect ,that's if they still want to live in a place full of tossers
Utter drivel spewing from Luxon's mouth. Sad to know it's likely going to win him the election. But good too, because it will wake us up to a more accurate account of what we're really up against.
That you call it drivel spewing from Luxon's mouth is a non issue. But when fools like Carmel Sepuloni start talking about racism and misogyny, then Labour has an issue. Labour has been given a reprieve of sorts with Hipkins now the PM, but there seems to have been little learnt.
All Luxon said was basically there had not been a discussion around co governance and National did not support it.
[banned until 31/12/23. You’ve been warned multiple times including yesterday when I said you were on your last warning. This isn’t the place for inflammatory vague reckons. If you want to make an argument about MPs in an election year, you have to make the actual argument as well as support it with evidence. Here you are making casual assertions that require someone to follow up and the mods are no longer willing to waste our time on this when you’ve had plenty of chances – weka]
"A Black Out is an open invitation to Black Audiences to come and experience performances with their community. The evenings will provide a dedicated space for Black theatregoers to witness a show that reflects the vivid kaleidoscope that is the Black experience.
The following Black Out NAC will be the second curated play from BTW, Cheryl Foggo’s Heaven on May 5 in the Azrieli Studio. Black Out nights will be an ongoing engagement initiative, as NAC English Theatre plans to schedule more for the 2023-2024 season.
Creating evenings dedicated to Black theatregoers will allow for conversation and participation to be felt throughout the theatre and open the doors for Black-identifying audiences to experience the energy of the NAC with a shared sense of belonging and passion."
Is there nobody in such organisations pointing out the inherent racism? Or is funding linked to such promotions?
What is the racism problem they are solving here? Are Black Audience members unable to attend, or unsafe if they do? If not, why treat them like they are?
The inherent racism is:
1. Assuming that "Black Audiences" are unwilling or uncomfortable with theatre attendance because of the presence of non-black audience members,
2. That the "Black Audience" members all experience racism, and in the same way,
3. That "Black Audience" members do not have relationships outside of the "black audience" that they might want to socialise with,
4. … too demoralised to continue…
(BTW, this is not equatable to single-sex spaces. Women's spaces exist because of biological reality, and the statistical risk assessments that are there for safety, privacy and dignity.)
This is divisive, and both patronising and offensive. Segregation being excused as for all the "right reasons".
I can't see how you got to this being about solving racism, nor why you think any assumptions are being made about any of the numbered points (seriously, there's nothing in the article to suggest any of that). To me it looks much more like celebrating blackness.
A Black Out is an open invitation to Black Audiences to come and experience performances with their community. The evenings will provide a dedicated space for Black theatregoers to witness a show that reflects the vivid kaleidoscope that is the Black experience.
Women's spaces aren't solely about safety, privacy and dignity. Some women come together because of women's culture as a positive force. Lesbians used to have lesbian only spaces because they wanted to be with other lesbians. I've been in lot of different kinds of women's groups because there is a different energy and kaupapa that arises when women get together without men. This is a big part of why many women don't want trans identified males in their spaces, because it changes how groups function.
There's nothing wrong with segregation when people are doing it by choice, in this case Black people. And it doesn't harm non-black people to not go to the Black Out, any more than it harms trans women to not go to a women's conscious raising group. Or Pākehā not to be on the committee running a Marae.
Black people have the right to come together on their own terms and celebrate or engage with their culture as they choose. You say it is divisive, patronising and offensive, but you haven't explained this other than saying you believe it's all about racism even though they're not talking about racism. But even that doesn't explain the offense.
I understand you don't see it. Even as you excuse it.
That's a non-sequitur to the quote that precedes it, so I don't know what your point is or what you are referring to.
I'm not conflating women's spaces with black spaces, I'm saying that many groups of people can gather on their own terms without it being a bad thing, including women and black people.
You haven't explained how it's a bad thing for black people to have their own space, nor why it's ok for women but not black people. I did explain that women gather on their own for cultural reasons (women's culture), but you haven't offered any response to that, just told me what to not argue.
Weka, as you are aware, the single-space provisions for women that women are trying to protect are those where boundaries have been created – due to the biological realities of a female body. ie. sport, prison estates, toilets, hospital wards, changing facilities etc.
On top of that is collective groups of people – not government funded – who gather together because of shared interests, and do so on the basis of those interests. Lesbians – no longer are able to do so in Australia – and should be able to create those safe spaces for themselves, but this differs in that it is a group of people with shared interests coming together for themselves. Not a national theatre – funded by all.
The Vagina Monologues is an example. I don't recall it being advertised only to women, but the audience self-selected, and was mainly older women to whom it appealed.
(I'm more critical of this type of accommodation, because I consider the same unthinking actions taking place here. The creation of a Māori perspective and experience that pays no heed to reality or diversity.)
to put it another way, I'm asking you to explain your thinking more. eg, I can't see how you got to the Black Out being about solving racism. Can you please explain that?
What do you consider a good reason to divide an audience by race at a National theatre?
Whatever your answer is, it relates to a created idea of a "Black audience".
This created idea of assumed interests, needs, experiences, aspirations, achievements, social and familial connections is a mirage. People are much more diverse,
Put on more plays written from the wider perspectives of society, and welcome everyone in.
I think the Black Americans (in this case) can decide for themselves what works for them (in the same way women can). There is nothing in the article that even hints that all Black people would be served by this or want it, or that they somehow wouldn't want to also attend theatre of other kinds. Nothing.
Put on more plays written from the wider perspectives of society, and welcome everyone in.
what are wider perspectives of society? Don't we already have this?
Looking at the original text, the argument of exclusion depends on the word 'dedicated' , which is not the same as 'exclusive' or ‘only-for’. It could mean 'focussed', for example. It could mean striving for a safe place where difficult topics can be discussed without generating a twitter storm. The pudding is in the eating – who is let in the door. Who turns up determined to cause a fuss.
Chris Trotter was interviewed (I forget what I was listening too). And he was talking about the divisiveness of cogovernance, Hepuapua etc.
He then told a story about WW11 and a Navy boat birthing in South Africa. White sailors were told they could go ashore. Maori not. So none of the white sailors went ashore. One of my relatives (Pakeha) was on that boat. I was so proud of him. This is what unity is. Not these divisive race policies, largely born out of CRT
Do you mean that Black people, or Māori, should never have their own spaces? Because that's what it sounds like you just said. If Black Out theatre is wrong, is it wrong to have Marae? Or the Māori caucus in the Labour Party. Or the Māori seats in the general election.
Black people having their own theatre sometimes don't preclude also working or being in solidarity with people of euro descent.
A marae that didn't include my non-Māori partner on that basis, would be one I would also be critical of. Definitely wouldn't attend or support it.
Eventually, the time for the Māori caucas, and the Māori seats in the General election will be gone. Those spaces – even now – are not representative of the diverse view of Māori or of how a Māori world view is effectively accommodated in our governance. Many Māori have the same criticism of their "representatives" as non-Māori do of theirs. But those criticisms are ignored – because it is easy to accommodate the views expressed by the members of the Māori caucus, or the Māori Party, rather than canvas the views of all Māori.
Maori in NZ have their orgs and spaces. And black people in the US have their orgs, spaces and businesses, some even are billionaires. So that is not the question and that is not what i am commenting on.
Segregating people by sex is not quite the same as segregating people by color. We all have one of two sexes. A black woman is a woman first and foremost, even though that i have seen it stated that if black females are women so are the males who think that they are women. . But that is a logic that is somewhat racist.
I would totally segregate certain spaces by sex, as no female has ever impregnated a fellow female, nor are the myriads of issues with rape among female, or common assault or or or. The ethnicity or skin color of women does not come into play with that.
Black theatre has always existed. As has black music, black fashion, black food etc etc etc. In fact black art was/is hugely influential in modern art that came out of the white culture in the US/Europe. It was segregated before, but then came the 60 and that changed somewhat and i would argue we are able to have this discussion today because people actually lived, worked, and went to theatres together rather then in our own little gated communities governed by race.
I am conflicted about that easy passing segregation such as that. I would be equally conflicted if some white people would decide to have a white theatre production/venue – for white people only for the same reasons. Would we be able to discuss the need of young white people to just be among themselves and to share a sense of belonging and passion? Or would we call it racism? Racial Bias? etc?
And in the US there are many other times where they have these 'black people only' events on campus and public schools. I don't think it is good. I can understand the attraction, and the immediate benefits, but what if this is just a start and we suddenly find us again in a time where we go into our own gated by color of our skin communities being afraid of the other.
I am conflicted about that. I am not about segregation of the sexes. I have more in common with a female from Africa then i have in common with a white bloke from Europe/NZ.
Plenty of Māori or Black women will say they are Māori or Black first, before their femaleness.
Black Out isn't equivalent to us all living in our own segregated communities. It's an event, not a politically imposed segregation backed up by the forces of the state.
Regarding white people having their own spaces, two things. One is that white people belong to the dominant culture and often get their own spaces or things by default. But beyond that, sure, why not? Where it can be done in a non racist way.The problem we face is that we probably don’t know how to do that in a non-racist way.
Here's an example though. Why is it ok for women to have women's spaces that aren't about safety, privacy and dignity, but men aren't allowed the same? eg men's clubs. It's because as the power holder in society men used men's clubs to organise society and retain their power advantage. The only way to change that was to force them to admit women. But there's nothing inherently wrong with men wanting to spend time with men, hence men's sheds, men's groups and so on.
Segregation in the US up until the 50s and 60s was wrong because it was based in a system that deemed people of African descent to be inferior and have less rights than white people. The Black Out theatre isn't a reverse image of that, it's something different entirely, it's a cultural celebration or expression that comes about by choice.
As i said, I am just uncomfortable with self segregation what that is. And in the end, every tiny little bit of self segregation will and can eventually lead to the building of Ghettos. I am still of the mind that racism can only be defeated by sharing. Sharing culture, food, music, theatre, literature etc etc etc. Once we close the gate on those that may be interested we no longer serve the public. We serve a small lobby. And that always leads to isolation.
As for men having hospitals wards for males- totally for it, having prison cells for males – totally for it, having sports just for males – absolutely, having old folks home just for males, ditto, showers in swimming pools – yes, swimming hours just for men, why yes, Mensheds sponsored by government to help isolated males find a community and help with mental health, bring it, And you know what, they all have that already, and i doubt that they are scared of the 1.55 m female with a beard who needs to take a piss in the mens as otherwise their self identiy does not give some decent boost of euphoria.
I never was needy when it comes to private clubs of males, i always thought that the females should create their own places, but alas, the few that were created at least for the working class women – are now legally forced to admit males irrespective of the males ethnicity or color and in many cases are run by male. A certain womens club in the Green Party of Scotland comes to mind.
The issue with academic feminists is that they never know when it is enough.
Working class women that actually live in cramped places and have to share scarce resources i.e. toilets with males know what places they NEED segregated for their safety. And that is segregation by sex, not be creed, race, ethnicity.
Dignity and respect well that is a nice to have, but not a need to have purely in risk assesment, and they also accept that males need these spaces. This is not a me me me. Well not for the working class women who now have to share these few sex segregated spaces they achieved to gain over the last 200 years with any males who wonders in, consent be damned.
And i would like to point out that we do force gay males to accept Mangina in their spaces too, consent be damned, all in the name of inclusivity.
But maybe inclusivity is something that females have to give to males, and gay male and females have to give to some spicy pornified heterosexuals. And consent be damned.
No imported Truss-economy, no fighting US culture wars.
Let’s do us. Let’s solve Kiwi problems. Let’s be good friends. Very very good friends.
Let’s keep it simple. Let’s keep it fair. Do a good job and get to live a good life. Houses for living in. Cities for living in. A country for living in. Keep it clean, tidy Kiwis! A country to make a living in.
Though I like down home NZ focussed 'stuff aka perhaps known as oldfashioned! (Sorry retro sounds better)
No imported Truss-economy, no fighting US culture wars.
I wouldn't have this in or any reference to overseas anything. We are not fortress NZ but we are going along in our boat/waka, sailing it the way we want to
yeh I guess Let’s solve Kiwi problems addresses that enough. (But plenty of the issues we’ve had have been the importation of sovereign citizen/etc/etc framing of issues that shouldn’t be framed that way in NZ. You have to wonder why Hawaii is popular- promises broken again and again and again. And the idea of wokeness. What a useless and harmful term. )
Probably need to cut the very very good friends but too then- it’s a reference to Colin Powell and Helen Clark in the way aback says, but also goes well with showing pictures of us as a multicultural society and not afraid of being one.
Still- Let’s do us as a message is a rejection of importing unnecessary things…reflexive and theatrical lying in politics, violence in politics, anti-intellectualism to the point of discarding the scientific method for populism and water muddying, attacking the system not the policy, attacking public servants and particularly election volunteers…
Then that has to be reframed as the positives of our values which aren’t those things.
Let’s Do Us is everyone is essential. Fair reward for your work. Supporting our communities, our libraries, our swimming pools (Len Brown move there ), our coaches and volunteers, our clubs, our theatres and our artists. Supporting our outdoors. Supporting our farmers. Support equality of opportunity for our students and young jobseekers.
Typical RW response, ridicule & repeal anything remotely positive and resist & reject anything remotely progressive. You guys are just a bunch of laughs.
Now, now don’t be jealous at all this excitement for Labour!
though tbh I don’t know what gets your jollies, but you do you if that gets you as far along as a black and white Warehouse catalogue. It takes all sorts and who are we to judge…
As long as it isn’t next to a mug that says spread your legs I think it’s probably fine.
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Come around for teaDance me round and round the kitchenBy the light of my T.VOn the night of the electionAncient stars will fall into the seaAnd the ocean floor sings her sympathySongwriter: Bic Runga.The Prime Minister stared into the camera, hot and flustered despite the predawn chill. He looked sadly ...
Has Winston Peters got a ferries deal for you! (Buyer caution advised.) Unfortunately, the vision that Peters has been busily peddling for the past 24 hours – of several shipyards bidding down the price of us getting smaller, narrower, rail-enabled ferries – looks more like a science fiction fantasy. One ...
Completed reads for March: The Heart of the Antarctic [1907-1909], by Ernest Shackleton South [1914-1917], by Ernest Shackleton Aurora Australis (collection), edited by Ernest Shackleton The Book of Urizen (poem), by William Blake The Book of Ahania (poem), by William Blake The Book of Los (poem), by William Blake ...
First - A ReminderBenjamin Doyle Doesn’t Deserve ThisI’ve been following posts regarding Green MP Benjamin Doyle over the last few days, but didn’t want to amplify the abject nonsense.This morning, Winston Peters, New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister, answered the alt-right’s prayers - guaranteeing amplification of the topic, by going on ...
US President Donald Trump has shown a callous disregard for the checks and balances that have long protected American democracy. As the self-described ‘king’ makes a momentous power grab, much of the world watches anxiously, ...
They can be the very same words. And yet their meaning can vary very much.You can say I'll kill him about your colleague who accidentally deleted your presentation the day before a big meeting.You can say I'll kill him to — or, for that matter, about — Tony Soprano.They’re the ...
Back in 2020, the then-Labour government signed contracted for the construction and purchase of two new rail-enabled Cook Strait ferries, to be operational from 2026. But when National took power in 2023, they cancelled them in a desperate effort to make the books look good for a year. And now ...
The fragmentation of cyber regulation in the Indo-Pacific is not just inconvenient; it is a strategic vulnerability. In recent years, governments across the Indo-Pacific, including Australia, have moved to reform their regulatory frameworks for cyber ...
Welcome to the March 2025 Economic Bulletin. The feature article examines what public private partnerships (PPPs) are. PPPs have been a hot topic recently, with the coalition government signalling it wants to use them to deliver infrastructure. However, experience with PPPs, both here and overseas, indicates we should be wary. ...
Willis announces more plans of plans for supermarketsYesterday’s much touted supermarket competition announcement by Nicola Willis amounted to her telling us she was issuing a 6 week RFI1 that will solicit advice from supermarket players.In short, it was an announcement of a plan - but better than her Kiwirail Interislander ...
This was the post I was planning to write this morning to mark Orr’s final day. That said, if the underlying events – deliberate attempts to mislead Parliament – were Orr’s doing, the post is more about the apparent uselessness of Parliament (specifically the Finance and Expenditure Committee) in holding ...
Taiwanese chipmaking giant TSMC’s plan to build a plant in the United States looks like a move made at the behest of local officials to solidify US support for Taiwan. However, it may eventually lessen ...
This is a Guest Post by Transport Planner Bevan Woodward from the charitable trust Movement, which has lodged an application for a judicial review of the Governments Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024 Auckland is at grave risk of having its safer speed limits on approx. 1,500 local streets ...
We're just talkin' 'bout the futureForget about the pastIt'll always be with usIt's never gonna die, never gonna dieSongwriters: Brian Johnson / Angus Young / Malcolm YoungMorena, all you lovely people, it’s good to be back, and I have news from the heartland. Now brace yourself for this: depending on ...
Today is the last day in office for the Governor of the Reserve Bank, Adrian Orr. Of course, he hasn’t been in the office since 5 March when, on the eve of his major international conference, his resignation was announced and he stormed off with no (effective) notice and no ...
Treasury and Cabinet have finally agreed to a Crown guarantee for a non-Government lending agency for Community Housing Providers (CHPs), which could unlock billions worth of loans and investments by pension funds and banks to build thousands of more affordable social homes. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories shortest:Chris Bishop ...
Australia has plenty of room to spend more on defence. History shows that 2.9 percent of GDP is no great burden in ordinary times, so pushing spending to 3.0 percent in dangerous times is very ...
In short this morning in our political economy:Winston Peters will announce later today whether two new ferries are rail ‘compatible’, requiring time-consuming container shuffling, or the more efficient and expensive rail ‘enabled,’ where wagons can roll straight on and off.Nicola Willisthreatened yesterday to break up the supermarket duopoly with ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 23, 2025 thru Sat, March 29, 2025. This week's roundup is again published by category and sorted by number of articles included in each. The formatting is a ...
For prospective writers out there, Inspired Quill, the publisher of my novel(s) is putting together a short story anthology (pieces up to 10,000 words). The open submission window is 29th March to 29th April. https://www.inspired-quill.com/anthology-submissions/ The theme?This anthology will bring together diverse voices exploring themes of hope, resistance, and human ...
Prime minister Kevin Rudd released the 2009 defence white paper in May of that year. It is today remembered mostly for what it said about the strategic implications of China’s rise; its plan to double ...
In short this morning in our political economy:Voters want the Government to retain the living wage for cleaners, a poll shows.The Government’s move to provide a Crown guarantee to banks and the private sector for social housing is described a watershed moment and welcomed by Community Housing Providers.Nicola Willis is ...
The recent attacks in the Congo by Rwandan backed militias has led to worldwide condemnation of the Rwandan regime of Paul Kagame. Following up on the recent Fabian Zoom with Mikela Wrong and Maria Amoudian, Dr Rudaswinga will give a complete picture of Kagame’s regime and discuss the potential ...
New Zealand’s economic development has always been a partnership between the public and private sectors.Public-Private-Partnerships (PPPs) have become fashionable again, partly because of the government’s ambitions to accelerate infrastructural development. There is, of course, an ideological element too, while some of the opposition to them is also ideological.PPPs come in ...
How Australia funds development and defence was front of mind before Tuesday’s federal budget. US President Donald Trump’s demands for a dramatic lift in allied military spending and brutal cuts to US foreign assistance meant ...
Questions 1. Where and what is this protest?a. Hamilton, angry crowd yelling What kind of food do you call this Seymour?b.Dunedin, angry crowd yelling Still waiting, Simeon, still waitingc. Wellington, angry crowd yelling You’re trashing everything you idiotsd. Istanbul, angry crowd yelling Give us our democracy back, give it ...
Two blueprints that could redefine the Northern Territory’s economic future were launched last week. The first was a government-led economic strategy and the other an industry-driven economic roadmap. Both highlight that supporting the Northern Territory ...
In December 2021, then-Climate Change Minister James Shaw finally ended Tiwai Point's excessive pollution subsidies, cutting their "Electricity Allocation Factor" (basically compensation for the cost of carbon in their electricity price) to zero on the basis that their sweetheart deal meant they weren't paying it. In the process, he effectively ...
Green MP Tamatha Paul has received quite the beat down in the last two days.Her original comments were part of a panel discussion where she said:“Wellington people do not want to see police officers everywhere, and, for a lot of people, it makes them feel less safe. It’s that constant ...
US President Donald Trump has raised the spectre of economic and geopolitical turmoil in Asia. While individual countries have few options for pushing back against Trump’s transactional diplomacy, protectionist trade policies and erratic decision-making, a ...
Jobs are on the line for back-office staff at the Department of Corrections, as well as at Archives New Zealand and the National Library. A “malicious actor” has accessed and downloaded private information about staff in districts in the lower North Island. Cabinet has agreed to its next steps regarding ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: and on the week in geopolitics and climate; on the fifth anniversary of the arrival of Covid and the ...
Hi,As giant, mind-bending things continue to happen around us, today’s Webworm is a very small story from Hayden Donnell — which I have also read out for you if you want to give your sleepy eyes a rest.But first:As expected, the discussion from Worms going on under “A Fist, an ...
The threat of a Chinese military invasion of Taiwan dominates global discussion about the Taiwan Strait. Far less attention is paid to what is already happening—Beijing is slowly squeezing Taiwan into submission without firing a ...
After a while you start to smile, now you feel coolThen you decide to take a walk by the old schoolNothing has changed, it's still the sameI've got nothing to say but it's okaySongwriters: Lennon and McCartney.Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, today, a spectacle you’re probably familiar with: ten ...
In short this morning in our political economy: Chris Bishop attempted to rezone land in Auckland for up to 540,000 new homes last year, but was rejected by Cabinet, NZ Herald’s Thomas Coughlan reports this morning in a front page article.Overnight, Donald Trump put 25% tariffs on all car and ...
US President Donald Trump is certainly not afraid of an executive order, signing 97 since his inauguration on 20 January. In minerals and energy, Trump has declared a national emergency; committed to unleashing US (particularly ...
Kia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat with myself, and regular guests climate correspondent and global affairs professor on climate and geopolitics, ...
Aotearoa has an infrastructure shortage. We need schools, hospitals, public housing. But National is dead set against borrowing to fund any of it, even though doing so is much cheaper than the "public-private partnership" model they prefer. So what will National borrow for? Subsidising property developers: The new scheme, ...
The National Government’s choices have contributed to a slow-down in the building sector, as thousands of people have lost their jobs in construction. ...
Willie Apiata’s decision to hand over his Victoria Cross to the Minister for Veterans is a powerful and selfless act, made on behalf of all those who have served our country. ...
The Privileges Committee has denied fundamental rights to Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Rawiri Waititi and Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, breaching their own standing orders, breaching principles of natural justice, and highlighting systemic prejudice and discrimination within our parliamentary processes. The three MPs were summoned to the privileges committee following their performance of a haka ...
April 1 used to be a day when workers could count on a pay rise with stronger support for those doing it tough, but that’s not the case under this Government. ...
Winston Peters is shopping for smaller ferries after Nicola Willis torpedoed the original deal, which would have delivered new rail enabled ferries next year. ...
The Government should work with other countries to press the Myanmar military regime to stop its bombing campaign especially while the country recovers from the devastating earthquake. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Government to scrap proposed changes to Early Childhood Care, after attending a petition calling for the Government to ‘Put tamariki at the heart of decisions about ECE’. ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill today that will remove the power of MPs conscience votes and ensure mandatory national referendums are held before any conscience issues are passed into law. “We are giving democracy and power back to the people”, says New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters. ...
Welcome to members of the diplomatic corp, fellow members of parliament, the fourth estate, foreign affairs experts, trade tragics, ladies and gentlemen. ...
In recent weeks, disturbing instances of state-sanctioned violence against Māori have shed light on the systemic racism permeating our institutions. An 11-year-old autistic Māori child was forcibly medicated at the Henry Bennett Centre, a 15-year-old had his jaw broken by police in Napier, kaumātua Dean Wickliffe went on a hunger ...
Confidence in the job market has continued to drop to its lowest level in five years as more New Zealanders feel uncertain about finding work, keeping their jobs, and getting decent pay, according to the latest Westpac-McDermott Miller Employment Confidence Index. ...
The Greens are calling on the Government to follow through on their vague promises of environmental protection in their Resource Management Act (RMA) reform. ...
“Make New Zealand First Again” Ladies and gentlemen, First of all, thank you for being here today. We know your lives are busy and you are working harder and longer than you ever have, and there are many calls on your time, so thank you for the chance to speak ...
Hundreds more Palestinians have died in recent days as Israel’s assault on Gaza continues and humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, is blocked. ...
National is looking to cut hundreds of jobs at New Zealand’s Defence Force, while at the same time it talks up plans to increase focus and spending in Defence. ...
It’s been revealed that the Government is secretly trying to bring back a ‘one-size fits all’ standardised test – a decision that has shocked school principals. ...
The Green Party is calling for the compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe, a 77-year-old kaumātua on hunger strike at the Spring Hill Corrections Facility, after visiting him at the prison. ...
The Green Party is calling on Government MPs to support Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence and illegal actions in Palestine, following another day of appalling violence against civilians in Gaza. ...
The Green Party stands in support of volunteer firefighters petitioning the Government to step up and change legislation to provide volunteers the same ACC coverage and benefits as their paid counterparts. ...
At 2.30am local time, Israel launched a treacherous attack on Gaza killing more than 300 defenceless civilians while they slept. Many of them were children. This followed a more than 2 week-long blockade by Israel on the entry of all goods and aid into Gaza. Israel deliberately targeted densely populated ...
Living Strong, Aging Well There is much discussion around the health of our older New Zealanders and how we can age well. In reality, the delivery of health services accounts for only a relatively small percentage of health outcomes as we age. Significantly, dry warm housing, nutrition, exercise, social connection, ...
Shane Jones’ display on Q&A showed how out of touch he and this Government are with our communities and how in sync they are with companies with little concern for people and planet. ...
Labour does not support the private ownership of core infrastructure like schools, hospitals and prisons, which will only see worse outcomes for Kiwis. ...
The Government’s new planning legislation to replace the Resource Management Act will make it easier to get things done while protecting the environment, say Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop and Under-Secretary Simon Court. “The RMA is broken and everyone knows it. It makes it too hard to build ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay has today launched a public consultation on New Zealand and India’s negotiations of a formal comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. “Negotiations are getting underway, and the Public’s views will better inform us in the early parts of this important negotiation,” Mr McClay says. We are ...
More than 900 thousand superannuitants and almost five thousand veterans are among the New Zealanders set to receive a significant financial boost from next week, an uplift Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says will help support them through cost-of-living challenges. “I am pleased to confirm that from 1 ...
Progressing a holistic strategy to unlock the potential of New Zealand’s geothermal resources, possibly in applications beyond energy generation, is at the centre of discussions with mana whenua at a hui in Rotorua today, Resources and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is in the early stages ...
New annual data has exposed the staggering cost of delays previously hidden in the building consent system, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I directed Building Consent Authorities to begin providing quarterly data last year to improve transparency, following repeated complaints from tradespeople waiting far longer than the statutory ...
Increases in water charges for Auckland consumers this year will be halved under the Watercare Charter which has now been passed into law, Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown say. The charter is part of the financial arrangement for Watercare developed last year by Auckland Council ...
There is wide public support for the Government’s work to strengthen New Zealand’s biosecurity protections, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. “The Ministry for Primary Industries recently completed public consultation on proposed amendments to the Biosecurity Act and the submissions show that people understand the importance of having a strong biosecurity ...
A new independent review function will enable individuals and organisations to seek an expert independent review of specified civil aviation regulatory decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Director of Civil Aviation, Acting Transport Minister James Meager has announced today. “Today we are making it easier and more affordable ...
The Government will invest in an enhanced overnight urgent care service for the Napier community as part of our focus on ensuring access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown has today confirmed. “I am delighted that a solution has been found to ensure Napier residents will continue to ...
Health Minister Simeon Brown and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey attended a sod turning today to officially mark the start of construction on a new mental health facility at Hillmorton Campus. “This represents a significant step in modernising mental health services in Canterbury,” Mr Brown says. “Improving health infrastructure is ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has welcomed confirmation the economy has turned the corner. Stats NZ reported today that gross domestic product grew 0.7 per cent in the three months to December following falls in the June and September quarters. “We know many families and businesses are still suffering the after-effects ...
The sealing of a 12-kilometre stretch of State Highway 43 (SH43) through the Tangarakau Gorge – one of the last remaining sections of unsealed state highway in the country – has been completed this week as part of a wider programme of work aimed at improving the safety and resilience ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters says relations between New Zealand and the United States are on a strong footing, as he concludes a week-long visit to New York and Washington DC today. “We came to the United States to ask the new Administration what it wants from ...
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has welcomed changes to international anti-money laundering standards which closely align with the Government’s reforms. “The Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) last month adopted revised standards for tackling money laundering and the financing of terrorism to allow for simplified regulatory measures for businesses, organisations and sectors ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour says he welcomes Medsafe’s decision to approve an electronic controlled drug register for use in New Zealand pharmacies, allowing pharmacies to replace their physical paper-based register. “The register, developed by Kiwi brand Toniq Limited, is the first of its kind to be approved in New ...
The Coalition Government’s drive for regional economic growth through the $1.2 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund is on track with more than $550 million in funding so far committed to key infrastructure projects, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. “To date, the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) has received more than 250 ...
[Comments following the bilateral meeting with United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio; United States State Department, Washington D.C.] * We’re very pleased with our meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio this afternoon. * We came here to listen to the new Administration and to be clear about what ...
The intersection of State Highway 2 (SH2) and Wainui Road in the Eastern Bay of Plenty will be made safer and more efficient for vehicles and freight with the construction of a new and long-awaited roundabout, says Transport Minister Chris Bishop. “The current intersection of SH2 and Wainui Road is ...
The Ocean Race will return to the City of Sails in 2027 following the Government’s decision to invest up to $4 million from the Major Events Fund into the international event, Auckland Minister Simeon Brown says. “New Zealand is a proud sailing nation, and Auckland is well-known internationally as the ...
Improving access to mental health and addiction support took a significant step forward today with Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey announcing that the University of Canterbury have been the first to be selected to develop the Government’s new associate psychologist training programme. “I am thrilled that the University of Canterbury ...
Health Minister Simeon Brown has today officially opened the new East Building expansion at Manukau Health Park. “This is a significant milestone and the first stage of the Grow Manukau programme, which will double the footprint of the Manukau Health Park to around 30,000m2 once complete,” Mr Brown says. “Home ...
The Government will boost anti-crime measures across central Auckland with $1.3 million of funding as a result of the Proceeds of Crime Fund, Auckland Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee say. “In recent years there has been increased antisocial and criminal behaviour in our CBD. The Government ...
The Government is moving to strengthen rules for feeding food waste to pigs to protect New Zealand from exotic animal diseases like foot and mouth disease (FMD), says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. ‘Feeding untreated meat waste, often known as "swill", to pigs could introduce serious animal diseases like FMD and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held productive talks in New Delhi today. Fresh off announcing that New Zealand and India would commence negotiations towards a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, the two Prime Ministers released a joint statement detailing plans for further cooperation between the two countries across ...
Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay signed a new Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) today during the Prime Minister’s Indian Trade Mission, reinforcing New Zealand’s commitment to enhancing collaboration with India in the forestry sector. “Our relationship with India is a key priority for New Zealand, and this agreement reflects our ...
Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay signed a new Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) today during the Prime Minister’s Indian Trade Mission, reinforcing New Zealand’s commitment to enhancing collaboration with India in the horticulture sector. “Our relationship with India is a key priority for New Zealand, and this agreement reflects our ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of two new Family Court Judges. The new Judges will take up their roles in April and May and fill Family Court vacancies at the Auckland and Manukau courts. Annette Gray Ms Gray completed her law degree at Victoria University before joining Phillips ...
Health Minister Simeon Brown has today officially opened Wellington Regional Hospital’s first High Dependency Unit (HDU). “This unit will boost critical care services in the lower North Island, providing extra capacity and relieving pressure on the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and emergency department. “Wellington Regional Hospital has previously relied ...
Namaskar, Sat Sri Akal, kia ora and good afternoon everyone. What an honour it is to stand on this stage - to inaugurate this august Dialogue - with none other than the Honourable Narendra Modi. My good friend, thank you for so generously welcoming me to India and for our ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grace McQuilten, Associate professor, RMIT University Australia’s visual arts and craft workers are facing increasingly deteriorating conditions, according to research published today. Our four-year study reveals workers are abandoning the visual art sector, largely because of unstable employment, below-average salaries and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By T.J. Thomson, Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication & Digital Media, RMIT University A (real) photo of a protester dressed as Pikachu in Paris on March 29 2025.Remon Haazen / Getty Images You wouldn’t usually associate Pikachu with protest. But a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bruce Wolpe, Non-resident Senior Fellow, United States Study Centre, University of Sydney The Democrats have been under intense pressure to find an effective way to challenge US President Donald Trump without control of either chamber of Congress or a de facto opposition ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Camp, Senior Lecturer, School of Music, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Warner Bros Discovery The last few decades have seen many attempts to make musical TV shows. Some of them applied the aesthetics of musicals (where people spontaneously ...
The small town on the Kāpiti Coast shines every March with Māoriland. “We give out gloves with this one,” she said, handing me a pair of blue surgical gloves alongside what I thought would be an ordinary cheeseburger. I shouldn’t have even ordered a cheeseburger given I was standing at ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Jeffries, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, Western Sydney University NicoElNino/Shutterstock More than five years since COVID was declared a pandemic, we’re still facing the regular emergence of new variants of the virus, SARS-CoV-2. The latest variant on the rise is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kirk Dodd, Lecturer in English and Writing, University of Sydney Brett Boardman/Sport For Jove Some say Shakespeare invented the “history play” – but he had a lot of help. Shakespeare was mainly writing comedies in the early 1590s when he ...
Claire Mabey talks to Rachel Paris, whose debut novel See How They Fall is a crime story about rot at the core of a dynastically wealthy family in Sydney. Rachel Paris’s debut novel is a sleek, fast-paced, arsenic-infused whodunnit that centres on devastated mum, Skye, and brilliant but flawed detective, Mei. ...
Call him Winnie, call him Ishmael, but never call Winston Peters a man who’s lacking in one-liners.Echo Chamber is The Spinoff’s dispatch from the press gallery, recapping sessions in the House. Columns are written by politics reporter Lyric Waiwiri-Smith and Wellington editor Joel MacManus.The centre of absurdity in ...
The RSA has long advocated for changes to the Veteran Support Act. In its current form the Act is discriminatory and leaves many of our service personnel who have been affected by their service unable to access the support they need. ...
On all the joy that can be had – and admin that can be done – when you stay up late. In primary school, I loved diorama assignments. A Jurassic scene complete with a volcano, a historic building made of cake – these were my Super Bowl. I could’ve worked ...
On all the joy that can be had – and admin that can be done – when you stay up late. In primary school, I loved diorama assignments. A Jurassic scene complete with a volcano, a historic building made of cake – these were my Super Bowl. I could’ve worked ...
A secondary school student debates the proposal that Shakespeare become compulsory for year 12 and 13 students. The new draft for the New Zealand Englishcurriculum has proposed compulsory Shakespearefor all year 12 and 13 students. It also has suggested texts including World War I poets, Winston Churchill’s World ...
A secondary school student debates the proposal that Shakespeare become compulsory for year 12 and 13 students. The new draft for the New Zealand Englishcurriculum has proposed compulsory Shakespearefor all year 12 and 13 students. It also has suggested texts including World War I poets, Winston Churchill’s World ...
The alleged comments were made in a meeting with a Jewish community leader. Three New Zealand community groups, two representing Jewish voices, are calling for Stephen Rainbow to resign from his role as chief human rights commissioner after what they believe were Islamophobic comments made during an official meeting with ...
The alleged comments were made in a meeting with a Jewish community leader. Three New Zealand community groups, two representing Jewish voices, are calling for Stephen Rainbow to resign from his role as chief human rights commissioner after what they believe were Islamophobic comments made during an official meeting with ...
Peters promised to carry out a “war on woke", a term which the far-right uses to refer to everything from identity politics & affirmative action programs, to education about the brutal history of colonisation, protections against discrimination, environmental ...
People are entitled to their opinions on what language is acceptable for MPs to use in social media. However, to imply that a rainbow parent is unsafe to their child without any evidence is completely unacceptable. ...
Wellingtonians are so used to negative media narratives that celebrating their city feels like a radical act. In that context, CubaDupa’s ‘communal joy’ theme made perfect sense, write Joel MacManus and Lyric Waiwiri-Smith. The theme of this year’s CubaDupa was “communal joy”. At first glance, it’s an eye-roller; less of ...
Wellingtonians are so used to negative media narratives that celebrating their city feels like a radical act. In that context, CubaDupa’s ‘communal joy’ theme made perfect sense, write Joel MacManus and Lyric Waiwiri-Smith. The theme of this year’s CubaDupa was “communal joy”. At first glance, it’s an eye-roller; less of ...
As the Govt changes the law to prioritise ‘merit-based appointments’, the Port of Auckland’s boss explains why diversity and inclusion is good business The post You don’t have to be called Steve to be a stevedore appeared first on Newsroom. ...
As the Govt changes the law to prioritise ‘merit-based appointments’, the Port of Auckland’s boss explains why diversity and inclusion is good business The post You don’t have to be called Steve to be a stevedore appeared first on Newsroom. ...
A rather sobering article on the industrialisation of food production .While it has helped to end hunger and feed millions, it could very well end up killing us all through degradation of the environment and very poor nutritional qualities in the food thus produced.
Notable is the homogenisation of culture brought about by globalisation .Sorry , clunky writing …lack of sleep..
The article is worth reading
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/jan/23/endangered-foods-why-our-diet-is-narrower-than-ever-and-these-seven-foods-urgently-need-saving
The washing machine thieves hit a new low.
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Russian occupiers have taken away all the equipment from Skadovsk Central Hospital in Kherson Oblast.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/russians-loot-hospital-skadovsk-140602238.html
Kind of stuff that may become more prevalent and more dangerous with truckloads of weapons available ex Ukraine available on the black market
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/23/five-charged-over-second-far-right-plot-to-overthrow-german-government
The idea of Ukrainian arms finding their way to the black market is a strongly-promoted Kremlin propaganda talking point, regularly found across Russian propaganda channels.
I notice your linked story contains no mention of Ukrainian arms, the Russian war in Ukraine, or even "Ukraine" whatsoever. So was the purpose of your comment to simply promote a Kremlin propaganda point?
Any war zone will likely leak arms, so would be better if Russia hadn't started this war. The war and its associated risks will end if Russia decides to return to its own borders.
There is evidence the Russian's are supporting their story by pretending to sell Ukrainian arms via fake sellers, while actual evidence is that so far Ukrainian weapons are not making their way to the black market.
Ukraine was the Eastern European mecca for illegal arms sales long before 2022
https://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/sierraleone/context.html
And the US has adnitted to the difficulties of tracking and auditing in a war zone
https://www.cato.org/commentary/state-dept-plan-track-weapons-ukraine-should-be-starting-point
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/02/ukraine-weapons-end-up-criminal-hands-says-interpol-chief-jurgen-stock
Valid points.
Are you as concerned about the flood of weapons from Russia currently entering Ukraine – often in the hands of poorly-paid conscripts?
Yes, I think all war zones leak weapons, and attract criminal elements
Another reason to avoid war if there are opportunities to do so
Northing but further trouble down the line and destruction of life comes from war
Germany is still awash with WWII firearms carefully put away in case they are needed and more modern ex-Eastern Block firearms after unification.
From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_control_in_Germany
Source: https://www.badische-zeitung.de/deutschland-1/45-millionen-waffen-sind-im-umlauf–12577725.html
The German Ministry of the Interior estimated in 2009 that the number of firearms in circulation, legally and illegally, could be up to 45 million.[3] Germany's National Gun Registry, introduced at the end of 2012, counted 5.5 million firearms in use, which are legally owned by 1.4 million people in the country.
Under tories everywhere fiddle everything.
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Tory seats have been awarded significantly more money per person from the government’s £4bn levelling up fund than areas with similar levels of deprivation, a Guardian analysis has found.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jan/19/tory-seats-gain-more-4bn-levelling-up-fund-finds-analysis
The multibillion-dollar grants system used by MPs and federal ministers has become so politicised that Coalition-held seats around the country received more than $1.9 billion over three years while Labor electorates got just under $530 million.
A special analysis of more than 19,000 individual grants shows huge discrepancies among the nation’s 151 electorates, with a boundary line such as a road or a creek separating communities from potentially millions of dollars.
https://www.smh.com.au/interactive/2021/electorates-government-grants/
Sounds this has a similarity to the rotten boroughs of English history.
'rotten borough, depopulated election district that retains its original representation. The term was first applied by English parliamentary reformers of the early 19th century to such constituencies maintained by the crown or by an aristocratic patron to control seats in the House of Commons."
https://www.britannica.com/topic/rotten-borough
Well done the Guardian. I heard these figures reported on the BBC the other day (BBC 5 Live radio).
The BBC political reporter entirely ignored the significance. Terrible bias.
I know I'm guilty of moaning about Bomber at TDB's writing style, but when he's lucid, he can make a lot of sense.
If you skip the ranty intro, these ideas seem pretty good:
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2023/01/24/how-chippy-wins-2023-election/
These ideas were good ten years ago, 7 years ago, 5 years ago and certainly 2.5 years ago. If the Labour party under Jacinda Arderns Leadership would have actually implemented just 'a' thing or 'two' of that list, like 'remove GST from Food', remove the relationship status out when people apply for unemployment or benefits, the removal of secondary tax on people who have more then one job to make ends meet etc etc etc- which has been discussed here many many times Labour might not have had a change in leadership and Labour as a Party would poll better then it seemingly does.
The problem for the new leadership now is that if they 'dump' three waters and the merger and promise to say remove GST from Food no one other then the party faithful who would/will vote for Labour no matter the leadership will support them.
Empty promises and bubbles of air feed no one, house no one, pays no ones bills. From we can do this, to lets keep moving, to where to now?
2.5 years of a full majority totally and absolutely squandered. And now back to 'please do this' and they will not because in the end they are ideologically not able to do so.
Chippy is between a rock and a hard place.
He is there on his own choosing.
He was always at the right hand of Jacinda Ardern. He was part of her government. And he now can't really run from that Government and what they did not do. And that includes him.
So really if he wants to set himself up as his own person, he will have to start doing as promises are no longer believable.
He is in a very difficult position, a significant part of his caucus is hell bent on driving through everything on Jacinda's agenda and the rest want to stay in government, good luck managing that.
In your dreams! So far, the Labour Caucus has shown nothing but positivity and unified support for Hipkins. The divisive and fractious lot is looking at you, every morning.
Secondary tax has been removed with the tax codes now much more reflective of the current earning rates. That took effect a few years ago.
However, the downside is that people now working more than 1 job may potentially end up with a tax bill at the end of the year given that tax is based on the total annual earnings and tax is deducted accordingly. Under the old secondary system, most people often ended up with a refund at the end of the year, well that which wasnt first taken out by the tax intermediaries like Woohoo.
anyway, secondary tax is gone. Tax codes are “fairer”, but greater risk now of ending up with a tax bill rather than a refund.
Nothing changed there – I used to work for IRD in 2012-13, and secondary codes worked the same then as they do now right down to the brackets. The big "change" was that special tax codes were renamed tailored tax codes and pushed harder.
T'is funny cause IRD says that:
If you have more than one source of income you use a secondary tax code for your other income.27/09/2021
Tax codes for individuals – Inland Revenue
Can you link to where it says that secondary tax is gone?
What's the evidence for this?
I'm not sure either, maybe just Bomber's reckonz. I'd skim past the rant and go straight to the ideas.
fair point. I might see if I can throw up a post with just the ideas in it. Some of them seem reasonable, some seem daft, mostly they seem unexplained. Also, 3 waters is really about the drains? Wut?
An FTT hits poor as well as rich. A Wealth Tax or a Land Tax would be better.
Smashing the supermarket duopoly is pretty damn hard in a small country like NZ where Aldi and Lidl have no intention of coming here.
Tory scum were complicit in an attempt to silence Higgins and Bellingcat for their work in exposing Russian war crimes.
.
The UK government helped the boss of Russia’s murderous mercenary army to circumvent its own sanctions and launch a targeted legal attack on a British journalist, openDemocracy can reveal.
Yevgeny Prigozhin is the founder of Wagner, a private army that the US government last week announced it would designate a “transnational criminal organisation”, allowing it to impose even tougher sanctions on the group. For years it has been accused of human rights abuses and war crimes in Ukraine and across the world in support of Putin’s regime.
Sanctions introduced in the UK and Europe in 2020 were supposed to prevent anyone from doing business with Prigozhin. He had also been sanctioned in the US in 2018.
But a vast cache of hacked emails shows that, under the leadership of Rishi Sunak, the UK Treasury issued special licences in 2021 to let the oligarch override sanctions and launch an aggressive legal campaign against a journalist in the London courts.
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/prigozhin-government-russia-ukraine-hack-libel-slapp/
So the guy running the FBI's cyber-counterintelligence in New York when Russia was allegedly trying to help Trump win was taking bribes from Trump’s campaign manager's business partner.
/
A former top FBI official in New York has been arrested over his ties to a Russian oligarch, law enforcement sources told ABC News Monday.
Charles McGonigal, who was the special agent in charge of counterintelligence in the FBI's New York Field Office, is under arrest over his ties to Oleg Deripaska, a Russian billionaire who has been sanctioned by the United States and criminally charged last year with violating those sanctions.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/former-fbi-official-charles-mcgonigal-arrested-ties-russian/story?id=96609658
But her emails.
/
https://twitter.com/KaivanShroff/status/1617613877868662785
I started an ongoing twitter thread on how many NZ food growers are regenag. If you have any examples, please let me know along with the location (am trying to prove that every area of NZ now has regenag)
https://twitter.com/wekatweets/status/1617656178988961793
Damien O'Connor has been very pro active in promoting the rural area I live in in the SI as a regen agriculture region, known for its progressive ecological approach to farming and food production .
We have dairy farmers who have reduced stocking rates, experimenting with different pasture species..back to clover..planted up waterways, local specialist cheese making .Even a fabulous bakery growing its own grain and supplying the local market with gorgeous sourdough breads
There is a learning centre for residential permaculture courses, the local community gardens also run well attended courses on organic food production.
A few reasonable size organic market gardens., supplying local families with boxes of vegetables each week
Our local US born millionaire (every community has one) is working with scientists to develop ways of reducing methane via seaweed
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/300790390/coastal-residents-plot-to-stop-apartments-railing-against-bedroom-commuters
The nimbis are revolting, with support from nationals bodies!
Nimbyest nimbys ever.
Some of those "old farts" might end up in one of those singles apartments towards that later part of their lives when they can no longer maintain a 3br house on a big section, but don't want to go into a 'senior's village".
Apartments are useful to people at many stages of their lives.
Apartments in the area would lead to a ready supply of young coupled up buyers wanting the bigger house,after a few years I'd expect ,that's if they still want to live in a place full of tossers
National bodies support intensification….the proposed development is a good example of this.
Failing to intensify will mean residences sprawling all over the landscape in a non-sustainable manner.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300790925/live-divisive-and-immature-conversation-christopher-luxon-takes-on-cogovernance-in-rtana-speech
Utter drivel spewing from Luxon's mouth. Sad to know it's likely going to win him the election. But good too, because it will wake us up to a more accurate account of what we're really up against.
That you call it drivel spewing from Luxon's mouth is a non issue. But when fools like Carmel Sepuloni start talking about racism and misogyny, then Labour has an issue. Labour has been given a reprieve of sorts with Hipkins now the PM, but there seems to have been little learnt.
All Luxon said was basically there had not been a discussion around co governance and National did not support it.
[banned until 31/12/23. You’ve been warned multiple times including yesterday when I said you were on your last warning. This isn’t the place for inflammatory vague reckons. If you want to make an argument about MPs in an election year, you have to make the actual argument as well as support it with evidence. Here you are making casual assertions that require someone to follow up and the mods are no longer willing to waste our time on this when you’ve had plenty of chances – weka]
mod note.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/130089544/bankrupt-builder-who-admitted-over-300000-in-tax-fraud-avoids-jail-by-small-margin
If it were benefit fraud the chap would've got 2 and a half years.
Nah – much more
The "progressive" solution in Canada:
1, Inaccurately identify a problem;
2. Solve by divisive means.
https://nac-cna.ca/en/stories/story/black-out-nac
Is there nobody in such organisations pointing out the inherent racism? Or is funding linked to such promotions?
which is? It's not immediately obvious what you mean
Would you argue against women's theatre and women-only audience?
Please explain the inherent racism, as again, it's not immediately obvious what you mean.
What is the racism problem they are solving here? Are Black Audience members unable to attend, or unsafe if they do? If not, why treat them like they are?
The inherent racism is:
1. Assuming that "Black Audiences" are unwilling or uncomfortable with theatre attendance because of the presence of non-black audience members,
2. That the "Black Audience" members all experience racism, and in the same way,
3. That "Black Audience" members do not have relationships outside of the "black audience" that they might want to socialise with,
4. … too demoralised to continue…
(BTW, this is not equatable to single-sex spaces. Women's spaces exist because of biological reality, and the statistical risk assessments that are there for safety, privacy and dignity.)
This is divisive, and both patronising and offensive. Segregation being excused as for all the "right reasons".
I can't see how you got to this being about solving racism, nor why you think any assumptions are being made about any of the numbered points (seriously, there's nothing in the article to suggest any of that). To me it looks much more like celebrating blackness.
Women's spaces aren't solely about safety, privacy and dignity. Some women come together because of women's culture as a positive force. Lesbians used to have lesbian only spaces because they wanted to be with other lesbians. I've been in lot of different kinds of women's groups because there is a different energy and kaupapa that arises when women get together without men. This is a big part of why many women don't want trans identified males in their spaces, because it changes how groups function.
There's nothing wrong with segregation when people are doing it by choice, in this case Black people. And it doesn't harm non-black people to not go to the Black Out, any more than it harms trans women to not go to a women's conscious raising group. Or Pākehā not to be on the committee running a Marae.
Black people have the right to come together on their own terms and celebrate or engage with their culture as they choose. You say it is divisive, patronising and offensive, but you haven't explained this other than saying you believe it's all about racism even though they're not talking about racism. But even that doesn't explain the offense.
"Black people have the right to come together on their own terms and celebrate or engage with their culture as they choose. "
I understand you don't see it. Even as you excuse it.
This is not the same as women's spaces. Please don't conflate the two issues.
That's a non-sequitur to the quote that precedes it, so I don't know what your point is or what you are referring to.
I'm not conflating women's spaces with black spaces, I'm saying that many groups of people can gather on their own terms without it being a bad thing, including women and black people.
You haven't explained how it's a bad thing for black people to have their own space, nor why it's ok for women but not black people. I did explain that women gather on their own for cultural reasons (women's culture), but you haven't offered any response to that, just told me what to not argue.
Weka, as you are aware, the single-space provisions for women that women are trying to protect are those where boundaries have been created – due to the biological realities of a female body. ie. sport, prison estates, toilets, hospital wards, changing facilities etc.
On top of that is collective groups of people – not government funded – who gather together because of shared interests, and do so on the basis of those interests. Lesbians – no longer are able to do so in Australia – and should be able to create those safe spaces for themselves, but this differs in that it is a group of people with shared interests coming together for themselves. Not a national theatre – funded by all.
The Vagina Monologues is an example. I don't recall it being advertised only to women, but the audience self-selected, and was mainly older women to whom it appealed.
(I'm more critical of this type of accommodation, because I consider the same unthinking actions taking place here. The creation of a Māori perspective and experience that pays no heed to reality or diversity.)
to put it another way, I'm asking you to explain your thinking more. eg, I can't see how you got to the Black Out being about solving racism. Can you please explain that?
What do you consider a good reason to divide an audience by race at a National theatre?
Whatever your answer is, it relates to a created idea of a "Black audience".
This created idea of assumed interests, needs, experiences, aspirations, achievements, social and familial connections is a mirage. People are much more diverse,
Put on more plays written from the wider perspectives of society, and welcome everyone in.
I think the Black Americans (in this case) can decide for themselves what works for them (in the same way women can). There is nothing in the article that even hints that all Black people would be served by this or want it, or that they somehow wouldn't want to also attend theatre of other kinds. Nothing.
what are wider perspectives of society? Don't we already have this?
"…what are wider perspectives of society? Don't we already have this?"
Yes.
Looking at the original text, the argument of exclusion depends on the word 'dedicated' , which is not the same as 'exclusive' or ‘only-for’. It could mean 'focussed', for example. It could mean striving for a safe place where difficult topics can be discussed without generating a twitter storm. The pudding is in the eating – who is let in the door. Who turns up determined to cause a fuss.
Chris Trotter was interviewed (I forget what I was listening too). And he was talking about the divisiveness of cogovernance, Hepuapua etc.
He then told a story about WW11 and a Navy boat birthing in South Africa. White sailors were told they could go ashore. Maori not. So none of the white sailors went ashore. One of my relatives (Pakeha) was on that boat. I was so proud of him. This is what unity is. Not these divisive race policies, largely born out of CRT
Do you mean that Black people, or Māori, should never have their own spaces? Because that's what it sounds like you just said. If Black Out theatre is wrong, is it wrong to have Marae? Or the Māori caucus in the Labour Party. Or the Māori seats in the general election.
Black people having their own theatre sometimes don't preclude also working or being in solidarity with people of euro descent.
A marae that didn't include my non-Māori partner on that basis, would be one I would also be critical of. Definitely wouldn't attend or support it.
Eventually, the time for the Māori caucas, and the Māori seats in the General election will be gone. Those spaces – even now – are not representative of the diverse view of Māori or of how a Māori world view is effectively accommodated in our governance. Many Māori have the same criticism of their "representatives" as non-Māori do of theirs. But those criticisms are ignored – because it is easy to accommodate the views expressed by the members of the Māori caucus, or the Māori Party, rather than canvas the views of all Māori.
segregation is great again!
women can female spaces but black people can't have black spaces? What about Māori, is it ok for Māori to have their own spaces and organisations?
Maori in NZ have their orgs and spaces. And black people in the US have their orgs, spaces and businesses, some even are billionaires. So that is not the question and that is not what i am commenting on.
Segregating people by sex is not quite the same as segregating people by color. We all have one of two sexes. A black woman is a woman first and foremost, even though that i have seen it stated that if black females are women so are the males who think that they are women. . But that is a logic that is somewhat racist.
I would totally segregate certain spaces by sex, as no female has ever impregnated a fellow female, nor are the myriads of issues with rape among female, or common assault or or or. The ethnicity or skin color of women does not come into play with that.
Black theatre has always existed. As has black music, black fashion, black food etc etc etc. In fact black art was/is hugely influential in modern art that came out of the white culture in the US/Europe. It was segregated before, but then came the 60 and that changed somewhat and i would argue we are able to have this discussion today because people actually lived, worked, and went to theatres together rather then in our own little gated communities governed by race.
I am conflicted about that easy passing segregation such as that. I would be equally conflicted if some white people would decide to have a white theatre production/venue – for white people only for the same reasons. Would we be able to discuss the need of young white people to just be among themselves and to share a sense of belonging and passion? Or would we call it racism? Racial Bias? etc?
And in the US there are many other times where they have these 'black people only' events on campus and public schools. I don't think it is good. I can understand the attraction, and the immediate benefits, but what if this is just a start and we suddenly find us again in a time where we go into our own gated by color of our skin communities being afraid of the other.
I am conflicted about that. I am not about segregation of the sexes. I have more in common with a female from Africa then i have in common with a white bloke from Europe/NZ.
Plenty of Māori or Black women will say they are Māori or Black first, before their femaleness.
Black Out isn't equivalent to us all living in our own segregated communities. It's an event, not a politically imposed segregation backed up by the forces of the state.
Regarding white people having their own spaces, two things. One is that white people belong to the dominant culture and often get their own spaces or things by default. But beyond that, sure, why not? Where it can be done in a non racist way.The problem we face is that we probably don’t know how to do that in a non-racist way.
Here's an example though. Why is it ok for women to have women's spaces that aren't about safety, privacy and dignity, but men aren't allowed the same? eg men's clubs. It's because as the power holder in society men used men's clubs to organise society and retain their power advantage. The only way to change that was to force them to admit women. But there's nothing inherently wrong with men wanting to spend time with men, hence men's sheds, men's groups and so on.
Segregation in the US up until the 50s and 60s was wrong because it was based in a system that deemed people of African descent to be inferior and have less rights than white people. The Black Out theatre isn't a reverse image of that, it's something different entirely, it's a cultural celebration or expression that comes about by choice.
As i said, I am just uncomfortable with self segregation what that is. And in the end, every tiny little bit of self segregation will and can eventually lead to the building of Ghettos. I am still of the mind that racism can only be defeated by sharing. Sharing culture, food, music, theatre, literature etc etc etc. Once we close the gate on those that may be interested we no longer serve the public. We serve a small lobby. And that always leads to isolation.
As for men having hospitals wards for males- totally for it, having prison cells for males – totally for it, having sports just for males – absolutely, having old folks home just for males, ditto, showers in swimming pools – yes, swimming hours just for men, why yes, Mensheds sponsored by government to help isolated males find a community and help with mental health, bring it, And you know what, they all have that already, and i doubt that they are scared of the 1.55 m female with a beard who needs to take a piss in the mens as otherwise their self identiy does not give some decent boost of euphoria.
I never was needy when it comes to private clubs of males, i always thought that the females should create their own places, but alas, the few that were created at least for the working class women – are now legally forced to admit males irrespective of the males ethnicity or color and in many cases are run by male. A certain womens club in the Green Party of Scotland comes to mind.
The issue with academic feminists is that they never know when it is enough.
Working class women that actually live in cramped places and have to share scarce resources i.e. toilets with males know what places they NEED segregated for their safety. And that is segregation by sex, not be creed, race, ethnicity.
Dignity and respect well that is a nice to have, but not a need to have purely in risk assesment, and they also accept that males need these spaces. This is not a me me me. Well not for the working class women who now have to share these few sex segregated spaces they achieved to gain over the last 200 years with any males who wonders in, consent be damned.
And i would like to point out that we do force gay males to accept Mangina in their spaces too, consent be damned, all in the name of inclusivity.
But maybe inclusivity is something that females have to give to males, and gay male and females have to give to some spicy pornified heterosexuals. And consent be damned.
Jacinda's last speech as PM will be at Rātana Pā today.
Watch: Chris Hipkins and Jacinda Ardern speak at Rātana Pā | RNZ News
Election slogan- Let’s Do Us.
No imported Truss-economy, no fighting US culture wars.
Let’s do us. Let’s solve Kiwi problems. Let’s be good friends. Very very good friends.
Let’s keep it simple. Let’s keep it fair. Do a good job and get to live a good life. Houses for living in. Cities for living in. A country for living in. Keep it clean, tidy Kiwis! A country to make a living in.
Let’s do us.
Two ticks Labour.
I like it!
Though I like down home NZ focussed 'stuff aka perhaps known as oldfashioned! (Sorry retro sounds better)
No imported Truss-economy, no fighting US culture wars.I wouldn't have this in or any reference to overseas anything. We are not fortress NZ but we are going along in our boat/waka, sailing it the way we want to
yeh I guess Let’s solve Kiwi problems addresses that enough. (But plenty of the issues we’ve had have been the importation of sovereign citizen/etc/etc framing of issues that shouldn’t be framed that way in NZ. You have to wonder why Hawaii is popular- promises broken again and again and again. And the idea of wokeness. What a useless and harmful term. )
Probably need to cut the very very good friends but too then- it’s a reference to Colin Powell and Helen Clark in the way aback says, but also goes well with showing pictures of us as a multicultural society and not afraid of being one.
Still- Let’s do us as a message is a rejection of importing unnecessary things…reflexive and theatrical lying in politics, violence in politics, anti-intellectualism to the point of discarding the scientific method for populism and water muddying, attacking the system not the policy, attacking public servants and particularly election volunteers…
Then that has to be reframed as the positives of our values which aren’t those things.
Let’s Do Us is everyone is essential. Fair reward for your work. Supporting our communities, our libraries, our swimming pools (Len Brown move there ), our coaches and volunteers, our clubs, our theatres and our artists. Supporting our outdoors. Supporting our farmers. Support equality of opportunity for our students and young jobseekers.
slightly off the thread now…but yeh
Newsense!
Let's do this….yes
Lets Do Us, you might want to rethink that….
Typical RW response, ridicule & repeal anything remotely positive and resist & reject anything remotely progressive. You guys are just a bunch of laughs.
Really?
You might want to ask a few of your friends what springs to mind when you shout " Let's Do Us!"
My friends are older than 13.
and they're not behind the bike sheds.
Thanks for your feedback, do you think many 11 year olds will be voting in October?
We gotta cover all the demographics you understand.
Now, now don’t be jealous at all this excitement for Labour!
though tbh I don’t know what gets your jollies, but you do you if that gets you as far along as a black and white Warehouse catalogue. It takes all sorts and who are we to judge…
As long as it isn’t next to a mug that says spread your legs I think it’s probably fine.